| Nerdy Sunday afternoon. |
[Jul. 12th, 2009|04:19 pm] |
I showed up at the practice space to do a bunch of work and I found David, Guitar vs. Gravity drummer, playing drums and getting some gear to sell to Starving Musician. We got to hang out and talk and ended up working on some mixes, which wasn't planned, but was a nice thing to do.
While all this was going on, I put my Ampeg V-4 on the variac to try and re-form the filter caps.
After that I started working on a fuzzy bunny pedal, and then I found I was out of 10k pots. I began working on a custom bunnydrive/booster for a friend. While doing this I found that I had ordered more 10k pots, but they were just still in the shipping box, and not in my drawers.
So I just hammered ahead with both pedal and tried to work evenly on each to hopefully save time in the long run. All that time I was slowly ramping up the voltage on the V4. With about a half hour left, I stopped where I was on the pedals and tried out the Ampeg. No luck on a three hour re-forming. In good news, though I should be able to finish both the pedals on my next build day.
Not bad for a three and a half hour day of work. |
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| Another synesthetic experience |
[Jun. 17th, 2009|01:42 am] |
I was walking to Whole Foods today when a couple ladies walked by me with some notable perfume. The ladies weren't notable at all, and the fragrance really wasn't that great either. What happened, though is that I had a particularly strong scent to pitch experience.
It got me thinking about how all the words I use to describe scent are the same words I use to describe pitch or tonality: bright, dark, low, high, deep, thin, reedy, harsh, full, distant, direct, spacious, etc. In fact, I often don't think of actual scents words unless I need to describe them to someone else. I would never think, "that smells like rose," unless I had to tell someone else. |
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| Guitar vs. Gravity Recording, Day Zero |
[Apr. 19th, 2009|08:08 pm] |
Guitar vs. Gravity discovered that it's easier for us to record on practice days than block out a big long weekend. We all have opposing weekend schedules. So this Wednesday, tracking will begin. However, I got a head start today with setting up the room, running mic cables and setting up mics.
David's new 70s Ludwig kit.
David's kit with a bunch of microphones.
Throne view... expensive mics.
Guitar fort with a wall removed. Also, nerd devices.
The world's best sounding amp.
You can find more photos and super hi-res versions here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benadrian/sets/72157616978643525/
Can't wait to actually, you know, make the music. |
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| Lots of random thoughts. |
[Apr. 9th, 2009|01:45 pm] |
Today I've been scattered, but in a fun way.
There are blooming and blossoming trees around Lake Merritt, which seems like some one it trying fancy up the pollution. I know the trees can't help it, but it looks like they're trying too hard.
This reminds me of the new GvsG EP, which is yet to be recorded. It has a pretty cohesive theme about urban decay, society falling apart, art and intellectualism dying, future societies in chaos or under a larger controlling force, etc etc.
Why do I not write love songs? Do I just not understand? Do they bore me because I don't understand, or they're just non-interesting to me? I feel like a schmuck when I write love songs because it seems like I've heard everything. I also fear that I just can't be sincere in song form.
I was reminded today why the high-schooler 80s revival bus me so much. They outfits aren't coherent. I'll see a dude wearing rocker pants with a jock polo shirt. Then he'll have on new wave sunglasses and punk rock boots. His shoes want to kick his shirt's ass, and then buy drugs from his pants, who just sold the last of the coke to the sunglasses. IT'S ALL WRONG!
I finally got the pedal instructions in the mail to Eric in Indy. I have a contractor. I think this means I'm a half-real business.
I want to shoot some kind of video or videos for the GvsG release, or as promo for the release.
I like to use pencils at work, and I don't like the way they write unless I sharpen them with a razor. So in my top drawer I have a razor and a little subdivided section part filled with shavings and graphite dust. In a way, it looks nefarious.
My brian is turning into mush this week. The weekend will be nice. |
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| Car problems |
[Feb. 18th, 2009|10:47 am] |
After returning from Costa Rica I found my car difficult to start. It had been sitting for about twelve days. I would crank it, and it would have to turn over about 10-15 seconds before it started. Once it started, it would run fine until it sat overnight.
After a few days, things changed. It began to start okay, but it ran with a very low and rough idle. I had to drive with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake so that I could apply just a little gas to keep the car running while I was stopped. I looked at the engine, and the alternator belt was very loose. I tightened that; it was a quick fix and seemed to help.
Then things changed yet again. The car would sometimes run rough, but sometimes run fine. Then, while I was driving to work last week, my car just shut off on my. It didn't sputter or run rough. It was just as if someone killed power to the system for a split second. This happened a few more times until finally, last Thursday night, I started the car, it started, and then immediately shut off. Luckily I was at band practice, so I just left the car at the practice space.
The problem was very confusing. The car started, the engine was receiving gas. It just would not stay running. When it died, it was a power loss, and all the gauges shot down to zero. I went back on Friday after work to work on the car. The battery was firmly connected. The spark plugs wires were all connected fine. I double checked the wire from the coil to the distributor. I checked the battery voltage. I pulled fuses on the fuel pumps to see if one was not working. I'm sure I did a number of other things. While I could get the car running, if I put it into gear, it would falter, usually shutting off. Still, i thought maybe I could get it home
Saturday Amanda and i went to pick up the car. I started it up, got to the gate of the practice space, and then it died. I was able to limp it back into a parking space. So Sunday I went back and tried cleaning the battery, and doing a ton of other stuff that I could do. I could get the car running, but I could always make it fail. That was it, it was time to get it towed to the shop.
I took the afternoon off on Tuesday and went to the broken down car. I decided as a final stray I would swap batteries between my car and Amanda's car. I started to disconnect my battery, and I notice one of the smaller wires coming off the positive terminal was frayed. It went to some important looking part I couldn't identify. I have all my amp repair tools at the practice space, so I went inside and got my wire strippers and a new ring terminal. I as able to put it on in a few minutes. I clamped the battery terminals down, and the car started. When I put it into gear the first time, the electrical faded then jumped back up. I drove it all around the lot, and only got a few voltage dips, but it never shut down on me.
Right then Amanda called and suggested i pick her up and we try to drive the car home. I was nervous. I still wanted to get it towed at first. However, AAA will pick me up no matter where I break down. So I went home and we returned to try and get my car home. Once I got on the road, the car ran great. In fact, it seemed to be running better than ever. Today I drove it to work, and it ran great the whole way.
I'm quite surprised that I seem to have fixed it. I keep expecting it to strand me on the way home. We'll see. |
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| Hey, a rock show! |
[Feb. 8th, 2009|10:55 pm] |
This should be a great show. Sure, it's a Tuesday night, and it will probably be rainy, but who cares! We'll keep it early and I promise a great time with excellent bands.
Thanks! |
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| I just had the weirdest feeling |
[Jan. 12th, 2009|02:54 pm] |
I just ate lunch in the break room at my work. On the table there was a National Geographic from 1983. The cover story was about the 100 year anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge. I looked it over, and it was pretty cool. The following story was about Brooklyn and it's history. In 1983, it was still very much a derided non-suburb; the place where immigrants, recent descendants of immigrants, and poor people lived. I skimmed over the article, and I think the combination of the 25 year old magazine, reading about the people of Brooklyn and its history, and thinking about how much has changed in the last 25 years, I was just overcome with sadness.
It's very weird. I have no propensity toward New York. In fact, I've generally been nothing but uncomfortable the times I've been there. I have no family from there. I have one old Indiana friend who lives in Brooklyn, but I've never stayed with him or anything.
I think it has to be more of me contemplating life, and the changes in how life is lived in the last 50 years. In fact, let's just make it the last 100. I think the 20th century is very sad, looking out across it. It was exciting, but I feel like it made all of us less likely to appreciate what we have. I also wonder if human nature changing by being pushed by technology, or if technological advancement is allowing a more true human nature to show itself. I've discussed with many people the society of instant gratification. People talk and text through transactions at Amanda's work. A guy I know who sells pedals by online mail-order has customers angrily asking for tracking numbers less than a day after placing the order. Even the things like fuel prices and plane ticket prices are bugging me.
Perhaps I'm just a prematurely cranky old man. I know I'm definitely a hypocrite, as I really use the hell out of my fancy cell phone. I just think that some times a forced slowing of one's life make it so that one had to actually contemplate what one wants to do with one's time, as most non-modern endeavors usually take more time, planning and commitment.
I don't know exactly why I got sad, but it's not uncommon, when looking at the past like this. I'll get over it. I just want to understand myself better. |
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| Pedal guts |
[Jan. 6th, 2009|03:23 pm] |
The guts of the pedals. I think these look neat.
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| Another Guitar vs. Gravity video |
[Jan. 6th, 2009|12:26 am] |
New song, "The Bored Hitman."
I ripped off part of "Headcleaner" by Neubauten. Then it kept getting twisted and mixed with western or surf music.
Enjoy
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| Problem ->Solution |
[Dec. 17th, 2008|04:43 pm] |
Question: Is there any problem that a flame-thrower cannot solve?
Answer: Probably, but I'd like to think not.
I'm not having a bad day at all, I just like flame-throwers. I like the concept.
"Hey, I'm over here. I want over there to be on fire. If only I had a device which could use at this spot and make fire at that other spot."
Next, remote control flame thrower with web interface. |
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