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Guitars: Main, backup, and acoustics, Oh My!
At one point, I had a huge setup going. I think it was before I bought "Skylar" (my Schecter electric guitar), but it was huge, complex, and fun. In brief, it was my Fender Heartfield guitar with the Roland GK-2A synth pickup on it. The guitar went to my Crybaby wah pedal, into "Daisy" (my digitech processor), then stereo out into my main Crate amp. The Roland GR-1 guitar synth mono into my Tascam 4-track (acting as a 4-channel mixer). Also in this mixer was "Orianna" (my steel string acoustic guitar) plugged directly in, and going in stereo was my Korg keyboard playing my sequenced rhythm section. Now from the mixer it went mono into my mini Crate practice amp. The 4-track mixing all the levels appropriately and Orianna was erected on one of the greatest inventions for acoustic guitars EVER, the Gracie guitar stand (basically a stand that raised the guitar in the air at playing level so you could wear your electric, and simply walk up to the acoustic and play... great for live performances). Also, on the side, was my Jackson guitar tuned down a whole step in case I got the urge to play some death metal tunes. It was this setup that I used alot.. and also was used when I recorded the first four demos of my music using my stereo with a mic to record the outputs of both amps. But those days are long gone. I've had to cut down on size for the my more recent setups due to the fact my equipment is now divided between two locations: My parents home (where most of my recording equipment is) and my apartment (where I basically just play when I'm home).
Home and away
So while most of my equipment is in my soon to be 'recording studio' at my parents house (collecting dust), I had to bring some stuff to my apartment so I could always be ready to play, write, or practice. And with the addition of two guitars recently (Skylar, the Schecter electric and Odessa my nylon acoustic) my setups have taken a slight change. In my studio, I have the nylon acoustic, keyboard, both crate amps, guitar synth, guitar processors, and my recording equipment (4-track and 18-track digital recorder). I basically use Skylar into the wah, into the digitech, into the main amp; keyboard into the practice amp for my rhythm section; and the nylon acoustic on my lap when I want to play a little fingerstyle.
In my apartment, I have my Fender and Jackson (still detuned one whole step) electrics, and Orianna for acoustic settings. I have either of the two electrics going into my old DOD TR3M pedal for effects, and from that headphone jack, goes to these AIWA mini stereo speakers (for walkmans/discmans) for volume. I also have my computer in my apartment to use midi files for the rhythm section.
Mortikai setup
During the Mortikai days, and in the live show, my setup was pretty simple. Mainly because I didn't have alot of equipment, and I was still new to the guitar (only been playing for two years up to that live show). I had my Fender as a backup guitar, but used the Jackson primarily because it had a fixed bridge and would was less of a hassle when playing tuned down to D (one whole step). Plus it was a badass looking guitar ;) But that guitar went into Daisy and then from there into my crate amp. It wasn't until shortly after that, that I got Orianna and that began the DreamScape era.
Now, if I were to venture out and play at this stage in my career. It would be rather simple again, but with a few differences. I'd be using Skylar as the main guitar, the Fender as the backup, and the Jackson would still be detuned if a song called for it. Also, the Fender would be used if I ever used the guitar synth in a live setting. But the guitar would go into the wah pedal, into Daisy, into my main crate amp. If I needed an acoustic, it would probably be plugged directly into the soundboard of the venue. That's basically it. Write now I'm just writing more material, and keeping my eyes open to any openings for a guitarist or drummer in a local band. Speaking of drumming...
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