Peace Pipe...How good is this!!???

[jastreet]

Hi Guys,

Lionel & Stuart, thanks for helping to answer Rob's question about the backing track used in my video of Peace Pipe. I'll try to fill in the gaps, to the best of my knowledge.

As mentioned in the video credits and reiterated by Lionel, the backing track came from TVS Specialty products. Stuart has already explained that purchasers of the TVS3 unit have access to a collection of backing tracks. The backing tracks are only available if you buy a TVS3 and are not available individually on the TVS website, which explains why Lionel could not find them listed.

Like the Peace Pipe backing track used in the video, some of the tracks made available to TVS3 owners sound like The Shadows with Hank's lead guitar removed. I assume that the removal of Hank's guitar part involves a 'guitar-karaoke' type of process, where a certain frequency range corresponding to the lead guitar is filtered out of the original recording. This process is probably similar to that used to filter out the vocals on some types of karaoke tracks.

Also, by way of further explanation regarding the technology, I am providing a link to the JamVox device, which does precisely what I have described. The JamVox device was not used in the making of these particular backing tracks, but it represents a similar approach: http://www.voxamps.com/jamvox/

Hope this information helps to explain a little further the origins of the backing track.

Cheers,

James

[GoldenStreet]

Impressive playing and sound re-creation, indeed - well done, James! Had I first heard it not knowing it wasn't actually Hank's playing, I wonder if I would have spotted the difference (albeit almost imperceptible) between this and the stereo mix of the original... maybe, perhaps, a previously unearthed alternative take! Having been familiar with the recording for 50 years, I certainly hope so!

On a more musical note, I wonder if anyone has ever noted Bruce's choice of chord in the muted solo passage, starting with Dmaj, then, fascinatingly, Gmaj, rather than a seemingly more logical progression to, say, Dmin for that point in the tune. Somehow, in theory, it has never seemed quite right to me but, in practice fits and sounds perfect. Interestingly, a 1964 recording by the Vendors (a nascent lineup of Slade) features Fmaj in the corresponding section.

[AC15H1TV]

Impressive playing and sound re-creation, indeed - well done, James! Had I first heard it not knowing it wasn't actually Hank's playing, I wonder if I would have spotted the difference (albeit almost imperceptible) between this and the stereo mix of the original... maybe, perhaps, a previously unearthed alternative take! Having been familiar with the recording for 50 years, I certainly hope so!

On a more musical note, I wonder if anyone has ever noted Bruce's choice of chord in the muted solo passage, starting with Dmaj, then, fascinatingly, Gmaj, rather than a seemingly more logical progression to, say, Dmin for that point in the tune. Somehow, in theory, it has never seemed quite right to me but, in practice fits and sounds perfect. Interestingly, a 1964 recording by the Vendors (a nascent lineup of Slade) features Fmaj in the corresponding section.

NEXT!!!!

[Lee Restarick]

Out of curiosity, I've just tried the vocal cut technique on Peace Pipe in Sound Forge. It seems to work OK but the finished result is always in Mono. James' version is in stereo which would suggest the track is sourced from the masters or there is an impressive piece of equipment out there doing the job. Nice BT and playing James.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/LDnbWJHU/Peace_Pipe_-_BT_using_vocal_cu.html

Just added a 2nd version - now in stereo and much more useable.

http://www.4shared.com/audio/jLjBw7hO/Peace_Pipe_-_vocal_cut_V2.html

[Iain Purdon]

On a more musical note, I wonder if anyone has ever noted Bruce's choice of chord in the muted solo passage, starting with Dmaj, then, fascinatingly, Gmaj, rather than a seemingly more logical progression to, say, Dmin for that point in the tune.

Indeed yes, both the bands I play in do the same. The G chord is what gives that part of the tune its appeal, to my ears.

Iain

[BrianD]

Beautifully played and lovely sound. A question, though. I see you have a Line 6 Pod Pro switched on but there is no mention of this, as far as I can see, when you talk about how your sound was produced. Was this unit used in any way deuring this recording or does it just happen to be in the flight case?

Brian

[gary mac]

Hi all

Good tune and tone i see thats a nice little vox ac15 heritage stand anyone knw where to get one i have not seen them about !!!

Cheers
Gary

[jastreet]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for resuscitating this thread, just when I thought it was dead.

Bill, thanks for your kind remarks. I certainly appreciate any favorable comparisons with the original version. Again, I have to acknowledge that I was the happy beneficiary of some great advice from Paul Rossiter. Regarding the chord progression for the muted section, as you mention, it may not be logical, but the Gmaj chord (I actually use G7 when I am playing rhythm on this tune) does sound perfect in that spot. Finally, considering my surname, I wish I had adopted your board handle of 'Golden Street'. Nice choice!

Lee, thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed my version of this great old tune. Your excellent stereo version using the vocal cut technique in Sound Forge to remove Hank's lead guitar will make a terrific BT. Well done! This is how the TVS team made my BT, although they used different software.

Brian, thanks for your great feedback. I used the Line 6 PODxt Pro quite a bit in the past, before I purchased my AC15H1TV and Shure SM-57 microphone. At that time, I was using the POD for AC15 and AC30 amp sims, adding reverb and for USB connectivity with my laptop. Now, with my new gear I am getting better results from close mic-ing the amp, and so the POD actually makes no contribution to the sound on this recording.

Gary, I purchased the chrome stand for my AC15H1TV from this source: http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/s ... /index.htm. I checked the website again recently and it looks like they are currently out of stock. It took me a while to find it and I have not seen it anywhere else.

Thanks again for all the great feedback and questions. I have set the bar high with this effort and hope my next one is half as good.

All the best!

James (Golden) Street