Excited to be heading to Burning Man

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:23 pm

Hi,

I've been reading quite a bit about how to survive burning man and think I'm up for the challenge, but I'm not sure how my guitar will handle the playa dust or how I can hook up to an amp with no electric. I'm not sure that this is the place to be bringing a guitar (and expect it to not disintegrate). Anybody with experience with musical instruments on the playa?

Thanks...

Post by **Sham** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:31 pm

Welcome I11I1II1. Bring your guitar. We love guitars. What the worst that can happen?
[youtube][/youtube]

See you on the playa.

Sham....

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:51 pm

Shambala wrote:Welcome I11I1II1. Bring your guitar. We love guitars. What the worst that can happen?

See you on the playa.

Sham....

Would someone smash my guitar over my head if I played this:

[youtube][/youtube]

Not sure what kind of crowd it is...

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:55 pm

bring a beater if you have one... I have a few little amps run on batteries, but haven't gotten around to playing my guitar outside my camp. This one has a speaker and built in distortion, can work as an effect pedal as well. runs on a 9V battery. Danelectro Bacon 'n Eggs.

I think this year I'll make a better effort. Acoustic is fine too. Lots and lots of those. There are other threads and tips on using a damp sponge in a tin inside your case to keep a wooden instrument from drying out.

As with everything else you bring to the playa... don't bring anything you are not pretty much prepared to have lost, ruined, or dirtied forever.

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:05 pm

I guess what I'm asking is if there are sound stages that have good quality sound. I'm a professional musician part time, played in lots of clubs, with a few famous musicians as well. I don't have any beaters.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:59 pm

I think you can play in center camp. Not sure how they arrange that, but they do have power.

maybe just bring a solid body electric?

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:26 pm

TomServo wrote:I think you can play in center camp. Not sure how they arrange that, but they do have power.

maybe just bring a solid body electric?

I hate to do anything half assed and I can get it professionally cleaned after. I guess what I'm getting at is whether the crowd would be into the kind of music I do or if it is the wrong kind of atmosphere for acoustic solos of the kind which is my favorite to do (stuff like Metheny or Godbout - shown below). A friend once insisted on bringing me to a private party where metal heads were screaming at the top of their lungs and wanted me to play. I did and about 10 minutes later they're screaming for me to turn up the volume and want me to break my guitar for special effects. Some people's idea of music is 3 notes played at max volume repetively at high speed and are either unimpressed by or don't appreciate subtlety...

I'm sure I can just play at my camp and those interested could come around. It might be better to pick someplace away from the crowds.

My repertoire as it currently stands:

James
If I could
Goin Ahead
September 15th
This is not America
Bright Size Life
Midwestern Nights Dream
April Joy
First Circle
Phase Dance
Jaco
As Falls Wichita, so Falls Wichita Falls
Lakes
Last Train Home
Facing West

(all by Metheny above)

Spring can really hang you up the most
Up up and away - Jim Hall
Girl from Ipanema
They can't take that away from me
(there are others...)

I heard that's there's a lot of tech / rave goin on at burning man...

Here's an example of something very close to my style of playing:

[youtube][/youtube]

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:48 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:10 pm

jkisha wrote:Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

Thanks... In case you're wondering I11I1II1 is ASCII for "guitar neck".

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:16 pm

I hope to hear you play at the temple just as the burn ramps up.... Nice stuff .....

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:24 pm

I11I1II1 wrote: Some people's idea of music is 3 notes played at max volume repetively at high speed and are either unimpressed by or don't appreciate subtlety...

Whats wrong with that?

[youtube][/youtube]

as a bass player I have a natural aversion to guitarists...sorry! You just NEVER listen!

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:31 pm

TomServo wrote:
I11I1II1 wrote: Some people's idea of music is 3 notes played at max volume repetively at high speed and are either unimpressed by or don't appreciate subtlety...
Whats wrong with that?

[youtube][/youtube]

Nothin as long as they don't try to smash my guitar

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:33 pm

ibdave wrote:I hope to hear you play at the temple just as the burn ramps up.... Nice stuff .....

The Temple is a good spot for something like that?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:52 pm

I11I1II1 wrote:
TomServo wrote:
I11I1II1 wrote: Some people's idea of music is 3 notes played at max volume repetively at high speed and are either unimpressed by or don't appreciate subtlety...
Whats wrong with that?

[youtube][/youtube]
Nothin as long as they don't try to smash my guitar :shock:

Most punk bands are too poor to destroy their instruments...thats for the Who.

moonrise · Post by **moonrise** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 3:37 am

Welcome!

I seriously doubt anyone will smash your guitar over your head!

You should try to bring a beater if you have one, many have been sayin' they'd like more acoustic live music at BM.

At almost any given time, a big giant green lizard Mutant Vehicle can cruise by blasting techno, this could occur in front of your camp or while you are playing at center camp or anywhere...BRC is a pleasant happy city, with a Manhattan hum at all times...there's always some noise, including your guitar hopefully!

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:51 am

Hey I11I1II1.

There are a lot of threads in the Q&A forum about care of musical instruments on the playa. I was thinking of a thread called "Instruments on the Playa" specifically. I found it and 4 or 5 other threads by going up to "Search" at the top center, entering the words Instruments on the playa into the search window, and clicking the button next to "search for all terms" (it is not the default choice). Not being a musician, I can't vouch for which ones are the best threads, so you can replicate my search and look for people who seem to know of what they speak.

But yeah, the superfine dust will get into everything, so don't bring an heirloom that can't be cleaned or something . . .

Welcome!

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:08 pm

My, my. If you can play like Pat, I'll certainly have a plop down and listen for as long as it lasts! What a treat.

Wondering if you could give me a heads up on how to pronounce that name of yours tho, so I don't completely embarass myself when come in with my congratulations and thanks.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:29 pm

You could research the theme camp lists on the main website, for camps that have live music, live acoustic music, sound systems for same... center camp also.

myself, I half ass it day in day out, and enjoy making music all the same.

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:37 pm

delle wrote:My, my. If you can play like Pat, I'll certainly have a plop down and listen for as long as it lasts! What a treat.

Wondering if you could give me a heads up on how to pronounce that name of yours tho, so I don't completely embarass myself when come in with my congratulations and thanks.

There are many guitarists who have technical ability similar to what I posted on this page. I have at least a half dozen friends living within about 20 miles of me who could duplicate those performances note for note (including myself). Great guitarists are a dime a dozen. What makes the difference in the music field is whether you can compose like Pat Metheny. There you will find that no one else really can. It's his composition abilities that make him so special.

There was a guitarist I met in Chicago around the time of the Bulls first win against the LA Lakers in a place called the Green Mill on the north side. His name was Vreed Hox (not sure of the spelling, but sounds like Hock). That guy was playing whole chords at the same speed that Metheny does guitar leads. He was technically the most gifted player I have ever seen and I've seen thousands... I asked him why he wasn't famous and he said that he never wrote anything original. He always did other people's work. You can't make it to the top levels of the music profession if you can't compose.

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:46 pm

So are you telling me that your name is a composition that must actually be played???

I might be able to hum it if I heard it first. Maybe.

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:15 pm

delle wrote:So are you telling me that your name is a composition that must actually be played???

I might be able to hum it if I heard it first. Maybe.

I won't look like I normally do in public because I will be dressed for burning man and will probably be unrecognized.

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:25 pm

Okay then. Jack it is.

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:14 pm

Here's a few favorites... doing a great job...

[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]

I11I1II1 · Post by **I11I1II1** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:56 pm

delle wrote:Okay then. Jack it is.

How about eye 2 eye, one 2 one?

delle · Post by **delle** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:40 am

I11I1II1 wrote:
delle wrote:Okay then. Jack it is.
How about eye 2 eye, one 2 one?

I have to agree that's better than Jack. Longer to type, but easier now (Thank you for that!).

Although Jack does have a certain Stealth Mode guarding power as Griffin's lesser-known first name in the Invisible Man. So you may want to keep that in your pocket for times of need.