Couple Questions Jim...Pedals & Arranging

Comments

• JimCampilongo

  November 2013 edited November 2013

  I will reference a few real books for progression/melody then listen to as many versions as I can... In this case, the most important/influential being Louis Armstrong's version. Then I try to make it into something I believe.
• campinout

  November 2013

  Aaron, I have seen Jim live at least 20 times and I do not ever recall seeing him use effects pedals. Just the tele directly into the Fender silverface. The pure twang! Jim is heavy on the Fender reverb, I don't imagine any pedal would improve the tone or better achieve what he is going for. I personally use pedals with vintage amps, but only in the clean channel or with the reverb completely off. In my opinion a true spring reverb will sound best on its own, without pedals. I learned this by listening to Jim play and then playing on my own.
  
  That is the great thing about a Fender Super Reverb or Guild Thunderstar, they have the clean channel and also the reverb/vibrato channel. So u can run a pedal rig into the clean and then a straight signal into the reverb. Then, just hit the footswich and u have a straight signal into the clean (w the reverb clicked off on the footswitch) without going through the pedal rig in the clean channel...if that makes any sense.
  
  I have seen Jim play with the band High Space and he may be experimenting with different things and settings with that band, including pedals, but nothing too serious if so. They have some nasty grooves, but most seems to be improv, and they do not gig very often.
  
  If I am wrong, Jim or someone else please correct me...but my understanding is Jim's secret weapon is not such a secret. Get a Fender reverb amp and dime it! (Both the reverb and the volume!). Or just turn it up as much as u possibly can. There are some great pedals out there, but u won't find too many at Jim Campilongo shows. unless I am going blind.
  
• AaronW

  November 2013

  Right campinout. I know Jim primarily goes tele into amp. But I don't know any guitarist who doesn't like to toy with effects from time to time. Even the album Orange had some effects at different points from what I remember.
  
  I was just curious if Jim has discovered any new effects that he has liked. I had never heard of Crazy Tube Circuits until Jim talked about the Stardust pedal.
• JimCampilongo

  November 2013 edited November 2013

  Great posts and yes Campinout- you pretty much summed it up nicely. Dime an amp.
  
  Additionally, I like and use the Stardust Pedal (Blackface), Red Muck, Delay Llama, Waterfall, Fuzz Phrase, Starlight pedal all made by either Jam pedals or Crazy Tube Circuits... I've recently been using "The Distillery" which is a subtle overdrive not unlike the Klon Centaur and it makes the guitar sound like it's on steroids. A great pedal.... http://www.toneconcepts.com/
  
  And I love my Boomerang Phrase Sampler, First Edition.
  Other worth mentioning RC-20 Loop Station, Line 6 Delay, The Pedal Steel Black Box, Compulator Compressor, the Jim Dunlop Volume Pedal, and the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Wah, Peterson Strobe Tuner...
  That about sums it up...
  Basically, when I use effects in a context that isn't serving someone else... I use a distortion pedal (either the Stardust Pedal (Blackface), Starlight Pedal, Red Muck, Fuzz Phrase, The Distillery), a Cry Baby Wah Wah and one or two Boomerangs as my basic set up.
  
  I hope some other folks here can describe their experiences with these pedals, or others.
  
  There is more info about my equipment here...
  http://jimcampilongo.com/about/gear.php
  
• jepa

  November 2013

  I was interested to hear a little about your arranging here Jim - had always wanted to ask a similar question(s) about your writing technique - so maybe I'll just tag here rather than start a new thread.
  
  When you write your own tunes - do you write them on music paper in standard notation - or make notes to yourself in your own short-hand - or....none of those.
  
  Also - how is a tune (one of yours) presented to your band. Are they - for example - given a lead sheet with the harmony to follow? And how much do you steer the rhythm section - do you give them a long leash so to speak or are you pretty specific about what you want.
  
  Would love to hear about this stuff when you get the time.
  
  Anxiously also waiting for the new album to come out. Love your tunes - please come to Chicago to play.
• AaronW

  November 2013

  I'll second Jepa's comment about coming to Chicago! I've got Princeton's if you need an amp to use
• campinout

  November 2013

  happy I left the door open for High Space, I went back and watched the video and sure Jim is using pedal(s). also did not consider studio albums in my previous reply. I have heard Jim make so many differnt sounds with just the guitar and the amp, never gave much thought to how he may incorporate effects pedals. I can tell u this I have had nights when I was sitting up front at the Living Room, I would close my eyes to really sink into the music and you can quite literally feel the amp pounding air into your chest when Jim slashes away at it. it is just so incredibly loud, like nothing else you have ever experienced. someone should make a pedal that does that! You watch the videos and think it is killer, but that is nothing compared to being there live. That would all knock you over if you were there in the flesh. have to say im gonna miss that place.