Rockin’ out at the bottom of the line

There’s an old adage about buying the least expensive home in the best neighborhood you can (something we in the Mikerophonography family did and boy, are we happy we did). Sometimes, the same holds true with guitar gear — buying the least expensive model (with caveats) from a good company will net you a fun-to-play…

For long-form digital recording, try a cheap DAT(e)

Here at Mikerophonography, recording high quality audio on the cheap — getting good sound down in a reliable, high quality way without spending a ton — is at the heart of what we do. Using technology of yesteryear is one good way to do that. Digital Audio Tape — DAT for short — was the…

Two Epis = twice the fun!

Working on getting broader, more complex guitar sound with the gear in the basement. Tonight, I mic’d my Epi Valve Junior Combo (Bitmo Spanky’d) and my Valve Junior head running into a Marshall 4×12 cabinet with a pair of Blue Ball mics, into my little mixer and out into an old Sony consumer-level DAT recorder….

My Top 11 for 2009

While I didn’t get any of these on vinyl this year, here are my top 11 records for 2009… Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 • Goodnight Oslo Gomez  • A New Tide Phoenix • Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Ben Harper & Relentless7 • White Lies for Dark Times Roman Candle • Oh Tall Tree In…

Coming soon: Adventures with my Valve Junior

I recently got up the nerve to dig into my Epiphone Valve Junior combo and install Bruce Hutcheon’s BITMO Spanky upgrade. It was simple to do, with excellent instructions.  While I was shaking and sweating the whole time (not a good thing to be doing with a soldering iron), after about 45 minutes my amp…

Record everything…

During the past month or so, I’ve taken to recording my guitar practice sessions. I’m finding it a great way to figure out what sounds good, what recording techniques might work best, and whether or not there might be a good song idea in my electric noodling. When practicing, I record everything to minidisc.  I…

Rick-o-sound: Moving in Stereo

When it comes to guitars, my pride & joy is a 1991 Rickenbacker 360.  This beautiful six-string was a gift from my wife (is she the coolest or what?) after years of pointing them out on stage at concerts or club shows.  One day, I’ll share the whole story; today, I want to tell you…

A Premiere find…

The guitar is a big part of Mikerophonography.  As you’ll see as the days go on, playing and recording guitar is really the basis for a lot of what goes on here.  I’m a big fan of the six-string (12-strings are right up there, as are the four-string bass variety) and am often looking for…