Salvation

Post date: Mar 11, 2012 6:12:11 AM

One of the objectives of this blog is to introduce music that might not otherwise be heard.  There are several songs that I've been meaning to record, but they're all by artists that I've previously featured here.  Amongst them are several Trampled by Turtles songs that I've yet to record.  The song "Salvation" is one of them.  I took this opportunity to do my first overdub with a mandolin.  I'm amazed how nice this mandolin sounds given that it is a very inexpensive instrument ($80 off craigslist).  It really adds to the song as it gives it just the right texture.  For those not familiar with fretted instruments, a mandolin is tuned the same as a fiddle (the four lower pitched strings on a guitar but upside down, G-D-A-E).  I've learned a lot about the instrument since I started playing it a few weeks ago.  I'd describe it as a mixture of fiddle and guitar/lute.  If you listen to mandolin, the melodies sound a lot like fiddle tunes.  One unique aspect is double-picking (you can hear this part way through the solo in this song at about 1:22), which is probably inherited from the lute.  The most interesting part of recording this was the mandolin solo which was a very different experience than putting together a guitar solo because of the tuning and the different melodies that can be found.

Production notes: first track recorded was vocals and guitar (Martin dreadnaught restrung w/ medium strings) via a Rode NT1 mic.  Next track was mandolin recorded with the same mic panned 60 db to the right).  Telecaster was recorded and panned left 60 db, both pickups run through Fender Superchamp XD direct from the line out.  For the solo, when the mandolin rhythm is mute a second Telecaster track was recorded (same method, but on the neck pickup only).  Harmonies were EQ'd hard with "vintage" setting on tube compressor plugin.  Most tracks were EQ'd and slight reverb was added.

Salvation (MP3)