| userName | text |
| mdrs |
Hi Christopher!! Welcome to The String Network, and to this Sunday’s “Live Chat”. Before we start, I want to post the rules so members are reminded how this works!! |
| mdrs |
For you members, when you have a question, make one post saying “ I have a question” …I will log your name and make a list based on the order in which you logged in with your “ I have a question” post. If after your question is answered, you have another question, or follow up on your original question, I will give you an opportunity to ask it right away. . Please remember Chris will be doing allot of typing, give him time to respond and I am sure this will go very well. |
| Rampdog |
quit walkin in my line |
| mdrs |
So, Christopher, how did you start in music? What was your first instrument? Please tell us about your musical education as well. |
| OccTone |
i started playing piano when i was 8 years old and detested it |
| mdrs |
Why? |
| OccTone |
i quit, then started up again thren quit again |
| OccTone |
lol |
| OccTone |
it hurts my wrists for some reason |
| OccTone |
anyway my step mothers grandfather owned a bar and we got the piano that was in it |
| mdrs |
How old were you? |
| OccTone |
i was 8 |
| OccTone |
so based on me qutting piano 2 times my parents refused to buy me a guitar |
| mdrs |
8o |
| OccTone |
then i met a few older guys in my neighborhood |
| OccTone |
one played drums |
| OccTone |
the other bass and guitar |
| OccTone |
the one who played bass and guitar had a gibson the paul |
| OccTone |
and he started teaching me chords here and there |
| OccTone |
my parents saw how into it i was |
| OccTone |
so they let me buy my first acoustic guitar, a carlos |
| OccTone |
this was when I was 12 |
| mdrs |
How old were you then? |
| mdrs |
LOL |
| OccTone |
that was my first band called Raspberry Jam |
| OccTone |
we played stones, hendrix, cream, chuck berry |
| mdrs |
Where did you grow up? |
| OccTone |
my Dad loves Derek and the Dominoes and Cream and zz top etc. so I always gravitated too that |
| OccTone |
rural CT is where I grew up a farm town |
| mdrs |
So, Do you have formal musical training? |
| Dr._Ellwood |
I have a question: |
| OccTone |
mind you i was 14 when Van Halen 1984 came out and all my friends finger tapped and played cramers |
| OccTone |
i have a bachelos degree from the u of miami, fla in studio music and jazz guitar |
| mdrs |
and, you were into Eric and Duane?? |
| mdrs |
NICE |
| mdrs |
How did you like U of Miami? |
| OccTone |
ya, my Mother passed away when I WAS AN INFANT FROM lYMPHOMA AND dEREK AND THE D'S GOT MY dAD THROUGH THAT VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN HIS LIFE |
| OccTone |
I'VE been listening to that record for as long as I can remember |
| OccTone |
i loved Miami, it was a very difiicult 4 years, it is a very tough program but i took a great deal away from it |
| mdrs |
That's good to hear. WE have some youngsters on our forum looking for direction. |
| OccTone |
i can actually say that i have arranged for an 18 piece big band and handwritten all the charts, no comps to do the transposing back then, lol |
| mdrs |
Very cool. |
| OccTone |
my fingers hurt just thinking about it |
| mdrs |
So, at some point you moved to NYC and were gigging out?? |
| OccTone |
wes montogomeries the days of wine and roses |
| mdrs |
THAT is very cool. |
| OccTone |
yes, in 1993 I came back to the NE lived at my folks in CT for about a month and came down to the city to start auditioning for gigs and to find an apartment |
| OccTone |
moved here, Sept 11, 1993 scary and weird |
| mdrs |
I bet it was.......... |
| mdrs |
What kind of music were you making? |
| OccTone |
power trio rock with blues style gtr |
| OccTone |
i put a band together that originally played instrumental power trio stuff |
| mdrs |
You, you have the education, theory skills, chops, and TONE!! |
| eman59 |
ooooooooooo yes he does\ |
| mdrs |
Are you still gigging? |
| OccTone |
me, drummer who played drums and triggered synth pads at the same time(friend of mine that is now the md for blue man group) and a bass player named zev katz who plays with brian ferry and steely dan now |
| OccTone |
lately i have not been gigging though i am getting the itch, i play and record every day though |
| mdrs |
Home recording?? |
| OccTone |
yes, i have been recording as long as i have been playing, most of my records have been done at home |
| mdrs |
OK.........How did you get into the whole Pedal thing? |
| OccTone |
i have been a pedal head for many years |
| mdrs |
Do tell.......... |
| mdrs |
:O |
| OccTone |
once i moved here and realized i couldn't bring an amp to any of my gigs and rehearsals pedals became my best friend :-) |
| OccTone |
most clubs here have amps and getting around town is a bit difiicult with a Marshall Half stack |
| mdrs |
So, living in the city means you don't have a car to bring gear to gigs??? |
| OccTone |
although i've been known to do it.... |
| OccTone |
i have a car now but didn't always and taking the subway with a half stack no worky |
| OccTone |
lol |
| ChatBot |
/login Hard_Tail |
| mdrs |
That's for sure. |
| mdrs |
OK, Let me ask Dr. Ellwood for his question now, please. |
| OccTone |
so I worked at a store here called 30th street guitars for a long time and would constantly try pedals out and buy and sell stuff |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Did you have any electronics background at all? |
| mdrs |
sorry, go ahead Christopher |
| mdrs |
we'll come back to Dr. Ellwoods question when you are done |
| OccTone |
no electronics background, i am self taught in that regard, but these days with books and the internet as resources as well as some friends who are highly regarded modders and designers i have learned alot |
| DaveDaDude |
I've got a question. |
| OccTone |
harry kolbe who some opf you may have heard of is a dear friend of mine |
| mdrs |
Tell us who Harry is, please. |
| OccTone |
he modded amps for yngwie, al dimeola and many others, most know him now for the atomic amps |
| mdrs |
O.K. |
| OccTone |
if you goto soundsmith.com that is harrys ancient website, lol |
| mdrs |
so, Harry taught you stuff? |
| OccTone |
whenever i would get stumped or have a question i couldn't figure out on my own i'd call harry |
| mdrs |
So, your first involvment was modding pedals? |
| OccTone |
actually, Michael Landau who is a good friend of mine and an amazing guitarist in a roundabout way is responsible for me getting into the mod thing |
| mdrs |
Really? |
| OccTone |
yes, pedals came first, mainly because amps can kill |
| OccTone |
9 volts not so mmuch |
| OccTone |
lol |
| mdrs |
TRUE |
| mdrs |
8o |
| OccTone |
Landau always used a japanese DS-1 and would get the most ridiculopus sound with it |
| mdrs |
How did Michael Landau get you going? |
| OccTone |
i got one and everytime i tried to use it it so8nded like ass masterson |
| OccTone |
lol |
| OccTone |
so one day I took the one i bought and started messing with it |
| OccTone |
reading about other peoples mods, trying things out and seeing how it ounded |
| OccTone |
when i finally got something i though sounded decent i brought it to 30th st for work one day |
| OccTone |
everyone I worked with begged me to do one for them |
| mdrs |
And, that ended up being The PMC?? |
| OccTone |
so i thought hm, maybe i could help suppliment my income doing something i actually enjoy |
| OccTone |
that is indeed the pmc, actually hiram bullock god rest his soul bought serail number 1 of the pmc |
| mdrs |
NO KIDDING!! |
| OccTone |
yeah |
| OccTone |
he and i became pretty good friends he went to miami back in the day and was friends with my teacher |
| mdrs |
Most of us may remember Hiram from Paul Schaefer's band, right? On Letterman? |
| OccTone |
yep, that's him he recently passed away |
| mdrs |
Sadly |
| OccTone |
check out his solo on Stings version of Little Wing, he was a badass |
| mdrs |
I will do that!! |
| OccTone |
so basically i started making small batches of the pmc and selling them at 30th street |
| mdrs |
So, let me ask Dave to speak up with his question, and we'll come back to more pedal questions......Dave, you're on!! |
| OccTone |
i'd bring 5 in and they'dbe gone in a few days so i went from there |
| DaveDaDude |
If it's so "damned easy" to mod these pedals, why don't the manufacturers make them that way in the first place? |
| OccTone |
i really don't know |
| OccTone |
i think alot of it is that most of these guys designing these pedals are engineers not guitarists |
| OccTone |
i have approached boss about making a pedal but they have no interest |
| mdrs |
Perhaps that's why custom pedals are really hot these days????? |
| OccTone |
i think the reason people like mike fuller and brian wampler have been so successful is that they use there ears to design not a voltmeter |
| Dr._Ellwood |
I have a question: |
| mdrs |
Do you have a follow up, Dave? |
| mdrs |
then Ellwood |
| OccTone |
voltmeter is important to see why you like the sound of something, but good ears help you decide WHAT sounds good |
| DaveDaDude |
No, but a different question. |
| mdrs |
OK, well, let's have Lee, and then back to Dave |
| DaveDaDude |
That answer kind of stunned me. I expected, "money". |
| mdrs |
Dr. Ellwood? |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Dave first |
| mdrs |
OK>>>>>>>>>>Dave, you're back on!! |
| OccTone |
money has nothing to do with it |
| DaveDaDude |
Mine's really kind of mundane. I can't seem to find a sound byte sample of the PMC pedal. Where is it? |
| OccTone |
pedals are alot like cd's |
| OccTone |
when you buy an artists cd you are not buying the physical CD, you are buying the right to listen to the music |
| OccTone |
ah, my website soundclips got messed up, i'll post when i get it fixed |
| Dr._Ellwood |
What in your opinion is the perfect Rock and Roll tone? I mean amp wise. |
| OccTone |
that's a tough question |
| OccTone |
i think it really depends on the player |
| DaveDaDude |
No problem. Just thought I was being obtuse. Thanks! Take your time. ;) |
| OccTone |
for me i love my fender pro jr's into bigger cabs |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Ok, I thought you might say Marshall, ok thanks... |
| OccTone |
for eman it's a jcm800 with the gain down and a pedal in front |
| eman59 |
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm |
| OccTone |
marshalls are good |
| OccTone |
fenders are good |
| OccTone |
voxes are good |
| OccTone |
hiwatts are good |
| OccTone |
lol |
| OccTone |
i like em all |
| OccTone |
i've actually tried to get my plying to the point where i can get comfortable with any gear |
| mdrs |
So, when you are gigging, Christopher, you're playing what guitar thru that Pro Jr.?? |
| OccTone |
i love the fact that jeff beck is so whatever when it comes to his gear... |
| OccTone |
the only thing prescious to him seems to be the music and his cars |
| OccTone |
i generally play strats with humbuckers in the bridge or jazzmasters with a humbucker in the bridge |
| mdrs |
How does the PMC MK 2 differ from The PMC? |
| OccTone |
i like neck singele coils and bridge PAF's |
| OccTone |
wel there's the PMC and then the MK2 |
| OccTone |
THE MK2 is a bit more open sounding, less mids |
| mdrs |
So, each is a different mod on the Boss DS-1??? |
| OccTone |
generally people seem to prefer the pmc |
| OccTone |
yes the pmc anfd the mk2 are 2 different mods |
| OccTone |
keith richards uses a pmc |
| OccTone |
billy gibbons has both versions |
| mdrs |
THAT IS COOL.........B) |
| mdrs |
Who else is using your stuff? |
| mdrs |
Those are two qualified players...........LOL |
| eman59 |
may I say something please.... |
| mdrs |
Yes, Eliot, you are on |
| OccTone |
let's see. gibbons, keith richards, hiram, goo goo dolls, vertical horizon, a few bass players such as ryen sinn from angels and airwaves |
| mdrs |
Impressive list. |
| OccTone |
the black crowes and mississippi all stars |
| eman59 |
you ot to play the pedals.....they work like amps.....when the pedal is on and you turn down your amp, your sound cleans up |
| OccTone |
that's really what i was going for with them |
| eman59 |
THEY WORK...... |
| eman59 |
AND WORK VERY WELL |
| OccTone |
i wanted 1 distortion pedal that i could usefor all my dirt sounds |
| OccTone |
i use the volume on my guitar allot |
| eman59 |
that's being a man !!!!! |
| OccTone |
for years I ran a ts-9 into a tc distortion booster for my sound |
| OccTone |
i wanted one pedal to replace the 2 |
| mdrs |
Please, Christopher, tell us how you use your PMC..... |
| DaveDaDude |
I've got a question... after Christopher tells us how he uses the PMC of course. ;) |
| OccTone |
i basically set the pmc with the tone around 1 o'clock, the volume at unity and the gain almost all the way up |
| mdrs |
And, use your guitar's vol to go from clean to dirty? |
| OccTone |
then i just use my volume on my guitar to set how much dirt i want on th sound |
| eman59 |
may I ask another |
| OccTone |
yeah, i leave it on all the time, lol |
| mdrs |
How do you set up your amp? |
| OccTone |
pro jr is easy volume on 6 tone on six |
| OccTone |
less knobs means theres less chance to mess up your sound |
| OccTone |
lol |
| ChatBot |
/login strategery |
| eman59 |
hmmmmmmmm |
| OccTone |
the cab is the most important thing in the chain for me |
| mdrs |
So you amp is on the edge of breakup? |
| OccTone |
i always use closed back cabs |
| OccTone |
yes, i like my amp just breaking up a hair |
| mdrs |
Eliot, you have another question? |
| OccTone |
i generally do not like tube amps turned all the way up |
| mdrs |
Even Plexi? |
| OccTone |
tone wise that is |
| Dr._Ellwood |
8o |
| eman59 |
Chris, please talk about the other pedal you make...... |
| OccTone |
well, a good plexi turned up with the right guitar is very nice |
| Dr._Ellwood |
:D |
| OccTone |
fgood being the operative word |
| mdrs |
Yes, I want to hear about the Elmore Supreme......... |
| mdrs |
http://www.occtone.com/Elmore_Supreme_Boost.html |
| OccTone |
well, after i had been doing the ds-1 for sometime i decided it was time to start designing a few of my own things |
| OccTone |
so i started thinking about some different things |
| OccTone |
what's funny is I have never used a clean boost before mine |
| OccTone |
there are so many boutique pedals that are just high end mods of existing circuits |
| OccTone |
i wanted to come out with something unique |
| OccTone |
so I started messing with some things that were different and that's where elmore came from |
| OccTone |
elmore is not like any other boost pedal |
| OccTone |
my new distortion proto type isn't either, they are unique new circuits that I came up with |
| mdrs |
How did you come to naming it The Elmore Supreme? |
| OccTone |
Elmore James is my all time favorite blues musician, I named one of my yorkies mister elmore james and then i named the pedal after my dog elmore, lol |
| OccTone |
supreme was just a marketing gimick, lol |
| mdrs |
So, is your new prototype available yet? |
| OccTone |
i love supreme pan pizzas |
| mdrs |
:P Can you tell it's dinner time?? |
| OccTone |
not yet, i am talking with a rather large company about possibl7y partnering to oput it out |
| strategery |
:D |
| mdrs |
That would be great, Christopher!! |
| OccTone |
i made a prototype they have that is the elmore and the z-drive in one pedal |
| OccTone |
both true bypass and you can use them individually or together |
| mdrs |
Keep us posted about how you do with that...... |
| OccTone |
the size of a tc pedal |
| OccTone |
eman has tried it out |
| OccTone |
he seemed to like it |
| OccTone |
lol |
| eman59 |
ooooo yes I did |
| mdrs |
Eliot, what did you think of it???? |
| eman59 |
LOVE IT |
| eman59 |
Doc....wanna dorrow one of mine ? |
| mdrs |
YES |
| eman59 |
borrow |
| mdrs |
GOTCHA |
| Dr._Ellwood |
I have a question: |
| eman59 |
we will talk |
| OccTone |
actuallt doc i still owe you a ds1 to checkout i didn't forget |
| mdrs |
I'm good for it......... |
| eman59 |
what's mine is yours and you know that |
| eman59 |
your great doc |
| mdrs |
WEll, Christopher, I'd like a Elmore too........I plan on testing, and recording, and I can post some audio clips on our forum |
| OccTone |
cool, still waiting fo prts on those |
| mdrs |
Christopher, how did you become "endorsed" by DiMarzio?? |
| eman59 |
may I say something |
| mdrs |
go ahead Eliot/ |
| OccTone |
i'll let you know when they ship, looking at some different boxes so i don't have to hand drill each one uin the corner of my apt, lol |
| eman59 |
The great thing about dealing with Chris is that he listens to guitar sound BUT he also listens to people...... |
| OccTone |
harry kolbe who i mentioned earlier is good friends with steve blucher who designs all of DimARZIOS PU'S |
| eman59 |
what the people have to say |
| OccTone |
HE INTRODUCED US AND sTEVE LIKED MY PLAYING AND MUSIC SO THERE YOU HAVE IT |
| eman59 |
means a lot....Chris has total respect for everyone |
| OccTone |
Blucher is an AMAZING pickup designer |
| OccTone |
the new DiMarzio 37th anniversary PAF'S AE KILLIN |
| mdrs |
Really? Should I put them in my Koa Les Paul I'm building, or go with Antiquities??? ;) |
| mdrs |
LOL |
| OccTone |
LARRY dImARZIO ACTUALLY JUST CAME TO EMAN'S AND MY gc FOR A VISIT ABOUT A MONTH AGO |
| mdrs |
You are also endorsed by GHS?? |
| OccTone |
I like the DiMarzio's but ymmv |
| OccTone |
yes, my good friend Julien Kasper who i mentioned in a post recently turned me onto these GHS burnished nickle strings |
| OccTone |
they are just killer sounding, he recomended me to their artist guy and he loved my playing so they signed me up |
| mdrs |
Cool!! |
| OccTone |
i use ghs burnished nickle .011's on everything |
| OccTone |
they are a pain to mfind at stores though |
| OccTone |
which is why i'm glad about the endorsement |
| OccTone |
lol |
| mdrs |
I know that in your position at Guitar Center in New York City that you come across many unique pieces of gear. Can our members contact you when they are interested in specific pieces of gear? How might they go about contacting you? |
| OccTone |
they can call me or eliot directly at gc, I am an asistant manager and eliot is in charge of vintage |
| Dr._Ellwood |
I have a question: |
| OccTone |
the main gc number is 212-463-7500 |
| mdrs |
Thank you |
| mdrs |
Go ahead Lee |
| OccTone |
being a flagship store we get some very cool pieces in |
| Dr._Ellwood |
is the Elmore anything like the Klon? |
| mdrs |
then, unless anyone else has questions, we'll wrap up..... |
| OccTone |
no it isn't anything like a klon, the klon is a most interesting pedal in that it is a boost and a drive in one pedal |
| OccTone |
circuit wise, the klon is totally original not derivative of anything before it |
| OccTone |
like the elmore |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Ok thanks! |
| mdrs |
I can't wait to have an elmore of my very own!! |
| OccTone |
bill finnegan spent a good deal of tme creating that pedal |
| Dr._Ellwood |
hes a great guy!! Love Bill! |
| mdrs |
I'd like to just mention our sincere sorrow at hearing about the untimely passing of Bob Sweet recently |
| OccTone |
the drive knob is actually 2 pots ganged on top of one another from 0 to noon is the boost pot from noon to full up is a different pot altogether |
| mdrs |
of Sweet Sounds, his Mojo Vibe is THE BEST. We will miss him a lot. |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Thanks Doc..I had a real bad time today after finding out about Bob |
| OccTone |
yeah, Bob was a genuinely great person, I spoke with him a bunch when I worked at 30th street |
| mdrs |
He was one of the good guys. |
| OccTone |
absolutely |
| mdrs |
Any other member questions? |
| mdrs |
if not......... |
| mdrs |
Christopher, it’s been our pleasure to host you for this informative Live Chat. On behalf of The String Network, Lee, Craig, and myself, and all of our members, I’d like to sincerely thank you for your time. |
| mdrs |
Please note that we will set up a thread in the Guitar Section of our forum for follow up questions for Christopher. And, Christopher, please do not be a stranger. We really enjoy your presence on the forum, and encourage you to be a frequent visitor!! |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Transcript Doc |
| OccTone |
cool, if you guys have any questions in the future please feel free to drop me a line |
| Dr._Ellwood |
follow up thread Doc |
| OccTone |
you'll definitely see me around |
| mdrs |
http://www.occtone.com/ |
| Rampdog |
Thanks... even though I just lurked |
| eman59 |
have a great night everyine |
| mdrs |
All you you are welcomed to stay and chat as long as you'd like. |
| OccTone |
take care, I am going to leave eliots office now and head out for some dinner |
| OccTone |
lol |
| mdrs |
Christopher.......great job |
| OccTone |
thanks for having me guys and doc we'll talk soon |
| mdrs |
Looking forward to that, christopher |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Chris stand by a second ..OK |
| OccTone |
eman i'll see you first thing manyana |
| OccTone |
sure |
| mdrs |
Love you Eliot!! |
| mdrs |
:P |
| OccTone |
still here dr e |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Chris,m a transcript of you interview will be available very soon ..most likely tonight |
| OccTone |
cool |
| mdrs |
it will stay permanently on our forum. |
| mdrs |
Hey, if you can, when you get your web site updated, put a link in for us!! |
| Dr._Ellwood |
Chris we will make a new thread that is only for follow up questions from people and it will be in the Docs Pub posting area |
| mdrs |
:P:) |
| OccTone |
i'll put a link to the string network on my occtone links page when i get time to fix things |
| Dr._Ellwood |
YOU RAWK CHRIS AND THANKS |
| mdrs |
Lee......LOL....we're gonna do it again..make two threads... |
| mdrs |
LOL |
| OccTone |
ok, i'll make sure to look on the thread and answer any questions |
