ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

Miscellaneous => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: DannyjoeCarter on December 26, 2016, 01:34:49 PM

Title: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 26, 2016, 01:34:49 PM
Just wanted to say hello to everyone, new here.  :wave:

 Back in 1988 I discovered the ADA MP-1 and fell in love with it, though it would take three more years to gather the money to build my first rack system together. Glorious times for sure and glorious tones! I really seemed to come together playing wise during that period too!

 When the whole grunge era came out around 92' I actually had clubs here in the Las Vegas area by 94' ask me strongly to NOT use a rack system! They felt a more retro approach and look would be a better image for the local club scene. It was ridiculous but I needed to comply if I wanted to get my band out, so I started looking for heads and amps with pedals.

 Never truly been happy with any amp situation and it seems many big name bands and players are out there and still using racks, so I have returned to my roots! Just snagged 2 MP-1s for a tenth of the price I payed back in the 80's!

 So I found you Folks and I'm amazed by all the info on this forum and look forward to chatting with you all!

Dannyjoe
Title: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 26, 2016, 02:02:58 PM
Folks I'm new today to the forum but not new to the ADA MP-1! I have returned after so much grief of 20 years from amps and pedals and did not realize there was so much support for these products!

 I'm looking forward to chatting with all of you and grateful to find all this ADA information in one place!  :banana:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Kim on December 26, 2016, 03:36:51 PM
Welcome!   :wave:

(I merged two of your introductory posts together in this one Topic)
:ada-big:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 26, 2016, 04:12:57 PM
Hi DJC,

    Welcome to the Depot :wave:

     Harley 8)
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 27, 2016, 01:12:45 AM
Thank you very much Kim and Harley, so glad to have found this place and staying up to date on all things ADA!  :banana:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 27, 2016, 01:26:20 AM
Hey DJC, welcome to the depot. :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 30, 2016, 03:47:18 AM
Hey DJC,

    I visited some of the links you posted in your signature. Some interesting guitars you have there. I may want to pick your brains a little bit for some advice on a guitar I plan to start working on soon, if that's alright with you.


    Harley 8)
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 30, 2016, 10:42:54 AM
Hey Harley you got it my friend!  :thumb-up:
 
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 30, 2016, 12:19:59 PM
Wauw you're one hell of a guitar player, me like  ;D :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 30, 2016, 12:32:20 PM
Wauw you're one hell of a guitar player, me like  ;D :thumb-up:

   I was going to say that about him too. Did you get a load of that "Hummingbird" picking technique?
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 30, 2016, 01:04:09 PM
Man thank you guys for those kind words, I'm sure it's not for everyone but I'm glad a few like it  :thumb-up:
 As soon as I get my rack built I will post a video clip test driving the new system if you Folks don't mind!  :D
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 30, 2016, 02:14:22 PM
Yes, I saw you do some amazing things in your vids.
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 30, 2016, 09:15:35 PM
Man thank you guys for those kind words, I'm sure it's not for everyone but I'm glad a few like it  :thumb-up:
 As soon as I get my rack built I will post a video clip test driving the new system if you Folks don't mind!  :D

   Heck no, we don't mind Dan. We like vids and audio clips, and as far as rack rigs go, I think we still have a thread for posting pics of our rack rigs. We're gear sluts here :lol:

    BTW, I liked your tip of the hat to "Hey Joe," SWEET :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 31, 2016, 01:54:12 AM
Man well you guys all ROCK! I'm so grateful for the support and especially all the tips you all are giving on getting my rack rig back together!
 And Harley thank you for the kind words on Hey Joe - I was really afraid on that one I'd catch the torch for altering a classic and iconic song like that, definitely had on the flame suit! LOL! But thank you so much for the kind words Harley and everyone else.
You have made me feel really welcome here.  :bow:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 04:08:52 AM
Hey DjC, hey nice guitars, do you make them ?  And nice playing BTW  :thumb-up: :whoohoo!: .  I never though to explore your links until Harley mentioned it.  Hey Joe is a great song to rock up and lots of fun to solo to.  The attachment is a very old version I did with Pat Cash's Head Band.  You can pick out the guitars, Scotty used a Tokai LP through a very early SANs amp, and I used my Anderson Proam (Ultrasonic PUs) > MP1 (quadverb/desk/B200s, stereo quadbox).
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 31, 2016, 01:32:54 PM
@DJC, I also really like your version of hey Joe, you made it  more exciting and I really love the solo !!!
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 31, 2016, 02:07:55 PM
Thanks so much guys for all the kind words, really does mean a lot to me. And Hey Joe is a huge song and so much fun to play to!
And rnolan your version had some spice for sure Brother! Wicked cool version of that!  :headbanger:

 I'll share a story with you all since we are talking about Hey Joe so much;
 I had a hell of a time getting a release for that song; even though Tim Rose wrote the song, the Jimi Hendrix family foundation has all the rights and publishing and I could NOT get a release to put that on my last years album! So I turned it into an instrumental and changed the arrangement, then made the video ( for free, I make no money ) as an homage to Jimi Hendrix.
 Then I was finally given a release to put that on my last CD.
 Yeah the business side of music takes all the fun out of it!  >:(
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 31, 2016, 02:29:42 PM
Hey DjC, hey nice guitars, do you make them ?

 Yes by the way, so I forgot to reply to this rnolan. I've had endorsements with a few guitar companies and it was always a nightmare! But I have repaired and built instruments for 25 years and after having to sue a company for making a DJC sig model after I left their company, I started DeJayce Guitars. I have made things all by hand in the past, but for the consistency I prefer CNC.  So learned Solid Works and made my own DXF files for CAD and have a company rough out my necks and bodies, then take about 2 months and do all the finish sanding, additional routing and finished myself. DeJayce is very much an homage to the early Charvel Dinky, but with many things changed to suite me as a player and very personalized. Even though I have built and sold just about 30 they are not for everyone.
 I make them with a 20" radius and then do what I call a "Flat Crown" on the frets so the is no longer a radius - thus me guaranteeing a 1mm action! I have found very few players enjoy or can play an action that low.
 So this coming year I'm really focusing on getting myself out there with my new band as a player and have put DeJayce on the back burner. Very hard to make a living at this so I'm working a regular job now! Ahhh the joy of every week getting that pay check to take care of my wife and boys!!!!!!   :homer:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 31, 2016, 03:32:21 PM
Amazing, a 20" radius, that's flat.
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 31, 2016, 07:57:23 PM
Hey Dan,

   I agree with MJMP, that is pretty flat, probably too much so for me. I have three guitars with a 15" radius, and even that feels alien in my hands. I do like my action as low as I can get it, but for my personal taste, a 12" radius feels the best.

   You're absolutely correct about the business side of the industry, it does take the fun out of music. Back in the 80's I made it as far as a session/supporting guitarist, but I didn't like the scene and got out of it. With the internet available to us, we don't need the industry anymore. We can do whatever we want, and promote ourselves as much as we want right from our homes.
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 09:00:41 PM
Hey DjC, very cool  :thumb-up: .  Wow 20" is very flat, like a classical.

When I was younger I eeked out a living playing, building/repairing and audio engineering. A hard life financially but very enjoyable and I was doing what I loved.  I had to get a day gig when I decided to have a kid. Even after 20+ years now I still struggle to get up in the morning for a 9-5 job  :facepalm: .
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on December 31, 2016, 11:49:49 PM
Yeah DeJayce Guitars is the most selfish thing I've ever done but I wanted a "Nice" guitar that I didn't have to bastardize and kill the resell in order to get exactly what I wanted as a player. I'm a huge fan of flame maple and exotic tops so I'm very happy with everything I have made.
 So when I started making my own personal guitars students of mine as well as friends would come over see and play my guitars and really sweat me to make guitars for them. But all but one guy have all guy just are not able to used to all the "custom" stuff I have done and none of them play the DeJayces anymore. So I just do it for myself and will continue build my own collection.
 
 And Harley so many players agree with you about the 12" radius and dig the 12-14 Jackson style so my flat fingerboards freak guys out! LOL!  But there are home to me now.  :)
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on January 01, 2017, 12:58:30 AM
I totally understand, it's all about what feels right in your hand.

Myself, I am primarily a Strat player, so the 7" radius is not such a big deal to me, but I find it to be a nice middle ground with a 12" radius neck. I can get my action lower, and my speed improves a bit, and most importantly, I don't lose the clarity between notes. I think that is what makes the difference to me in what I hear. Even with extremely saturated overdrive and distortion, I still get a clarity of tone from my Strats that cut through, that I just don't get with a humbucker. The extra noise and hum I get from single coils is an issue I've dealt with for decades.
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on January 01, 2017, 02:04:14 AM
Yeah it really is amazing how we all arrive at our dream tones and instruments to become who we are as musicians.
Funny looking back in the day that beat up hybrid Charvel/Lynn Ellsworth Boogie Body guitar Eddie Van Halen played! But that worked for him and he made brilliant sounds with it and revolutionized guitar playing.
 But I am envious of you Harley for being able to find your magic on a strat. My life would have been much easier finding home on either or a Les Paul. There is a magic to being able to play a strat for sure!  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on January 01, 2017, 03:56:33 AM
When I start getting distracted by all the shizzle with the newer guitars, and catch myself thinking that I need to upgrade to this and that, I just have to remind myself that Jimi Hendrix didn't have all that stuff available in his day, and look what he did! I've had a lot of high performance guitars, but yet, I always seem to come back to the Strat.
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on January 01, 2017, 02:19:37 PM
When I start getting distracted by all the shizzle with the newer guitars, and catch myself thinking that I need to upgrade to this and that, I just have to remind myself that Jimi Hendrix didn't have all that stuff available in his day, and look what he did! I've had a lot of high performance guitars, but yet, I always seem to come back to the Strat.

 And yes what a sexy looking guitar the strat is - just beautiful and can create so many tones. You figure so many hot cats did their thing on the strat, Hendrix, Clapton, Trower SRV on and on, that sound is magic!
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on January 01, 2017, 06:00:08 PM
When I start getting distracted by all the shizzle with the newer guitars, and catch myself thinking that I need to upgrade to this and that, I just have to remind myself that Jimi Hendrix didn't have all that stuff available in his day, and look what he did! I've had a lot of high performance guitars, but yet, I always seem to come back to the Strat.

 And yes what a sexy looking guitar the strat is - just beautiful and can create so many tones. You figure so many hot cats did their thing on the strat, Hendrix, Clapton, Trower SRV on and on, that sound is magic!
   Yes it is, but the guitar is only half the equation, the other half is the fingers and the heart behind them :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on January 02, 2017, 01:42:44 PM
When I start getting distracted by all the shizzle with the newer guitars, and catch myself thinking that I need to upgrade to this and that, I just have to remind myself that Jimi Hendrix didn't have all that stuff available in his day, and look what he did! I've had a lot of high performance guitars, but yet, I always seem to come back to the Strat.

 And yes what a sexy looking guitar the strat is - just beautiful and can create so many tones. You figure so many hot cats did their thing on the strat, Hendrix, Clapton, Trower SRV on and on, that sound is magic!
   Yes it is, but the guitar is only half the equation, the other half is the fingers and the heart behind them :thumb-up:
Amen Brother!  :D
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Iperfungus on January 02, 2017, 05:01:45 PM
Wow!!!

You've some real MOJO, man!

And also very good skills on guitar.
Love your instrumental version of Hey Joe.

The overdriven sound is from a MP-1?  :banana:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Dante on January 02, 2017, 07:21:21 PM
Hey DannyJoe, Welcome!! How have I not seen this post? I have to go explore your music, after reading these rave reviews. I must tell you, it's hard to get a compliment out of Harley - Just Kidding Harley! just stirrin' it up  :lol:

Anyway, DJC...Welcome to the asylum,  :wave:  somebody should have the cookies around here somewhere (don't eat the brown ones). Can't wait to see how your rack rig comes out. I went the tap dancing ways of the amp head and myriad of pedals for a while...then went back to my multi-fx roots, but the rack was always sitting in the studio. So....after trying just about every other setup, the midi setup seems simplest. Just old, dusty, sometimes quirky...but usually fixable, thanks to the guys & gals in here.  :bow:

I'm interested to see some of your guitars too - I like playing a classical acoustic...that flat neck might be cool on an electric.

EDIT: Just watched a few vids  :bow: 
Hummingbird picking? Whow. As for covers, I liked Amazing Grace very much. I dig the way you bend with the whammy, I bend (probably too much) with my fingers so much I can't always identify the notes. haha. I'm lazy that way. Great stuff man, can't wait to hear some more stories (like that Hey Joe story)
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on January 03, 2017, 12:24:56 AM
Hey DannyJoe, Welcome!! How have I not seen this post? I have to go explore your music, after reading these rave reviews. I must tell you, it's hard to get a compliment out of Harley - Just Kidding Harley! just stirrin' it up  :lol:

Anyway, DJC...Welcome to the asylum,  :wave:  somebody should have the cookies around here somewhere (don't eat the brown ones). Can't wait to see how your rack rig comes out. I went the tap dancing ways of the amp head and myriad of pedals for a while...then went back to my multi-fx roots, but the rack was always sitting in the studio. So....after trying just about every other setup, the midi setup seems simplest. Just old, dusty, sometimes quirky...but usually fixable, thanks to the guys & gals in here.  :bow:

I'm interested to see some of your guitars too - I like playing a classical acoustic...that flat neck might be cool on an electric.

EDIT: Just watched a few vids  :bow: 
Hummingbird picking? Whow. As for covers, I liked Amazing Grace very much. I dig the way you bend with the whammy, I bend (probably too much) with my fingers so much I can't always identify the notes. haha. I'm lazy that way. Great stuff man, can't wait to hear some more stories (like that Hey Joe story)

Wow!!!

You've some real MOJO, man!

And also very good skills on guitar.
Love your instrumental version of Hey Joe.

The overdriven sound is from a MP-1?  :banana:


Well Folks I am moved, seriously by such a warm welcome and such support. I will tell you many years ago I use to post on different forums and it was always so short lived because I was attacked merely for what I enjoy doing. Drop my name in a few guitar forums and ask - many will say "Yeah DJC posted here but guys drove him away". Guys for years simply did not or would not accept my style or pretty much my entire approach to playing. I have always said there are no Guitar Police so just play and stop trying to call it this or that or say "Your holding your pick wrong" or "you're only using your thumb and index finger - that's wrong!"
  Things though have seemed to have changed these days and it's refreshing to hear kind words and support for what I love to do. So I am very grateful for the kindness you all have shown me on this great forum!

 Now to answer a question or two  - Iperfungus Howdy Man! No I do not have a single MP-1 sound clip posted anywhere - YET!!!! The vids I have are with different heads/amps, none of them I'm really happy with tone wise and I've gotten rid of them.

And Dante thank you for the kind words my friend! Another thing I love to do is make the trem sound like a slide guitar or lap steel! Those are my southern roots that always come out  ;D Man I love the delta blues and enjoy mixing that up with everything else  ;D
 And I have days worth of stories! Playing the guitar has been a trippy thing for me my whole life and I have run into the craziest situations just trying to do what I enjoy. So as things come up I'll share more Brother!  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Dante on January 03, 2017, 09:44:09 AM
And Dante thank you for the kind words my friend! Another thing I love to do is make the trem sound like a slide guitar or lap steel! Those are my southern roots that always come out  ;D Man I love the delta blues and enjoy mixing that up with everything else  ;D
 And I have days worth of stories! Playing the guitar has been a trippy thing for me my whole life and I have run into the craziest situations just trying to do what I enjoy. So as things come up I'll share more Brother!  ;D

Oh, I totally got that Lap Steel vibe from your bends. I use my fingers to do that stuff, it's tough to make it sound right. Bending one string while keeping another straight, then reversing them...etc. Great job!

FWIW: I don't care how you hold your goddamn pick - hell, I don't care if you pick with your feet, so long as you get the feel out of it. No wrong ways here...all subject to artist interpretation.  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: DannyjoeCarter on January 03, 2017, 03:04:31 PM
And Dante thank you for the kind words my friend! Another thing I love to do is make the trem sound like a slide guitar or lap steel! Those are my southern roots that always come out  ;D Man I love the delta blues and enjoy mixing that up with everything else  ;D
 And I have days worth of stories! Playing the guitar has been a trippy thing for me my whole life and I have run into the craziest situations just trying to do what I enjoy. So as things come up I'll share more Brother!  ;D

Oh, I totally got that Lap Steel vibe from your bends. I use my fingers to do that stuff, it's tough to make it sound right. Bending one string while keeping another straight, then reversing them...etc. Great job!

FWIW: I don't care how you hold your goddamn pick - hell, I don't care if you pick with your feet, so long as you get the feel out of it. No wrong ways here...all subject to artist interpretation.  :thumb-up:

 Yes I agree Dante it's all about feel for sure. What I do is mix the trem with the finger vibrato and can make a Les Paul sound like I'm playing slide too. Ted Nugent used to do that on songs like Great white Buffalo. Having a good finger vibrato is so important because it really is a players signature. How many times do we all hear one note from a player and know who it is. I think if you're passionate about playing the instrument people will know it and feel it from you!  :D
 We need to have an ADA Depot Convention with a live jam!!!! Man that would be amazing to pull something like that off for this forum!!  :headbanger:
Title: Re: Hello from Las Vegas Nevada
Post by: Harley Hexxe on February 15, 2017, 07:31:29 AM
Since I was offline when you made the comment Dante...You're always stirring the pot! :lol:

    and my pick is bullet-proof!

    Harley 8)