Musical firefighters....

[Scene25]

I know this is not a fire related post, but this is the most visited, so here it goes.

Who out there in the fire service plays an instrument or 2, and what brands, type of music do you play.


I play guitar, and music ranges from Led Zeppelin, SRV, Oasis, Pearl Jam, to Garth Brooks etc. I have a Martin D35 acoustic, a Fender Strat, and a Fender Tele.

Figured I would see what kind of response I could get.

Have fun, and be safe.

[fireman14us]

I play guitar. I like to play SRV, Hendrix, Metallica, jazz, pretty much everything. My main guitars are a Fender SRV Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul XR-III. (My gear is better than my playing though ;))

[ 08-01-2001: Message edited by: fireman14us ]

[Scene25]

Les Paul...nice.... thats next on my agenda. : )

Forgot to mention, gotta love Neil Young on my Martin acoustic. That witha lil harmonica makes for a good night around the fire with some beer.

Take Care and Be Safe

[firefighter15_wv]

Good Post.....at least I think so. Anyway, I play guitar, and I play anything from CCR and Eric Clapton, to Metallica and Pantera. My heros are Clapton, Vaughn, Hendrix, and Hetfield, and I can play a little of each. I recently started playing with a drumer who is more into the heavier styles of music, so I have been playing alot in the stlye of Metallica, Pantera, &AC/DC.

My gear isn't too special..I have a Martin Stinger (Strat clone) played through a Peavy Special 130 reverb amp. However, the next item on my gear list is a Gibson Explorer (ya know, the guitar James Hetflied plays) and a Digitech effects processor

[CaptainGonzo]

I put myself through school playing bass guitar in a rock band. I have owned a Dan Armstrong/Ampeg bass guitar (the one with the plexiglass body), a Fender Jazz Bass and a Gibson G-3 bass. My amp was a 100 watt Marshall bass amp (you gotta love the sound of tubes!) with Traynor cabinets, containing 4 15" Altec Lansing speakers. I sold it all just after I got married, I now have a 1970's vintage Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar to play every once in a while. Back in the day, the band I was in (guitar, bass, drums and two keyboardists) did original material, covers and a Pink Floyd tribute.

[bgfdchick]

I play acoustic guitar. I had a band when I lived in Ohio called Girl Band...I guess we were the undiscovered Dixie Chicks (never heard of them when we formed and named our band).

[dmsmith]

I play most of the brass instruments. I was in the active duty Army Band for 9 years and have been in the reserve band for 12yrs now. I tried to learn the bass guitar but after awhile I just didn't have the patience for it.

[Scene25]

Wow, I am surprised at getting these posts back. Cool!!!

Anyway, Captain Gonzo, I agree with you 100%. There is nothing like the sound of a tube amp!!!

I have a small Crate Amp that I play electrics through, but most of the music I play is acoustic, as I LOVE the sound of my Martin D35 through my Fender Acoustic Amp. The Amp is 160 Watts stereo (80x80), and has two independent channels.

Other than that, thanks for the posts, and keep em coming.

Take Care and Be Safe

[MrFreeze]

I noodle around on an Alvarez acoustic and pretty much just try to keep from embarrassing myself. That's tough!

There is just somethin classic about tube amp sound, heard a guy in Memphis putting a dobro through an old Danelectro (I think, I had my beer goggles on) tube, slide blues ya know. Schwing!

<--------on one knee: bgfd, will you marry me? hahaha

[A/C 102]

I'm surprised, this many posts and no drummers yet! :D I've played the same set of red Ludwig Vista-Lites since I was 13. All these years and never had a soundman complain about them once! As far as styles of music, I've done everything from heavy metal to jazz and everything in between. My most recent gig was playing top 40 country for the last five years. I quite the band to work on becoming a career firefighter and I miss it. :cool:

[killerb]

I played guitar in a band in high school, using a Gibson Les Paul Jr. (single pickup)and a 1967 Gibson ES-335 TDC through a Fender Super Reverb (pre-CBS) amp.

Still kicking myself (ouch!) for trading that stuff off after I got married and got "responsible".

Now I have a Yamaha SE-something (cheap strat clone), an Arbor (good guitars if you can still find one), and a Gibson L6S that I play through a single 12 Carvin amp.

I'm also playing keyboards...Hammond B3 with dual Leslies plus a Korg X3 through a Randall keyboard amp.

Was playing in a classic rock band around Tulsa for last 5 years or so (50's - 60's oldies band 5 years before that)...band broke up in February, but trying to put another one together at the moment with various remnants of previous bands.

Most fun you can have standing up.

[KyraE]

Been playing guitar for about 7 years now on and off. I've got a cheapie old acoustic, and as soon as I'm not a poor college student any more, I plan on buying a new one. Any suggestions for acoustic brands that are high quality but not out-of-the-ballpark expensive? I also dabble in piano, which I've loved since I was 8 years old.

[Scene25]

KyraE, to be honest, a Fender or Tacoma is a decent acoustic for the price.

I have played pretty much every type of acoustic guitars, and my favorite is the Martin D35 for sound, quality, appearance etc. Problem with Martin guitars is this: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

My D35 was $1600.00, and it is one of the best Martins out there, however, not the best. If you get a chance, play a Tacoma Acoustic (ballpark $500 - $600), and I feel for the money, that would be your choice. Either way, let me know what you purchase.

Keep the posts coming.

Take Care and Be Safe

[MrFreeze]

Two schools of thought on this:
1. You look stupid if got a 5K Gretsch and no chops.
2. If you buy a 5K Gretsch, you will force yourself to get hella chops. I had to slip in the hella, represent NorCal.

Most of the Fender acoustics I've seen would make a great starter, and I think they all (?) come with pickups. Here they're like 200-400. Whatever you do, buy something you dig the look and sound of. Pick something that speaks to you, that way you'll free it from the confines of its case more often...

[killerb]

Hey, Capt. Clay!!!

What do you call a person who hangs around with musicians?


A drummer.


(just kidding) ;)


Asst. Chief Bill

[ 08-03-2001: Message edited by: KillerB ]

[mongofire_99]

Driving along in my automobile, I play a mean steering wheel and air guitar!

And sing! Man I sound exactly like whoever is on.

OK, I'll go home now...

[Break-N-Entry]

I get even with my noisy nosey neighbors by breaking out a couple of six packs, dragging the old accordion out from under the bed, and playing Donna Summer's "Last Dance" over and over and over until they call the cops.

[CaptainGonzo]

KillerB...there's nothing as sweet as a B-3 through twin Leslies :cool:

[Firekatz04]

I can play the RADIO!!! Oh, and the nose, yeah, I play my nose...


But seriously, I sing (gee, where's all the vocalists :D) I drum a little... I know, drummers AIN'T musicians LOL, and some keyboard!

[Jeff Hendricks]

I play guitar and get a lot of tab music off of harmony central (HINT HINT)I Can play a thousand riffs but can only finish about 1/2 dozen songs. One of my partners at the station was a lead singer in a band out of vancouver BC. It was during the 80's he was in the opening band for Boston and Glass tiger. Its pretty cool he obtained free tickets for a boston concert for all us A-shifters with back stage passes. I actually have photos of myself and the lead singer of boston.

[killerb]

Captain Gonzo -

You are correct, sir.

I used the Korg by itself for a while. It has fairly decent organ sounds for a synth. Then one of the other guys in the band came up with an old Leslie 122, so I bought a Trek pre-amp. NOT TOO SHABBY -- Korg through the 122.

Then I found out a guy I work with rents B3s and Leslies on the side. He's got three B3's and seven Leslies.

He's a great guy - when we play, he drags that heavy ol' B3 out to the gig, brings another 122 and the dual cable to drive both of them. And he only charges me 20 bucks. Heck, if I owned it, I'd PAY somebody 20 bucks just to unload it and load it. Not too many local bands draggin' them around any more.

If some of you people don't know what we're talking about, when you hear a song and you think "boy that organ sounds good", it's probably a B3 through a Leslie cabinet.

I'm here to testify...NOTHING sounds like a Hammond except a Hammond. :D

Asst. Chief Bill

[huff317]

Well, since singing does matter, count me in. I try NOT to sound like whoever did the song originally, and have great success at that! Do a little singing with the church choir/cantata, some solo, and whatever drama production they put on--guess that makes me a "ham", not that anybody who knows me would disagree there! :D
Anybody know of any "Firehouse quartets" out there? I did say 'quartets', not quints!
:D :D

[ 08-04-2001: Message edited by: huff317 ]

[webteam]

We'll just throw this one out there...

As we just happened to be surfing the boards, one of our new live in members, who has won national championships, is playing a harp in our dayroom....not a bad way to relax before evening housework. She's a paramedic student at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.

WebTeam

[firefighter15_wv]

I got my dream guitar today. This is the guitar I have wanted since I started playing. Yep, I got my Gibson Explorer, that thing is nice. It has a great feel, tone, and sustain that is unreal, I love it. But i didn't get the Digitech effects processor like I originally wanted however, i did get the ZOOM 505II. That thing is sweet, it has 33 different effects, 4 amp modeling sounds, and a built in tuner. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg either.

[killerb]

Gibsons ROAR, man.

Now all you need is a Fender Twin Reverb.

<grin>

And a few chops.

[Scene25]

I finally broke down, and bought a PA System. Actually, my brother and I bought it. 1000 watt / 12 channel, 2 15"ers.

My question to the guitar posters...

What would you purchase along with the PA System for better sound in smaller clubs etc?

[Scene25]

Originally posted by Scene25
I finally broke down, and bought a PA System. Actually, my brother and I bought it. 1000 watt / 12 channel, 2 15"ers.

My question to the guitar posters...

What would you purchase along with the PA System for better sound in smaller clubs etc? :eek:

[Medic162]

What a great idea for a post! I'm a huge fan of jazz (probably will lose a few with listing my favorite performers, but here goes it)...
Since music is my only true "vice", I've spent a ridiculous amount of $$$ over the years on equipment - this statement per my wife! I'm a bassist and my main instrument is a Yamaha TRB6-six string bass which I run through a SWR SM400S tube head into a BagEnd 2X10 cabinet. The setup is small but unbelievably powerful. Don't really mess around with signal processors much, but a touch of chorus sounds nice. I play stuff along the lines of Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, Spyro Gyra, FourPlay, and any other high energy jazz music. Years ago, it was Rush, Van Halen and the typical top 40 tunes. I actually played in jazz band in high school, and did a small venue club tour before joining the Air Force in 1986.

[HVFD32]

:D Well Let me tell you! I started playing gutiar when just a kid. I played semi-professionally for about 4 years as a tenager. I played professionally for 15 years plus, then retired from the industry. It is a hard way to make a living!! I was lead singer, and rythm/lead gutiar.

I now just lay for myself. Like any kind of music, with the exception of opera, and rap!

A firefighter's band might be in order!

HVFD32

[Man-o-fire]

Count me in for guitar as well. I have a Martin D12-28, a Shelby accoustic, Sigma accoustic, and a Strat. I like to play anything people will sing along with. I strum along okay but my only real talent is I remember most of the words.

Never met a campfire I didn't like.

[gvfdfirefighter]

Well, I was actually a brass player and vocalist in high school. Played trombone, baritone, and some tuba. I actually still play once a year. The college here holds a benifit concert for the fire department once a year. It's our biggest fund raiser. And every year, the bottom six firefighters get up in their bunkers and play a siren, bell, and some other fun things as the college band plays Arthur Fiedler's "Third Alarm March." And those of us on the department who play a real instrument get up there too and make fools out of our self. Great way to show the community what your really made of!!

Stay safe
O.L. FF/EMT G.V.F.D.

[FD55]

I'm a drummer. I play some of everything. Jazz, rock, whatever I feel like at that time. My favorite is rock. I played in school, and have an old pearl set but I don't have much time to play anymore. :D

[killerb]

Scene25 -

A feedback destroyer. Set up the PA, crank it up in increments with open mics. It acts like an automatic graphic equalizer, kills the feedback freqs as they happen, notches and stores about 24 frequencies. Costs around $200 and well worth it.

Also, use the 15s for subs and get a set of decent mains if you can afford it. Something with 12s or 10s.


Well...

I finally broke down, and bought a PA System. Actually, my brother and I bought it. 1000 watt / 12 channel, 2 15"ers.

My question to the guitar posters...

What would you purchase along with the PA System for better sound in smaller clubs etc?

[ENG6511]

I play Jazz on Selmer Mark VI alto and soprano saxes that I bought in 1963. Started playing in 1943. Took up and still play Gretsch Drums I bought in 1968. All play better then anything else I've tried since.

[HVFD32]

Well I use a peavy studio chours twin speaker amp. I't's good and you can plug it into your pa if you need bigger sound!!