[VOTE] The GuitarTalk Tribute Challenge

V8

Here they are - the Tribute challenge entries!

Well done to everyone who entered for getting something in. It did seem a open ended challenge topic (A tribute to a artist who has passed away, that you admire) - but when that rec light starts a-blinking, things always get interesting 😸

Voting closes Wednesday, 9th December @ 23:59

Studmissile - No Fair (Keeps the money rollin in)

V8 - Tribute

It's the Pimpocaster, single tracked, recorded w/cell phone. Zoom B2 & Roland GR-S for effects. Three riffs stuck together and played not-so-well 😁 If using headphones, you might notice some muffled thumps during the first one - that's over zealous righthand finger damping - those graphtech saddle piezos are sensitive 🤯

Yeti - Johnny B. Goode

Last couple of months have been hectic and I haven't had time to put together anything new. Instead I decided to stretch the theme slightly and enter the first guitar song I recorded back in 2017.

RCVN (feat Klassvakie) - Like a Stone (Audioslave Cover)

I really enjoyed this Collab with @klaasvakie and another bud of mine outside of GT. Great work on the guitar parts @klaasvakie, appreciated. Went with one of my all time favourites from Audioslave, RIP Mr. Cornell you are surely missed.

Yeti

Lordy, you guys didn't half make it hard to choose.

Meticus

Great tracks, as always. Well done, guys!
But therefore unfortunately a hard vote, as always 😀

guidothepimmp

Well done guys. Great entries. I ended up with 2 half baked attempts not worthy of an entry despite the extension. But y'all had some great work on these.. tough vote for sure

V8

@studmissile - Loved it. Struggled to hear the country in it - maybe the 'verb on the vocals was more room than arena. Dug the leads, whole tune had me thinking Bon Jovi later 80's vibes? I related to the chorus totally, could almost call it the freelancer blues 😬

@Yeti I can't recall my 2017 comments - did a quick search but they're lost in the ether. This listen around, it sounds like the song's somewhere around 5-15bpm fasterr than you were comfy playing the lead bits at? I still dig Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry had a way with a swinging tune!

@RCVN - Poignant choice, it's the exception that I'll check out the lyrics but this song is so sparse it's super highlighted. You captured the emotion of it for sure. Two thumbsup for the arrangement, @klaasvakie had the guitar part down.

Mine was Jump (I couldn't make the rhythm part my own, so yeah...), Purple Haze (heavily re-voiced 😉 ) and a snippit from New Sensation (Inxs).

studmissile

@RCVN and @klaasvakie Great collaboration. Chris really will be missed. A fitting tribute guys. Solid playing and I really loved the vocals at the end. Worthy winner, you got my vote.

@Yeti Who doesn't love some Chuck Berry? Sadly forgot he only passed in 2017 as well. Nicely played Yeti. Seemed a smidgen rushed if I have to nitpick.. Vocals sounded awesome as usual.

@V8 That opening had me amped, I really thought Jump was about to kick off 🙂! Nice one.

V8 Thank you, was definitely trying for some 80s hair band vibe and hoped it would pass as VH.

Great Challenge idea, well done all.

V8

studmissile I really thought Jump was about to kick off

Haha, if only. I did try a some of the keyboards parts past the intro...but it was beyond me to try be a human arpeggiator (possible I reckon, if I had a hint of EVH in me).

studmissile 80s hair band vibe and hoped it would pass as VH.

I dug it and got the 80's hair metal vibes from it, One of the fellows on the whatsapp GT group had it playing on repeat asking why it wasn't on the radio 😁 ...

studmissile

I reckon that's the best compliment one can hope for. Thanks for passing it on.

V8

Well done @RCVN & @klaasvakie & An.Other on winning the Tribute challenge! You have the joint dubious pleasure of choosing the next one...heh.

studmissile best compliment one can hope for

I gotta agree! I gave it a good few spins myself - was absolutely radio quality. I might play around a bit with the 'verb on the vocals as a potential tweak, but further than that - this one's ready for some airtime!

klaasvakie

V8 I'm gonna pass the "honour" of choosing the next challenge straight to @RCVN - he did the hard work on this one. I really enjoyed playing on this one, it's a fantastic track.

@studmissile I'm really surprised by the outcome on this one, check your wallet because I think you got robbed here mate. Thought your track was fantastic all round, and it definitely broke out of the "@studmissile" sound that I am used to hearing. Loved your guitar work!

V8

klaasvakie check your wallet because I think you got robbed here mate.

😆 Well put! Though, I'mthinkingg it wasn't daylight robbery - both competed strong on creativity - just, for once production didn't sway the votes?

Yeti I was actually pretty good at it 10bpm slower.

That was what I was thinking I heard. All the notes are there, the rhythm of the lead was totally there - just felt like you were pushing to nail it at ?original? bpm?

studmissile

klaasvakie Don't sell yourself short, you guys did a great track and tribute to Chris.

Besides you'd only hear me complain if it was real money out of my wallet. 🙂

I was hoping to get @Yeti on harmonies, but the vocals were really down to the last minute.

RCVN

klaasvakie Again, Thank you for your help! I would never have gotten those tones.

Yeti Kind words, thank you. I really did enjoy your entry, it fits your style quite well.

studmissile The mix was amazing and the end product well polished. I concur with the sentiments above. Great effort!

@V8 I have to appreciate the effort and the fun had. I really enjoyed it.\

Thank you for everyone's kind comments, I really did enjoy this one.

@klaasvakie I have two challenge ideas that are tickling my fancy. I want you to make the call on which.

Mantra challenge. A song that acts as an instrumental build-up. Vocals are optional since it would be more instrumental based but may add to the effect.
ex.
ex.
I hate Afrikaans pop songs. They are way too cheesy and are rip-off of international pop-rock tracks. So let's try it. I wouldn't limit it to Afrikaans, but bonus points if you do. It should fit the style at least.

Yeti

Well done gents. I had a really difficult time choosing between the winner and Stud's entry. The reason I ultimately went with Ruan is that I felt it fulfilled the brief better. Two fantastic entries there.

As for my own, I have to agree with you guys, I shouldn't have played it at full speed. I was actually pretty good at it 10bpm slower. Ah well. I remember being pretty chuffed with the guitar tone too... not so much anymore. I may have learnt a few things in the last 3 years. 😛

Yeti

studmissile I was hoping to get @Yeti on harmonies, but the vocals were really down to the last minute.

That would have been cool. Would be nice to collaborate sometime.

Incidentally, I like what you're doing with your vocals these days, they're starting to cut through the mix nicely.

studmissile

Yeti Definitely. Thanks

V8

RCVN Great, thanks for remembering! 👍️

Weirdly, I got the basics of an idea for either. Though , how about expanding #2 to "any language but english"?

Instrumental 'mantra' would be my happy place choice, I literally do that in my sleep 😁

domhatch

How bout we do a combo: Mantra, feat Patricia Lewis... FTW!

Im happy with either! Super cool ideas...

domhatch

V8 Cool idea. I'm 100% behind expanding the language thing to beyond just English.

dh|

klaasvakie

@RCVN Gonna go with Mantra here - I think going afrikaans pop doesn't necessarily leave that much room for lots of guitars, and this is a guitar forum after all 😄