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Roland VG-99 V-Guitar System => VG-99 Patch Exchange => Rock => Topic started by: concordal on June 24, 2013, 08:20:22 PM

Title: VG-99 - "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: concordal on June 24, 2013, 08:20:22 PM
Can anyone help with a "Spirit in the Sky" patch? 

The Muff fuzz seems close enough for the underlying fuzz sound.  But on the the original recording there's a definite 'sputter' that really defines the main riff.  Sample from the original attached.   I messed with with Ring Mod, and Slicer, but neither gets that characteristic sputter sound.

Any suggestions appreciated.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: musicman65 on June 24, 2013, 09:39:10 PM
To me, it sounds like a distortion box run directly to console, perhaps mixed with a mic'd amp as well.

bd
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 25, 2013, 07:34:51 AM
Basically his guitar was a Fender Telecaster with a Arbiter Fuzz Face built into it so it was part of the song. 

The Big Muff Fuzz isn't the right kind of fuzz for the job - the Fuzz Face is although the VG version doesn't really sputter as much as some but you can get in the neighborhood.  So, single coil tele pickups, fuzz face and some bright sounding amplifier.  Not sure what he was using for amps but that should get you in the neighborhood.

Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: rolandvg99 on June 25, 2013, 08:54:48 AM
Not my best work, but maybe as a starter? I have too much drive.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: concordal on June 25, 2013, 09:27:38 AM
Many thanks, musican65, aliensporebomb and rolandvg99!  'll try all three suggestions!!

Much appreciated.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: papabuss on June 25, 2013, 09:49:39 AM
A good solution rolandvg99. I think there are only minimal corrections needed.

Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6TFW1F6oY0#)

Russell DaShiell's comment:

"I actually played the lead guitar parts on Spirit, using a 61-62 SG Les Paul, a 68 Marshall Plexi 100w half stack and a home-made overdrive box in front of the Marshall. Regarding the 'beep beeps' as I call them, when the producer asked me to play some fills in between the verses, as a joke I said how about something spacey like this and I did the pickup switch/string bending thing. I saw him stand up in the control booth and he said "that's it! let's record that!" so we did. (There was no slide involved, just my fingers, and I used the bridge humbucker and the pickup switch). The fuzz part is Norman with a built-in overdrive circuit built into his Tele pickguard."
"I've been asked a lot over the years how I did the 'beep beep' guitar parts on Spirit, so for any guitar players out there who would like to learn how, try the following: Using a 2-pickup Gibson, set the neck pickup volume to zero, bridge pickup volume to max, with the pickup switch in the middle position (with Gibson wiring this gives you silence in the middle position). Do a string bend, picking the B & E strings together with one hit, just ahead of the beat, then use the pickup switch to kick in the bridge pickup in triplets (6 per bar) as you let the B string bend down two frets."
"I mainly used two positions on Spirit, which is in the key of A. For the low position, fret a stationary C note (8th fret) on the E string while bending the B string up to an A note for your starting-position, then pick the two strings together once while the guitar is silent and work the pickup switch as you let the A note bend downwards to a G. For the high position, do the same thing at the 15th fret holding a stationary high G note on the E string while bending down from E to D on the B string."
"I must give credit to Jimi Hendrix as my inspiration for this technique (as well as for the double-string riffs I did at the beginning of the Spirit solo tail section). I saw him perform live in a small club in Madison, Wisconsin and loved the way he used his Strat pickup switch to create staccato feedback on songs like Voodoo Child. The difference is, on a Gibson you can start from silence and create the on/off effect, which worked well with the downward string bending thing I did on Spirit."


Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Virtual Madness on June 25, 2013, 12:06:54 PM
Hey Guys,
It was Russell DaShiell who played the lead parts on this song.
Also, "Norman's comment" in papabuss's post should be "Russell's comment".

Trivia: The guys on this session were paid $50.00 each!

Just trying to keep things straight! :)
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: papabuss on June 25, 2013, 01:14:35 PM
No problem, we can change this. Thx for the insider tip.  :)
It's just the comment you can find on WIKI.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Elantric on June 25, 2013, 01:52:32 PM
QuoteIt was Russell DaShiell who played the lead parts on this song.

True  - and I'll add some trivia -  Russell DaShiell is aka "SpiritGuitar" and writes several Variax Workbench Tips & Tricks guides for Line 6 today.
QuoteSpiritguitar is singer/songwriter Russell DaShiell, best known for his lead guitar work on the million-selling hit "Spirit In The Sky". Check out his original music at spiritguitar.com.

http://fr.line6.com/news/general/142 (http://fr.line6.com/news/general/142)
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: whippinpost91850 on June 25, 2013, 05:31:25 PM
Man, how do you guys know this stuff. ??? I love it.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: musicman65 on June 25, 2013, 06:04:29 PM
Google (and now the NSA) knows all! Adds new meaning to "the Spirit in the Sky", huh?

bd
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 25, 2013, 07:38:25 PM
Some of us are very obsessed about our favorite music to the point where we know stupid amounts of information about recordings or artists we enjoy.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Virtual Madness on June 26, 2013, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: whippinpost91850 on June 25, 2013, 05:31:25 PM
Man, how do you guys know this stuff. ??? I love it.

Quote from: musicman65 on June 25, 2013, 06:04:29 PM
Google (and now the NSA) knows all! Adds new meaning to "the Spirit in the Sky", huh?

bd

Quote from: aliensporebomb on June 25, 2013, 07:38:25 PM
Some of us are very obsessed about our favorite music to the point where we know stupid amounts of information about recordings or artists we enjoy.

Actually, in this case, neither one of these apply.

I was a good friend, and bandmate of Dave Mason drummer Rick Jaeger and we had a get together/jam session with Rick's old friend and bandmate guitarist Lance Massey. They were both involved with the "Spirit In The Sky" session, and they were discussing it that day. That's where I got the info from.

Royce
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: whippinpost91850 on June 26, 2013, 05:20:52 PM
Royce,That an awesome story and memory
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Virtual Madness on June 27, 2013, 01:24:28 PM
Quote from: whippinpost91850 on June 26, 2013, 05:20:52 PM
Royce,That an awesome story and memory

Thank you, whippinpost!  :)
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on June 30, 2013, 10:44:58 AM
Concordal,  that sounds really good.  Can you upload the patch to share?   
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: concordal on June 30, 2013, 10:53:53 AM
ejrocks, I haven't found anything better than the suggestion above by rolandvg99.  (link: https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8897.msg63950#msg63950 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8897.msg63950#msg63950) )

The one and only change I'm contemplating is to use an expression pedal to control the amount of sputter.  That would be set to adjust rolandvg99's ingenious use of a vintage Bass amp.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on June 30, 2013, 04:52:11 PM
Let me see what I can do.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on June 30, 2013, 05:29:54 PM
I think I have a decent patch for this.  Now I just need to figure out how to upload a patch again.  Its been a while.  Any quick help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: concordal on June 30, 2013, 05:41:00 PM
It's easy, EJROCKS.  Just:
1.) save your patch (by exporting)
2. Hit Reply and
3) Under "Attachments and Other Options" browse to your patch
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on June 30, 2013, 06:04:42 PM
cool,  I can do that.  How about making a MP3 to see if you like it?
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on June 30, 2013, 06:37:20 PM
As soon as I can figure out how to make a mp3 I will upload the patch.  Its a bummer to me when a patch is loaded and you cant hear what its suppose to sound like.     Any tips are welcome.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Elantric on July 01, 2013, 02:00:45 PM
QuoteIts a bummer to me when a patch is loaded and you cant hear what its suppose to sound like.     Any tips are welcome.


Go to Youtube and search on the name of the song you are seeking - most are already there to listen to.

http://youtu.be/F6TFW1F6oY0 (http://youtu.be/F6TFW1F6oY0)
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on July 01, 2013, 05:34:01 PM
actually I was asking how to record a mp3 of me playing the patch so anyone that wants to download it knows what it sounds like before they put it into the vg99.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: Elantric on July 01, 2013, 05:45:55 PM
Quoteactually I was asking how to record a mp3 of me playing the patch so anyone that wants to download it knows what it sounds like before they put it into the vg99.
This is probably the easiest and cheapest method:
Audacity Audio Recorder / Editor
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/ (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/)

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)

Or use a Zoom or Tascam Handheld recorder set to "MP3" as the audio file type.

Myself I use Soundforge.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on July 01, 2013, 06:24:26 PM
I don't wanna keep the guy lookin for this sound waiting til I figure all this out so here is the patch.  Hope it works for you.
Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: concordal on July 01, 2013, 07:46:44 PM

Many thanks, EJROCKS!


Title: Re: "Spirit in the Sky" Fuzz
Post by: EJROCKS on July 02, 2013, 05:47:10 PM
sure NP,  I hope its something you can work with.