This track was originally inspired by the tones from the Neural DSP Archetype: Petrucci plugin, specifically the “Glasgow Kiss” preset and the default rhythm tone. I added some extra flanger to make the lead guitar “sing” a bit more and also as the (extremely) lazy man’s alternative to hooking up a wah pedal. The result ended up a long way away from progressive rock and a lot closer to my comfort zone of Surfing with the Alien/Flying in a Blue Dream-style surf rock with added shred.
I learned a lot from this track although most of the lessons were pretty painful. In the end, I had to give up trying to polish it further and accept that I was at the point of diminishing returns. I struggled in particular with the parts where the lead guitar has to stand, and maintain interest, by itself. In comparison, the harmony parts came together much more easily. I did my best to make extra space in the mix with “subliminal” harmony and counterpoint which is mixed low enough to enhance the main melody without becoming too obvious. However the greatest limitation here was really my technique. I did incorporate economy picking for the first time, which is great for long three-notes-per-string runs. I will probably revisit this track once I improve.
In terms of gear, the JEM and the Solar SR 1.6 did the heavy lifting. The Solar’s Fishman Fluence Modern pickups work particularly well for this sort of crunchy rhythm, especially in the second voicing; the sound is tight and incredibly easy to fit into a mix. However, the Evolution bridge pickup in the JEM is also fantastic for distorted rhythm; it adds a real snarl and bite to the sound which works well with the more controlled sounds from the Fluence Moderns. Leads were a mix of the two but the JEM won out here for presence, use of the Sustainiac, and also for having the greatest locking tremolo system ever made.
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