Playing Eight Miles High

Those who flock to The Byrds
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pehayes2
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Playing Eight Miles High

Post by pehayes2 »

I hope that this posting is considered appropriate for this forum (and if not, I understand the removal James).

But The Byrds Collective has recorded Eight Miles High. You can access the link directly at: http://byrdscollective.bandvista.com/rw ... eshigh.mp3

Please let us know what you think and constructive criticism is always encouraged. The Rick 370 is played by RRF own Dr. Byrd and the lead is played by David Michaels another forum member.

If you enjoyed Eight Miles High, there are more songs on the site http://www.thebyrdscollective.com
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8mileshigher
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by 8mileshigher »

Nice version there Pat ! You guys have great harmonies.
I'm looking forward to seeing you guys play this Thursday in Long Beach.
Regards
:D
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jimk
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by jimk »

I think it belongs here, Pat. And it's a very good cover, too. I'm quite impressed.

JimK
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pehayes2
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by pehayes2 »

Thank you both for the kind words. Jim, I know you've given us some great encouragement on more than one occasion. We do appreciate it! :)

Rich, please stop by and say hello and talk some Byrds if you'd like.
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doctorwho
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by doctorwho »

8mileshigher wrote:Nice version there Pat ! You guys have great harmonies ...
+1! :D

It makes me think of a live version that is like the album version, with just a slight (but good) difference or two.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
Folkie
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by Folkie »

A very nice version of a song I've always found impossible to play. The drums are a little rough, but the lead guitar work and vocals are excellent.
Fake Croz
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by Fake Croz »

Thanks for all the nice remarks on our version of 8MH!

As Pat said, that's me playing lead on it. As to why it's Fake Crosby and not Fake McGuinn playing lead on 8MH, check out the "Byrd Blogs" section of our website: www.thebyrdscollective.com.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the results. It's not a note-for-note replication of the McGuinn solo, but when I tried doing that, it ended up SOUNDING like I was trying to hit it note-for-note and lost all its spontaneity. So I settled on kind of an homage to the McGuinn solo, hitting some of the key phrases, but with my own stuff in between.

One of the posters here said it sounded like an alternative or live Byrds take of 8MH, which is EXACTLY what we were going for! So, thanks again! The song is about 2/3 of a live rehearsal take, with the vocals and some of the lead work redone.

I'm playing an early 1980s fireglo Rick 360 / 12, through a Vox Tonelab II modeler / effects unit, and then into a Fender Twin Reverb '65 reissue. The Tonelab has a preset which adds compression to the clean sound; I'm still not completely happy with the tone I'm getting on this-- it has too much "pop" at the moment of attack, but there doesn't seem to be a way to get rid of this without just turning the compression down completely. I might try rerecording the solo using the Janglebox II owned by Mark Miraglia (our McGuinn), but I'm not sure I could replicate the energy of that solo.

Does anyone out there use the Tonelab II, and might they have some ideas on how to get the "pop" out of the compressor sound?
Folkie
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by Folkie »

That pop at the moment of picking is common to all the compressors I've tried, including my Janglebox JB2. In most songs it's no problem, but when I'm trying to do the solo to "Feel a Whole Lot Better" (which is played on the top four strings) it becomes very noticeable. The only sure way to lessen or eliminate it is, as you said, to back down on the attack knob on the compressor. I suppose using a thinner pick to lighten your picking attack might help, but I've been using the same medium-gauge tortoise shell picks with my Rickenbacker for years, and I haven't found a pick that sounds better. Part of the classic McGuinn sound comes from that heavily-compressed signal, so I guess it's a tradeoff. I hope what I've said has been helpful.
kvalois
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Re: Playing Eight Miles High

Post by kvalois »

Nice job, guys!!! :D
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