Hail brethren!
I noticed there wasn't really anywhere for musicians to get together and talk about music.
Writing, recording; playing at home, on stage, or on the streets. Aspiring or professional engineer? Lyrist or theory nerd? Live Sound Guy?
Come here and tell us all about it. Ask any questions you've got and share valuable resources!
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Music
Music is a performing art based on patterned sounds. It includes both musical instruments and singing, together or separately. All known human cultures make music, so that creates tremendous variety. Here on Dreamwidth, check out
beautifulmechanical,
onesongaday and
tfc_musicianships.
This is part of my Three Weeks for Dreamwidth series about becoming an expert by writing three books on a topic. It has links to lots of books about music.
Music is a performing art based on patterned sounds. It includes both musical instruments and singing, together or separately. All known human cultures make music, so that creates tremendous variety. Here on Dreamwidth, check out
This is part of my Three Weeks for Dreamwidth series about becoming an expert by writing three books on a topic. It has links to lots of books about music.
May Monthly Post
2026-May-01, Friday 13:34This is the May community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during April? What plans do you have for May?
April anchor posts include:
brand favourites: g & l
April anchor posts include:
brand favourites: g & l
Brand Favourites: G & L
2026-Apr-03, Friday 21:21Is anyone else aligned with a certain brand?
I root for G & L because it was Leo Fender's and George Fullerton's last venture; last incarnation. Leo kept iterating and improving on guitar technology his entire life. Whenever someone brings up, or brings out, a Fender. I always mention G & L.
First was Fender, which was sold to CBS and is now Fender Music Instrument Company. That's where he came out with the classics. Stratocaster. Telecaster. Jazz bass. Percussion bass. Then, he was with Music Man. Which borned the Stringray -> Kiloton. Then finally G & L which was eventually left to his wife who left it with their lifelong friends that continue the legacy.
Back in 1999 I started playing with a Made in Mexico Fender: Jazz bass. It was pretty good. At some point I got to try out a Squire: Percussion bass. I didn't like that one as much. It sounded flat; dull. In the early 00's I bought a 5-string Ibanez: Soundgear 305DX. That one was pretty cool but, it wasn't really my thing. Ultimately, I sold both of those then when I needed a bass for my old band to get back together for a one off show, I decided it was appropriate to find a good jazz bass again.
It didn't take very long for me to find the G & L: MJ-4. Lucky me, I found one of the USA models on sale at a small shoppe. This bass blows my old one out of the water. The feel. Tuning stability. Sustain. Sound with hum canceling pickups and preamp that boosts the low mids just right. They put the bass and treble in good spots, too. It's as if they know how bass is supposed to sit in a mix with a full band. lol.
Check out the Fallout bass as well if you're curious about short scales. Especially if you don't want one that looks or feels like a tiny toy of a bass. Engage that OMG Mode and you'll effectively get a phat low end boost.
If you're looking for one end all, be all bass that isn't a boutique custom made instrument... Or something to try out different sounds with, definitely look into the L-2500. Two humbuckers that can be coil split for a pseudo J-bass sound, run in parallel, or in series. You can modify it to add a capacitor to give it an OMG Mode that pushes less highs through one half of the pickups. If you're a serious beginner or a pro, I recommend this.
The MFD -- magnetic field design -- pickups are really cool. They have a large magnet on the bottom. They've got the highest output of any passive pickup and sound great. Huge, bold, aggressive-when-you-want-it tone. Now they've got MFD jazz pups. Still waiting for those to be sold separately. I may replace a few of my others with those. Or maybe not and I'll just learn how to make pickups myself with the specs & features I want. MFD's are available in guitars as well.
Why I'm writing this is partially because I truly believe they are better than the mass produced stuff the big corporation that uses his last name is pumping out. I was to support what seems to me like an underdog. This is something I believe to be unfair. Not to mention that the instruments are very reasonably priced considering they're made in the US. Even the Tribute line only has bodies & necks manufactured overseas. The electronics & QC are done in Fullerton, CA.
No, I am not (at the time of this writing) endorsed by them. Though, I am not by any means against it. However, they'd have to make 8 (10) and 12 (15)-string multi-course basses and basses with 7-strings (extended range two below + one above) if they don't want me using anyone else's on stage. :P
I root for G & L because it was Leo Fender's and George Fullerton's last venture; last incarnation. Leo kept iterating and improving on guitar technology his entire life. Whenever someone brings up, or brings out, a Fender. I always mention G & L.
First was Fender, which was sold to CBS and is now Fender Music Instrument Company. That's where he came out with the classics. Stratocaster. Telecaster. Jazz bass. Percussion bass. Then, he was with Music Man. Which borned the Stringray -> Kiloton. Then finally G & L which was eventually left to his wife who left it with their lifelong friends that continue the legacy.
Back in 1999 I started playing with a Made in Mexico Fender: Jazz bass. It was pretty good. At some point I got to try out a Squire: Percussion bass. I didn't like that one as much. It sounded flat; dull. In the early 00's I bought a 5-string Ibanez: Soundgear 305DX. That one was pretty cool but, it wasn't really my thing. Ultimately, I sold both of those then when I needed a bass for my old band to get back together for a one off show, I decided it was appropriate to find a good jazz bass again.
It didn't take very long for me to find the G & L: MJ-4. Lucky me, I found one of the USA models on sale at a small shoppe. This bass blows my old one out of the water. The feel. Tuning stability. Sustain. Sound with hum canceling pickups and preamp that boosts the low mids just right. They put the bass and treble in good spots, too. It's as if they know how bass is supposed to sit in a mix with a full band. lol.
Check out the Fallout bass as well if you're curious about short scales. Especially if you don't want one that looks or feels like a tiny toy of a bass. Engage that OMG Mode and you'll effectively get a phat low end boost.
If you're looking for one end all, be all bass that isn't a boutique custom made instrument... Or something to try out different sounds with, definitely look into the L-2500. Two humbuckers that can be coil split for a pseudo J-bass sound, run in parallel, or in series. You can modify it to add a capacitor to give it an OMG Mode that pushes less highs through one half of the pickups. If you're a serious beginner or a pro, I recommend this.
The MFD -- magnetic field design -- pickups are really cool. They have a large magnet on the bottom. They've got the highest output of any passive pickup and sound great. Huge, bold, aggressive-when-you-want-it tone. Now they've got MFD jazz pups. Still waiting for those to be sold separately. I may replace a few of my others with those. Or maybe not and I'll just learn how to make pickups myself with the specs & features I want. MFD's are available in guitars as well.
Why I'm writing this is partially because I truly believe they are better than the mass produced stuff the big corporation that uses his last name is pumping out. I was to support what seems to me like an underdog. This is something I believe to be unfair. Not to mention that the instruments are very reasonably priced considering they're made in the US. Even the Tribute line only has bodies & necks manufactured overseas. The electronics & QC are done in Fullerton, CA.
No, I am not (at the time of this writing) endorsed by them. Though, I am not by any means against it. However, they'd have to make 8 (10) and 12 (15)-string multi-course basses and basses with 7-strings (extended range two below + one above) if they don't want me using anyone else's on stage. :P
Moment of Silence: Country Joe McDonald
2026-Mar-08, Sunday 23:29Singer and songwriter Country Joe McDonald has passed away. Among other accomplishments, he is famous for the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die-Rag" at Woodstock, on record, and elsewhere.
Carry on the Work:
Guitar -- how to articles from wikiHow
Hippie Culture
How to Be a Singer Songwriter: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
Music Occupations -- how to articles from wikiHow
Musical Instruments -- how to articles from wikiHow
Singing -- how to articles from wikiHow
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Songwriting -- how to articles from wikiHow
Carry on the Work:
Guitar -- how to articles from wikiHow
Hippie Culture
How to Be a Singer Songwriter: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
Music Occupations -- how to articles from wikiHow
Musical Instruments -- how to articles from wikiHow
Singing -- how to articles from wikiHow
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Songwriting -- how to articles from wikiHow
March Monthly Post
2026-Mar-01, Sunday 00:19This is the March community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during February? What plans do you have for March?
February anchor posts include:
Music
February anchor posts include:
Music
February Monthly Post
2026-Feb-01, Sunday 00:14This is the February community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during January? What plans do you have for February?
January anchor posts include:
rocking in the new year
q: your favourite occult bands?
January anchor posts include:
rocking in the new year
q: your favourite occult bands?
Q: Your Favourite Occult Bands?
2026-Jan-27, Tuesday 15:18(X-post)
Poem: The Sound of Celebration
2025-Dec-06, Saturday 13:25Commissioned and written by
ysabetwordsmith
Music is a universal human expression, even though instruments and topics vary across cultures
In all cultures around the world,
music is the sound of celebration --
horns blowing, strings strumming,
drums beating, flutes trilling,
hands clapping, feet stomping,
tongues singing, bodies swaying
to the rhythm that binds everyone
together with strands of joy.
Music is a universal human expression, even though instruments and topics vary across cultures
December Monthly Post
2025-Dec-01, Monday 01:56This is the December community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during November? What plans do you have for December?
November anchor posts include:
naahhhhh
November anchor posts include:
naahhhhh
November Monthly Post
2025-Nov-01, Saturday 03:09This is the November community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during October? What plans do you have for November?
October anchor posts include:
only the dead
October anchor posts include:
only the dead
Only The Dead
2025-Oct-20, Monday 04:21In candlelight of everyone we've lost, let's create one thread to honour everyone.
Seriously, we've been losing legends more than an amature loses piks! 😣
Comment with any thoughts or stories pertaining to musicians that have gone on to better venues.
Let's compile a list and add a few links to sites that are doing the same.
Seriously, we've been losing legends more than an amature loses piks! 😣
( Obituart list... )
Comment with any thoughts or stories pertaining to musicians that have gone on to better venues.
Let's compile a list and add a few links to sites that are doing the same.
I found "musicians" to be too generic and boring. What do you guys think of the new name? FrEQ_Tweakicians
If it isn't obvious, it's supposed to be a play on "freak" and equalization and musicians tweaking knobs of [I]all[/I] sorts!
If it isn't obvious, it's supposed to be a play on "freak" and equalization and musicians tweaking knobs of [I]all[/I] sorts!
This flash mob put on a complex performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody."
It reminds me very much of the "musical dimension" -- the world in which people naturally, spontaneously form into teams for song and dance routines. People here are just using prosthetic technology to substitute for whatever energy phenomenon allows that in Musical Land. :D
It reminds me very much of the "musical dimension" -- the world in which people naturally, spontaneously form into teams for song and dance routines. People here are just using prosthetic technology to substitute for whatever energy phenomenon allows that in Musical Land. :D
Proposition to MOD Audio for maci-manitowi-kitohcikan
2025-Sep-09, Tuesday 04:38Below is a copypasta of my proposition to the Lead of MOD Audio.
How about both? Let the free software community handle the bulk of the software side of things while forming a Social Purpose Corporation to build and sell the hardware.
If not an SPC, perhaps a B Corp, or co-operative and see if you can team up with Zythian and Synthstrom. I suppose an SPC could be run alongside a larger retail co-op that represents multiple companies. It depends on how everyone wants to play together and be represented.
I think the afforement entities are in other parts of the world. Synthstrom is in AUS and Zynthian is in the UK, IIRC. So, a Turtle Island (USA) corp would be more of an official "licensee", other contenient manufacturer for their products. Which would be cool, I think.
note:
I nearly forgot to mention Passingwind! They make open source preamps and some other stuff.
Maybe even reach out to the guy behind AV Linux and the teams behind Ubuntu Studio and Fedora Jam.
It'd really be something to get all the music related free software groups to unify under a non-profit and help each other out a bit more. Parallel to that, the hardware makers could get together to sell a full suite of products that run the software.
Personally, I'd go in on forming a SPC. I've wanted to start a First Nations musical instrument making company similar to Native Audio is for pedals but, mainly with guitars, basses, and touchstyle (i.e. Chapman Stick) instruments and accessories. I realize you're non-Native but, that's okay. lol.
I was planning on waiting a few more years before seriously seeking anyone else to embark on this venture with. It should definitely wait until 2026 before filling any paperwork, for tax reasons.
Some of the reasons I'd like to do this are
1) I don't have a 1:1 copy of any of my basses or guitars and I want to modify the nuts off of them. This would be probably the best way to build my own "Signature Collection".
2) Many tribes are historically known to have good woodworkers and craftspeople. I want to continue that and raise NDNs up with me. It's something that can be done at home or a workshop could be set up on nearly any rez. It'd be dope to have people all across Turtle Island building for us. Especially with rent these days, if we could eliminate spending thousands a month on a warehouse to create this stuff.....
3) Simply to share our cultures
4) I want to work for myself and diversify my income between this, a clothing/et. al. company, music studio, and social network -- the latter will definitely cost money and not be profitable for a long time but it goes hand-in-hand with the other things and is a primary focus
5) I think the most realistic way to do this is to team up with a number of other people and jumpstart off already existing products and projects.
666) my day job pays alright and I don't have a house or demonspawn to hemmorage my bank account.
https://forum.mod.audio/t/mod-is-at-a-crossroads-and-needs-your-input/8340/324?u=mister_gothfvck
P.S. Working name: maci-manitowi-kitohcikan
https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/maci-manitowi-
ipv/
https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/kitohcikan/
The Devil's Instruments
🤘🏼👹🎸
AKA MM'K
How about both? Let the free software community handle the bulk of the software side of things while forming a Social Purpose Corporation to build and sell the hardware.
If not an SPC, perhaps a B Corp, or co-operative and see if you can team up with Zythian and Synthstrom. I suppose an SPC could be run alongside a larger retail co-op that represents multiple companies. It depends on how everyone wants to play together and be represented.
I think the afforement entities are in other parts of the world. Synthstrom is in AUS and Zynthian is in the UK, IIRC. So, a Turtle Island (USA) corp would be more of an official "licensee", other contenient manufacturer for their products. Which would be cool, I think.
note:
I nearly forgot to mention Passingwind! They make open source preamps and some other stuff.
Maybe even reach out to the guy behind AV Linux and the teams behind Ubuntu Studio and Fedora Jam.
It'd really be something to get all the music related free software groups to unify under a non-profit and help each other out a bit more. Parallel to that, the hardware makers could get together to sell a full suite of products that run the software.
Personally, I'd go in on forming a SPC. I've wanted to start a First Nations musical instrument making company similar to Native Audio is for pedals but, mainly with guitars, basses, and touchstyle (i.e. Chapman Stick) instruments and accessories. I realize you're non-Native but, that's okay. lol.
I was planning on waiting a few more years before seriously seeking anyone else to embark on this venture with. It should definitely wait until 2026 before filling any paperwork, for tax reasons.
Some of the reasons I'd like to do this are
1) I don't have a 1:1 copy of any of my basses or guitars and I want to modify the nuts off of them. This would be probably the best way to build my own "Signature Collection".
2) Many tribes are historically known to have good woodworkers and craftspeople. I want to continue that and raise NDNs up with me. It's something that can be done at home or a workshop could be set up on nearly any rez. It'd be dope to have people all across Turtle Island building for us. Especially with rent these days, if we could eliminate spending thousands a month on a warehouse to create this stuff.....
3) Simply to share our cultures
4) I want to work for myself and diversify my income between this, a clothing/et. al. company, music studio, and social network -- the latter will definitely cost money and not be profitable for a long time but it goes hand-in-hand with the other things and is a primary focus
5) I think the most realistic way to do this is to team up with a number of other people and jumpstart off already existing products and projects.
666) my day job pays alright and I don't have a house or demonspawn to hemmorage my bank account.
https://forum.mod.audio/t/mod-is-at-a-crossroads-and-needs-your-input/8340/324?u=mister_gothfvck
P.S. Working name: maci-manitowi-kitohcikan
https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/maci-manitowi-
https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/kitohcikan/
The Devil's Instruments
🤘🏼👹🎸
AKA MM'K
September Monthly Post
2025-Sep-01, Monday 20:24This is the September community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during August? What plans do you have for September?
August anchor posts include:
Your go to effects pedal maker?
Music
Three acceptable kinds of gear
August anchor posts include:
Your go to effects pedal maker?
Music
Three acceptable kinds of gear
Three Acceptable Kinds of Gear
2025-Aug-31, Sunday 02:16The way I see it is there are really two ways of doing effects pedals with another being a hybrid of them.
1) Fully analogue with proper MIDI.
This is the old fashioned, diodes and transistors, way of building electronics. Get out your soldiering iron and multimeter.
There are inherent flaws and variance in quality control that lead to each unit being minutely different. This is more-or-less imperceivable but, sometimes there is a little "something" that a person might prefer with one unit over another. Perhaps one compressor just does something a little sweeter than another despite having all the same settings.
In any other industry this would be considered a bad thing but, musicians get all hot and bothered when a person brings up analogue equipment. Something about those tubes that just gets a guy going.
Never mind how digital is technically better because it's more transparent and accurate. lol. But, I digress.
This variety of pedals, rack gear, etc, are get to specialize in doing one thing. All the knobs and sliders at the ready to tweak any and everything.
It's great because the worthwhile ones are built to last and are generally going to be repairable. They're made with tangible components that people can buy. No programing or flashing of firmware required. No software upgrades or artificial degradation or subscriptions. One just owns it and can potentially make modifications to it.
2) Digital multi-effects units.
The only one that I know of here that I would consider viable is the Dwarf by MOD Audio. That is because it's totally free/open source.
All of the others will eventually stop working and there's not much that can be done as it's proprietary software running on who knows what. Unless the key people behind the products have contingency plans in place, everything dies with them or the company.
Maybe someone else out there could reverse engineer and make a clone but, it's the same problem without releasing the code, schematics, and parts list. It's also a matter of upgrading to new chips and porting over.
Every one of these also has arbitrary limitations whereas the MOD Audio: Dwarf does not. The Synthström: Deluge doesn't really either. That's an open source sequencer.
The Dwarf handles all kinds of effects via plugins, amp sims, cab IRs. It has a looper, noise generators, metronome, LCO, compressors, EQs, synths, and you name it. With whatever virtual routing you can imagine.
Plus, it's possible to run via a USB drive on your computer.
The GUI to configure everything is browser based. There's a local HTML5 file to access everything on the Dwarf. This ensures it's cross-platform.
3) The UNIX Way
Have you figured out the in-between, yet? Take a selection of digital effects and perhaps some others to alter the "wet" effects-only and let each pedal excel at what it does.
Basically like what (closed-)Source Audio does. They make most effects and ultities that exist and do it well. Proper MIDI, stereo i/o, presets, expression, and an app to test out presets and tweak things with. Like MOD Audio, they have a community that makes presets and shares them.
I have a couple of their pedals so far. They're touted as being the best yet, they also are barely profitable. Plenty on the used market. If I won the lottery, I'd buy enough of the company and release the source code for the effects and for the apps. Among other things I'd like to see but, that's for another day.
1) Fully analogue with proper MIDI.
This is the old fashioned, diodes and transistors, way of building electronics. Get out your soldiering iron and multimeter.
There are inherent flaws and variance in quality control that lead to each unit being minutely different. This is more-or-less imperceivable but, sometimes there is a little "something" that a person might prefer with one unit over another. Perhaps one compressor just does something a little sweeter than another despite having all the same settings.
In any other industry this would be considered a bad thing but, musicians get all hot and bothered when a person brings up analogue equipment. Something about those tubes that just gets a guy going.
Never mind how digital is technically better because it's more transparent and accurate. lol. But, I digress.
This variety of pedals, rack gear, etc, are get to specialize in doing one thing. All the knobs and sliders at the ready to tweak any and everything.
It's great because the worthwhile ones are built to last and are generally going to be repairable. They're made with tangible components that people can buy. No programing or flashing of firmware required. No software upgrades or artificial degradation or subscriptions. One just owns it and can potentially make modifications to it.
2) Digital multi-effects units.
The only one that I know of here that I would consider viable is the Dwarf by MOD Audio. That is because it's totally free/open source.
All of the others will eventually stop working and there's not much that can be done as it's proprietary software running on who knows what. Unless the key people behind the products have contingency plans in place, everything dies with them or the company.
Maybe someone else out there could reverse engineer and make a clone but, it's the same problem without releasing the code, schematics, and parts list. It's also a matter of upgrading to new chips and porting over.
Every one of these also has arbitrary limitations whereas the MOD Audio: Dwarf does not. The Synthström: Deluge doesn't really either. That's an open source sequencer.
The Dwarf handles all kinds of effects via plugins, amp sims, cab IRs. It has a looper, noise generators, metronome, LCO, compressors, EQs, synths, and you name it. With whatever virtual routing you can imagine.
Plus, it's possible to run via a USB drive on your computer.
The GUI to configure everything is browser based. There's a local HTML5 file to access everything on the Dwarf. This ensures it's cross-platform.
3) The UNIX Way
Have you figured out the in-between, yet? Take a selection of digital effects and perhaps some others to alter the "wet" effects-only and let each pedal excel at what it does.
Basically like what (closed-)Source Audio does. They make most effects and ultities that exist and do it well. Proper MIDI, stereo i/o, presets, expression, and an app to test out presets and tweak things with. Like MOD Audio, they have a community that makes presets and shares them.
I have a couple of their pedals so far. They're touted as being the best yet, they also are barely profitable. Plenty on the used market. If I won the lottery, I'd buy enough of the company and release the source code for the effects and for the apps. Among other things I'd like to see but, that's for another day.
My Noise has a bunch of new soundscapes that you can play with. Some are purely nature, others have musical effects. The Uganda one has a pretty good drum track.
August Monthly Post
2025-Aug-01, Friday 03:58This is the August community post for
tfc_musicianships. What concerts or other events have you attended? Which musical instruments have you played? What songs have you been listening to? What musical industry news have you heard? What were your other musical activities during July? What plans do you have for August?
July anchor posts include:
music related blogs
July anchor posts include:
music related blogs