Slippin’ and a Slidin’ with Saints & Sinners

With the clock starting to tick on the making of Saints & Sinners debut album, we headed back into Jeff Cook’s Underground Studio in Bushwick to record slide guitar. I had my trusty ’76 hardtail Strat along with a 2014 Fender Pro Junior and a couple of pedals. Bassist Dave Gerstein was along for the ride to offer his opinion and offer healthy snacks which were never accepted although much appreciated.

First up was the recording of an acoustic rhythm track for “Easy Rider Blues,” a re-working of Ma Rainey’s “Weeping Woman Blues.” I used my Martin D-18, which records beautifully. The first take was good but we did another one before deciding that we’d get the slide on there and follow it with different acoustic if necessary.

The slide part was mainly improvised save a couple of licks, something I usually don’t do. I abandoned a riff that I had intended to use and did in fact use live and went with the flow. The original riff was much harder and repetitive, maybe a concept to revisit, but the more atmospheric approach did the trick. I used an MXR Dyna Comp along with my aging Boss OD-3, which is probably my most used pedal ever. The result was a spacy, J.J. Cale feel on the instrumental opening that gave way to much Duane inspired playing throughout the rest of the tune. Not surprisingly, the slide part made the acoustic guitar really dance, and an Exile on Mainstreet feel began to emerge. Well, I guess I've spent enough time listening to that one.

On our total reimagining of Robert Johnson’s “Malted Milk” as a juiced up rocker with tricky meter changes, I abandoned the Dyna Comp in favor of a more raw, heavier sound. I’ve practiced this one continuously over the past five or six years but still did many takes of three vocal sections – intro and first two verses – middle verses – closing verse. It worked! Next came the solos which were surprisingly easier to get.

Next up was an original tune, “Good Time Girl,” a fast boogie in G. Fortunately, the main guitar track had been captured in the recording of the drums and bass parts when we laid down the basic tracks. What was left to do was the hardest part to play but also the shortest – an eighth-note based guitar solo at 176 beats per minute. I turned the Dyna Comp back on and got a cleaner but intense sound. Fortunately, I got it after a few takes as I spent a ton of time practicing it leading up to the session. A few more licks and we were done. I look forward to posting the music here. It won’t be long now… I hope. -Christian Botta

Comments

[Clay Chalem]

A couple of nice compressor upgrades you might try are;
a) Keeley 2 knob compressor
b) Analogman comprosser
c) Xotic SP comp

[On Practicing Guitar]

Thanks for the suggestions, Clay! I already have an Xotic SP compressor. I like it a lot but I think the Dyna Comp dials in the sound for slide better and faster. It's so easy and I'm usually very happy with it. -Chris