All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

teleblaster · Post by **teleblaster** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:03 pm

I submitted this for the Rock covers listing that was due on the 20th. I still have some work to do and hope to get another set of edits done before it actually gets reviewed.; interested in input on all aspects of this piece. Pretty sure that the melody and lead guitars are too loud; they seemed reasonable on my studio monitors but sound way loud on my laptop spkrs now. I need to figure out how to end it too. I'll probably put in some leads and fade out the same as the original track does. Thanks in advance...It's on my TAXI music page: http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=12623

ideascapes · Post by **ideascapes** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:57 pm

Erich,This is one of my favorite Hendrix tunes. I think it's pretty common to mix lead guitars a little hot when you're trying to get power and excitement out of them. These sound pretty close.Not sure how close you're trying to get to the original. In that version, things were much dirtier...and louder. I'd probably experiment with re-amping the drums and maybe even mixing them in mono. And I'd make the bass and backing guitars dirtier (distortion, amped, tape saturation, etc.) and more in your face.You have all the elements, I think, but right now it feels a little like a MUZAK mix of the song. Not trying to be insulting here, it just feels like Hendrix lite.Good luck!Vince

billg · Post by **billg** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:11 am

One of my favorites too . . . The drums sound way too buried in the back to me. And the kick drum really needs to come up and the bass needs some eq work to make it punchy. All of Vince's ideas are good but if you're pressed for time at least getting the bass and drums to punch through will help a lot imo.

k o star · Post by **k o star** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:14 am

hi Teleblaster,I have to agree with Vince & Bill... especially on the drums...I simply love the guitar performance on this!-Kel

teleblaster · Post by **teleblaster** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:29 am

Thanks all for the input. Great stuff that I can use right away to make this one better.I'm REALLY struggling with the mix-n-master on this one The original track is a freaking gorgeous, beautiful mess. You can hear places where the drums fade in and out, the bass is this big mushy syruppy thing, there's WAY too much reverb on the backing tracks, and yet Eddie Kramer found a way to glue it all together and make it rock harder than most any track I've heard done with modern tools. Maybe my problem is that I've never taken LSD....That said I need to put a fork in this one tonight after work so I can move on to a listing due on the 28th. Your comments will be most helpful!!Erich

rld · Post by **rld** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:10 am

Boy...you've got your work cut out for you trying to recreate this track.I just had a listen to the original...gawd...its terrible...in a beautiful sort of way. I listened to yours...nothing wrong, but all I can say is good luck!

teleblaster · Post by **teleblaster** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:51 am

Thanks RLD, sounds like you're feeling my pain.. I've got a new mix. I'm uploading it to my taxi site now it's called Watchtower2 I bounced the drums then added some tape/tube sim, and ran them through an 1176 sim on a parallel buss along with the bass, rythm gits and tambourine -- it seems to have glued things better. There's places where cymbol crashes distort horribly, but I'm gonna go with it, I think that's the vibe...Go big or go home I guess. This one might not go anywhere, but it was fun and make a fun 'home movie'... thx again,Erich

teleblaster · Post by **teleblaster** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:00 pm

OK, I re-mixed this one more time and I actually like it. The latest is under 'All Along the Watchtower (Hendrix Version) on my TAXI page: http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... =meThere's a few spots where the pocket between the drums and the rythm guitars gets REALLY wide. Like Mitch Mitchell fell off the trap stool. It's a new LSD plugin that I found. You put it on a buss and run individual instruments through it to get that high and live feel. thx all again,Erich

deantaylor · Post by **deantaylor** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:38 pm

Erich,Cudos to your bal.... I mean guts .. for attempting this. I like it. It's good. I think the beginning sounds a bit 'tame' or too 'clean', but later on it gets more emotion and 'life'.Dean

matthoggard · Post by **matthoggard** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:49 am

Erich,I think your in the ballpark. "a beautiful mess" is a perfect description of the original. Hendrix's sounds were so over the top that I cant imagine trying to engineer them back in the day.Ive heard stories of him cutting slits in the speaker cones and other crazy things to get that odd, genius distortion sound. His technique was amazing too. My first guitar teacher refused to teach me "Foxy Lady" (i think he didnt want me meddling with Hendrix's genius )Im with Dean, Big kudos for having the cojones to tackle this masterpiece and doing such a fine job!!Now im on to re-make "Stairway to Heaven" ! M~

All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

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Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

Re: All Along the Watchtower -- Hendrix version

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