August 2024 Challenge Response – Tremelow

[Tremelow]

Hi my fellow AMers,

here is my contribution to this month’s challenge. I loved it! After tinkering around for a bit I quickly found something that in my view would qualify as a riff. I hope the many repetitions don’t sound monotonous, but if I’ll ever play in a band, I must also be able to repeat the same riff over and over again without missing a beat.

One of my inspirations for this riff was ZZ Top – La Grange. You will notice that there the same riff is being played almost throughout the whole song.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy the video.

PS I wanted to know how different my SG would sound to the Yamaha, that’s why you see two guitars 🙂

[Jennifer D]

Rock On! If I had to make a choice I think I like the first guitar best but they both sound great, very heavy theme going on!

[Mike W]

I also thought the Yamaha sounded best. You got a great vibe going there – I thought it very inventive, well done.

[Jeff]

Now that’s what I call rock n roll. Excellent work man!

Too old for rock and roll but too young to die

[Tremelow]

Thanks for watching, Jeff. Good to have you here!

[Michael L]

Yes, this one has the feel of that rock era! Nice!

[Alan L]

Great rocking riff, well done!

[JoeD1]

Superb! Absolutely liked both guitars but my preference was the SG. It just seemed to have a bit deeper growl to it. Nice submission.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[AndréM]

Great composition, nice riffs
Both sound good but I prefer the SG.

AndréM

AndréM

[sunjamr]

Nicely played, Tremelow. I would go for the SG. Not only because it sounds better, but also because it’s a lot easier to play….at least for me. The SG gives you totally unhindered access to the very top frets, easy peazy.

Sunjamr Steve

[Tremelow]

Thanks Steve. Both guitars are very nice to play, although very different. What I really like about the SG are the 57’ pick ups and it’s light weight.

[Dieter]

Great rocky performance. I prefer the first guitar.

Dieter

[Tremelow]

Thanks Dieter!

[Manfred M]

Let the rock riff rule, Tremelow. You hit exactly the vibe of these classic rock songs. It was a pleasure to listen!
Btw cause you mentioned ZZ Top, do you know this riff collection of Billy Gibbons and John Fogerty. It‘s worth watching:

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be at the beginning of next year 2026

A detailed announcement will be posted here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Tremelow]

Thank you for the video, Manfred. Fits perfectly to the challenge and is very entertaining!

[Guido]

For sure having Billy Gibbons as an inspiration is a good thing, and you definitely succeeded in creating and playing very well several brilliant riffs in this style, very ear-catching and with a great rock groove! Very enjoyable rendition!
I prefer the rounder and fuller sound of the Yamaha.

Guido

[John H]

Tremelow
Well done… I think the Yamaha sounds a littler fuller. Like both. The riff was quite ingenious and cathcy. Great tone as well.

JH

[Mark T]

Really well done, with plenty of crunch – just what’s needed for this 👏👏! I’m not sure if I preferred listening to one axe over the other; I know however that I’d really notice the difference when playing on each one 👍🎶😎

[Werner]

I like the sound of both guitars. You found a rocking, groovy riff that needs an and like ZZ Top. Great submission. Thank you

Werner

[Paul S.]

You just need to grow a long beard and this will be complete.
Repetition in music is a good thing, so your return to the main riff was entirely appropriate and projected a lot of power. Sweet! (I think the SG was better suited for this piece. More guts.)

[James B]

Cool riff, Tremelow. That’s a rocking good sound you’ve dialed up. I like the Yamaha the best.

James

[Bill]

Cool riff! I like the chromatic movement you put in there.

[charjo]

Very catchy riff, Trem. I like the Yamaha, I think it would cut through a mix a little better. You have to consider your band!
John

[Tremelow]

Thanks John. Good point with the band!

[Laurel C]

That was solid and rocked. Can appreciate the repetition of licks without missing a beat to be in a band, which is next level playing. That ain’t easy to do, but you did it, stqnding up. Good on you.

[Martin W]

That’s a cool rock riff , the influence is evident, I also prefer the sound and looks of the Yamaha it’s a nice guitar and a brand that is often overlooked.

Martin

[Juxi]

Hi Kevin. That rocked. Well done! I liked the first guitar better. Splendid response to Brian’s challenge. Keep on rocking.
👍🏽😊👋🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[JoLa]

That was rock steady awesome, Kevin!
As you as you played the first chord I thought of ZZ Top and you sure delivered. That repetitive riff worked really well and the whole song sounded like something I would hear on the radio 🙂 In addition, great comparison of the two guitars. I also liked the Yamaha but the difference was trivial to my ears.

🎸JoLa

[Pap]

ZZ Top is always inspirational in this style of playing. You nailed the assignment and it sounded pro level. Cheers. Pap

[Tom D]

I had ALOT of fun enjoying your video Tremelow! You came up with a great rock riff. It gets into your head and I wanted to hear it again! Very well played. Both guitars sound GREAT to me … but as a personal choice I succumb to the charms of the semi hollow body Yamaha. Yet I acknowledge the SG is a rockin’ machine that has an iconic look and lightweight design to keep you comfortable when you’re touring and playing major arenas around the world. I wonder which you liked best! Cheers, Tom

[Tremelow]

Hi Tom, thank you for your kind comment. Glad you liked it. As for which guitar I liked best in this challenge, the Yamaha wins. This time. It’s always a close call between these two guitars. They both play and sound fantastic, but they couldn’t feel more different: The Yamaha is relatively heavy (but not LP heavy) and has a thin narrow neck, the SG is light as a feather and has a thin but wider neck.
I was a bit surprised how similar both guitars sounded here. For comparison, I kept the same knob settings and PUs on both guitars and also changed nothing an the amp and pedals.

[sciencefiction]

Cool riff, Trem! Both guitars were growling to perfection. Toss up for me on which guitar sounded best. You played well on both. Rock on!
Larry

[Tremelow]

Thanks Larry!

[Jonathan Amos]

There’s certainly a whole song waiting to come out of that, how about adding bass and drums? I prefer the Yamaha, perhaps because it’s a semi-acoustic.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[Author]

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