Feb 2025 Challenge – Sunjamr Steve

[sunjamr]

So, I grabbed my Fender Strat and sat down and started noodling along to the jamtrack, and it all sounded very uninspiring. That’s because the notes on the piano were in the same range as the notes on my Strat, and the Strat didn’t stand out at all from the piano. And I wondered “How can I make my Strat notes stand out from the piano?” So I conducted this scientific experiment:

Sunjamr Steve

[Guido]

Successful experiment, Steve! Your melody is very enjoyable and ear catching at and your versions with different effects they all sound good and interesting, but my favorite one is absolutely the very first, with the volume pedal: it sounds great!

Guido

[Paul S.]

I vote for the wah-wah pedal. (I’d give it three votes if I could.) It sounded most like a human voice and gave the melody more emotion than the volume change or the (ugh) vibrato pedal which was, in my opinion, ruinous to the beauty of the melody you chose.

The melody line itself was sweet and tasteful and pretty in its simplicity.

I also think the sock technique should be the subject of the next experiment, versus a shoe, necktie or gym shorts.

[AndréM]

Great experiment Steve.
But the volume pedal wins.

AndréM

AndréM

[Catherine Arsenault]

Great sound and playing!!!!

[Michael L]

Hi Steve, well, I think the wha peddle was the clear winner here, but I’d love to hear the sax or harmonica too. Thanks for taking us on this scientific journey.

[Laurel C]

Come on Steve, give yourself credit. I thought the pedal with the wha pedal made the best combination and sounded awesome. While it was an experiment, the pedal and wha win the best sound with the sock being the best support. The sax and harmonica plus all the other instruments you have on hand would also be good to hear some day too.

[Jennifer D]

Wow that’s a first for me…the sock! But I liked the first pedal and then I thought the second pedal was very interesting can you combine the two or is that technically not possible?

[sunjamr]

Wow, you just gave me a great idea, Jen! Maybe I could work one pedal with each foot and see how that works. I’ll keep you posted.

Sunjamr Steve

[donmati]

Very nice volume pedal, I didn’t know this effect, I love what you do with your melody line, a very organic effect, which really relaxes. Thanks

[Mike W]

I don’t normally use pedals but I really liked the effect you got with the volume pedal. Once you mentioned using a sax I couldn’t stop trying to imagine how that would sound – I think it would be awesome. Your one-string melody was clever and very melodic. I had to listen again to take it in because I was concentrating on your experiment.

[Alan L]

Nice catchy melody. I thought wah sounded best!

[John H]

Just like volume swells using your fingers and volume knobs. I remember doing this trying to emulate the sounds of a pedal steel. They all sound neat. But then again, this is more subjective than scientific. Interesting presentation.

John

[charjo]

I always prefer electric to acoustic for the bends, vibrato and effects like overdrive, reverb, delay, tremolo, phase and vibe, so I love this experiment. The volume swells definitely win for me, followed by the wah. The vibrato did nothing for me, I think I would have preferred tremolo.
Definitely need a volume pedal. I had purchased a Boss version but the sweep was too abrupt and it went back. What model are you using here?
My wife oils the teak furniture with my discarded socks. So many uses for a sock, just ask Flea of the Chili Peppers!
John

[ranja]

It’s the way pedal for me followed by the volume pedal.
Ron

[Pap]

Interesting experiment Steve. Give it a try underwater…I think your number of experiments would be limitless. Nice melody. Cheers. Pap

[Dave O]

Very creative. I love the envelope filter sound! Well played!

It's all about the journey, not the destination.

https://soundcloud.com/david_ohm
https://www.bandmix.com/drwho/

[Bill]

Cool experiment Steve. I like the volume swells…hope you used a clean sock!

[Manfred M]

Interesting how many different vibes you create with your pedals, Steve. My favorite is the volume pedal.
But it would also have been interesting to hear a version without the pedals.
It’s great to see how you keep exploring.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be on March 29, 2025

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I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Denise]

I personally love the Wah pedal sound and there’s a very sweet melody going on! 🙏It sounds like singing.

But what for is that sock? To damp the tone?🤔

Denise

More Blues!

[Alan O]

Hi Steve, I liked the volume pedal effect the best, but all sounded very interesting. Cool sock trick! I’m gonna have to try that.

Alan

[JFL]

I can’t agree with your conclusion. I liked the wah best. The volume swells were also cool. I can hear this being played in a David Lynch scene from Twin Peaks.

JFL

[Martin W]

That’s a different approach, sweet melody you created subtle but almost quite powerful.
I think for me the volume swells and the wah pedal gets the nod .
Playing on the bass strings at the end was a cool touch as well .

Martin

[Ralph P.]

I definitely liked the volume swells the best Steve. You played a really nice and fitting melody during the volume pedal part that I thought would have sounded great without any effects, but no good musician ever got good unless they experimented. That’s half the fun of learning.

Ralph

Ralph P.

[Bob Utberg]

I thought the sock was to remind your roommates you had a lovely woman visiting your studio!!! Or, that “don’t forget the laundry” Steve!!! Wah-wah was was my my Fave fave!!! But, all were incredible!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[sunjamr]

Haha, I learned the sock trick from the pro bass players. It’s notoriously hard to to keep unwanted open string vibration from happening on a bass. So some players use a custom made string damper that looks kind of like a capo, and others just tie on a bit of cloth or a sock like I did.

You should see the socks that the bass player Mononeon uses: Full hi-vis day-glow multi-colored socks. But he’s overall a very hi-vis kind of guy.

Sunjamr Steve

[Andy N]

Had to laugh when I read the end credits 😀 and Bob’s sock comment has just made me laugh even more.
A sax and the night over this track could have easily got you into such a situation!!!!

But back with the guitar, if you forced me to choose, I’d go for the volume swells. MK uses that technique a lot and I’m tempted to get a volume pedal. Even more so after this experiment.

P.S. Just saw Charjo’s sock reference 🤣.

[Dieter]

Great melodic playing and very interesting sound.

Dieter

[JoLa]

Very interesting experiment, Steve! I think I would opt for a combination of volume and wah pedal interchangeably, however, what I really think would sound fantastic with Brian’s track is just harmonica. I wish I could play one myself but what I imagine in my head sounds great 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Mark T]

Well, that gives a whole new meaning to, “Put a sock in it, mate.” 😂😂 – love the tone you got out of it, especially the first run-through. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Bruce D]

Steve-
I think I like the vibrato on the high notes best. The wah didn’t do it for me.
Nice compilation , neat idea.

Bruce

Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola

[David H]

Great experiment – ( Wah for me). Thanks for doing it and sharing.

[Author]

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