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Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

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Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#181

Post by [deleted] »

mock-possum wrote: post #121
phronimos wrote: post #110

Interesting factoid: modern guitar effects typically have their input jacks on the right-hand side, and output jacks on the left. In this article's guitar rig diagram, the jacks are reversed, but this is accurate: back then, for whatever reason the jacks were reversed on each of these pedals. Modern reissues of the round-enclosure Fuzz Face pedals preserve this pattern despite the reversal of industry trends.

It does seem weird, I’d expect signal to flow from left to right, as English is written, as a number line is drawn, from -x to 0 to +x

[deleted]

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#182

Post by jacquesm »

ssl-3 wrote: post #102
9dev wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Star Spangled Banner was incredible. The way you can hear the machine guns, choppers, sirens, screaming in agony… that was a masterpiece.

> The way you can hear the machine guns, choppers, sirens, screaming in agony… You know, I've heard that performance so many times over so many decades that I don't have to hit a play button or even close my eyes in order to hear it. It's there inside my head when I want it to be. And somehow I never interpreted it in that way (sirens, screaming, etc) until just a moment ago. I thought it was just a quirky little ear…

I read your comment and immediately wondered how much of my braincells are permanently occupied with remembering music. Probably quite a lot in an absolute sense but I wonder about the percentage of storage and whether or not that could have been used in other ways. And of course then I wonder if they are stored compressed, and whether that is lossy compression or not ;)

BrainOS 1.1> Optimize Memory (Y/N) __

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#183

Post by jacquesm »

zigman1 wrote: post #158
mark_l_watson wrote: post #125

The amazing thing is that Hendrix during live performances has the same wonderful effects as he got in the studio. I only saw Hendrix play live one time, that was in San Diego a few weeks before he died in England.

> I only saw Hendrix play live one time I love how nonchalantly you threw this one in. I am proper jealous, how was it? On your first remark, I agree. This is why I love Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler. The studio recordings are amazing, and then you listen to their live stuff and it's even better.

Same with Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola and some others of that vintage.

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#184

Post by hypertexthero »

kavalg wrote: post #172
hypertexthero wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmmm, I disagree, having played electric and acoustic guitars for over two decades and begun learning piano and synths for the first time in 2025. For one, you can’t easily play two melodies simultaneously across several octaves, using both of your hands, with an electric guitar. Stringed electronic instruments do have their advantages, but so do the others. Each music making thing has its place in the spectrum. Two…

You are completely right about the polyphonic expressivity of piano. What I lack is the intonation (bending) of tone.

Guitars certainly have a more intimate connection between the touch of fingers and the sound, including the bending of the tone, one of Hendrix’s virtuosities.

Keyboards can approach that with polyphonic touch keys like the Hydrasynth (lean into keys, pressing them harder, for bending the tone in a configured patch), sustain pedals, and pitch bend/modulation controls, but not the nuanced touch of skin on a vibrating string.

I think synth guitars exist, too, but don’t know anything about them. The pedalboards are enough, maybe :)

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#185

Post by IAmBroom »

musictubes wrote: post #133
9dev wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Star Spangled Banner was incredible. The way you can hear the machine guns, choppers, sirens, screaming in agony… that was a masterpiece.

If you listen to the Woodstock soundtrack it is clear that Hendrix was on a completely different musical level than anyone else in that scene. Ravi Shankar was probably the only person there above him from a chops perspective and possibly in the expressivity department as well. But when it came to sheer inventiveness no one was close to Hendrix. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to see and hear him. It mus…

The Who followed him, and famously destroyed their entire set in a vain attempt to be noticed.

Like a jealous plumber, worried that Kim Kardashian's "Break the Internet" photo series will take away from his appeal, hurriedly posting photos of his plumber's crack online...

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#186

Post by IAmBroom »

nineteen999 wrote: post #163
dumb1224 wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The art of Hendrix's playing, then, is partly in how he harnessed that sound and integrated it into his voice. And of course, he's a force of nature when he does so. One thing for me to notice is his playing does not require a rhythm guitarist. I discovered that what worked well is Mitch Mitchell as a Jazz drummer his playing was heavily influenced by classics. In a way it complemented Jimi's guitar tone so well.

While I love Mitch's drumming and Noel's bass, can you imagine if Hendrix had worked with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce - both much more confident and strident players than the Experience's rythym section. That would have blown the doors off of everything. I don't think there was another as "out there" guitar player as Jimi until EVH came along - a little more controlled, but just as confident and chaotic. EVH was quit…

Jimmy wasn't as good as Miles at collaboration.

Miles always impressed me with his ability to pick the best to back him up, and /then/ let them take the front. Some tracks he barely plays on, waiting minutes for his entry.

Jimmy wanted the best to back him up. But I agree with you; I'm just pointing out why I think he didn't.

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#188

Post by mark_l_watson »

zigman1 wrote: post #158
mark_l_watson wrote: post #125

The amazing thing is that Hendrix during live performances has the same wonderful effects as he got in the studio. I only saw Hendrix play live one time, that was in San Diego a few weeks before he died in England.

> I only saw Hendrix play live one time I love how nonchalantly you threw this one in. I am proper jealous, how was it? On your first remark, I agree. This is why I love Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler. The studio recordings are amazing, and then you listen to their live stuff and it's even better.

Hendrix seemed like a really nice guy. His vibe was that he loved everyone in the audience. I was close to the stage and took some nice pictures using Anschrome 500 that I developed myself pushing it to 1000 ASA. Treasure those pictures.

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#189

Post by IAmBroom »

altmanaltman wrote: post #162
prettyblocks wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think I recall reading about Hendrix that he tried to emulate the sounds of cartoons with his guitar, and then when he was in the army he did the same with trying to reproduce the sounds of fighter jets. Not sure if urban legend, but cool origin story.

[flagged]

OT1H, yeah: angry misogynist bad.

OTOH: why does his accidental fatal pathway tarnish him morally to you?

Very mixed message: "Don't beat women nor vomit!"

Re: Jimi Hendrix was a systems engineer

#190

Post by ssl-3 »

kinleyd wrote: post #164
ssl-3 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The way you can hear the machine guns, choppers, sirens, screaming in agony… You know, I've heard that performance so many times over so many decades that I don't have to hit a play button or even close my eyes in order to hear it. It's there inside my head when I want it to be. And somehow I never interpreted it in that way (sirens, screaming, etc) until just a moment ago. I thought it was just a quirky little ear…

Well, lucky you anyway - I'd give up a lot to be able to instantly play Jimi Hendrix in my mind!

It's all tradeoffs. I can't remember names or faces even if doing so is worth money.

Instead, I can recall the complete works of Roger Waters or Nine Inch Nails, but not the names of the songs unless I really studied that part. I can recall themes from TV shows from decades ago, but be unable to place the name of the show.

At any given time, anywhere at all, I can listen to any of at least five different covers of Fat Bottomed Girls -- and have no idea who performed any of them, and therefore no ability to share them with others.

It's an interesting way to be and it is the only way I know, but there's reasons that I'm terrible at being a DJ.

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