Chris Squire - Up Close And Personal

[SilverHamer]

I stumbled upon this video on youtube this morning...can't recall exactly how I came upon it but here it is. Chris Squire runs through many of the popular Yes songs on a variety of bass guitars. This was rather enjoyable for me, so I hope you guys will enjoy it as well.

MarkE, I think you smoked his version of Tempus Fugit...the one he plays on this video anyways. ;)

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I noticed that on most of his bass guitars that he is running it through an XLR line which you can see hanging from his guitar strap...it looks like it has a pigtail coming off of it with a 1/4" jack connection for his axe, but there is an XLR junction feeding to his amp. I would like to know what this is about, the benefits, etc. I know that XLR is supposed to be a "balanced" line, but I never really understood the benefits of it. I'm sort of a rookie when it comes to much of this electronic stuff.

[MarkE]

What a great video. Watching it gave me a flood of ideas for new stuff that I need to learn. and...that Rick makes me drool. Someday I guess....

Ever notice how all the really great bassists play 4 bangers?

About the XLR...a normal guitar cord uses two wires...signal and ground. An XLR uses three...+signal, -signal and ground. A normal 2 wire guitar cord is prone to pickup any interference like static discharges, RFI, CB radios automotive spark plug cables etc etc etc over longer distances. On the three wire system, it still picks up the same noise but it is canceled at the receiving end because the + and - are reintegrated and cancel each other out.

I think thats how it goes. Bottom line is noise immunity. The average Joe or bar room gigger really doesnt need it. The only exception that I can see is like the situation I have in hawk studio where there are several computers and monitors running all the time generating noise, which sometimes ends up in the recordings (rare)

[babayaga]

I've also tried to minimise noise in the studio by keeping audio and mains leads well separated.... its tricky when you're in a relatively confined space, and there's lots of equipment all working at once....great vid BTW!

[MarkE]

I have the same problems. i have two monitors on the desk about 1ft from the mixer panel, two CPUs on the floor just underneath, and about 5ft away another CPU and monitor.

I use a combination of XLR and TRS balanced cables and I have eliminated most of the garbage. Anything coming from a guitar uses unbalanced cables. From any active instrument (drum set, synthesizer, effects box) uses TRS. My DI box is tied into my mixer with 4 XLRs.

I still get some computer buzzing in the headphones but none in the recording. When I moved to PA I had to go through the whole she-bang again...running down stray noises.

[babayaga]

You sound more organised than me matey! ;-)

What really does my head in is when I'm playing guitar and I start getting a hum when I face north-west (or something!). I've learned all the hotspots in here now mostly, and now if I get a NW hum over the cans I'll switch the lamp off in the corner!

Funny... but I have exactly the same kind of lamp at the other end of the desk which is as quiet as a mouse.....! Isn't life peachy!!

[SilverHamer]

Graham, sounds like you need an electric guitar with "HUMBUCKERS" ;)

I have similar probs in my endeavors...most of the noise I battle comes from the power supply for my laptop...

:fustr1::cu2::goofy::fustr2::duh2::cu2::fustr1:

[RandallFlagg]

Actually, the XLR plug goes into the "Ric-O-Sound" box for the stereo connection. Why he uses the XLR version is a bit of a mystery, but oh well. My Ric has the same option of stereo or mono (I've never used it stereo) but Rics have had them from nearly the beginning. I don't know this for fact, but I bet there aren't 20 bassists in the world using Rics that actually utilize the "Ric-O-Sound" feature....but I love Squire!! The Ox and later Squire are the reason I began playing.....


Also, that green Mouradian bass is absolutely GORGEOUS!!


RF