the Fly Clone Project

Hi. My name's Robert, and I'm a gear-o-holic?

In September, because my bass instructor called it the "Holy Grail" (and being a 40+ year fan of Adrian Belew, King Crimson, et al - and obsessed with all things FLY), I found and purchased an FB-4.
It was love at first pluck, and it's first in my rack of instruments at the moment.

But, something was amiss.

I kept finding myself scouring Reverb, Craig's List, and other dark dens of the musically obsessed, looking for a "Pre-refined Fly." And, of course, I found one.
That made it TWO Fly-related purchases. All was right with the world!

Until it wasn't...

Minding my own business, watching "Cute Kitten" shorts on YouTube, I flip to what I would have anticipated to be another "stupid pet trick", when what should appear is a review of a first generation PM-20 Hornet...

Within a week, one was delivered to the house (2nd gen, non-fly head stock. But, still split coil).
I would now say I'm in the early stages of recovery - where browsing Reverb leaves me empty (not exhilarated). For, (at least for the present) there is no gear that fascinates me...

You're building up quite a collection!

Thank you

Honestly, it's an illness. I bought, as many others did, a cheap guitar with my government check during COVID, because - why not? A nice sub-$300 Epiphone Les Paul. While I was at it, I added an equally affordable Gretsch bass.

I played those happily for a couple years.

And then something happened. I fell victim to the delusion that my "tone" was being hampered by "cheap equipment." I've since realized I just needed to practice more, but I digress.

The next think I knew there was a brand new Yamaha bass in the man cave...

Then, an ESP semi-hollow body guitar. Then Sam Ash closed it's doors and I picked up a Copley w/Floyd Rose.

I was now beyond hope and a flurry of questionable decisions (and spending) ensued. I mentioned I'm a Crimson fan. Apparently, at some point Mr. Fripp gave up on Gibsons and moved to custom-built Fernandes' and Burnys?

Add two Burny Les Paul's (one with Sustainer) to the collection. This inspired interest in Burny and Fernandes basses. As I was researching these Fernandes filed for bankruptcy. I snatched up one Burny and one Fernandes bass.

But I wasn't done. There was a glaring hole in the collection. HOLLOW BODIES!

One Gretsch and an Eastman later, I felt that I was done. How wrong I was...

THIS is when the "Parker Need(s)" reared their ugly head.

This catches us up to today. Along the way, an audio interface, DAW, studio monitors, and a decent mic appeared, too.

I've since seen the King Crimson at 50 documentary, and caught Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, and Danny Carey on the Beat Tour.

My new Mission?

Record a cover of Starless, playing all instruments (ok - I have no room for, or interest in, playing drums. So, I'll be isolating/sampling Bill Bruford there. Sorry purists.)

This requires keyboards and a sax to cover Ian McDonald's and Mel Collins' parts (can anyone recommend a good digital woodwind?)

Wish me luck...

RbtCFuller wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:03 am This requires keyboards and a sax to cover Ian McDonald's and Mel Collins' parts (can anyone recommend a good digital woodwind?)

If you're referring to an EWI, I use a Roland AE-30; and it's a fine enough substitute for my real sax that I leave it in its case and keep my neighbors happy. If you're referring to plug-ins for use with a keyboard or other controller, SWAM produces the best wind instrument timbres I've heard. Those are my meager endorsements - I don't pretend to be more than toe-deep into either world.

mmmguitar wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 12:49 pm I don't pretend to be more than toe-deep into either world.

A toe deeper than I am! Thank you for the suggestions