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mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Ok, this is a big deal for me. I want to share all the updates with you guys about the record 'Attack of the Giant Mechanical Man' which is going to be released early next year.

I won't be sharing 90% of this stuff on my Facebook, twitter or instagram. Why am I sharing it here? Because I've always loved this forum and have been lurking around for two years even when I didn't even own a Musicman. Ernie Ball is a unique company made up of extraordinary people and it is a big deal to me to have an endorsement deal with them.

First off, here is the album artwork, please don't share this, it isn't finished and the artist doesn't want the whole world to see this yet but I'm ok to share it here with you. The artist is called Mark Rehkopf and he is a genius, he helped with the design of the Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park as well as doing artwork for comics, Brian Setzer and more! One of the reasons why it isn't finished is I got the endorsement deal after he finished the robot with the guitar so he will most likely change it to a Musicman, but not one of the models I currently have as it needs to fit the colour scheme. Also, the track titles aren't set in stone. View attachment 23819
I hope you like it!

Musicians: Nick D'Virgilio on drums (Spocks Beard, Big Big Train, Tears for Fears, Phil Collins...)
Session bassist Rory Pearse, however he's had to back out last minute in the recording of the finals for personal reasons, but I am in contact with Jon Reshard and Stuart Zender, I've also called Tal Wilkenfelds manager but haven't heard back from her yet, something should work out within the next few days though!
My wife Sabina is playing the keys and I'm playing the guitfiddle :eek:

The main two instruments being used on this album are a Luke III and a Silhouette Special, however I'm in serious need of a 24 fret as I'm probably going to sell the Suhr (please keep this hush hush as it isn't set in stone, it's only happening if I can get hold of a 24 fret Musicman.
View attachment 23820 View attachment 23821

One more thing, that 10k boost function on the Luke III is absolutely killer, if you haven't tried a Luke III yet you really must go and check one out, it's an unbelievable instrument!
 

Tollywood

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
4,178
Location
Rhode Island
Hello Mike,

The artwork is amazing. I am loving the Luke III, too. It's a very comfortable guitar to play.

Thanks for sharing!

Bryan
 

WillyD

Ernie Ball, Inc.
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Messages
610
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Looks great, will be even better with a MM guitar in hand ;) Is that a Cornford hurricane? Thanks for sharing and welcome to the family.
 

DrugDM

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
98
Location
Lawrenceville, GA
Congratulations on your work and the endorsement. How cool that your wife is a musician as well! Concerning a 24 fret guitar, just curious, would you want to get the Petrucci or Silhouette?
 

mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Congratulations on your work and the endorsement. How cool that your wife is a musician as well! Concerning a 24 fret guitar, just curious, would you want to get the Petrucci or Silhouette?

Thanks! That is a very good question, I like the idea of a Petrucci but I doubt I will go in that direction as I don't want people to judge me by what guitar I play. I hate to admit it but I do that myself, if I see someone with a JP on YouTube or Facebook I am very unlikely going to watch their video, if it's a Luke, Silhouette, Silo Special, Abert Lee, Morse or anything else I'll be drawn to it, weird huh? And it's nothing to do with the quality of the Petruccis, I really like them a lot, I think they are one of the best 24 fret guitars out there, especially the stainless steel fret ones, comparable to my Suhr and half the price!!! But I think as an artist, the Silhouette is the best candidate. Only Joe Bonamassa can pull off a Petrucci and note get labelled :eek:

Yeah, my wife is fantastic! She has a website too - www.sbpianotuition.co.uk, she's Russian
 

mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Looks great, will be even better with a MM guitar in hand ;) Is that a Cornford hurricane? Thanks for sharing and welcome to the family.

Thanks WillyD! I don't know what it is on the record cover, I use a MK50 II, I think the model on the cover is a Angry Attack Bot Special mark 1 :D
 

mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
View attachment 24225

What do you guys think of the amendments? I've asked the artist to try it with a Bodhi Blue Luke as well.

Also, I've managed to get Jon Reshard (Prince, Greg Howe...) onboard to play bass with Nick D'Virgilio on drums, cool band, huh?! More updates coming soon!

PS. I'm thinking about doing something cool for this forum, how about this: if someone from the Ernie Ball forum purchases a CD, once it's available, it will have unique, limited edition artwork only available to the lovely folks here, what do you think?
 

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Great stuff and I like the idea of a Ltd Edn CD.

With regard to the CD cover, and this is just honest to goodness feedback, is that when you look at the guitar it is instantly recognisable as an EB MM guitar.

Now if the amp you were using were say a Marshall, Fender, Orange, Laney - they would also be recognisable to those in the know. Not wishing to diss Cornford as they are fine amps, but without the badge on the front they would be pretty much unrecognisable as they don't have a strong unique visual characteristic.

IMO , I'm just not liking the Cornford badge emblazoned on the front.

OK it’s not the first time product placement has been used on covers and I’m sure there are many that show Marshall etc insignia. It’s just a bit too much in your face.

The artwork and robot concept idea is great.

Don't know much about your kind of material, and it seems like you have a bass player sorted. I know that Burke Shelley would have done you a fine job. He called around on the weekend looking to put something together, as he is getting his health back (after a heart op) to get back on tour with Budgie - now those were Album covers, but I'm guessing Roger Dean comes in a tad expensive !!!

Good luck with the album and mark me down for a copy :cool:
 

mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Great stuff and I like the idea of a Ltd Edn CD.

With regard to the CD cover, and this is just honest to goodness feedback, is that when you look at the guitar it is instantly recognisable as an EB MM guitar.

Now if the amp you were using were say a Marshall, Fender, Orange, Laney - they would also be recognisable to those in the know. Not wishing to diss Cornford as they are fine amps, but without the badge on the front they would be pretty much unrecognisable as they don't have a strong unique visual characteristic.

IMO , I'm just not liking the Cornford badge emblazoned on the front.

OK it’s not the first time product placement has been used on covers and I’m sure there are many that show Marshall etc insignia. It’s just a bit too much in your face.

The artwork and robot concept idea is great.

Don't know much about your kind of material, and it seems like you have a bass player sorted. I know that Burke Shelley would have done you a fine job. He called around on the weekend looking to put something together, as he is getting his health back (after a heart op) to get back on tour with Budgie - now those were Album covers, but I'm guessing Roger Dean comes in a tad expensive !!!

Good luck with the album and mark me down for a copy :cool:

Thanks man! I totally understand what you mean about the Cornford, that makes perfect sense! The reason I went with the cornford and musicman is because I want to show how thankful I am for their support with this record. Honestly, they have made this such a pleasant experience for me and also Seymour Duncan, they have been absolutely fantastic, but sadly you can see much of the pickups!

What do you think of the Blue Silhouette instead of the Orange Suhr?
 

mike_baugh

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
359
Location
Plymouth, United Kingdom
Great stuff Mike! Any update as to how things are going with the album?

Thanks edhalen!

There are a few, the Jon Reshard has been sending over some bass demos from LA, they're nearly completed now and we're just about ready to record the finals. Nick D'Virgilio completed the drums in Ohio at JSR Studios a month or so ago and flew over to the UK to give me the tracks, he had some recording to do in the UK and a clinic to do in Poland. At the moment I'm writing the solos, I can write better than I improvise and I'm writing the keyboard parts with Sabina (my wife is a pianist).

Seymour Duncan have been sending over a variety of pickups for me to try out for the lead guitar sound and I think we've nearly nailed it now and narrowed it down to 7 pickups. The tone hunt is nearly over!

I am having some trouble though as I have a big need for a 24 fret guitar as I let the Suhr go as I prefer the Musicman necks, sadly I asked for two 22 fret guitars without thinking, well I kind of need two 22 fret guitars as half the album is in Eb and the other in E so I may need to borrow an Ibanez from my tech for some of the lead parts which is a giant butt pain as I don't like their necks. I would love to get my hands on a JP6 or a Silhouette.

Other than that it's all looking and sounding positive! I'd also like to do something cool for the forum, I was thinking about doing a limited run of unique artwork for the folks who buy the physical CD, what do you think? I'm open to any ideas!
 
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