Death Don't Have No Mercy - Cover

[sbrennan970]

Hi all,

After playing lots of Rory G on the resonator recently I wanted to try something a bit more classic old school:



I first discovered this song after watching the trailer for the game South of Midnight.

This is of course 'Death Don't Have No Mercy' by Piedmont blues legend Rev. Gary Davis. Ive been teaching Kirsty how to play it over the last few weeks and wanted to give it a lash myself. I had the mics set up from when I played 'Western Plains on Sunday, so last night I gave myself one shot to get a decent take. While this is a very imperfect rendition, I still really enjoyed playing it.

A few months ago I posted a video of the solo from this song, and got talking to Mr Chris Chalmers from the 2:19 (Belfast based Blues band - they have a great cd out) who recommended Dave Van Ronk, the book Mayor of MacDougal St and the Coen Brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis - This has led to a new and exciting rabbit hole of folk music!

Gear and setup can be seen here:

Guitar: MM Lightning
Strings: Elixir Nanoweb (need to get something more reso appropriate!)
Mics: SE X1, MXL990, K&K Pickup (approx £250 all in)
Interface: Behringer UMC1820 (I do not recommend this Interface!)

Software:
Ableton Live lite
VSTs:
Waves CLA Vocals + Unplugged (excellent for this kind of thing and reasonably priced!)
iZotope Ozone - uses AI to do a basic mastering job - better than anything I could do!

Thanks again for all your kind words on my last video. I hope you enjoy this one too!

Cheers
Stephen

PS if anyone is in Dublin on March 2nd the Rory Gallagher Birthday bash is on - I'll be playing at it - it would be great to meet some folks and grab a pint!

[Michael Messer]

Stephen, That's a fine performance of one of the all-time great songs.

Your singing and playing are really strong, nice performance. My only criticism is a technical one, and it is to do with recording your guitar with the K&K pickups. Even with the cheap mics, I am sure you would get a better and more real sound without bringing the pickup into the mix. It's great for gigs plugged into a PA system or acoustic amp, but not for recording. And while on that subject, don't be taken in by the need to get expensive mics. A pair of Shure mics, SM58 for vocals and SM57 for guitar will give you an amazing sound, and all for just £200 (€230). I have recorded in really high end studios and while of course I have used Neumann U87s and all sorts, the Shure mics are superb. BBC Maida Vale Studios, where I have recorded many times and is one of the best equipped studios in London, I think I have always used 58s and 57s there.

At home I have a few mics, a few Neumann TLM series and some Shure 57s and 58s, and I often record with the Shures.

No matter where I am recording, or what I am recording, I never plug in a resonator guitar to record. I always mic them. If I want a plugged in sound I use an electric guitar because they work better. Live performance is a whole different thing and these days I use Highlander & McIntyre pickups into Fishman Platinum Pro EQ/DI Preamps. They are not the cheapest units to buy at around €330, but they are superb.

Keep doing what you're doing, you are sounding great.

Shine On
Michael

[blueshome1]

Great singing. If you are not familiar with the Reverend:

[archtopeddy]

Great song and great rendition Stephen.  And thanks to both you and Michael about recording tips and techniques. Very useful information indeed.  When you think about it, back in the 60s and earlier just about everything was recorded either by mic or a magnet pickup like a Dearmond. I don't think they had piezos and acoustic guitar preamps then. (I might be wrong about this.) But it seems to me, to get a proper "old" acoustic sound, it's best to stick with mics.  This is not to take way anything from you Stephen. Your recording and performance sound solid. Just looking at and considering recording options.

[zimmharpo23]

Feb 6, 2024 9:04:03 GMT blueshome1 said:

Great singing. If you are not familiar with the Reverend:

Hi there

Superb clip, thanks for posting.

What’s also interesting to me about this, apart from the Rev’s spell-binding performance, is that he appears to be using a ‘Bozo’ 12-string. I’ve only seen a few photos of those guitars - Leo Kottke and Johnny Cash used them - but they always seem to sound great. They also look spectacular!

Have any forum members got any experience of, either playing or owning, one of these guitars?

Best wishes

Andy