DIY Ring Modulator and Some Dave Lum Tattoo Art

Original Circuit

Here's some creepy perverted stuff for your Halloween.  I finished up a pedal for a friend that I've made a few of at this point.  My take on Tim Escobedo's Push Me Pull You, Octave Fuzz.  I wrote about that a while back here: https://aaronlumguitar.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-diy-pedals.html .  It's my favorite octave fuzz so far.  You can here it in action at the bottom track of this post.  My friend and I came up with the idea to call it the Paipan Fuzz.  Here in Japan that means basically what the graphics are on it, with no shrubbery.  And those graphics are from a tattoo my dad, Dave Lum did years ago.  He's a now retired well know tattoo artist with mind altering and twisted images.  You can take a walk down memory lane with him occasionally and see his old work here:https://www.instagram.com/lumsplace/ . Word has it he's working with someone on a book of his work in the future.

Modified Circuit

The second pedal I did with Lum art was a ring modulator, again a modified Tim Escobedo circuit.  I always wanted a ring mod, but never got around to buying one.  Especially with the DOD Gonkulator prices skyrocketing.  So this was a must try.  It's not the most versatile ring mod in the world, but it will give you a bunch of crazy sounds.  I added a few extra controls to make it more usable for me.  First I replaced the original 10K resistor with a 100K potentiometer.  Between the two pots you can get more sounds.  I did get some harsh distortion even when my amp was clean on some settings, so I added a switch with a .0047uf cap ground which cut off some of the harsh high end frequencies.  Lastly I still wanted more control, so I added a wet/dry blend pot.  The simple wiring seemed to work just fine.  With this, you can almost get away with playing something pretty.   Here's a quick demo video I did of the pedal. Enjoy folks. 

Here's the Octave Fuzz in action at the 2:04 mark

New Solo Album (My Plastic Moon)

Had a chance this summer to wrap up some more recording and managed to have enough songs for a little release.  Some of these songs stretch back a decade or more, recorded from Salem and Portland Oregon, all the way across the Pacific here in Fukuoka Japan.  Some of it is a little lo-if and quirky, but the songs meant something to me as a time capsule of my life in my late 20's and early 30s.  Plus a Daniel Johnston cover.  Hope you enjoy it .

Depressed Fathers Club

We finally finished up the 4th studio Born Shit Stirrers album, with an EP in its wings coming soon.  I had a few more jobs to do on this one this time around.  You can download it digitally from bandcamp below, or in the near future, order a hard copy via Serial Bowl Records out of Sunderland, UK. Here or here.  Thanks for all the support!

New Solo Music

Had a chance to finish up a few unfinished songs I had.  Some of these are pretty old.  Well, they're new now.  Got a new pedal project and some shows coming up, in between everyday chaos.  Hope summer is finding you well.

Don Matsuo of Zoobombs

Had a blast two weeks ago with Don Mastuo and the GigiBand.  Complete trial by fire.  One practice and away we went.  Mostly improvised, just following Don's cues.  It's been a busy spring.  Here's a set list and a few videos.  Big thanks to my band mates for the night. 

1. Mannish Boy 

2. Highway A Go Go (blues)

3. South Central Rock 

4. Circle X 

5. Come as You Are 

6. Mo Funky 

7. Sympathy for The Devil(encore)

Big Show Next Week

Next week I get the honor to play guitar in the backing band of Don Matsuo from the Zoobombs.  It also coincides with Gigi's 12th anniversary.   It's been a great place to play at over the years, and it's a local music institution at this point.  Well, here in Fukuoka Japan anyhow.  If you haven't heard of the Zoobombs, check them out next time they come to the U.S. or Canada.  They are nuts.

....yeah, we're playing this.......

The Watt From Pedro Show Again!

I was again honored to be played on The Watt From Pedro Show recently a few episodes back.  One of my favorite broadcasts.  If you haven't check it out, do.  You can catch these shows or others at https://www.twfps.com

https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guest-jeff-parker-from-altadena-ca-via-skype

https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guests-dmf-from-orange-county-ca-via-skype

https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guest-andrea-rottin-from-prague-czech-republic-via-skype

https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guests-very-be-careful-s-arturo-ricardo-guzman

https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guest-marco-simoncelli-from-london-england-via-skype

Live bootleg....BSS PUNK

First and maybe last show for the gaijin punk band I play in. Get the bootleg while you can. Here it is.  I think these pictures sum it up as well.....More recording starts next week.  No rest for me.......

Godzilla Snacks - Cave Dwellers out today and other musical projects

Hi!  Three things!

#1 The band and I have a new EP out today. We did this 100% by ourselves over the last year. I'm not sure what it is, or if it's good, but we tried.  Big thanks to Jan Bart Leeuw for playing Harmonium and Clavinet, and Jon Bates for a few Screams. https://godzillasnacks.bandcamp.com/album/cave-dwellers

 #2 The punk recording project I've been (“producing?”) Born Shit Stirrers, is haphazardly deciding to become a live act. So I'll be playing guitar with those a-holes April 18^th. A fight might start.

#3 I'm honored to have been asked to play guitar in the backup band for Don Matsuo of Zoobombs in Fukuoka in May. Crazy, considering it was one of my wife's favorite Japanese bands of the 90's. It's been a while just being a guitar player and I'm looking forward to the rehearsals. Even though I suck at Japanese.

Alright.  That's all for now.  

Godzilla Snacks EP Cave Dwellers

We put this out today.  First track off our EP which we will have out February 20th.  Hope you enjoy it!