SEEKING
Band to Join, Vocalist, Vocalist - Tenor, Vocalist - Soprano, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Other Percussion, Keyboard, Piano, Harmonica, Other, Vocalist - Alto.ABOUT
I am a (primarily) pedal steel player, who has been playing in a Christian-based classic rock / blues / light jazz band. (Yeah...pedal steel does fit into all that!) And I have spent a number of years doing Christian-contemporary, and contemporary country, as well. I also play bass and acoustic and electric guitar quite regularly, along with dobro and (when I brush up on my chops) banjo. I have been gigging (and quite a bit of touring) for a long time, and been a session player and a small studio-owner for a number of years, as well. I read chord charts and/or the Nashville Number System. (I can figure out standard notation music, but am NOT a sight-reader by any stretch of imagination.)
- Screen name:
- Jim Ripley
- Member since:
- May 12 2010
- Active within 1 week
- Level of commitment:
- Very Committed
- Years playing music:
- 40
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Most available:
- Nights
Influences
I have always had a very eclectic taste in music, and have always listened to a wide variety of it! I have followed several of the "classic" guitar players (Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chet Atkins, etc.) along with several high-profile steel guitar players (though no one other than steel players would know them). My favorite bands include The Eagles, The Nitty-Gritty-Dirt Band, The Gatlin Brothers (I love their vocals!), The Beatles, and anything Clapton has been in! But again, I listen to (and enjoy) just about anything (including Classical). I like everything from high-energy/high-distortion to mellow and sweet, and am comfortable playing those ranges.
Instrument experience:
- Bass Guitar:
- Advanced
- Background Singer:
- Advanced
- Steel guitar:
- Advanced
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Advanced
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Advanced
- Dobro:
- Moderate
- Lead Guitar:
- Moderate
EQUIPMENT
MSA Classis SS D-10 pedal steel, ZB Custom SD-10 pedal steel, Gibson (original Silver-Burst) Les Paul Custom w/Kahler tremolo, Fender American Classic Strat, Fender Custom Precision Deluxe 4-string bass, Fender Customer Precision Deluxe 5-string bass, Daion 78 Heritage 6-string acoustic, Guild G212 12-string acoustic, Dopry-Brothers Dobro, Gold Star Elite 5-string banjo, and several mid-to-high-end amplifiers to accommodate the above. (However, I generally play through a custom-designed rack-based switching system directly into either the sound system or recording system.) I have a 32-channel/3000+/- watt sound system with rack-mounted EQ's, processors, and effects units. I also have an analogue-based 16 track recording system with "extras". There's more...but you get the picture!
