Ask Larry something, in the VCB box below, with very little chance of a reply….just kiddin’ class!
965 thoughts on “Ask Uncle Larry – VCB”
Hey Tom, Im an old Alabama boy about your same age that has been picking since I was 13 or so.Started out a big southern rock, metal and rock fan until I realized I couldn’t shred. Traded my old Kramer in for a Strat and eventually bought a 90’s tele with one of those heavy ass Parson Green B-benders in it.Spent the next several year woodshedding over freaking Brent Mason. I new enough about the fret board to fool most people on a given Friday night into thinking I was pretty good. Deep down I have always known my limitations and have learned that tone and tasteful playing seemed to get me by just fine.All that being said, I discovered Ol Uncle Larry during covid and have been hooked ever since. You my man are a beast!! I Know you like to question things so I have one for you. Do you think pickers like yourself and and other top pickers are like elite athletes. ITs seems not all of us no matter how hard we practiced were blessed with that.Your thoughts.Sorry for being long winded, first time commenting. Love your playing and all you bring to the Tube. Thanks
It is also available on BandCamp for digital download. He has the Homeskoolin’ version as well, which is the whole album but without the main melodies. https://tombukovac.bandcamp.com/album/plexi-soul
Hey Uncle Larry thanks for all the wisdom and laughs. Im a touring guitarist of 15 years and beginning to have a good amount of home studio work. I don’t have the budget for the blue chip guitars but still need my stuff in the best shape as possible. I have a newer Les Paul Standard with p90’s and a newer Tele Ultra. What are your suggestions for some mods I can do right off the bat to get these to the next level as far as recording goes?
Hey Lil Tommy Starship Trooper
I know how you don’t care for people pushing music etc because it takes away from your want to check it out.
That said, knowing that you’re an huge Peter Gabriel fan like me; I thought this might interest you; I found it tobe the most compelling thing I’ve see in a long time.
It’s not Peter, but I gotta believe Peter would dig it – enjoy if you check it out
Uncle Larry.. if I may.. on the 100w marshall and the fabulous ‘clean’.. is there another that comes close? The old ones are getting mighty expensive (not saying I wouldn’t.. for the right one). Is there a budgetary conscious 100w amp that gets in the ballpark with the marshalls, in your opinion. Thanks a million for your time! I wanna bring you beer.. from PA.. good stuff.. no additives and shit.. Straub.. Black label (being done in the famous old Latrobe).. many cases LOL… I wanna drink a few.. I may bring Gilvis.. to take charge of the ‘humor’.. I love old guitars and amps.. and I have a few (houses full).. just kidding.. but I have a few.. just ask Gilvis. My favorite SG Les Paul.. very much like one you play on sometimes.. came from him. Cheers from Bugtustle (I know… terrible ‘gimick’ LOL.. but hey.. we gotta start somewhere, right)!
I know youve explained before- but what is that Epiphone– 62 wilshire? i freakin dig it. I cant find anything with the old headstock and double pickguard in the “low expensive” range, and Im curious if the reissue 2009 is worth a damn.
Hey uncle Larry! Would love to hear your take on guitars with an evertune bridge. Have you played any before and what is your overall take on them. I have a few of them and they stays in tune/intonated perfectly. Figure that would make it more sought after that it is. Would love to hear your thoughts! Cheers – Dan
i can’t do the evertune man….as advertised, they keep your guitar in tune alright….the problem is that all the energy you put into the guitar gets sucked right into that bridge…it’s literally like an “energy soak”.
i’m looking for guitars that jut sound and energy outwards….i don’t need a guitar that is an energy vacuum
Session man – thank you for the response, I feel better already. I do hope your shiner and shit heals up quickly and you get a good prognosis!thanks for all the friendly advice
In response to your recent comment about trumpet being an instrument you don’t care for, please pull up on Youtube a song by your old pal, Vince Gill doing a Randy Newman tune called “Losing You” produced by trumpet master Chris Botti and listen to his outro on the song….I like you never cared much for the trumpet either but hearing his beautiful outro on this song sort of
changed my mind a bit.
Hi Tom,
Your Crickets riff is very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s, Going to California.
Maybe the full song title should be, “Crickets, Going To Nashville”. 😉 Really enjoy your channel. Always great and entertaining to watch and listen. Thumbs up.
Hey Tom,
This has always been a mystery to me when it comes to ‘credits’ for song writing.
How does song writing credit, get decided on, when “others” have contributed to a song during a recording session. I.E. Producer input, contributing session players input (like you). Input on ideas etc. This could even be during the writing of a song when someone listens for criticism while listening to a new song.
Personally, I, would feel SO obligated to ANYONE that helped by adding or taking away parts (EVEN one note) but chords, melody changes or verse and chorus changes. Or even suggesting things like adding or subtracting a bridge or pre-chorus. Who’s the song writer NOW? Heaven forbid that someone might suggest a ‘lyric’ change, LOL!
At what point does a writer say, “this is NOW, no longer only just MY song”. What’s the common threshold for that decision? I can’t imagen, no matter HOW GOOD a song was or is, not being massaged to a degree, by those in a recording studio by others present. Yet many times song writing credits are only listed as just the artist. How does that happen when there’s GOT to be other input.
Also, are there 1st and 2nd engineers that have to “bite their tongues” when they KNOW something can be changed to make a song better? Is there a hierarchy (etiquette) of studio folks/actions that can or cannot (should not) be said or contributed?
Maybe this long question should be bantered about by you and a panel of your session/producer pals for a youtube idea???
Thanks for all you do. The mechanics of the recording studio fascinate the hell outta me and I love your studio or Gruhn guys, “round table talks”. You ask your colleagues some fantastic music questions.
Uncle Larry, I hope you are doing well, surgery, black eye n all. In the recent video you talked about trumpet not being the best instrument, and I mostly agree. However, in this one song by the band Luna, on this one live recording, I think it fits well and sounds pretty great. The horn comes in probably two thirds into this song:
A while back, you uploaded a video called “Life is Surreal” with you soloing alongside other cool cats. Although a short clip (~2 minutes), the sheer joy and love for music that the video captured had a lasting impact on me and my young daughter. We had that on repeat for god knows how long! Recently my daughter went looking for it, but couldn’t access it…
If there is anyway I could rewatch and/or relisten to that clip with my daughter I’d be deeply indebted to you. I’d be more than happy to make a donation towards that. Let me know if contacting you privately would help or if there’s anything else I can do…
Yours truly,
R.
P.S. This is also an appeal to the Homeskoolin’ community in case anyone can help me out…
This footage was taken from a Jim Irsay gig Uncle Larry did back in September of 2022.
Thanks so much for listening, I hope you and your daughter enjoy the clip.
David
Uncle Larry – great stuff, thank you! Your friend playing your Gibson acoustic in the studio w/ the Tony Rice licks and all – how do you stay confident in your own abilities and style being around monster players like him? I try not to look at my guitars as firewood….sometimes its a struggle. thanks!
Starship Trooper, we know you put 250ks into the Firebird (actually, you had mentioned in an earlier class that you even had 100k at one point). My question, are there any caps in that final Firebird circuit?
THANKS BUK!!!
Thank you for your YouTube channel.
Your comments on comparing your move to Nashville versus staying in Seattle left me laughing all day.
Brother, you did not miss anything. During that time things got so pretentious here because honestly, the music wasn’t there. There were a few great bands that had their moment and they were all over MTV when it was all we had. The local scene lasted for about 4 years but nothing compared to the average talent in Nashville.
There were no players that compared to you including me. I was in a local band that was similar to a shitty marriage and it was a grind. Luckily I fell in love and took a different turn in life but brother you didn’t miss anything and your music far surpasses the so called Seattle scene. By the way Heroine is overrated and isn’t indigenous to Seattle. Hipsters tried to make it cool and they can rot in hell for it.
I love you Tommy everyday I look for your YouTube posts. Your are an amazing player and beautiful human.
God bless
Dan
aka “Flesh”
Hey Tom! I’ve been trying to figure out that Brent Mason lick you were talking about in a recent video with Brent and Bryan. I would be delighted if you could check my attempt.
And thanks for the amazing videos you put on the channel.
As a Hungarian, I would love to have one bonus question for Greg Voros: Has he ever been to Hungary?
Thanks Tom!
Hey Tom, Im an old Alabama boy about your same age that has been picking since I was 13 or so.Started out a big southern rock, metal and rock fan until I realized I couldn’t shred. Traded my old Kramer in for a Strat and eventually bought a 90’s tele with one of those heavy ass Parson Green B-benders in it.Spent the next several year woodshedding over freaking Brent Mason. I new enough about the fret board to fool most people on a given Friday night into thinking I was pretty good. Deep down I have always known my limitations and have learned that tone and tasteful playing seemed to get me by just fine.All that being said, I discovered Ol Uncle Larry during covid and have been hooked ever since. You my man are a beast!! I Know you like to question things so I have one for you. Do you think pickers like yourself and and other top pickers are like elite athletes. ITs seems not all of us no matter how hard we practiced were blessed with that.Your thoughts.Sorry for being long winded, first time commenting. Love your playing and all you bring to the Tube. Thanks
thanks bro…i do indeed believe some people are born with musical gifts that transcend and supersede all learning and training.
Hey Tom, I really don’t wanna piss you off because I’ve heard you talk about this before. Please don’t hate me…..
Is there any chance we can get your stuff (plexi soul, etc.) up on Apple Music?
Just do what I did. I bought the CD, downloaded it to my library and now can have it on any device I log in to on Apple Music.
It is also available on BandCamp for digital download. He has the Homeskoolin’ version as well, which is the whole album but without the main melodies. https://tombukovac.bandcamp.com/album/plexi-soul
Hey Uncle Larry thanks for all the wisdom and laughs. Im a touring guitarist of 15 years and beginning to have a good amount of home studio work. I don’t have the budget for the blue chip guitars but still need my stuff in the best shape as possible. I have a newer Les Paul Standard with p90’s and a newer Tele Ultra. What are your suggestions for some mods I can do right off the bat to get these to the next level as far as recording goes?
Hey Larry, any live shows coming up?
Hey Tom, It’s getting colder in Michigan. Are you going to be making more of those sweet Homeskoolin’ hoodies?
Hey Lil Tommy Starship Trooper
I know how you don’t care for people pushing music etc because it takes away from your want to check it out.
That said, knowing that you’re an huge Peter Gabriel fan like me; I thought this might interest you; I found it tobe the most compelling thing I’ve see in a long time.
It’s not Peter, but I gotta believe Peter would dig it – enjoy if you check it out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j800SVeiS5I
Hey Tom,
How’s Gordon doing? We haven’t seen him make a cameo on the Homeskoolin’ show in a while.
he’s doing great man
Uncle Larry.. if I may.. on the 100w marshall and the fabulous ‘clean’.. is there another that comes close? The old ones are getting mighty expensive (not saying I wouldn’t.. for the right one). Is there a budgetary conscious 100w amp that gets in the ballpark with the marshalls, in your opinion. Thanks a million for your time! I wanna bring you beer.. from PA.. good stuff.. no additives and shit.. Straub.. Black label (being done in the famous old Latrobe).. many cases LOL… I wanna drink a few.. I may bring Gilvis.. to take charge of the ‘humor’.. I love old guitars and amps.. and I have a few (houses full).. just kidding.. but I have a few.. just ask Gilvis. My favorite SG Les Paul.. very much like one you play on sometimes.. came from him. Cheers from Bugtustle (I know… terrible ‘gimick’ LOL.. but hey.. we gotta start somewhere, right)!
right on bro….if there’s an amp out there that can touch a 68 super bass 100 i sure as hell haven’t heard it.
I know youve explained before- but what is that Epiphone– 62 wilshire? i freakin dig it. I cant find anything with the old headstock and double pickguard in the “low expensive” range, and Im curious if the reissue 2009 is worth a damn.
Hey uncle Larry! Would love to hear your take on guitars with an evertune bridge. Have you played any before and what is your overall take on them. I have a few of them and they stays in tune/intonated perfectly. Figure that would make it more sought after that it is. Would love to hear your thoughts! Cheers – Dan
i can’t do the evertune man….as advertised, they keep your guitar in tune alright….the problem is that all the energy you put into the guitar gets sucked right into that bridge…it’s literally like an “energy soak”.
i’m looking for guitars that jut sound and energy outwards….i don’t need a guitar that is an energy vacuum
Session man – thank you for the response, I feel better already. I do hope your shiner and shit heals up quickly and you get a good prognosis!thanks for all the friendly advice
Sexy trumpet and delightful Harmonies.
Mr. Bukovac-
It’s true that being in the same room as a trumpet is about as euphonious having Oscar the Grouch bang his trashcan lid directly into your tympanum.
Not dissimilar: your sloppy high school drummer riding that China cymbal during the buildup to the chorus.
But here’s an exception for you. “Adhesive” by Stone Temple Pilots does, indeed, have a sexy trumpet solo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXkL4Ug-b2Y
And while you listen to that, consider two things. If no one has beaten me to the punch, contact me about that Harmony you have for sale.
Finally… I will consider yours the final word on the matter. What brand/model capo do you use for acoustic and for electric?
-Bryan
PS: My basal cell-removal scars are on legs and shoulders. Sorry you got one straight to the face.
Hey Tom, long time fan and follower on this site.
In response to your recent comment about trumpet being an instrument you don’t care for, please pull up on Youtube a song by your old pal, Vince Gill doing a Randy Newman tune called “Losing You” produced by trumpet master Chris Botti and listen to his outro on the song….I like you never cared much for the trumpet either but hearing his beautiful outro on this song sort of
changed my mind a bit.
Check it out, God Bless and be well
Hi Tom,
Your Crickets riff is very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s, Going to California.
Maybe the full song title should be, “Crickets, Going To Nashville”. 😉 Really enjoy your channel. Always great and entertaining to watch and listen. Thumbs up.
https://youtu.be/s37-42llFC8
Hi Tom, Can you critique the shit out of this? I’m a big boy… I can take it! 🙂
Hey, Tom–
Seriously down for the double-pick guard Harmony if still available. Take my money!
Uncle Larry, what are your top 3 beers, and what is it about number one that makes it number one? Cheers!
HOpefully Shiner is not one of them
Hey Tom,
This has always been a mystery to me when it comes to ‘credits’ for song writing.
How does song writing credit, get decided on, when “others” have contributed to a song during a recording session. I.E. Producer input, contributing session players input (like you). Input on ideas etc. This could even be during the writing of a song when someone listens for criticism while listening to a new song.
Personally, I, would feel SO obligated to ANYONE that helped by adding or taking away parts (EVEN one note) but chords, melody changes or verse and chorus changes. Or even suggesting things like adding or subtracting a bridge or pre-chorus. Who’s the song writer NOW? Heaven forbid that someone might suggest a ‘lyric’ change, LOL!
At what point does a writer say, “this is NOW, no longer only just MY song”. What’s the common threshold for that decision? I can’t imagen, no matter HOW GOOD a song was or is, not being massaged to a degree, by those in a recording studio by others present. Yet many times song writing credits are only listed as just the artist. How does that happen when there’s GOT to be other input.
Also, are there 1st and 2nd engineers that have to “bite their tongues” when they KNOW something can be changed to make a song better? Is there a hierarchy (etiquette) of studio folks/actions that can or cannot (should not) be said or contributed?
Maybe this long question should be bantered about by you and a panel of your session/producer pals for a youtube idea???
Thanks for all you do. The mechanics of the recording studio fascinate the hell outta me and I love your studio or Gruhn guys, “round table talks”. You ask your colleagues some fantastic music questions.
Uncle Larry, I hope you are doing well, surgery, black eye n all. In the recent video you talked about trumpet not being the best instrument, and I mostly agree. However, in this one song by the band Luna, on this one live recording, I think it fits well and sounds pretty great. The horn comes in probably two thirds into this song:
https://luna.bandcamp.com/track/bewitched-2
I love the show and your music, thanks a ton for sharing all of this stuff with us.
Take care,
j
Dear Tom,
A while back, you uploaded a video called “Life is Surreal” with you soloing alongside other cool cats. Although a short clip (~2 minutes), the sheer joy and love for music that the video captured had a lasting impact on me and my young daughter. We had that on repeat for god knows how long! Recently my daughter went looking for it, but couldn’t access it…
This is the link to the video we had saved on our playlists (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FdWTBDc94). It appears to have been taken down.
My technologically hampered ass tried googling around for alternatives, and while I came across an archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20211102232406/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FdWTBDc94), it was again an attempt in futility.
If there is anyway I could rewatch and/or relisten to that clip with my daughter I’d be deeply indebted to you. I’d be more than happy to make a donation towards that. Let me know if contacting you privately would help or if there’s anything else I can do…
Yours truly,
R.
P.S. This is also an appeal to the Homeskoolin’ community in case anyone can help me out…
Hi BukFan..could this be the video that the clip you’re talking about may have been taken from?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAA72b7xcfw
This footage was taken from a Jim Irsay gig Uncle Larry did back in September of 2022.
Thanks so much for listening, I hope you and your daughter enjoy the clip.
David
Uncle Larry – great stuff, thank you! Your friend playing your Gibson acoustic in the studio w/ the Tony Rice licks and all – how do you stay confident in your own abilities and style being around monster players like him? I try not to look at my guitars as firewood….sometimes its a struggle. thanks!
if a person truly has something to say on an instrument then they are immediately validated by the universe
Starship Trooper, we know you put 250ks into the Firebird (actually, you had mentioned in an earlier class that you even had 100k at one point). My question, are there any caps in that final Firebird circuit?
THANKS BUK!!!
DreaNEO
Tom,
Thank you for your YouTube channel.
Your comments on comparing your move to Nashville versus staying in Seattle left me laughing all day.
Brother, you did not miss anything. During that time things got so pretentious here because honestly, the music wasn’t there. There were a few great bands that had their moment and they were all over MTV when it was all we had. The local scene lasted for about 4 years but nothing compared to the average talent in Nashville.
There were no players that compared to you including me. I was in a local band that was similar to a shitty marriage and it was a grind. Luckily I fell in love and took a different turn in life but brother you didn’t miss anything and your music far surpasses the so called Seattle scene. By the way Heroine is overrated and isn’t indigenous to Seattle. Hipsters tried to make it cool and they can rot in hell for it.
I love you Tommy everyday I look for your YouTube posts. Your are an amazing player and beautiful human.
God bless
Dan
aka “Flesh”
Hey Tom! I’ve been trying to figure out that Brent Mason lick you were talking about in a recent video with Brent and Bryan. I would be delighted if you could check my attempt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ufa0IWQaYw
And thanks for the amazing videos you put on the channel.
As a Hungarian, I would love to have one bonus question for Greg Voros: Has he ever been to Hungary?
Thanks Tom!
Nice Monte Carlo. Big block?
350 short block