Ian Schaefer » Music

A Private Press Gets Some Press

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:34:10 +0000

Great little review of A Private Press, courtesy of 10 Mile Stereo.

We’ve got a nice show planned for June 4 in Philadelphia at the North Star Bar ‘Victorian Dining Room’, 8 PM. Oh, and we’re hammering away at a full-length album. Due out Summer 2012. Check out our unique ‘stirring…parlor-esque’ sound.

More from A Private Press

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:01:19 +0000

New Track from A Private Press

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:33:45 +0000

This song was submitted for the 2012 Philadelphia Songwriters contest, and is also available as a free download.

New Music from Old Friends

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:06:09 +0000

My friend Nicola, with whom I’ve shared the stage in Philly bands Smiles, Everyone and The Fontanelles, brings her very best voice and lyric-writing to a new project called A Private Press. Delicious melodies.

My Band’s New EP Released

admin — Sun, 29 May 2011 15:44:02 +0000

Listen to it. Buy it.

Goldbrick highlights Smiles, Everyone’s spirited command of art-rock theory and power pop punch. Jangly guitars layered over deft basslines and disciplined percussion create perfect structures for Nicola Dixon’s expansive vocal range and exquisite storytelling. Thematically, Goldbrick celebrates the awkward duality of living with a briefcase in one hand and a guitar case in the other. Smiles, Everyone capture this notion beautifully in their latest single Debbie Harry, an addictive, catchy gem that sets the pace for this impressive EP.

RCA 12AX7 A

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:00:00 +0000

$100.00

The RCA 12AX7A is the finest of the USA-Made preamp tubes. This is the genuine-made-in-USA tube, not a fake, rebrand. It was voted one of the best sounding 12AX7s in the Vacuum Tube Valley Magazine 12AX7 shootout in VTV Issue #14. This tube was standard equipment in 1950-60s Ampeg, Fender, Gibson, Magantone, McIntosh, Fisher, HH Scott, Supro, Valco, etc amps. This is a superb tube for V1 in most guitar amps, very smooth, sweet, and dynamic with great tonal characteristics. This tube is the medium length grey plate for lowest noise and lowest microphonics. All tubes are in original boxes and each is hand-selected for lowest noise and lowest microphonics for trouble-free operation and long life (10,000 hours).

Finest USA New Old Stock 12AX7 Dual Triode for Quality Tone in Guitar Amps and Musical Sonics in Hi-Fi Amps and Preamps
Made with the highest quality in the 1950-60s in Harrison, NJ USA
Hand-Selected for lowest noise and microphonics, balanced triodes.
New in original RCA Factory Box – 10,000 hour+ lifetime. Genuine Vintage NOS USA Made Tube-THE REAL THING!
Original equipment in the best-sounding vintage guitar amps and hi-fi amps from the 1950s and 1960s

[five-star-rating]

Smiles, Everyone (my band) to shoot video at next gig

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:17:30 +0000

Thanks to generous friend, we will be shooting video during our next performance at Philadelphia’s legendary North Star Bar on Thursday, February 25th, 2010. This is the perfect opportunity for wallflowers and rabid fans alike to take part in a little Philly indie-rock history.

Printing letterpress sleeves for Smiles, Everyone demo CD

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:59:57 +0000

Smiles, Everyone Demo CD Sleeves

Keeping with the do-it-yourself approach my band has taken to producing our demo, we’ve opted to print letterpress sleeves for the promo cd. Production is underway here at my print shop in Lititz. The photo shows a handful of the kraft board sleeves with the first of two colors laid down on the front panel. The sleeves are resting on the feed board of the 1916 Chandler & Price 12 x 18 press on which they were printed, and the magnesium letterpress cut (or block) for the red impression is in the foreground. A second, blue plate will soon be printed inside the red frame; track titles and miscellany will be printed on the back – also in red.

These discs will be distributed to clubs, promoters, and to the public at some sort of release party to be announced soon. Tracks are also available for your listening pleasure at the Smiles, Everyone website.

My Band has a New Demo Recording

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:13:16 +0000

It took a bit longer to complete than we expected, but my band, Smiles, Everyone, finally has a new eight-song demo. You can listen to it here. We are actively seeking gigs in Philadelphia and Lancaster, PA (and points in between) for the summer and fall of 2009.

If, like us, you crave new, original music, please listen and tell us what you think.

Bass Rig

admin — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:07:06 +0000

Here is my current bass rig for Smiles, Everyone, which includes:

Ampeg Bass Rig

Fender American Deluxe V bass
Humphrey modded Boss CS-3 Compressor
Electroharmonix Big Muff
MXR M-80 DI +
TC Electronic M-350 processor
Ampeg SVT3-Pro amplifier
Switches for amp mute and eq boost, M-300 bypass and tap tempo

I don’t use half of these pedals 90% of the time. Only the compressor and mute are essential. M-300 is for occasional phaser and tremolo. Big Muff is for fun.