THE OPTION ONE
THE OPTION ONE...
COMPOSER - GUITAR/BASS - SESSION MUSICIAN - TUITION
GUITAR TECH - RECORDING ENGINEER - PRODUCER
Hi, I'm Marcus
I'm based in the UK (Midlands)
I Play Assorted instruments Inc: Guitar - Bass - Percussion - Harmonica - Sitar - (I'll turn my hand to most instruments) - Compose - Write Lyrics - Engineer Recordings - Produce - Session Musician - Teach - Guitar Tech (Luthiery & Set Up's) - Pedal Board/Amp Set Up's - Amp Restoration - Collect Pedals & Vintage Gear - Love Music
STUDIO/LIVE - SESSION WORK
Studio sessions are always cool... my influences are wide and cover a variety of musical styles and genres, I have lots of studio experience... it's a place I love to be...
I'm available, should you need Guitar, Bass, Percussion or Arrangement/Composition assistance with your project, just gimme a shout... I also offer recording services (see below)
Please remember I can provide not only my playing services, but, also own some great Amps, Pedals, Guitars, Basses, Percussion and have a hat-full of ideas...
You can check out some of my Playing, Arrangment, Vocals and engineering by going to the music on the right hand side of this page
For a glimpse of some of my favourite Pedals and equipment see below
I am happy to play or go even deeper for the right projects... I'm also keen to go further into film and incidental music...(nudge nudge !!)
Contact me with your requirements for sessions
LIVE
I have had some really great experiences playing live... a particular highlight was supporting Sky Saxon and The Seeds on their European tour...firstly In Nottingham (Rescue Rooms), and following a personal request from Sky, another support at Manchester Academy.... with my project The Option One... (in band form). An honour, (also, great fun to be joined on stage by the man himself during one of the songs....) RIP Sky and thankyou for the kind words you had for me and the music...(words I will remember)...Peace and good memories...
It's always good to play in front of a crowd and past live work has included Guitar and Bass duties... demoing recording techniques at an exhibition for a company.
Additional live work has included various lectures, demonstrating vintage effects and discussing the history and use in classic tracks for a college, great fun...
Other previous live includes playing @ The Dirty South in London, supporting Mark Morriss of the Bluetones, an excellent, large and lively crowd made for a very memorable gig.
GEAR
At my disposal is a nice selection of vintage, classic & boutique equipment I have worked long and hard to gather together inc: Guitars - Basses - Amps - Pedals , Percussion and various other items of musical interest. These nuggets help me to acieve many sounds depending on session requirements.
PEDALS...
Ok, I admit it... I'm a pedal junky, it makes sense when you think about it, pedals can offer a cost effective way of adding to your sound and are something everyone can get into... a nice overdrive can really tip a nice sounding amp into something that sounds magical... so while amps and guitars can cost a small fortune, a useful effect doesn't need to cost the earth and it can inspire and lead your playing someplace new...
(CURRENT FAVOURITE SQUEEZES)
Dallas Arbiter - Fuzz Face
Silicon BC 109's
The price of these original vintage 60's & 70's pedals has continued to increase
(when you plug into a good one, you'll know why... )
However, be patient as bargains do still turn up from time to time....
This is my trusty old blue Fuzz Face an oldie but certainly a goldie...
This fuzz sounds just so good for dialling in the coolest tones, from dirt 'n' gritty to sharp 'n' spitty - massive n mean (with lots in between...) top pedal...!!
Hear the blue Dallas Arbiter Fuzz in action - The Option One - ''Hotrox''
Dallas Arbiter - Fuzz Face
(Crest/Dave Fox)
(BC 109C - Silicon Fuzz)
Here's an amazing Fuzz, produced during the 80's - (pre Dunlop)
These were made by Foxrox main man Dave Fox
Believed to be the same model used by John Squire of The Stone Roses
I can report, it sounds heavenly...
J.B. Fuzz Face
(Dunlop - Tripps)
(Custom Build - Germanium Fuzz)
Jeorge Tripps (the man behind the legendary Way Huge pedals)
offers the signature ''Joe Bonamassa - Germanium Fuzz Face''
built brighter to make life easier for Humbuckers,
it sounds very fine with single coils too...!!
It's gonna give you the jimi thing, particularly if you run into a singin amp, if however you have a clean amp, just place an overdive after the Fuzz... it just gives the fuzz that extra grit to make it nice...
Really impressed with strat/Neck with the guitar volume down through this pedal... superb blue tones...!!
Rockbox Electronics
(Boiling Point - Overdive/Distortion/Boost)
Really loving this pedal, it's so versatile, it does hefty boost - nice grit - fat overdrive and sharp or creamy distortion, it's pricey, but saves you buying 2 or 3 other pedals, take one for a test drive if you get chance...
Lovepedal ''Eternity''
(Handwired - Overdrive)
Sean Michael sure knows how to build a reliable pedal, this handwired ''Eternity'' is one of his early pedals, I've had it some years now, it's still going strong and stacks nicely. It's in the ''Tube Screamer'' range, just a little more of everything, (comes alive with a buffer placed after it), 3 dimensional sound too... some great sounds with this pedal, plug in and smile...
Ibanez ST-9
(Super Tube Screamer - Overdrive)
Like a regular Tube Screamer, but with added mid control,
this allows a boost to the lower or upper mids,
a great pedal, into a clean amp,
can also help tighten up a driven amp, also sounds cool after a fuzz pedal...!!
Pro Co - RAT
(Distortion)
Here's another good old box,
this old boy has the desired LM 308 Op Amp and sounds excellent and raucous..!!
lots of fuzzy distorted goodness...
Ibanez AD-9
(Analog Delay)
I love the old Ibanez 9 series, tubescreamer, chorus etc...
The delay is no exception
Highly recommended
PEDANTIC ABOUT PEDALS
Short sound & visual reviews of pedals I think worthy of attention
Hope folks find it handy before jumping on ebay and spending their hard earned cash...
Pedals could be new, old or boutique... let's see how we go !!
First up....
Ibanez Tube Screamer Classic
(10 series) 86 - 89
So everyone knows about the 808 & 9 series Tube Screamer
But, pass this one by and your missing a trick.
Often overlooked in favour of the other screamers...
means it's sometimes available for less money !!
(though prices are rising !!)
JRC chipped and sounds as you would hope...
Check the video below.
STUFF...
Things that are so good... I'm gonna make mention... they may be good for you too...
G7th - PERFORMANCE - CAPO
I got one of these when they first hit the market, (great design).
Put into place with one hand and fits only as tightly as you squeeze it... releases using the lever on the back...
G7th - NEWPORT - CAPO
Ultra small profile, thumbwheel control for accurate adjustment (put it on, tighten it up to regular finger pressure) plus it's light as a feather... it's a really great capo.
VOODOO LAB - PEDAL POWER - 2 PLUS
Hum free, hassle free operation for just about every effect...
..
My pedal board has one of these, it's gigged and done lots of studio sessions with me... quiet as a mouse & never missed a beat...Thanks Voodoo Lab !!
FLIGHTCASE WAREHOUSE
I use and recommend these cases, pro, strong, well made and great for protecting your Amps & other equipment
I've recently dealt with jason and been round the workshop where these are made, I can only recommend them all the more... thanks for your help Flightcase Warehouse
Amp & pedalboard cases.
GIGRIG - HUMDINGER
Provides a buffered output to amp. The extra clarity when your top end is re-instated with the aid of a buffer is very cool...
Older pedals eg Ibanez or Boss have buffers and keep top end clarity... however, using that method, sometimes the pedals effect can bleed into the clean signal. A dedicated buffer has advantages... (it's just a buffer)
This Humdinger also offers an isolated output... (ground lift) so your signal can be sent to two amps... (without getting the dreaded ground loop hum that occurs with a lot of two amp set ups...) it even includes a phase switch... a well made, great sounding and seriously handy item to have on the board or in the bag.
THE OPTION ONE...
Current Single
REVERBNATION
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
''Just gone public and has the most up to date happenings Please go listen and like''
''The best way to hear the music''
NEWS..
January/February
Catalyst has had some airplay over in the USA (Thankyou Jamie...!!)
My song ''Catalyst'' http://snd.sc/129Qtqm please take a listen, if you want to download you can, all monies will go towards the recording of my new songs... many thanks.
Session work keeping me busy with my Bass and Guitar
Working on my friend Harriets next song, (our 2nd song with yours truly recording, engineering,mixing and adding some additional instrumentation)
November/December
Harriets song ''Drunk'' has received some airplay on BBC Radio, with some great comments about it being a strong and great sounding tune, makes the time and effort recording and mixing it worthwhile... (nice one BBC)
Sessionwork is great at the moment, (Guitar and Bass) in the run up to christmas and booking more work in for next year, with also, (fingers crossed) something monumental happening... more later on that one !!
Just completed some lectures on Guitar/Effects history, they were fun to do... (read this myspace and you'll appreciate I love effects old and new...)
October
Happy to announce I have a new song called ''Catalyst'' it's Recorded Mixed, Mastered and ready to roll... it's now with BBC Radio, it will be launched shortly... exciting times !!
New Soundtrack/Incidental Music - ''Hotrox'''
http://soundcloud.com/theoptionone/hotrox
I'm working with & recording an exciting singer songwriter called ''Harriet''
Check out new song - ''DRUNK''
http://snd.sc/OlnoWl
Harriet on vocals and Acoustic Guitar - My own fair hand on Electric Guitar/Bass/Drums & Percussion... I also recorded/engineered/mixed & produced.
''DRUNK'' has already gained interest, BBC Radio interview already in the bag... .
More songs on the way...but, for now... please help, click on ''Drunk'' and pass it round... cheers.
2012 was a great year for Great Britain...
It's been a Great Year for Great Britain... The Jubilee - The great Flotilla on the Thames... tall ships...The 2012 Olympic Games, an inspiration to achieve whatever your goal, The Paralympics, offering even more inspiration... good old Great Britain !! we did good.
Abbey Road
Attended a happening at Abbey Road studio #2 where Brian Kehew and Kevin Ryan, the authors of 'Recording The Beatles' held a lecture, celebrating 80 years of Abbey Road... a great chance to see some great footage, cool sounds and gain an insight into some of the techniques used by everyone from Elgar 1931 - (Land of Hope & Glory) - Beatles - Pink Floyd and more... a great chance to ogle at some original: Desks - Processors (Fairchild) - Instruments (Beatles Tack piano - Celeste Great sounding Bell piano - (Beatles also Floyd - Dark side) (plus several other pianos) & other original gear & of course the opportunity to climb those stairs... and also breath in the atmosphere of #2... (my favourite Abbey Road room...) great day... great lecture too, nice one fellas.
Aziz Ibrahim Guitar Workshop
Got invited to a guitar workshop given by Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses - Ian Brown), so big up to him, what a great player, also nice fella, takin time to have a good talk to folks and havin a laugh... plus its not everyday you get to hold a klon golden horsie in one hand and a Duo Fuzz in the other... (wish his name was santa lol...). If you get chance to catch him you should... tour comin up shortly to promote a new album, keep rockin Aziz...
Lectures/ Education
Had some nice feedback over the recent guitar effects history lectures I did...this included demo's of some interesting old items, fuzz faces, Tape Echo/ delay, Vintage wah's, Overdrives & more... all played through my trusty VOX AC-30, somehow, digital plug in's are still missing a little something when you hook up the real McCoy...
Pedal Demo's
I've also added something new to this page called ''Pedantic about Pedals'' you may be very happy with your Amp and love your guitar very much, so, if your after some new sound, tones and direction... pedals are the cost effective and sensible way to go.
I've been playing for years and experienced a good amount of pedals in my time... you'll find those I love and highly recommend here in short videos with some snippets of lead, rhythm, also the odd familiar riff and some info. Ideal before laying out your hard earned cash. You can also find this on YouTube.
First up: The Ibanez TS-10, Tube Screamer Classic.
Please scroll down.
November/December
Harriets song ''Drunk'' has received some airplay on BBC Radio, with some great comments about it being a strong and great sounding tune, makes the time and effort recording and mixing it worthwhile... (nice one BBC)
Sessionwork is great at the moment, (Guitar and Bass) in the run up to christmas and booking more work in for next year, with also, (fingers crossed) something monumental happening... more later on that one !!
Just completed some lectures on Guitar/Effects history, they were fun to do... (read this myspace and you'll appreciate I love effects old and new...)
October
Happy to announce I have a new song called ''Catalyst'' it's Recorded Mixed, Mastered and ready to roll... it's now with BBC Radio, it will be launched shortly... exciting times !!
New Soundtrack/Incidental Music - ''Hotrox'''
I'm working with & recording an exciting singer songwriter called ''Harriet''
Check out new song - ''DRUNK''
Harriet on vocals and Acoustic Guitar - My own fair hand on Electric Guitar/Bass/Drums & Percussion... I also recorded/engineered/mixed & produced.
''DRUNK'' has already gained interest, BBC Radio interview already in the bag... .
More songs on the way...but, for now... please help, click on ''Drunk'' and pass it round... cheers.
2012 was a great year for Great Britain...
It's been a Great Year for Great Britain... The Jubilee - The great Flotilla on the Thames... tall ships...The 2012 Olympic Games, an inspiration to achieve whatever your goal, The Paralympics, offering even more inspiration... good old Great Britain !! we did good.
Abbey Road
Attended a happening at Abbey Road studio #2 where Brian Kehew and Kevin Ryan, the authors of 'Recording The Beatles' held a lecture, celebrating 80 years of Abbey Road... a great chance to see some great footage, cool sounds and gain an insight into some of the techniques used by everyone from Elgar 1931 - (Land of Hope & Glory) - Beatles - Pink Floyd and more... a great chance to ogle at some original: Desks - Processors (Fairchild) - Instruments (Beatles Tack piano - Celeste Great sounding Bell piano - (Beatles also Floyd - Dark side) (plus several other pianos) & other original gear & of course the opportunity to climb those stairs... and also breath in the atmosphere of #2... (my favourite Abbey Road room...) great day... great lecture too, nice one fellas.
Aziz Ibrahim Guitar Workshop
Got invited to a guitar workshop given by Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses - Ian Brown), so big up to him, what a great player, also nice fella, takin time to have a good talk to folks and havin a laugh... plus its not everyday you get to hold a klon golden horsie in one hand and a Duo Fuzz in the other... (wish his name was santa lol...). If you get chance to catch him you should... tour comin up shortly to promote a new album, keep rockin Aziz...
Lectures/ Education
Had some nice feedback over the recent guitar effects history lectures I did...this included demo's of some interesting old items, fuzz faces, Tape Echo/ delay, Vintage wah's, Overdrives & more... all played through my trusty VOX AC-30, somehow, digital plug in's are still missing a little something when you hook up the real McCoy...
Pedal Demo's
I've also added something new to this page called ''Pedantic about Pedals'' you may be very happy with your Amp and love your guitar very much, so, if your after some new sound, tones and direction... pedals are the cost effective and sensible way to go.
I've been playing for years and experienced a good amount of pedals in my time... you'll find those I love and highly recommend here in short videos with some snippets of lead, rhythm, also the odd familiar riff and some info. Ideal before laying out your hard earned cash. You can also find this on YouTube.
First up: The Ibanez TS-10, Tube Screamer Classic.
Please scroll down.
Recording Service
WE CAN : ENGINEER, RECORD, MIX AND TURN YOUR SONG/S INTO A FINISHED ITEM.
A good friend & myself have got together to offer our combined skills. We're both qualified Engineers, with a wealth of experience gathered through many years in the studio and live...and have worked together on many occasions.
Larger studio sessions are run with both engineers, one running the live room, taking care of mic's, instruments & your needs, the second running the control room, desk, processing etc, we operate on a similar wavelength and work well together, this method offers a logical and lively paced recording process and helps make excellent & cost effective use of the time.
I can also offer assistance with equipment maintenance - Guitar set-up's, amp, pedalboard and effects recommendations etc to ensure a smooth trouble free recording session
We have access to several pro commercial and private studios depending upon your budget and requirements, from an individual to a label , we can cater for your various needs, from a solo artist to a full band.
We have available some great equipment inc, vintage instruments, amps, vintage and boutique pedals & effects, microphones- outboard processing - plug ins etc to get you a really great sound.
Also available for hire are several very acomplished session musicians with some outrageously lovely instruments and equipment, able to cover a wide range of styles and genres... (certain aspects of this can be offered through the internet).
