Silverwing's Lead Guitarist Wins MXL Mic Contest

Congratulations to

the Lead Guitar Player for Silverwing,
Mel Warstler,

for entering and winning the MXL Mic Contest. 

His prize is the newest in the MXL line of studio Mics the

 MXL Cr 30.

MXL Cr 30 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The MXL Cr30 has a small profile body with a sleek black chrome finish. It features a 32mm large diaphragm capsule with a fixed cardioid pattern, and a low noise FET preamp with fully balanced transformerless output. In addition it has a 3 position pad (pre attenuation) switch with settings of 0dB, -10dB and -20dB. The Cr30 delivers power and depth to vocals, as well as capturing the clarity and smoothness of instrumental performances. Wired with Mogami cable, the Cr30's fidelity and versatility will ensure it is a favorite in your studio. 
Photo and description courtesy of MXL Microphones www.mxlmics.com

Mel's winning photo received the most votes during the contest.  The title of the photo is

"Bouquet of Mics Used on Silverwing's new CD Moonshine."

                                


Overhead Left to Right:

The MXL 991 is a superior instrument microphone designed for recording acoustic guitar and drum overheads and is part of the very popular MXL 990/991 package.
The MXL 551 instrument microphone provides the dynamic range needed for acoustic guitars, drums, high-hat cymbals, pianos, percussion, stringed instruments and more and is part of the MXL 550/551 package.


Below Left to Right:

The MXL 990 offers a silky, sweet high end and a tight solid bass, perfect for recording vocals.
The MXL 550 is a robust vocal condenser microphone with exceptional clarity and tonal quality         The MXL V250 was used for vocals. 
The Guitar Cube was placed in front of the cabinet for the electric guitar tracks. 
The R70 Ribbon Mic was used for vocals.

A later purchase, not included in picture, was the ribbon mic R144.  Incorporating a Figure-8 polar pattern and a 1.8-micron aluminum ribbon, the MXL R144 offers breathtaking sound for vocal and instrument recordings and is an excellent microphone for broadcast applications. The R144 also performs brilliantly on acoustic instruments, strings, and horns and offers high SPL capability, outstanding side rejection and precise directivity.

Descriptions of mics courtesy of www.mxlmics.com


Our finished product is Moonshine by Silverwing, a collection of our original music.  The instrument mics were used for recording the Dobro on "Moonshine" and "Wave Your Flag," the Ukelele on "Toes in the Sand," the Classical Guitar on "Where do Old Cowboys Go" and the Mandolin on "Wide Open Spaces."  The Guitar Cube was used for picking up the amps and the electric guitars.  The R144 and R70 were used for the vocals. The CD is available at our website and at CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing.


About the author:  Mary Warstler (the Guitarchic) is the rhythm guitar player, wanna-be bass player, back up vocalist and co-songwriter for Silverwing a rockin' country band from Northern Nevada which respects it's roots, but pushes the limits on rockin out.  Our CD "Moonshine" is available at CD Baby, Amazon, and our website.  Check out Silverwing at www.silverwingband.com and like us on Facebook.  Connect to Mary at Guitarchics at Twitter for the latest news on Silverwing.

Silverwing Rocks Virginia City

My band Silverwing had a great time playing this last Saturday night at the Ponderosa Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada.  We had a large turnout of dancers from both Carson City and Reno who came all the way up to Mt Davidson along the dark winding Geiger Grade from Reno or Six Mile Canyon Road to enjoy some music and have a good time with Silverwing.

We sold 10 CD's to new fans who enjoyed the originals that we throw into our sets.  Our title song "Moonshine" is a southern rocker, if you loved 38 Special, you'll like it and "Wide Open Spaces" is a tribute to Mel's father and his western upbringing.  But you don't have to come to a gig to get a copy, you can download the entire CD or a few songs at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing

If you are a county dancer you will enjoy "Who You Are" which is a cha-cha similar to Neon Moon and if you are a city dweller listen to "Rodeo" to get a feel for the western lifestyle. If you are proud patriotic American listen to  "Wave Your Flag."  I think it should become the Tea Party anthem.  We get lots of compliments on the CD, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Downloading the music is easy at  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing

Our next gig will be back home in Fallon, but it's always a treat to go to Virginia City.

Virginia City was the site of the Comstock Lode. During it's heyday in the 1860's about $300 million dollars worth of gold and silver was mined here.  The town boomed with gambling halls, bars, and banks.  The ore mined here helped fund the US Govt during the Civil War, hence our state motto "Battle Born."  Though many years have passed since it was a bustling wild west town, the locals have maintained it.  You can truly step back in time in Virginia City.

Walk along wooden sidewalks, sleep in victorian hotels, drink at historic bars, go on a mining tour, visit Pipers Opera House where Mark Twain gave a speech while he was living in VC and working as a reporter for The Territorial Enterprise and stop by the Forth Ward School where the children of miners studied together and is now a museum. 

In 2009 Virginia City is was given a "Distinctive Destination Award" from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  And of course for anyone old enough to remember the TV show Bonanza, Virginia City is where Hoss and Little Joe went to call-on pretty girls, ooops, I mean they fought with bad guys and ran them out of town.

 

The Ponderosa Saloon where we play music was the original Bank of California building where William Sharon helped finance the mines around VC, and of course foreclosed on them as well.  The bank vault still stands in the middle of the bar and in the back of the building is the entrance to the Best & Belcher Underground Mine Tour.  Take a tour and get a feel for the hard lives of the miners.

Currently Virginia City is busy with events and entertainment.  There are many festivals held here such as the Americana Music Festival, Steampunk Ball, Comstock Civil War Days, Camel Races and great holiday events for 4th of July, Holloween and Christmas on the Comstock.  Check out all the action at  www.visitvirginiacitynv.com.

Silverwing's next gig will be at Boomer's Bar in Fallon.  Check out our schedule at www.silverwingband.com and "Like" us on Facebook.  We love to talk to fans.

Silverwing is a four piece country band, but we rock it up ALOT.  Of course, we play the classics, a few Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Cash and a Waylon or two, but we also push it with some Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and now Brantley Gilbert. That is some intense stuff with some rockin' guitar riffs.  (I need to get my Strat back out of the case for those!) 

So, stop by CD Baby and download Silverwing's new CD "Moonshine."  You will enjoy it and downloading is simple at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing
I am going to give a free Silverwing T-shirt to the first person to download the CD and leave us a review at the CD Baby site.  Get to ordering!!!!  So I can mail out this T-shirt!

About the Author:  Mary Warstler is the rhythm guitar player, singer, lyric writer and wannabe bass player for Northern Nevada's best kept secret, Silverwing, a rockin' country band that stays true to it's roots while pushing the limits of rockin' fun.  Silverwing's CD of original music called "Moonshine" is available at our gigs, our website, at CD Baby and at Amazon.  Come by and visit us at www.silverwingband.com and come "Like" us on Facebook.  We love our fans!