Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!​

You are voting for your favorite riff in Round 1 of the December 2009 Riff-Off. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here. In this round, there are eight head-to-head matches. Be sure to check out and vote for your favorite riff in the other seven Round 1 matches, also found in the Tips and Clips room. To view the bracket for this month's Riff-Off, go here.

Because not all contestants have access to the same quality of recording equipment, your voting decision should be based first on the actual composition, second on the player's execution of the riff. Try to look past recording quality. Some questions you may want to ask yourself while considering which way to vote: What is the emotional impact of the riff? How original is the riff? Does the riff inspire me? Would I want to hear a whole song built off this riff?

Note that each contestant has chosen a battle name for the Riff-Off; their identities have been hidden from all other contestants and the voting public, and will be revealed at the end of the Riff-Off, when a champion is crowned.

Lastly, while comments are strongly encouraged, please realize that each contestant put personal time and creative energy into his or her submission. If you have any critique to provide in this thread, give the contestants the courtesy of making it constructive. This competition is built on the premises of fun and musical growth.

Here are the links to each clip in this head-to-head:

Banana Phone

Dingusbox

If you run into any technical issues or have other question regarding the Riff-Off, contact me via email (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Another tough one - love the EVH-type "Dancing In The Streets" vibe, as well as the AC/DC-feeling groove.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

So THAT'S how you're supposed to use a phaser... Well done.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

voted.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

**** this one was a hard one for me.. i liked both, cant wait to see next round and see how it turns out

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

vote in

 

[Fresno Bob]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Voted

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

voted
nice job guys

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Dingusbox is the only entry I've heard so far that was actually a riff, and a **** good one at that.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Dingusbox is the only entry I've heard so far that was actually a riff, and a **** good one at that.

I hear what you're saying. In the strictest sense, this is one of the few that's a true riff, but I think all sixteen qualify.

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

voted

 

[ex-250]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

****, i really like them both. dingusbox's does seem more riff-tastic though.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Voted. I seem to be voting for the underdogs pretty much every time (not finding out this until after i've voted of course).

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

I REALLY wanted to vote for Banana Phone, but Dingusbox's is exactly what a riff should be... short, groovy and effective.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

d'oh....i tied it.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

wow - 26 to 26 at this point

 

[ex-250]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

makes sense though, this was definitely my toughest decision of all of them

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Wasn't originally going to comment on any battles, but since other combatants seem to be doing so, I figure it's OK as long as I make sure to at least appear comment on my own riff.

Dingusbox

Killer tone. Just the right amount of top-end bite, a nice crunchy OD without a bunch of saturation. You could play practically anything with that tone.
The playing is very solid and consistent - you can tell whomever submitted this has spent time tracking in a studio.
The riff itself is cool, but is a little short and doesn't vary at all on any of the repetitions. While hardly a deal-breaker for me, it does nothing to help the fact that the riff itself is a bit derivative. Even so, I probably would have voted for it in a heartbeat had it not been paired against:

​

Banana Phone

As someone else said - Oh, so THAT'S how you use a phaser!
Another riff played with near-perfect execution and great tone. The tone might not grab me as much as Dingusbox's did, but it's far more suited to the riff that's being played here.
Where Dingusbox gives us a riff that could fit into just about any rock song released between 1968 and 1979, Banana Phone gives us what sounds like the intro/musical refrain to a song I wouldn't soon forget, and for that reason it wins my vote.
​

 

[Redmist]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

Voted

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: Banana Phone vs. Dingusbox

dead tie so far!