West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0 [Archive] - Page 23

S.W.Erdnase

07-17-2007, 04:20 AM

Jeez, Bermuda, France, god knows where else...taking pictures of poo has been good to you!

Speaking of poo...I bought "Lightning in a Bottle" and watched it last night. I liked parts of it better than I thought I would. Honeyboy, Larry Johnson, Robert Cray doing "I Pity the Fool" and Solomon Burke were stand outs. In the actual movie Buddy Guy blew. "Red House?" Gimme a break! But for the bonus featurs they had him doing "First Time I Met The Blues" and it was awesome.
My biggest beef with this thing is the same beef I have with big "Blues Festivals" where the Allman Brothers or Blues Traveller, or even Aretha Franklin headline. I understand festivals need to draw a crowd but this "Year of the Blues" kickoff concert at Radio City was going to succed regardless of who was there. We don't need John Fogarty, Macy Gray, India Arie (whoever the F that is) Chuck D???? and crap like that. I know the strategy is to make Blues more accessible by having performers the general public is familiar with, but in my opinion that's watering down the music. I'd rather have someone exposed to real Blues and hate it, but at least know what it is, than hear most of the stuff in this movie thinking that's what Blues is and like it.

The only thing I enjoyed on the double CD was "Strange Fruit", the Billie Holiday song. The rest was ka-ka.

Poppa Stoppa

07-17-2007, 11:08 AM

Going to see the T-Birds on Friday all being well...that makes it a visit every other year, wow they're getting regular! Another thread here reporting on Nick Curran using a pink Kramer complete with floyd rose on this trip...gotta love the guy!
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=269702

Autopilot Slim

07-17-2007, 02:12 PM

Have fun Poppa. I wish I could be there to catch the show with ya.

Poppa Stoppa

07-17-2007, 02:19 PM

Thanks Dan, that was fun last time, I'll have a beer for ya!

jumpnblues

07-17-2007, 08:24 PM

Anyone had a chance to compare a Weber Revibe kit reverb/tremolo with the Uncle Spot unit? I'd like to build the Weber unit but it sounds like I might be getting in over my head. I can solder but I'm not an experienced builder. I haven't even built an amp kit. So I guess that leaves the Weber kit out for me unless I hire it built, which would put it in the price range of the Uncle Spot unit. And that brings me back to my original question...would you choose the Weber or Uncle Spot? Or...would you go with a Fender vintage unit (they're getting kind of hard to find)? Thanks. :cool::cool:

Tom

jetlag

07-17-2007, 09:49 PM

My amp tech designed the revibe so I've had a chance to play them through their evolution. It's a really nice unit, and not a simple project for new builders. Soundwise, I'd go for a vintage reverb unit if your emphasis is to nail that old school sound to a tee. If you want a more versatile unit with fewer quirks go for the Uncle Spot. Whichever one you get, then just put a trem pedal in your chain. The vibrato circuit in the revibe, IMO, isn't useful enough to use on the gigs to justify putting it in the same chassis with the verb and compromising the verb to the degree that it does. That brown tolex harmonic vibrato is a beautiful effect when playing by yourself or for the occasional tune, but I find I just don't use it that much live. I usually opt for a more traditional BF fender (triangle wave) trem or a sine wav trem (Diaz or Swamp Thang pedal). If you really dig that vibrato sound, there are pedals out there that nail it (Austone vibrostomp being one). Oh, and IIRC, my amp guy charges about $900 total to build one of those. Almost twice the price for a Spot and really, the price of many old reverb units.

Schwalbe

07-17-2007, 11:11 PM

The other Weber verb/trem kit, the Tore Vibe doesn't appear to compromise the reverb as much as the Revibe. There are some trade offs but Tore came up with an idea that works for me. I like mine a lot. The build ain't easy but it's less difficult than the Revibe. The bias vary trem is really cool.
The bonus is I only have to put batteries in my tuner now that I'm not using a tremolo pedal.

THINSOCKS

07-18-2007, 10:16 AM

I had a revibe for about a month. I was selling it for a friend on Ebay and I took it out on a few gigs around the time I got my Uncle Spot. I thought if I liked the Revibe better I would just buy it off my friend and sell the Spot. Personally I didn't like the revibe much at all. I didn't think either the reverb or trem was all that good. The trem was pretty bland and flat sounding and the reverb didn't seem to be any better then a Fender RI. Had that kind of sharp verb splash at the end of each note. Also, the pots and sockets looked to be very cheap. My friend bought and paid to have it put together and in the end I think he sold it for $450 and lost about $300 on it. I know it seems nice to have a reverb and trem in one, but I would either buy a old Fender reverb unit or a Uncle Spot and something like a Frantone Trem pedal. The Frantone is like $280, but the thing will make you sound like Pop Staples.

dukeh62

07-19-2007, 08:01 AM

Hey guys,

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that voted for our band earlier this summer. We just found out yesterday that Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts was indeed voted "best blues band" by the Hartford Advocate here in CT. Thanks again for all your support!

Here's a link to the story... (http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/best/best_gbs.cfm?pc=218)

safecracker

07-19-2007, 08:42 AM

Duke,congrats on winning! You guy's definitely deserve it. I had a blast meeting and jamming with you and Ryan in Memphis at the 2007 IBC after hours jam. Shawn

dddelta

07-20-2007, 03:17 PM

I went to see the T-Birds on Wednesday night. Great show! Kirk Fletcher was on fine form. He played through a White/Blonde Vox ACX30 with a holy grail for the verb, he played a Suhr Tele shape with a P90 in the neck (this is the one) -

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r223/kevyp/KirkGuitar.jpg

He is definetly on fire at the moment. Some of his rhyhtm work as well as his solos was just outstanding!

J. Moeller was new to me on the drums but he did the job. Nick Curran played a bright pink Kramer Strat with single coils (pointy headstock an all!) through what looked like a Fender Deville or some similar tweed 2x12 with a delay pedal. He really nailed the JLV tone although I thought with the delay on, some of his solos didn't cut through the mix as well as Kirks.

Kim played through a silver face Super reverb. And, yup...Kim sounded just like...well, Kim!!
Ronnie James on bass. No keys, just harp and guitars all night. All the old favourites were played as well as some newer tunes.
Meet and greet after the show for CD signings and stuff.
A real cool nice friendly down to earth bunch of guys.

Poppa Stoppa

07-21-2007, 04:12 AM

S.W.Erdnase

07-21-2007, 04:36 AM

Might be some new guitarists in the band soon, maybe? Doesn't Kim change them as often as his wife beater?

safecracker

07-21-2007, 07:21 AM

Hey guys! Just a heads up on a Premier 90 Reverb Unit on the weber forum under the buy and sell.$400 shipped fedex overnight,guy says just professionally serviced,re-capped,new cords,etc.Includes a footswitch. Also in the Kim Wilson vein,I just got his My Blues outakes cd from bluebeat that Kim sells at his shows.Excellent disc,love Juniors' different phrasings on some of the songs. Also got Phillip Walkers new cd (first cd of his I've ever bought),and it is excellent,as is the new Mannish Boys disc.

dukeh62

07-21-2007, 11:16 AM

Might be some new guitarists in the band soon, maybe?

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.

THINSOCKS

07-21-2007, 11:25 AM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.

Very subtle, Eric. ;)

dukeh62

07-21-2007, 11:56 AM

Very subtle, Eric. ;)

LOL...took me about three minutes to decide how to phrase that...

Strat-O

07-21-2007, 12:09 PM

Gee, that shouldn't be a diffucult mystery to unravel. :MMM

TwoFeets

07-21-2007, 12:55 PM

Chris, received your care package, man. Thanks!

Poppa Stoppa

07-21-2007, 02:48 PM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.I hope he's got a thick skin. Will somebody clue me in here...PM?

musicofanatic5

07-21-2007, 03:50 PM

Yeah I just got back from the T-Birds London show. Everything as dddelta says except Kim Wilson had a T3 with a crystal element and seemed to have a blackface RI Deluxe hooked up as well, and Nick Curran was playing through a tweed Bassman. They all sounded fantastic, as usual. No songs I haven't heard before, but great playing and tight as could be. Kirk Fletcher sounded great through his AC30/Holy Grail, and his Suhr Tele had a sweet out of phase tone.

Sadly this was the unhappiest-looking bunch of guys I have ever seen on stage, anywhere, ever. Each member had his most unsmiling face on and was either looking down at the floor or off sideways at the wall. No eye contact with each other or the audience and studious avoidance of looking at the leader except for cues, and then only if absolutely necessary. I came to the conclusion that Kim Wilson must have said something appalling immediately before the show - maybe a Buddy Rich style rant or something. Who knows. I do know the band looked as pissed off as it's possible to be without actually walking off stage. Will be interesting to see if anything changes after this tour.

But, if you closed your eyes, they still sounded unbelievably good.

They've been in Europe since the first of the month, and if they looked worn, I'm not surprised. A different country almost every day, out late, up early to catch the next flight/bus, whatever. It can be a exhausting, I'm here to tell ya. A lotta non-musicians always go: "Wow, gigging in Europe; you're so lucky!". Yeah, you're lucky to come home with your sanity, your health, and maybe some of your pay! I have a gig in Switzerland next week: six days in the same location; in the same hotel room!!! It's totally unheard of, and I couldn't be happier about it! I'll see Wilson and the boys on Thurs. and get to the bottom of this!

sideman

07-21-2007, 04:35 PM

new clip of my fave Flyers band with some heavy guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmTUrO9qpM&mode=related&search=

Schwalbe

07-21-2007, 05:45 PM

new clip of my fave Flyers band with some heavy guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmTUrO9qpM&mode=related&search=

Yep! Go Alex.

Ryguy

07-21-2007, 05:56 PM

Anybody here play Magnatone's? I just picked up a 440 Custom, which has 2 6V6s, 1 12 inch speaker, reverb (killer) and the spooky Maggie Vibrato. What a killer little amp!!

It has a beautiful clean tone that doesn't really sound like blackface or tweed to me, and when cranked sounds similar to a Tweed Deluxe, but a bit more refined. This has a Vintage 30 in it and still smokes. It is really clean, and so small and lightweight that I'm still sort of swooning. I took it out to a gig last night and used it all night with a tele, and am in love. It get s some great greasy tore up tones, but can do a lot more, and with the verb and vibe, it is an amazing little package. Someone took a short vid that I will put up on youtube later that sounds Ok, but gives sort of an idea of the tone.

cheers
Ryan

Ryguy

07-21-2007, 05:59 PM

Forgot to add, I used it with a Clark Gainster to see how it responded and it sounded fantastic. That little pedal sounds great with my Clark 5e3 (almost identical to the amp breakup), and just OK with other amps, but with the maggie, it sounded reaaally close to the Deluxe.

Ryguy

07-21-2007, 07:40 PM

Here's the vid from a gig last night with the Magnatone. Pardon the shitty singing, my voice was shot from a flu last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY31yMqmHbM

jimfog

07-21-2007, 08:00 PM

Hey,

Anyone running an Ac30 on their gigs?

I know Kid Ramos does, but other than that, I don't see a lot on the blues scene. Shame........I think it fits REAL well. I'm borrowing one to possibly buy and it sounds great with strats, teles, archtops and 335s.

Only issues I see so far:

Volume........needs to be cranking to sound right. Luckily this is a recent RI, with an excellent master volume. Really helps take off the edge, if needed.

Kind of finicky with boost pedals.......see above.

Weight........damn, this is a 1 x 12 combo and it's almost Twin-heavy.

Anyway....digging it right now.

- jim

Strat-O

07-21-2007, 09:29 PM

I've had quite a few of those Custom 440's and other Magnatones. Killer amp. I broke down and sold off the last one (440) a few months back. If you're using the stock speaker there isn't much need for an overdrive pedal. That reverb is really the best ever. I can't understand why all amps don't have reverb that sounds like that. Its the way it ought to be and its like what folks use reverb tanks for; outside of surf music. I've often considered asking some boutique amp guru to copy the 440 in a higher powered model with more headroom. Stock, its really outstanding with low output Fender style pickups. I just struggled with it when switching to guitars that weren't Fender. Strangely enough, my favorite rig I had going was my Squire 51 through the 440. Man that was some killer sh*t with the reverb and the way it breaks up.

:dude

jumpnblues

07-21-2007, 09:50 PM

Yeah, count Kirk Fletcher as another AC-30 user. And don't forget there are some AC-30 cousins out there in the blues trenches such as Matchless and Dr.Z. :cool::cool:

Tom

karmadave

07-21-2007, 10:44 PM

I've seen Kid Ramos play an AC-30 and thought he had some killer tone!

-KD

GOLDENSTRAT

07-21-2007, 11:20 PM

That amp sure sounds fine, Ryguy. nice job. fred

Poppa Stoppa

07-22-2007, 02:52 AM

new clip of my fave Flyers band with some heavy guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmTUrO9qpM&mode=related&search=
Damn right. I put the sound on CD to try to cop some of those great ideas a couple of weeks ago.

dddelta

07-22-2007, 07:46 AM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.

So...........????

safecracker

07-22-2007, 08:31 AM

[quote=Ryguy;2738623]Anybody here play Magnatone's? I just picked up a 440 Custom, which has 2 6V6s, 1 12 inch speaker, reverb (killer) and the spooky Maggie Vibrato. What a killer little amp!!

Robert Ward, one of my favorite musicians plays Magnatones and uses a lot of that beautiful watery Maggie vibrato on his recordings.Excellent singer too.He has several cd's out.Definitely worth hearing.

safecracker

07-22-2007, 08:44 AM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.
My uneducated guess would be (insert drum roll) Nick Curran. He is the total package. No disrespect at all to Kirk. I absolutely love him too, but Nick has the BIG vocals to go with that guitar,plus he still owes Blind Pig one more record on his deal,as far as I know,if that matters at all. But Kirk may want to do more with Mannish Boys.Hell if I know anything really! LOL

Stringmaster

07-22-2007, 08:49 AM

Damn right. I put the sound on CD to try to cop some of those great ideas a couple of weeks ago.

How do you dowload Youtube stuff to CD? I thought that they were protected?
Thanks, DD

Poppa Stoppa

07-22-2007, 10:05 AM

How do you dowload Youtube stuff to CD? I thought that they were protected?
Thanks, DDWell I expect others will tell you a better way - but I downloaded Audacity (free) and that allows me to record an audio file of whatever is playing on my computer to my music. It creates large files, so I delete them off my computer after putting them on a CD from there.

valcotone

07-22-2007, 12:14 PM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.

I truly hope no one is getting smacked around!

Ryguy

07-22-2007, 03:51 PM

Fred: Thanks for the kind words, I'm loving this little amp!

Strato: How strong was the vibrato on your 440's? This one seems pretty weak. From what I had heard of maggie's I thought it would be much stronger. I'm having my tech check it out this weak, as it has some hum, but I'd be interested to hear your experience. I actually tried to put the stock oxford back in there, but even after taking out the chassis, pan, etc., I couldn't really wedge it in there. I have to try again later to see how it sounds. Other than the vibe, the only thing I want to change is to see if I can brighten it up a bit. It sounds soooooo nice with my Epi Riviera and it's mini-buckers, but it could use just a bit more high end. I'm going to try a simple eq pedal for now.

Strat-O

07-22-2007, 08:43 PM

Yeah, your playing sounded good man. The vibrato on every one of those that I've had has been fairly subdued. Not like the larger Magnatone's. I mean, the same vibrato, just not as strong. The only thing you can do to brighten it up is a new or reconed speaker. That I found anyway. Like I was saying, great for single coils, but not always so good for stronger/darker pickups.

TwoFeets

07-23-2007, 07:50 AM

Happy Monday everyone.

Has anybody been back to check out the winners of that Guitar Center King of Everything But the Blues contest?

bbarnard

07-23-2007, 08:27 AM

I went to see the T-Birds on Wednesday night. Great show! Kirk Fletcher was on fine form.

He is definetly on fire at the moment. Some of his rhyhtm work as well as his solos was just outstanding!

I can't get Shades of Blue out of my car CD player. Kirk is the one guitar player I want to see now (since I'll be seeing Chris Cain in November) that I haven't seen.

pete kanaras

07-23-2007, 08:36 AM

TwoFeets

07-23-2007, 09:24 AM

I would also like to state for the record that the other night someone requested "The Thrill is Gone".....

by Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

musicofanatic5

07-23-2007, 11:00 AM

"Wow, gigging in Europe; you're so lucky!". Yeah, you're lucky to come home with your sanity, your health, and maybe some of your pay!

Amen to that jon! great times, but ouch the pace. japan's the same way. but the shinkansen(bullet train)is truly amazing, makes a big diff. not that i'm complaining....

I hope I didn't sound like too much of a whiner, either. I love getting to go, ultimately. I just found out Alex Schultz will be performing at this fest with a Swiss (or German?) band several times during the week. It will be cool to get to hang and dig his playing.

HappyValley

07-23-2007, 11:57 AM

You're on the right track...at least with one of them.

The funny thing about this whole T- Birds "secret" is that everyone is playing it so hush hush while in reality, almost everyone knows the deal, just depends on who wants to be the one labelled as the gossip source!
Kinda like high school when everyone knows some dudes chick is cheating on him, but noone wants to be the one to break the news...LOL

pete kanaras

07-23-2007, 01:33 PM

I just found out Alex Schultz will be performing at this fest with a Swiss (or German?) band several times during the week. It will be cool to get to hang and dig his playing.

it will be time well spent. what a great down to earth guy. he's also one of my favorite musicians, regardless of genre. jon, tell him i said hey if you remember to, it's been years. 'lex is a class act all the way

dukeh62

07-23-2007, 01:51 PM

Boy, just gave that "Blues Aggregation" CD by Johnny Moeller a spin for the first time in a while just now. What a good 'un, huh?

:crazy

aja

07-23-2007, 02:11 PM

YO !! I just found my password. I love that Blues aggregation cd and his stuff with Darrell Nulisch too.:rolleyes: On another note I just got Sugar Ray's new disc and it is great !! He sings great and their are some great songs and monster mike and duke are great on it. Its swing stuff mostly with the roomful horns its great. I got the new Duke one and thats awesome too. Anyone hear the new Nulisch disc ?

valcotone

07-23-2007, 02:20 PM

Boy, just gave that "Blues Aggregation" CD by Johnny Moeller a spin for the first time in a while just now. What a good 'un, huh?

:crazy

Oh yeah!! There is one song in particular that just kills me... the feel and rhythm is just so great: Mama, The Way You Look Tonight.
:BEER

KBR

07-23-2007, 02:36 PM

Johnny Moeller and Alex Schultz are 2 Great Guitarists!

btg

07-23-2007, 02:55 PM

When I saw the messages concerning the T-Birds, Johnny is the guy I would like to see in that band. With J there it would seem like a great fit. Would like to see it go back to a one guitar lineup though like the original lineup.

Jimmy Reed Highway is coming to Dallas next month with Jimmie and Kim, should be a great show.

aja

07-23-2007, 03:13 PM

Are Jimmie and Kim touring or just doing a few shows ?

btg

07-23-2007, 03:22 PM

I think they are doing several shows together around the country - I don't think Kim is on all of them though. I can't remember where I saw a schedule but it should not be too hard to find.

aja

07-23-2007, 03:30 PM

yea just saw it on JLV's website. how is that new disc ? is jimmie still doing his watson stuff on it ?

jameswday

07-23-2007, 08:52 PM

Dave Orban

07-23-2007, 08:56 PM

Our 'complete package guitarist' has moved up in corporate America & has no time for music these days. We are standing in need of a jump blues stylist who speaks the lanuage & knows the form.

We are based just South of Phialdelphia. We rarely rehearse and do about 24 gigs a year as PT players. Festivals ,Municipals & 2 Clubs..looks like Canada and another CD is coming up. The rhythm section is very old school & tight, awaiting your icing. We have the stand up bass & piano & vocals & harp...vocals,slide & gig booking is always a plus.

"James Day & the Fish Fry
"Jump Blues & Greasy Grooves"
610.461.7391

More here: www.jameswday.com (http://www.jameswday.com)Jimmy's got a great, kick-ass band here, and really deserves to have a kick-ass guitarist to go with it... there's GOT to be someone in the Philly area looking for this kind of gig...!

HappyValley

07-23-2007, 11:17 PM

When I saw the messages concerning the T-Birds, Johnny is the guy I would like to see in that band. With J there it would seem like a great fit.

I heard that there are a couple o' folks PRETTY close to the band who agree with you. OK, REALLY close....

bluesjuke

07-24-2007, 12:58 AM

Here's an Alex Schultz video from Dallas 1991;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4UG4J33ZY0# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4UG4J33ZY0#)

bluesjuke

07-24-2007, 01:28 AM

Any of ya'll familiar with Lil' CLiff and the Cliffhangers?
My brother just sent me their new CD, "God Bless Women" and it's hard to stop listening too.

Here's a link to their site with a few mp3 links there too;

http://www.lilcliff.com/

jimfog

07-24-2007, 01:36 AM

Our 'complete package guitarist' has moved up in corporate America & has no time for music these days. We are standing in need of a jump blues stylist who speaks the lanuage & knows the form.

We are based just South of Phialdelphia. We rarely rehearse and do about 24 gigs a year as PT players. Festivals ,Municipals & 2 Clubs..looks like Canada and another CD is coming up. The rhythm section is very old school & tight, awaiting your icing. We have the stand up bass & piano & vocals & harp...vocals,slide & gig booking is always a plus.

"James Day & the Fish Fry
"Jump Blues & Greasy Grooves"
610.461.7391

More here: www.jameswday.com (http://www.jameswday.com)

Hey, hey......what's going on, Mr. Chip Day? Small world here........

I doubt you want to continue the incestuous thing with Melissa's band, but if you ever need a fill-in, I'd be glad to help out.

Dave, I thought you were working with the Fish Fry? Did the Harman thing happen yet?

- Jim Fogarty

S.W.Erdnase

07-24-2007, 01:48 AM

I heard that there are a couple o' folks PRETTY close to the band who agree with you. OK, REALLY close....

Really? This (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=150936889) guy?

Seriously, though. It's rough if they're shitcanning someone.

Dave Orban

07-24-2007, 06:42 AM

Hey, hey......what's going on, Mr. Chip Day? Small world here........

I doubt you want to continue the incestuous thing with Melissa's band, but if you ever need a fill-in, I'd be glad to help out.

Dave, I thought you were working with the Fish Fry? Did the Harman thing happen yet?

- Jim FogartyHey, Jim...

Yeah, I've been playing with the Jimmy and Fish Fry for the last several months. It's a really great group of guys with a great sound, but with increasing work demands, I really just can't commit the time any more. I told Jimmy to come here and post a "help wanted" ad, in the hopes of finding someone to replace me...

The Harman gigs, on which I'll be playing, are:

August 9 in Levittown, PA,
August 10 in Point Pleasant, NJ
August 11 in Wilmington, DE

TwoFeets

07-24-2007, 08:38 AM

Guys, guys. I just want you all to be the first to know that the rumors about me joining the T-Birds are patently false.

Dave Orban

07-24-2007, 08:40 AM

Guys, guys. I just want you all to be the first to know that the rumors about me joining the T-Birds are patently false.That's because it's ME... :jo

That's why Jim Day is looking for another guitarist for the Fish Fry...!

LOL!

Stringmaster

07-24-2007, 09:25 AM

jimfog

07-24-2007, 09:28 AM

I was commenting to my wife at a recent Hollywood Blue Flames gig (with Holmstrom on guitar), that the way Kim was "eyeing" Rick, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being a T-Bird before it's all said and done!

Now THAT would be the 1st time I bother to go see 'em since JLV split.........

dukeh62

07-24-2007, 09:32 AM

I was commenting to my wife at a recent Hollywood Blue Flames gig (with Holmstrom on guitar), that the way Kim was "eyeing" Rick, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being a T-Bird before it's all said and done!

Between his trio work and his sweet gig with Mavis Staples, I think Rick is in a pretty happy place right now.

Don't forget to catch him with Mavis on Conan O'Brien on 8/2.

valcotone

07-24-2007, 11:45 AM

I was commenting to my wife at a recent Hollywood Blue Flames gig (with Holmstrom on guitar), that the way Kim was "eyeing" Rick, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being a T-Bird before it's all said and done!

As much as that might be cool for a while... I hope it never happens. As much as I respect and dig the T-birds, I really enjoy Rick's playing in a different context than that type of band would permit.

Stringmaster

07-24-2007, 11:57 AM

As much as that might be cool for a while... I hope it never happens. As much as I respect and dig the T-birds, I really enjoy Rick's playing in a different context than that type of band would permit.

I would agree--just commenting that Kim was diggin' what RH was doing--as was the whole house, as he was on fire!

btg

07-24-2007, 12:37 PM

According to the T-birds Wikipedia entry Johnny has already replaced Nick

valcotone

07-24-2007, 12:49 PM

According to the T-birds Wikipedia entry Johnny has already replaced Nick

I didn't see that, but it does show Jay Moeller as the current drummer.

I love Wikipedia... here's the entry for Nick Curran:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Curran

:munch

TwoFeets

07-24-2007, 01:00 PM

OK - I normally don't do stuff like this but just for a lark, we threw our hat in the ring for this local popularity freakshow:

http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/ShowCategory.aspx?contestCategory=768

If y'all have some spare time and feel like throwing a quick vote the way of the Smokin Torpedoes, it'd be greatly appreciated.

btg

07-24-2007, 02:41 PM

Someone changed the Wikipedia article back. This morning it had Jon's name in two places as the current guitar player. Weird.

valcotone

07-24-2007, 04:42 PM

New release.... Texas Northside Kings...

"Dialtones music documents the blues and gospel that is being played around Texas today. With this in mind, The Northside Kings album is probably the most important recording on the label. These artists are the 3rd generation of blues musicians and are the basis of the Austin Texas roots music scene that goes on every night. The Northside Kings are: Johnny Moeller, Eve Monsees, Nick Curran, Shawn Pittman, Seth Walker and Mike Keller backed by Texas legends Earl Gilliam, Spot Barnett, Willie Sampson and Heffrey Plummer. On this recording are some of the best postwar blues players holding down the rhythm section and supporting the next generation. All of the Northside Kings have their own bands and most of them also play with touring stars such as Marcia Ball, The Thunderbirds, Double Trouble, James Cotton, Lou Ann Barton, Pine Top Perkins, the Leroi Brothers, Daryl Nulisch and Doyle Bramhall."

http://www.austinsound.net/files/NorthsideKingsCover.JPG

review/details: http://www.austinsound.net/?q=NorthsideKingsRev7-20-07

btg

07-24-2007, 04:55 PM

I have been waiting for that record to come out since hearing about it a few months ago - Dialtone has done some cool arecording so far. I wonder why Gary Clark Jr. isn't on the Northside Kings disc. He is the best young blues player in Austin right now.

aja

07-24-2007, 06:45 PM

Thats hilarious S.W. !! LMAO I LOVE the B.C. Rich salute at that guys wedding. Nothing says 80's metal like that.

Anyone get the new Sugar Ray disc ? Great stuff.

S.W.Erdnase

07-24-2007, 10:07 PM

Thats hilarious S.W. !! LMAO I LOVE the B.C. Rich salute at that guys wedding. Nothing says 80's metal like that.

Anyone get the new Sugar Ray disc ? Great stuff.

Yeah, that and the hairdos! Yowzah!

To be honest, I was looking around for Moeller and hit on that page by accident. For about 10 seconds I was like, "Wow, Wilson's picked up an 80's hair metal band guy who became a blues cat... well I never..."

Don't have the new Sugar Ray but have just about everything he's ever been on... Been a big fan since I saw him walk the floor on harp at the Belconnen Labor Club in about 1990 with some skank trying to hump his leg. He sure was sweatin' and making panic eyes at the band, but he never screwed up a phrase or dropped his timing.

btg

07-25-2007, 09:11 AM

Heard from another very reliable source - Johnny Moeller is taking over the guitar duties in the T-Birds starting in August.

Goldie295

07-25-2007, 09:41 AM

Hi all.

My name is Phil and I'm from England.

I can't believe I have found this board. I can't think for how long I have wished there was something out there like this. I do a simple Google search on Kid Ramos and here you are. Cool.

Anyway, naturally I am a big West Coast fan. My band is called the Blues Factory (www.bluesfactory.co.uk (http://www.bluesfactory.co.uk)). Were not West Coast per say, but I'm getting the others there...slowly !

I play guitar. My gear:

53 ES295
early 52 Tele reissue (beaten up by Clive Brown)
60s Silvertone Stratotone two pickup
Customised Fender Esquire (charlie christian lollar etc)

Tweed era Bassman (made by local builder like they used to)
Tweed era Deluxe (made by a local builder like they used to)

And that's about it...except for a box I had my amp guy make. It is the size of a Fender Tube Reverb. It has a Fender Reverb in it (with correct valves etc - unlike the reissues...) but also has a champ built in there. Essentially the guitar goes into a champ circuit/tube, then into the reverb and then into the amp. We call the box the 'Tweedy FX' but they are not availble to buy. He just made a one off for me because I was after that small amp sound out of my bassman.

Anyway that is me so Hello !

BTW, even better than finding this sit was realising 'TwoFeet' is the guy with the goldtop in the YouTube video I have bookmarked ("Juice Head Baby"). I love that playing. Very HFats. Very cool. How do you set up your gear and guitar to get those flavours? Beautiful.

Cheers,
Phil

TwoFeets

07-25-2007, 01:29 PM

Heya Phil - welcome to one of the largest, longest running threads in history! Always great to get some new blood in here. Thanks for the kind words on that Youtube clip, but man, I'm just a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to some of the heavyweights that are cool enough to contribute here. It's ALWAYS a learning experience when you check in here, that's for sure.

Cool gear and nice clips on your site!

The rig on that clip is pretty simple and straightforward; MIJ Tokai goldtop, blonde '64 Fender reverb, and a tweed 5E5-A Pro by Tungsten Amplification.
The goldtop has a Gibson P90 in the neck and a custom overwound P90 in the bridge (True Tone Technologies). It also has the ubiquitous phase mod (obviously in use in that clip!)

monstermike

07-25-2007, 11:02 PM

When I saw them a couple of weeks ago in Germany, Nick's playing was the most authentically "T-Bird" of anyone on that stage (well...except Kim...). His pointy-headed pink Kramer with a Floyd and his punk rock getup had absolutely no impact on his sheer badassery. He wasn't just a Jimmie clone, either; he sounded like Nick, but attitude-wise he had Jimmie's mix of Little Milton and Juke Boy Bonner down better than anyone else I've heard.

And the middle pickup on that Kramer was the best Strat I've heard in years.

Now, Kirk Fletcher - there's the alien from Mars. I still shake my head in disbelief at how good he was that night.

~el gringo loco

07-26-2007, 12:23 AM

As a long time reader but very occasional poster to TGP, I've sort of watched this thread with fascination . . . cool stuff to be sure.

About 10-12 years ago I was in a white guy blues band in L.A., and we ended up with a sweet cat called Oklahoma Ollie on bass. Ollie was a bad man -- he'd played all over the world with Phillip Walker, and was wired into the L.A. blues scene, too.

He invited me down to a jam one Sunday at a place called "The New Safari Club" over on 54th street, and man, the cast of characters was incredible. Ollie was playing bass behind a grumpy old bull called Cardell Boyette, but everyone knew him as Louisiana Red. There was an amazing singer in the house that day called Joe Washington, a great bass player called Curtis Tillman, and many, many others.

I ended up joining Ollie's band and played with Red and him for a couple of years, then a crazy mofo by the name of Sir Stan recruited me to play in his band, the Counts. We held a regular gig every Sunday at the Pure Pleasure Lounge over on Slauson and Denker, and we did Saturdays at The Family Room on 120th and Vermont.

Besides those places, we worked all over the ghetto; we played Smokey Wilson's place at 88th and Vermont many times, but maybe my favorite gigs were at the Chosen Few MC clubhouse; that was a very cool scene. You'd walk in the place and they sold beer outta some Coke machines that looked like they'd been moved there sort of abruptly, and I could never get Dylan's notion that "to live outside the law you must be honest" outta my head . . .

Along the way I got to meet and play with a lot of great guys; there is a young cat, Alvin Jone, aka AJ, who could play the blues like no one I've heard before or since, Tutty Gadson, a fine, fine Memphis by way of New Orleans but living on the West Coast sorta player, a wild cat called Hank Harris, aka Little Hank, and then later, South Side Slim, and all the usual suspects like Smokey, Phillip, Franklin Bell, Micky Champion, Bobby Warren, etc . . .

We had a lot of amazing times; Lowell Fullson's wake was held at the Safari, and we played the most soulful "Blues in the Night" I've ever heard or hope to hear again, and when Charles Brown passed I learned that half the guys on the track had played in his band at one time or another . . . it was a beautiful evening when we celebrated his passing. Tina Mayfield, Percy's widow, used to throw the most amazing parties there, and we never knew who was gonna show up for those.

But beyond that, the gigs I liked best were the birthdays; Sir Stan and his paramour/featured vocalist, Jackie Jackson, would come out in their finest and the band would dress in colors that matched the theme of the evening. We'd always have lots of guests up during those gigs, and man, some of those guys were on fire. I learned more lessons about playing blues and stagecraft and musicianship playing with those guys, and once I figured out how to really play rhythm guitar by watching Jackie's booty shake, well, it was all over . . . I gave up my corporate aspirations and moved to New Orleans to follow the music . . .

Anyway, thanks for letting me walk down memory lane just a little here, and I'm curious if anyone else remembers these guys or the places I mentioned . . . last time I was in LA the Safari had changed hands and wasn't doing music and the Pure Pleasure Lounge was closed. Seems like blues in the ghetto has taken a real hit in the last 5 years, but I haven't been living there so I'm not all that tuned in anymore.

Anyone?

Thanks,

~j

http://www.funkytele.com/trash/laughing%20jeff%20at%20the%20safari.jpg

stevieboy

07-26-2007, 12:53 AM

~el gringo loco

07-26-2007, 01:12 AM

I was aquainted with Cardell Boyette aka Louisiana Guitar Red for a long time from blues jams, jammed with him a few times, heard him many more. He was indeed a character, a nice character most of the time. He passed away 3 or 4 years ago I think--I know he passed away, not really sure just how long it's been. He played an old beat up Firebird or something, all covered with stickers. One jam he always went to had a pretty strict two song limit for everybody, just too many people waiting. He'd always get to the end of his second song, then break into this funky riff without stopping, stretch it to three by doing this song with a "you got the dog in you" theme, and work in "Bow wow wow yippie yea yippie yo bow wow." At some point in his set he'd usually yell out "Somebody got the wrong woman!" I think he got around to just about every little blues scene in LA, and I think he's probably missed everywhere too.

At a jam I got up and played with Oklahoma Ollie (surely there can't be two of them!) just a couple of weeks ago, and I've encountered him once or twice previously, but don't see him much. Is that him in the hat and blue shirt and black jacket? If it is he's a fair bit thinner now, and he was accompanied by a lady that could be the lady with the "Knight's Tale" tshirt. He was playing guitar, two guitars actually, one strapped on over the other. I couldn't quite figure out what he was trying to accomplish with them, but he was having some trouble with one of them. We had a good fun set anyway.

Amazing, it really is a small world . . .

That guitar Cardell played was an Explorer -- he used to tell people it was a '58, but I highly doubt that. :~) It was a mean sounding guitar and I used to play it whenever I could, and towards the end he had stuck thumbtacks on the side markers so he could feel it as he couldn't see too good anymore.

I once asked him why the top horn on the back of the body was cut away, and he told me that the case was stolen on a gig somewhere. He tried to find another one but they wanted too much money, so he cut the horn off so it would fit into a strat gig bag. He was funny that way, and while I was never sure how true anything he told me was, I believed him then. He could be an ornery old bull if you were around him enough, but he was really kind to me and taught me some lessons I'll never forget.

Word I got was that the last time anyone saw him was at Pure Pleasure on a Sunday night where he reportedly played a great set, then he passed in his sleep the next morning. That song of his "Dog in Me", was great, and I still play it sometimes . . .

That guy in the picture wasn't Ollie; that was some folks out back of the Safari one night. The guy in the blue shirt was called "Foots", and he was a hell of a drummer, and the guy in the forground drinking a beer is Black Robert, a truck driver/singer. The guy who looks like he killed a zebra is Tutty Gadson, a fine, fine guitar player. He was with Little Richard off and on in the 60s and 70s, and he can play anything . . .

Ollie decided he wanted to be a frontman at one point, and he decided that the best way to do that was to learn to play the guitar. I never much cared for him as a guitarist, but he was such a sweet guy I never said anything but words of encouragement. Dunno 'bout the two guitar thing, though, that's beyond me. And the lady you mention may have been Lucy -- did she have white hair?

Anyway, it's a small world, eh?

Thanks,

~j

http://www.funkytele.com/trash/cardell_guitar.gifhttp://www.funkytele.com/trash/guitar.gifhttp://www.funkytele.com/trash/ollie.gif

KBR

07-26-2007, 01:46 AM

I worked with Big Bill Clarke (Willian Clarke) down in LA in 1978/79 and then was hired by Smoky Wilson as band leader at His Pioneer Club 88th/Vermont. Bill introduced me to Cordell, and Hollywood Fats, and Shakey Jake, (Shakey owned the Safari Club way back then, He hired me for some Gigs.
Through Smokey I got to back up, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Turner, Joe Houston, and alot of Cats I forgot.

I did gigs w/ Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield, Big Mama Thorton, It was a Great time, and no one bugged me about bein White, I was the Transparant Soul Brother, as Smokey called me...
& I played my Ass off every Gig, (still do)...

bluesjuke

07-26-2007, 05:23 AM

Hey Phil and welcome to TGP.
You sure found a good thread to land on!

Strat-O

07-26-2007, 08:11 AM

Nick's playing was the most authentically "T-Bird" of anyone on that stage (well...except Kim...).

Now, Kirk Fletcher... I still shake my head in disbelief at how good he was that night.

Yeah, they are both totally cool. Who is Juke Boy Bonner though?

bbarnard

07-26-2007, 08:14 AM

Now, Kirk Fletcher - there's the alien from Mars. I still shake my head in disbelief at how good he was that night.

I do that everytime I listen to Shades of Blue, which is almost constantly lately.

rhartt1234

07-26-2007, 08:37 AM

Goldie295

07-26-2007, 08:54 AM

Thanks all for the welcome. Yes I was very lucky to stumble into this site.

Will read back over the posts one day - bit of a daunting prospect at the moment though.

TwoFeet, I was over in Florida a month ago and stumbled on a jam in Buckingham (near to Ft Myers). Was kinda fun - sort of a redneck bar. They were suprised my English accent gets lost when I sing blues. Funny really - I had never really thought about it...

I am sure there is loads on this topic elsewhere ... but ... how do Junior and the rest set their amps up when playing those H44s? I just can't get the quality of sound they make. Also, Junior seems to get the 'H44 sound' out of his strat and P90 Les Paul. I understand the whole 'in the fingers stuff' but let's be honest - the setup is pretty crucial.

Any ideas?

stevieboy

07-26-2007, 11:58 AM

ROCK U, that's it, and the leaping guitar player, funny. So inappropriate for a blues guy, yet so very much like Cardell.

I turned up at the Cozy's jam that Monday nght and they had a chair set up on stage with Cardell's picture on it. One thing I always remember about him was that happy look he'd get on his face when he started playing.

Ollie looks a lot older now (don't we all!), and the lady did have white hair.

I imagine a few guys on here have run into Cardell over the years, I'll bet Don Mare has encountered him a few times. One thing I always thought about him was, with a name like Cardell Boyette, why do you need a nickname?

mikelaw

07-26-2007, 12:42 PM

hey goldie, amp on 15 pushing those tubes hard helps with lower output pickups! also picking on the bridge while using the neck pu works well too. rolling the tone knob off a bit helps alot too to get that brown type sound with the plunky guitar attack almost sounding like an archtop all the time. thick picks and thick strings too. i like clayton or dunlop ultex style in a 1.0! great snap and lasts forever. watson and holmstrom also both use 12-52 strings. plain steel G string though.

i think its everything though. not just one or 2 things. ask a good harp player how he gets a good tone and hell probably tell you about 4-6 different things to get THAT tone on harp. for me, its the same with guitar.

AndreasA

07-26-2007, 12:45 PM

Goldie295, welcome. I also stumbled into this thread some time ago. I don't participate much however, I follow the discussion in this thread daily.

I have gained a lot by reading back. Usually when I have a west coast/blues/gear related question the first thing I do is to search this thread. Yesterday I ordered a clark gainster after having read about it here.

Andreas A, Copenhagen

~el gringo loco

07-26-2007, 01:26 PM

I imagine a few guys on here have run into Cardell over the years, I'll bet Don Mare has encountered him a few times. One thing I always thought about him was, with a name like Cardell Boyette, why do you need a nickname?

I really didn't know much about what Cardell did outside the track in South Central, but I know he and Joe Huston used to make jams together so I'm sure lots of guys know him. I was pretty amazed when he made room for me with Ollie; he sort of figured I wasn't going anywhere, and he gave me some basic lessons in musicianship that I'll always treasure.

One of the best was when he pulled me aside and told me that he didn't want to hear "no Chuck Berry shit" -- said he didn't want any "dunta duntal" music in his band. Told me that white people feel snappy time, and he felt "dog time" . . . and then he counted it out. Took a while before I really figured it out, but now I got dog time, too.

What a gift . . . :~)

Best lesson he ever gave me, though, was when we played out somewhere in Hollywood at a party for a minor celebrity, and he kicked off the set like this: "Blues in C, from the five, turn up til they tell us to turn down, 1...........2...........3...........

I miss that guy a lot.

FWIW, I asked him once about the "Guitar Red" thing. He told me that he was the "West Coast" Red back in the days when every name had regional impersonators. He'd show up in clubs all through California, and if his shit was tight he'd get paid. If not, well, on to the next place . . .

I had the pleasure of hosting Phillip Walker while he was here for the Durban Blues Festival last May, and it was great to hear him talk about Red and Stan and those guys -- they sure were a bunch of characters. Playing down there changed my life, not sure if for better or worse, but it was profound, nevertheless.

And yeah, Red always did have a really cool smile on his face when he was playing . . .

If you see Ollie please tell him "that white boy that plays with Ollie" says hey from Africa . . .

Thanks,

~j

~el gringo loco

07-26-2007, 01:38 PM

I used bump into Cardell Boyette at jams when I lived in LA.
I think I've recounted this story here before but I'll tell it again. One day at John Marx's jam at Cozy's I was put up with Cardell. I could tell he was not psyched to have a harp player put up with him. And this was made obvious when he called "On Broadway" in C#. I hung right in there and got a rather begrudging acknowledgement from him when we were done.

As a guitar player, I always liked the keys he played in -- made everything more interesting.

He was sort of contemptuous of what he called "country" blues, especially anything that reeked of Mississippi or Chicago, and he didn't much like harmonica players. He liked Kenny Burrell and the jazzy side of B.B. King and especially George Benson way more than he liked Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf. But he was a cool cat; I wouldn't claim to even be a "good" player back then, and he made lots of room for me to come in and he shared everything he had. I grew to be a much better player for having known him, and I'm really thankful for that.

Cool story, glad you hung in . . .

~j

rhartt1234

07-26-2007, 07:02 PM

As a guitar player, I always liked the keys he played in -- made everything more interesting.

He was sort of contemptuous of what he called "country" blues, especially anything that reeked of Mississippi or Chicago, and he didn't much like harmonica players.

Prior to moving to LA my exposure to Cardell Boyette was "Hard Times: And LA Blues Anthology" produced by William Clarke. Boyette's tunes were a couple of down home blues tunes. When I first saw him live he was doing Johnny Watson's funky stuff and running around the stage going "bow wow wow yippee yo yippe yay". Not at all what I expected but it was pretty damn good anyway.

RickyKing

07-26-2007, 11:40 PM

Yeah, they are both totally cool. Who is Juke Boy Bonner though?
dear strato weldon "juke boy"bonner texas-louisana blues man,,
i think the birds covered his tune" runnin shoes...."
sox can u help???

http://www.arhoolie.com/titles/375.shtml

Goldie295

07-27-2007, 06:16 AM

Mikelaw,

Thanks for the tips. Seems I'm not doing too badly then as I already have the 12 gauge strings and a set of heavy 'Gypsy Jazz' picks to thump them with.

I am thinking about getting my amp guy to make me a Fender Pro copy as I just can't turn the Bassman up to '15' (!) Anyone have any thoughts on whether I should go for the one tone control or bass, treble, etc version?

Also, I think Jensen now make a 15inch speaker but Victoria don't seem to like them... Any suggestions?

Cheers
Phil

jetlag

07-27-2007, 08:53 AM

Speaking of Juke Boy and Runnin' Shoes - I got to see Wilson do that tune at the request of a member of the audience. This was last year when he (with special guest Rusty Zinn) was touring the midwest with Doug Demmings band. Rusty kicked it off with that lick and really nailed it - using the back pup of his white SG, volume turned down but really flailing (strumming/picking) way up past the front pickup. It was a real cool, low down sound and really left an impression on me. I've used that technique quite a bit since then.

Goldie295 - my vote would be for a 5E5A clone (treble, bass, presence) but with a cathode bias switch to allow you to kind of simulate an earlier pro circuit. I really like it with the cathode bypass cap ommitted or switchable in/out to really accentuate the CB sound. I'd also start looking for an old P15N. I think you'll find the pro much more useable for the majority of your club work compared to a bassman.

Strat-O

07-27-2007, 10:06 AM

Thanks Ricky, I just bought that disc. It looks pretty cool. I didn't know Arhoolie had a website like that either.

Goldie295

07-27-2007, 10:30 AM

Thanks Jetlag.

I have just spoken to my man and he is going to price up a 5E5A with a cathode bias cap switch (in/out) as you suggetsed. He said he put a cathode bias cap in a champ the other day to see what would happen and made the champ noticeably louder so I guess the switch will allow me to drive it harder and keep the volume down...

I think speaker wise I am going to have to make a decision between a Jensen P15 and an Eminence Legend 1518. Victoria seem to use the eminence and I am sure I read somewhere the guy there saying the Jensen wasn't up to much. Can anyone comment on their experience?

As for finding an old P15N, I just wouldn't know where to start...but I 'll try ! !

Cheers
Phil

Stringmaster

07-27-2007, 10:35 AM

Welcome Goldie, and cool project! I'd seriously look into Weber VST's version of a vintage P15 Jensen, if that's the vibe you're after--you're search for an original may be long, and you could always look for one down the road. Who's building your amp?
DD

jumpnblues

07-27-2007, 11:07 AM

Hey Goldie 295,

IMO jetlag is dead on. I have a Victoria 35115T Tweed Pro with a Weber 15A150 (P15N) and it sounds the best with the most different types of guitars of any amp I've had so far (I'll see if I still think so after I get my Louis Electric prototype with a Lou Rosano tweaked Celestion G12H30 and Celestion Vintage 10). Anyway, great balance over the entire frequency range. Nice, tight lows, punchy mids that kinda' jump out at you, and the highs drip with rich, smooth, harmonics.
Just for comparison and for your information the following are the guitar and pu combinations I play through my Pro: A USACG hardtail Strat with VanZandt Vintage Pluses mid and neck, VZ Blues bridge; a USACG 50's style trem Strat with Lollar Blonds; a USACG Tele with an A&F Blackguard bridge and Lollar special wind Neck (without the cover), an Epiphone '56 Les Paul Goldtop with Lollar P-90s, and a one off Gibson Custom Shop ES-5 Switchmaster with Lollar P-90s. I don't own any guitars with humbuckers so I can't comment on the amp tone with those, but if what I've read on forums is any indication it should sound equally well with 'buckers.
I started out with a Weber Ceramic California with paper cap but didn't care for the high end "sizzle". You may like it but I prefer a smoother, less grainy breakup in the high end. I read what Charlie Baty said about the Weber P15N on the website, tried it, and instantly fell in love. And I've been head over heals in love with it ever since. Good luck with your 5E5A. I know you're really going to like it. :AOK:AOK:cool::cool:

Tom

Stringmaster

07-27-2007, 11:29 AM

What about Tweed Pro, vs Tweed Bandmaster or Super?

Goldie295

07-27-2007, 11:48 AM

Cheers guys.

The amp is being built by a local enthusiast based in Maidenhead. He has already built me a Deluxe and a Bassman. He built me a Tube Reverb which I really like. He covered it in tweed to match the others. I then saw a friend use a hotplate to put a Champ signal (built by the same guy) into an old Deluxe Reverb (via the hotplate line out) and it was pure T-Bone so I asked the guy if he could build me a champ into the reverb box which would do the same. After a month or two of working out the schematic and layout he did it and - wow - I love it. Unfortunately I haven't been able to record with it yet, but hopefully the Blues Factory will be back in the studio before long doing a few originals.

Anyway, I just got onto the Weber website (no UK importer :( ) and it asked me if I want the 30 or 50 watt version... I assume the 50w but can you confirm what you have Tom.

Cheers,
Phil

jumpnblues

07-27-2007, 11:54 AM

Can't go wrong with any of them. I think they're all the same chassis (Pro, Bandmaster and Super), just different speaker options. Just go with the speaker option you prefer. I personally prefer the 1x15" Pro version. But they all sound great. :cool::cool:

Tom

THINSOCKS

07-27-2007, 12:02 PM

Eskimo_Joe

07-27-2007, 12:16 PM

At what point are you guys going to build your own forum? :)

KBR

07-27-2007, 12:41 PM

Tom

I recommended a Weber P15N to LC Baty, along Time ago, also I got him to try a set of Van Zandts in one of his Many Strats.
Charlie is one of the Best!
He used a 56 Duo Sonic and a BF Bassman head when we worked together in 1975/ and still could sound Like BB, Buddy, Robert Jr...He used 13's in REGULAR tuning, a Real Monster He is.

monstermike

07-27-2007, 01:48 PM

Hey, I've just gotta say this -

I just played a gig last night with Rick Russell (our own RickyKing) backed up by Sugar Ray and the Bluetones. In the seventeen years I've known Rick, I've never had the chance to play a whole night with him.

Good Lord! With a Tele (body courtesy of our own Thinsocks), a Pro Junior, and a couple of pedals including a Klon and a delay, he got the fattest, most beautiful raw tone I've heard in a long time. He has power, swing, phrasing, chops - everything you could want to hear. He's singing better than ever, too - he did a killer "The Moon Is Rising" (Nighthawk) and a couple of great Wolf tunes. Really inspiring, and everything he plays has the authority and depth that comes with honing your craft and working like hell for many years.

Nice job, Rick! It was a real pleasure, and I hope we can do it again soon.

jumpnblues

07-27-2007, 01:54 PM

Kenny,

As usual you have a great ear for tone. That amp/speaker/guitar (Tele) combination has become about my all-time favorite. And I've played through a LOAD of amps over 46 years.
As an aside, another great combination I've come across is an Epiphone '56 Les Paul Goldtop (Lollar P90s) and my 40 watt, 4x10" Allen Encore head and cab. Lots of sweetness in tone with an abundance of sustain without distortion. Very smooth and at the same time articulate. Just a great jazzy/bluesy sound.
But....................I can't wait to get my new Louis Electric prototype with a 12" and 10" speaker. Sorry if I'm touting this too much lately on the forum. I know some people may be getting tired of hearing about it. But I'm just like a kid at Christmas. I did have a chance to play through the EL-34 version which was KILLER. Since it is a prototype Lou asked if I would want to experiment a bit, so I sent it back and had him put 6L6s in it along with a tone cap. He's going to mark the bias control so I can change it back to an EL-34 version if I want. I'm just waiting for the 6L6 version to arrive probably sometime next week. Anyone got a Valium? LOL!! Anyway, sorry for the thread hijack. I have a bad habit of doing that and I need to curb it. :jo:bkw :messedup

Tom

Poppa Stoppa

07-27-2007, 02:27 PM

Here's a cool Juke Boy Bonner pic

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/frankiethetut/juke.jpg

From what I read he supposedly got the "juke" nickname, because he use to show up at clubs as "one man band" and just play along with the jukebox.... sort of a early ghetto-ized version of karaoke I guess. What a great picture...it's also the cover pic on a Storyville vinyl album I bought years ago (25 shillings it says, that was a long time ago) featuring Juke Boy Bonner, Ashton Savoy, Hop Wilson, Jay Mr Sugar Bee Stutes, Lazy Lester etc - and it's got my fave Juke Boy Bonner tune 'Blues River rising' on there...

RickyKing

07-27-2007, 06:00 PM

Right back at you Mike,I hope to get to do it again real soon.
BTW your axe sounded great!!! Would'nt change a thing...

KBR

07-27-2007, 08:01 PM

I like That Dan O Juke Boy is playing, Looks Like Sonny Boy's Harlequin Suit!

Tele and tweeds are Wicked!

Strat-O

07-27-2007, 08:57 PM

geez, that sounds like a great show!

bluesjuke

07-28-2007, 12:14 AM

Cheers guys.

The amp is being built by a local enthusiast based in Maidenhead. He has already built me a Deluxe and a Bassman.
Cheers,
Phil

Phil , I've got a Deluxe and a Bassman and then added the 5E5A Pro.
It falls in between the two perfectly and is the best all around of the three with them all being perfectly complimentary to one another in your arsenal.

You will enjoy it!

sideman

07-28-2007, 08:55 AM

Going back to the 5E5A speaker choice for a second. I'm with Jetlag and the vintage Jensen P15N. They're not hard to find on eBay. I've had a couple Pros over the last four years, and half-a-dozen original cone 1956-61 P15Ns. Never blown one, and they all sound good. To my mind they're part of the sound of the Pro. They compress nicely at Pro state volumes. That combination is great with P90s. The cathode bias switch isounds like a really good idea. I'd go for the multi-tone controls. The Pro has a pretty limited tone spectrum, and one control limits it further. The 5E5 had one control; the 5E5A added the others -- and is regarded as the definitive tweed Pro.

Goldie295

07-28-2007, 12:34 PM

Thanks Sideman and the rest of you for your help. I'm going to see what ebay serves up speakerwise and in the meantime give my guy a green light to get the the amp build rolling.

Cheers,
Phil

mikelaw

07-28-2007, 01:45 PM

amen to that, rick is one of the baddest players ive ever seen/played with and ive played with some great players. ricky does it all too. last i saw him he took all my guitar heros and played it perfect, but it was rick. it wasnt watson or baty or ronnie earl....it was rick!

loveya bro! cant wait to see ya/play with ya again.

bluesjuke

07-28-2007, 02:57 PM

Thanks Sideman and the rest of you for your help. I'm going to see what ebay serves up speakerwise and in the meantime give my guy a green light to get the the amp build rolling.

Cheers,
Phil

Goldie,
Forgot to include in my last response to your inquiry that I have a reconed Jensen P15N in my Tweed Pro and it's so good I have no desire to seek anything else out.
I also, with the exception of my '56 Relic Strat ( haven't figured out the marital implications of a '56 Historic Gibson LP yet), play 2 335's and two Les Pauls through my 5E5a and they sound great, all with humbuckers ('57 Classic's).
Haben't yet figured out the marital implications of a '56 Les Paul Historic but I will!

I even play my Martin HD-28V through it and it is outstanding!
So the proof is in the pudding- it does equally well with Humbuckers, single coils, and passive acoustic pu's.

Why Fender ever quit selling this model is beyond me!

I've read that it was it's flagship model until guitarists discovered the atributes of the Bassman.
Even better in my opinion.

My Bud's comment on it every time I bring it to our jams irregardless of which guitar I choose to bring.
You can't beat it especially with the vintage P15N!

nmontz

07-28-2007, 04:17 PM

Sideman....I thought you were now running a celestion gold 1x12 in your tweed pro?

I too have a reconed vintage p15n in my amp. I don't think they are that hard to find on e-bay or otherwise. There is a nice one on there now, but it's allready up to plenty high priced now (+shipping and if it needed reconed)....Axe in hand is a pretty cool shop in Ill though. They usually run an add in Vintage Guitar. They also used p15n's in hammond organs....My backup p15n is a organ pull and doesn't have a bell cover.

bluesjuke

07-28-2007, 04:26 PM

I have never heard the Weber 15A150, even though I'm sure it is an outstanding speaker, I am so thrilled with the recomed P15N that I have I am considering seeking another out just to have around. Otherwise I would try the Weber.

The trick is to have it reconed properly.

Mine is a 1950 model.

Buckshot

07-28-2007, 09:27 PM

I've been reading this thread for many months and learned a ton of great blues history - thanks to all of the regulars here.

I have an H44 Stratotone question - how do you date one? No s/n & no pot codes! I thought about starting a separate thread for this question, but it's been the fault of this thread that forced me to hunt one down - Well, I bought one at thief's price this morning (at a guitar show, believe it or not) - she's a beater, but has a straight neck, very little fret wear & all original. Oh yeah, ... it also has that very special tone!

On a different topic, it's been neat to read folks here discussing Johnny Moeller - I've known him since he started playing guitar. He and Paul Size used to come in the music store I worked at when they were 15-16 years old & play every guitar in the house a couple times a week. I helped both of them pick out their first Squier Strats. All of us who worked there were amazed by how fast those two progressed. They were both total bluesheads from the very beginning (not something I've see too often in young guitarists). Both the Moeller brothers are great musicians & good guys.

sideman

07-28-2007, 10:03 PM

N, outing my Gold, huh? Geez. Played a wedding with it (in the Pro) today. Going back to a smooth cone P15N. Still trying to find a way to transform the Pro into a stepped-up GA-20. There's a gap between the maxed GA-20 and the Pro that remains empty. Today the Gold with tape on the grill wasn't it. Too punchy. Maybe cathode bias is the answer. Last night the Bassman with bridged channels like you suggested was, well, awesome with P-90s. Re the Weber P15N, Charley Baty thought that it "lacked slice," according to his review on the W board about five years ago. Paul Size played a concert here with Sugar Ray a couple years ago and was tremendous. You can usually find a real P15N on the bay for not too much over $100 -- less than the price of a modern reproduction by Jensen RI or Weber.

nmontz

07-28-2007, 10:30 PM

I was just curious to see if it worked out for you. My tweed pro really breaks up....sometimes more cut would be nice. Not to mention it was a pretty cool experiment having a new baffle made. I also was curious if the gold in the pro sounds as good as the blue does in a deluxe....

jetlag

07-29-2007, 12:48 AM

Sideman - that sweet spot you are looking for could be had with the switchable cathode bias mod I mentioned (exactly like on your PR). You should try it. I'm with you all and say vintage P15N all the way. I noticed that in the last few weeks one went for $77 and one for about $100. Great deals for sure.

Just got back from playing a gig at 18th and Vine. The band I was playing with got to back up the legendary (in these parts) Myra Taylor of "The Spider and the Fly" ~fame~ . She's 90 right now and is still wonderful. I'm going to get her to sing the duet tune on Cleanheads new CD - it should be wonderful. After our set the house jazz band got up and made me feel like a kindergardener .................... Oh well, still a good time. 18th and Vine is starting to make a mini-comeback. Good to see.

safecracker

07-29-2007, 06:30 AM

Just got the cd from Charlie yesterday,listening to it it right now.GREAT! I am big fan of Nick Curran and Johnny Moeller,but I had never heard of Seth Walker before. This guy is smooth as silk. Worth checking out for sure. Shawn

safecracker

07-29-2007, 06:59 AM

Just finished hearing cd above for the first time. Last song is a great version of Guitar Slims' "Reap What You Sow' played by Shawn Pittman. Nick Curran played drums,(good too) behind Jon Moeller on one cut,but Nicks' harp playing on the intro to Little Walters' "Oh Baby" along with his vocal stylings on this tune is most inspiring!

sideman

07-29-2007, 09:31 AM

JL - does modding CB into a Pro entail any permanent chassis alterations? I'll do it if it's completely reversible. That amp gap is a constant problem. (Although Bill Carruth will be surprised to see that another strong tech has been inside it.) Is anyone in the market for Duke R's new (double) CD? I bought two of them by mistake and will part with one for $10. A bargain! Duke covers a wide variety of blues styles on it. Noel, I don't have a Deluxe (or a blue) so can't compare. If you want to try it I'll ship it out to you.

Strat-O

07-29-2007, 11:59 AM

Hey Sideman, I'll take it. I've been wanting to buy that disc. I'd rather buy than burn anytime I can. I love reading liner notes etc.

cigpow

07-29-2007, 12:18 PM

Hey guys,

I am going to be selling my Chandler amp one off C10 prototype soon and I wanted to give you guys first crack rather than post it at the emporioum! It is basically a tweed princeton with a beefed up power supply, you can use either two 6v6's in it or one 6v6' and one 6l6 for more headroom. The amp puts out around 10 watts, perfect for a club/bar! This amp sounds amazing but I am in dire need of money. The speaker in it is a a weber and the cab is made out of solid pine. Chandler sells these for 695 for a base model of the c10, this is his prototype of the amp and a one off! I was going to ask 500 for it in the emporioum but will def. give you a nice price cut if you shoot me a PM and you are part of the West Coast blues thread! PM me for details/pics. Here is Chandlers website so you can read more about the amp

http://www.chandleramps.com/Portal/ChandlerAmplification/Amps/tabid/55/Default.aspx

Take care all!

Ian

jetlag

07-29-2007, 12:21 PM

Sideman - there are options in how you implement CB besides adding holes. So it can be done in a manner that is reversible. You can foresake your polarity switch and use that hole for the new switch or use one of your speaker jacks. I like having the switch availabe up top if possible. If losing polarity flip is not acceptable, you can use a three way switch for on-off-on (polarity switched), THEN utilize the old polarity switch hole for the cathode bias - fixed bias switch. You can put a mini switch under the hood (w/o extra holes) to defeat the cathode bypass cap or just keep it simple and leave that cap out. I can send pics if possible.

sideman

07-29-2007, 01:55 PM

Strato - I sent you a note re Duke.
Jet: The polarity switch is gratuitous with a grounded cord, isn't it? Okay, will give it a try. It's been great with the PR - use it all the time. Would be grateful for some pics. Will get the Pro and your pics to Carruth and get it going. Unless you recommend shipping the chassis (again).

KBR

07-29-2007, 03:42 PM

Ian,

I sent you an Email re: the Chandler Princeton, for my incredible 13 year old Student, TJ Moore.
He is so Good and has the Blues Feeling doing John Lee Hooker, BB King, early stuff, and Rockabilly and blowing over 1,6,2,5 changes..
anyway he is off to do a Blues Fest in Port Townsend WA and will be back in 6 days, I hope He gets that Amp, cause His Mom & Pop want a less LOUD amp for practicing and smaller Gigs. He has a Killer Epi Casino, Hey that axe is $1,300 and they are excellent...

Anyhoo, I email'd him and his parents, so I hope He gets it!

serious, always,
Kenny Blue Ray

jumpnblues

07-29-2007, 05:04 PM

"Re the Weber P15N, Charley Baty thought that it "lacked slice," according to his review on the W board about five years ago."

Hmmm, I don't recall reading that. Not questioning your honesty. There may be 2 reasons for my spotty recall...1. I'm a geezer. And 2. selective memory.
I thought I remembered he liked it and that's what prompted me to try it. Anyway, all I know is my Vicky Pro/Weber P15N combination sounds extremely sweet throughout it's entire frequency range. However, I'm using a 12AT7 in the P.I. and a 5Y3 rectifier. That may/may not have something to do with it. I wanted more headroom, thus this tube combination. I do need to run it at about "6" on both volumes to get into sweet territory. It's a little loud at that setting but I practice at home at that volume (we live in the country). :cool::cool:

Tom

Stringmaster

07-29-2007, 06:04 PM

I've just relisted in the Emporium, a couple of my Blues approved vintage amps--a Guild equivalent to a tweed Pro, and a Valco made Gretsch--check 'em out an email or PM me for more info.
Thanks, Dana

Strat-O

07-29-2007, 07:13 PM

I just got rid of a Weber P15 with the N magnet and Q cone. Sounded great but a little too smooth and loud for me. A vintage P15N in the same amp is killer and that's what I'm using. So, another vote for the vintage Jensen P15N.

From the music I've heard, Johnny Moeller is a killer guitar player. I heard a bunch of stuff from where he played with Darryl Nulisch. I thought it was totall awesome. And I've heard the stuff he's recorded with Mike Barfield, and its totally cool too. I vaguely remember reading through his website a couple of years ago. I don't know if he still has one, but he seemed like a really affable guy. I guess some of you fellas know him personally since he's from the great northeastern USA.

I would love to hear a T-Birds album with just Kirk Fletcher on guitar, no keys or horns. More like the old T-Birds lineup, but with Kirk Fletcher doing the guitar. No disrespect meant toward any of the other guitar players currently or potentially but not definetly associated with the T-Birds, but I just think it would be totally cool. But maybe there is something else on the horizon for the T-Birds that is equally cool.

:BluesBros

Autopilot Slim

07-29-2007, 09:54 PM

Hey Guys,

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Anybody have any info on blues clubs in the Miami area. I'm going to be down that way in mid August for 10 days or so.

sideman

07-29-2007, 11:22 PM

jumpnblues, the Charlie Baty take on the W P15N was on the W board around year 2000, when I was looking at W speakers. If memory serves he had used a 5E5 (the narrow panel before the 5E5A) on that album on which the Nightcats backed John Hammond. Maybe the 5E5 was one reason why he thought the speaker lacked slice - it's cathode biased I think. Very soon after that I bought some W P10Rs that also lacked slice and the phrase stuck in my mind. I meant no dis to your rig. Each of those old amps sounds a little different, and the guitar you use and the room your in and your tubes (not to mention your personal taste) all further complicate the equation. That's great you like your amp as it is -- enjoy it.

bluesjuke

07-29-2007, 11:25 PM

Choice of tubes in a 5E5A do make quite a difference in the end result.

I recent;y put all of my preamp tunes back to original spec and am well pleased with it.
With 2 12AY7's in V1 & V2 juming the channels is nothing short of fantastic.

Goldie295

07-30-2007, 03:45 AM

Jumpnblues / Sideman,

I think this is the Baty - Weber quote:

"Charles Baty
Amp: '55 Fender Pro
Guitar: Gibson ES295, Strat
Effects: None
Genre: Blues, Jazz
Comments: The Pro was improved dramatically with the addition of this P15N. I recently used the amp to record with John Hammond and was ecstatic with the tone on tape. The tone was full without being too crunchy, deep without being muddy. The overall sound was reminiscent of the '50s Chess Studio sound. It is not an overly bright speaker, so I also used a Reverbrocket with a 12"."

Seems to me he liked the speaker a lot - just also used a 12" second amp for a little more top end in the stereo mix.

Cheers
Phil

sideman

07-30-2007, 07:22 AM

Goldie - that may be an excerpt from it. The "improved dramatically" leaves out what was improved upon. Odd to use the adjective "ecstatic" if a 12" was needed to get top end given "not overly bright" tone. I remember "lacked slice." And the W P10Rs sure did. But who knows, the minds plays tricks. I couldn't find the review section just now on W.

Goldie295

07-30-2007, 09:05 AM

Sideman,

I found the review by searching for "Baty" "p15n" and "weber" on google. It finds the text in its cache.

I think I'm just going to use a standard Jensen 'reissue' speaker and buy vintage one when I find one locally.

Hollywood Fats question : I believe he maily used a red 335. Does anyone know the year (roughly) of that guitar?

KBR

07-30-2007, 11:03 AM

It was an ES 345, with PAFS. not sure on year, and an original 59 Bassman and an Old Reverb Tank.
(That's what he had when I sat in with him in Watts, forget the Club name, only 3 white dudes around, that day, Fats, Clarke and Me.

HappyValley

07-30-2007, 11:33 AM

Pretty sure it was a '63 ES345 w/the Varitone removed....

dukeh62

07-30-2007, 12:15 PM

THINSOCKS

07-30-2007, 12:28 PM

Just my opinion, but I'm with Jetlag on the vintage P15N issue. All the old Pros I have owned had (or I put) a vintage P15N in. The newer reissues speakers just seem to efficient to me.

Stringmaster

07-30-2007, 12:40 PM

So the past few weeks, Jeff Scott has been playing a few tracks off the soon-to-be-released Rod Piazza record. I gotta tell you, I've heard 3-4 tracks so far, and they are TOTALLY KILLER. Henry C. has got the sickest fart tone going on throughout each track, and his playing is spot on. Sounds like he's still on his strat, but has it dialed in HUGE.

It's available direct--pre-release, at a reduced price too:

http://deltagrooveproductions.com/

I'm listening to it now, and it's great. Piazza's harp tone kills too--back more to the Flyers I've known and loved.

The new Insomniacs CD is cool too!
DD

sideman

07-30-2007, 12:52 PM

One of Fats' guitars: http://youtube.com/watch?v=na5XVdxjAcw

THINSOCKS

07-30-2007, 12:58 PM

Wow. Delta Groove excels at making some really cheesy and cringe worthy record covers.

I'd actually love to hear Henry do a solo record some time. Chessy cover or not.... I'd buy that one.

jetlag

07-30-2007, 01:12 PM

Yeah, it's easy to be fooled by that 345. Fats (and whoever owned it before him) wore the neck out - the fingerboard was heavily grooved or pitted. The luthier planed it down to be playable, but put dots back in it (or was is blocks?? can't remember) - not the original parallelogram inlays. So it's easy to think it's a 335. At least that's the story Dave Gonzalez told me as he reflected on the times back when Fats used to live with him. I think if you look close at pictures you can see the hole where the varitone was.

jetlag

07-30-2007, 01:21 PM

jimfog

07-30-2007, 01:24 PM

Re; Fats' 345........anyone know if it was wired funky, ala out of phase "Peter Green mod", or?

Sure never sounds like PAF's to me.....

- Jim

jumpnblues

07-30-2007, 01:30 PM

sideman,

No offense taken whatsoever. It had just been so long ago that all I remembered was (I thought) it was a favorable review by Little Charlie. And since I'm a "grown up" I know that someone else listening to my amp/speaker combination may not be nearly as impressed as myself. There have been a few times where I failed to see what all the excitement was about an amp or speaker. So, no, I wasn't offended in the least. You were absolutely correct in your comment about all those amps sounding different, especially wide vs narrow panel Pros. And add different guitars to the mix and comparisons become difficult.
One thing I can guarantee you though is my Tele (the guitar I use most) through the Vicky Pro will slice through. I've used it with my Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster with 3 Lollar P-90s also and I've never gotten lost/buried on stage. I don't own any guitars with humbuckers so I can't speak to those tones. Although it may not be the tone for someone else I obviously like it. :cool::cool:

Tom

jimfog

07-30-2007, 01:35 PM

Probably a silly question, but something I'm always interested in........

What STRINGS,PICKS and ACTION are you running, and on what axe?

I sometimes think these little plastic and steel throwaway items make up a HUGE percentage of our tone.............as does string height.

For me it's :

D'Addario 10's on Strats and Teles.

Snake Oil 10-52's on my 335

12-52's rounds (whatever I can find w/ an unwound G) on my Gretsch.

John Pearse 13's on my Resonator.............

Picks, I tend to like'em thick............Clayton Ultem 1.26, D'Andrea Pro Plek 1.50, and I'm kind of liking the Vpick, too......Fred Kelly Slick Pick thumbpicks, sometimes........

On all my guitars, no matter the radius, I run the bass side medium (5/64" at the 15th fret) and the treble side high (6-7/64")........I feel like it helps bends ring out and I can play slide with it, while still making complex chords managable on the bass side.

FWIW,

jim

jumpnblues

07-30-2007, 02:25 PM

thinsocks,

You're right about the newer reissue speakers being more efficient. Sometime that's good and sometimes not. My Weber P15N (15A150) is noticeably louder than the vintage Jensen counterpart and you have to allow for breaking in the new reissue speakers, which can sound a little harsh and/or stiff when new. But mine just got sweeter and sweeter the more I played it. I especially like the top end. Very smooth and harmonic.

jimfog,

I just use heavy picks. I really like the ones that are like a triangle with equal length sides (equilateral?) and rounded points vs the sharper points. I usually set my bridge height to where I have no fret rattle. I don't measure it. It's usually a little on the high side. I use either Pyramid or GHS Nickel Rockers or Burnished Nickel, currently .011s on all my guitars including my archtop although I'm considering going back to .012 GHS Bright Flats on the archtop (Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster with Lollar P-90s).
While we're on the subject, has anyone used a wound third string on your Teles or Strats? What'd ya' think? :cool::cool:

Tom

Scott Miller

07-30-2007, 02:25 PM

Well, I just heard we lost another one: Jimmy "T-99" Nelson died. There's an Ace compilation of his stuff that I like a lot.

We had a "kick back and play whatever" gig a few weeks ago at which I sprung "T-99 Blues" on the band, drafting them into the background vocals. Guess I'll have to do that again.

Strings: 10s or 11s, action: low to the point of buzzing, pick: none.

jumpnblues

07-30-2007, 02:31 PM

Man, that's a bummer about "T-99". Great, great, singer, writer, and performer. Bummer!!

Tom

THINSOCKS

07-30-2007, 03:04 PM

Jumpblues - Personally, the charm I find in those old tweed amps is their inefficiency. A newer efficient speaker in a old Pro would kind of cut away at some of that tweed characteristic I look for, so that's why I stick with the older Jensens in my Fender tweeds. In the search for headroom I've switched the speakers out with newer models, but I always lost the softer response I got with the older Jensens and within no time I switched the speakers back. For me when it comes to tweed amps it's sometimes as much of a feel/response issue as it is a sonic one.

FWIW - I pretty much set up all my guitars the same. The string gauge is 12-15-18p-32-42-52 (I usually buy individual bulk strings since they don't sell a set like this). Slightly above 4/64ths and 5/64ths height at the 17th fret and around .022mm under the first fret at the nut. The string spacing at the bridge is the same as a standard Strat string spacing. I use this same string spacing on both solid bodies and archtops. Dunlop Tortex .088 for picks.

GOLDENSTRAT

07-30-2007, 03:42 PM

I go back forth between 10's and 11's on Fenders, 11's on shorter scale gits fer sure. Dunlop 1.0 mm nylon picks- good grip, don't break or wear out. fred

Scott Miller

07-30-2007, 03:51 PM

A blues song that only geezer guitar players would understand:

I can't play 12s no more
No I can't play 12s no more
Wake up the next morning
Fingers all stiff and sore

Gotta make do with my 10s
Yes gotta make do with my 10s
Unless I just play jazz
Where they don't do no bends

When I die I'm going to heaven
When I die I'm going to heaven
Where the fat 15s
They feel just like 7's

mikelaw

07-30-2007, 05:43 PM

ghs burnished nickels RULE. too bad they dont go to 52 though. plain ghs 12-15-18's are killer then the burnished nickel wounds on the bottom. 32-42-50(they only go to 50)

TwoFeets

07-30-2007, 06:25 PM

Boy, I've got the most plain vanilla setup of all time. Ernie Ball Power Slinkies (11's), regular Fender heavy celluloid picks.

RickyKing

07-30-2007, 06:28 PM

D'addario 11' on fenders
GHS Burnished Nickel 11's s on gibson or archtop's
13' D'Angelico on open tuned harmony bobkat high enuf for frettin & slide
5/64 lo 4/64 hi ,some a little lower some a little higher
fender medium 351 tortise best sounding pik imho other plastic sounds diffrent
fingers are best.....

TwoFeets

07-30-2007, 06:30 PM

We had a really killer gig Saturday night. Our guy put together a show at an old, restored theater that was built in the early 20's, in downtown Sanford, FL. We were on the bill with Shaun Rounds sitting in on guitar and vocals, and Beautiful Bobby Blackmon headlined. As it happened, the day before the gig, the Orlando Sentinel ran an article on us in their calendar section. The result was we had a near-sellout of the 600 seat venue.

It's such an odd change, playing a gig where the audience is predominantly sitting down. Kind of a conservatory vibe. A lot different from the beer taps we normally play at!

Strat-O

07-30-2007, 07:23 PM

Sweet man! That's a nice treat.

DonM

07-30-2007, 08:00 PM

Thinsocks - I'm with you on the covers they do. That one (so far) seems to take the cake too. Incredible cheese factor. Fortunately it doesn't matter.

Maybe Don Mare can get on here and fill us in on whether Henry was using those new H44-inna-strat pickups of his on this record. If so, what amps etc. Don, you out there?

I think I missed having puppys on it by a few weeks...

Henry has some pups that read 6.1 / 6.1 / 6.4 that he does OK with -- I'm not sure who made em, but I have a set here made for a new Strat were making him with these specs using the "Rosie Wrap winding method" and Junior Watson Gauss readings. most likey enamel --not Fomvar wire?

Scott Miller

07-31-2007, 12:30 AM

Gig report: I helped host a jam in Sacramento. Frankie Lee sang a couple of tunes with us... so did local crooner Willie G... good ol' funk rah rah stuff, real fun. Frankie Lee's guitar player, Tim Brisson, kicks major ass, and was very helpful leading us in the dynamics for that type of showman.

A well-equipped soul sister finished off the day with "Rock Me Baby," and I've never really fully quite got the meaning of that song until I backed up a well-equipped soul sister singing it. I mean, I don't smoke, but I kind of needed a cigarette after that.

dukeh62

07-31-2007, 07:43 AM

Just to take the P15N talks one step further...

I think another big factor with a P15N is using a ribbed or smooth cone. I personally prefer the rich fartiness of the smooth cones, but have found that they often times are subject to ghost notes at certain frequencies. Ribbed cones are a little tighter and hi-fi sounding to me. Again, this is subtle.

On the string tip...
After using D'Addario 11's for YEARS on my Gibsons/Harmonies, MikeLaw just got me to switch over to the GHS Burnished.

As for Fenders, my sissy hands just can't hang with 11's, but I found a happy home with D'Addario 10.5's. Yes, you read that right, 10.5's. The top two strings are right in between 10s and 11s, and the bottom four are essentially 11's.

Goldie295

07-31-2007, 07:57 AM

Thanks all for the Fats info. A 345 without the varitone. He certainly had me fooled as he sounds like he's got p90s ! Personally, I have always found humbuckers to be a little too grown up for me - I can only make them sound like mud.

I use D'addario 11s on the 295, stratotone and 52Ri. With the funny tailpiece on the 295 they feel like 9s which I really don't like but I am afraid to put on 12s in case it shifts the action too much - plus it sounds good with the 11s and I wouldn't want it to muddy out too much on me.

My esquire has D'addario 12s with an unwound G. That is my 'second set guitar'. It gives me a good work out and hits the champ/reverb and bassman hard.

For picks I always used those rounded off Dunlop Jazz II's until I discovered some mega Gypsy Jazz picks called 'Twins'. Made by Wegen (www.wegenpicks.com (http://www.wegenpicks.com)), they are fantastic. Really comfortable and great for that fast trill picking on the high E string we all do.

Cheers
Phil

zappafrank

07-31-2007, 08:03 AM

Boy, I've got the most plain vanilla setup of all time. Ernie Ball Power Slinkies (11's), regular Fender heavy celluloid picks.

Pretty much me all the way too---I use EB .11's on everything except acoustics, strats, Tele, LP, Archtops---it's mainly 'cause it's just easier that way. (I use those blue or green tortex picks, thos---they seem to stay put better with my exceedingly sweaty hands when playing live---I also use the more rounded edges of the triangle, not the very tip.)

although I will be trying these .11 GHS burnished nickles you guys seem to like so much---I have not seen them anywhere around these parts yet---they sound nice---any suggestions where to get some?

PS---finally got pics of all my gear (minus one in the shop), and will be putting about 4 to 6 items out there soon in the emporium, as soon as I load them into photobucket---I'll offer them to you guys first--ES-175, ES-100 (Charlie Christian pickup), Duggan-Smith Archtop, 'Mary Kay' 57' RI strat, 53' Epi ZDR, Harmony 415, effects, etc---

here's an example, although this is an old, bad pic---new ones are much better--

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/guitarpics022.jpg

thanks for the tip on the new Piazza CD---I have'nt been that 'enamored' of any Piazza CD's in the past few--I'll check this one out---

ac

zappafrank

07-31-2007, 08:05 AM

(hmmm---actually that pic ain't too bad! LOL)

bbarnard

07-31-2007, 08:10 AM

(I use those blue or green tortex picks, thos---they seem to stay put better with my exceedingly sweaty hands when playing live---I also use the more rounded edges of the triangle, not the very tip.)

I use the rounded edge of my picks too. I first started doing that after noticing that SRV did it in one place during the El Macombo (sp?) video. Tried it and liked it.

I'm using the Dunlop Tortex picks which I really like. They seem to stick to my fingers when they get sweaty.

Oh and AC if you see Little Charlie tell him I've started working on Gerontology (I've got like the first 45 seconds down) and it's taking me forever to get this song down.:crazy

RickyKing

07-31-2007, 08:50 AM

Pretty much me all the way too---I use EB .11's on everything except acoustics, strats, Tele, LP, Archtops---it's mainly 'cause it's just easier that way. (I use those blue or green tortex picks, thos---they seem to stay put better with my exceedingly sweaty hands when playing live---I also use the more rounded edges of the triangle, not the very tip.)

although I will be trying these .11 GHS burnished nickles you guys seem to like so much---I have not seen them anywhere around these parts yet---they sound nice---any suggestions where to get some?

PS---finally got pics of all my gear (minus one in the shop), and will be putting about 4 to 6 items out there soon in the emporium, as soon as I load them into photobucket---I'll offer them to you guys first--ES-175, ES-100 (Charlie Christian pickup), Duggan-Smith Archtop, 'Mary Kay' 57' RI strat, 53' Epi ZDR, Harmony 415, effects, etc---

here's an example, although this is an old, bad pic---new ones are much better--

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/64strat/guitarpics022.jpg

thanks for the tip on the new Piazza CD---I have'nt been that 'ena