West Coast Blues Thread - Version 2.0

[Echo Are]

Some of Clapton's Strat tones are OK, but, yeah, nowhere near the greatness of his John Mayall & Fresh Cream-era tones.

Eric's worst Strat tones IMHO: his 1989 bit o' tuneage "Bad Love", the lead parts--egad, cheeze whiz!:worried

[TwoFeets]

Amy Winehouse - what a talent, and too bad she is such a trainwreck. Here's hoping she gets her personal life straightened out.

[pete kanaras]

Check out Dyke & the Blazers. Arlester "Dyke" Christian and his band did the original "Funky Broadway"

that's my old drummer and mentor danny sperduto playing drums on that track. at 16 years old, in phoenix. that man taught me damn near everything i know, rip my brother. he always said that the tenor player taught him that beat. it was'nt danny on "let a woman be a woman" though, which is one of my favorite tunes ever. i believe he also played on "ugh" but i'm not certain. the Blazers were one of the baddest ghetto funk bands of all time

[KBR]

George,

When I work w/ Johnny Ace (Fender Bass from outa space) he does some killer Dyke and the Blazers tunes...

Goldie 295, I may be in SF Gigging, email me what dates you there?

[THINSOCKS]

Amy Winehouse - what a talent, and too bad she is such a trainwreck. Here's hoping she gets her personal life straightened out.

I think trainwreck would be putting it kindly. I don't think she has actually finished a tour yet. I've had tickets to see her twice and both times the show was cancelled. On a side note, I saw a lot of funny Amy Winhouse costumes this Halloween here in Los Angeles.

[pete kanaras]

When I work w/ Johnny Ace (Fender Bass from outa space) he does some killer Dyke and the Blazers tunes...

kenny, that's because of danny. you see, ace(Acerno)and sperduto were in the original Brooklyn Blues Busters(danny's band) along with harp player johnny nunzo, who later achieved his fame and fortune as John Leslie, the porno legend. i could tell yo....ahh umm never mind! oy vey, ya can't make this shit up! ask ace, he'll tell ya

ace does a KILLER "let a woman be a woman, let a man be a man"

[mikelaw]

Hi all,

Been out of action for a while trying to deal with the final plans for my Wedding Saturday week. In three weeks I'll be in Chicago for the first time before taking a train (yes, a train) to San Francisco. If anyone can recommend any gigs or venues then that would be great.

Despite the Wedding stuff, I've been keeping up with this board and taking in a reasonable quantity of YouTube performances. It is the later that has got me thinking.

Hope I am okay to mention the words Eric and Clapton on this board (??!??)...

I think it is generally accepted he was great in the 60s (Beano album etc) and that now he is - how can I put it - 'uninspiring'.

Well who has seen this:

Two versions of Reconsider Baby. One with a Gibson (335) and one with his Fender Signature Strat.

This one: Gibson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CITLWfcGUyg)

This one: Fender (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OESxMnOD0SY&feature=related)

Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?

Clapton - if you are reading this - for *$@! sake drop the Fender sponsorship (you don't need the money), stop using a pick, forget Layla and all that stuff, let Trucks and Doyle Whatever the 2nd go their separate ways, strap on your 335 get a small band (standup bass etc) and just play like your life depends on it.

Regarding Ike Turner. Big contribution and great feel. Shame his memory is clouded by the Tina film (at least that is all the UK news agencies are mentioning today). Hope she comes out and pays tribute despite her grievances. At this time of year it would be a very Christian gesture.

Cheers,
Phil

gibby's rule no matter how you cut it. grab an american tele/strat neck, then grab a gibby lp standard/335. you can just feel the difference.

[fretshop]

Check out Dyke & the Blazers. Arlester "Dyke" Christian and his band did the original "Funky Broadway"

that's my old drummer and mentor danny sperduto playing drums on that track. at 16 years old, in phoenix. that man taught me damn near everything i know, rip my brother. he always said that the tenor player taught him that beat. it was'nt danny on "let a woman be a woman" though, which is one of my favorite tunes ever. i believe he also played on "ugh" but i'm not certain. the Blazers were one of the baddest ghetto funk bands of all time

More than twenty years ago, I was going through some old vinyl at the house when Anson F. was visiting. He eyed the Blazers album and I just had to let him take it. Sometime later Jimmy Vaughn was hanging at Anson's house...he saw the album, and Anson said he put up such a fuss, he gave it to him. It was mint. You can still get the Blazers on CD with Funky B'way versions 1 & 2 and all the other good stuff. First time I heard him was 1967. Dyke was the singer and bass player. Some great ghetto soul came out of the Phoenix bar scene. The Fender Jazz Master was the "go to guitar" for most of those cats. Did see some guys playing aweome stuff on archtops with flatwound strings no less. Sometimes I realize just how old I am.

[KBR]

I'm older than Elvis...

Just kidding 1/11/1950 (slim Harpo is also 1/11)

Hey here's a good one, Big Walter/ Floyd Jones on Bass, and Ghetto Blues Guitar in the Canadian Key (EH?) "A"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgxGDxZYfG4

I Like that Tune Bobby Radcliff did, called UGGGH...By Dyke & The Blazers
Ace would do that one for 10 Minutes, a true Carpel tunnel rhythm!

Johnny Ace uses fishing line to get his 67 P Bass around his freakin Knees!

[jimfog]

grab an american tele/strat neck, then grab a gibby lp standard/335. you can just feel the difference.

Yup......one's nice and solid, and the other has a 50/50 shot of being warped, having a bad fret job, or the binding coming loose!

:rotflmao

- Jim

[pete kanaras]

Canadian Key (EH?) "A"

how does a canadian spell canada?

[groove_king]

Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?

Clapton - if you are reading this - for *$@! sake drop the Fender sponsorship (you don't need the money), stop using a pick, forget Layla and all that stuff, let Trucks and Doyle Whatever the 2nd go their separate ways, strap on your 335 get a small band (standup bass etc) and just play like your life depends on it.

Regarding Ike Turner. Big contribution and great feel. Shame his memory is clouded by the Tina film (at least that is all the UK news agencies are mentioning today). Hope she comes out and pays tribute despite her grievances. At this time of year it would be a very Christian gesture.

Cheers,
Phil

Hi Phil

Thanks for posting the YouTube links and your thoughts on EC. Good luck with the wedding!

When From The Cradle was released, I went around telling everyone that he should have gone to Chicago and hooked up with Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith and Calvin 'Fuzz' Jones. THEN he would have made a great blues record.

RIP Mr Turner. A sad, sad day for blues/R&B music. The man was a mother on piano and guitar and was a brilliant bandleader and an amazing talent scout. He will be sorely missed.

[Scott Miller]

"Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?"

I dunno... they seem about the same to me. I like the 335 raunch tone, though. I would like to hear him with a blues drummer.

[THINSOCKS]

I would like to hear him with a blues drummer.

He usually has Jim Keltner playing drums with him. Honestly, I'd take Keltner on a blues gig over 99% of the blues drummers I've come across. That guy has great feel and knows how to play loose. That band in the strat clip looks like a pickup band.

Here he is with Keltner and Portnoy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5h-95D-MAsE

[hasserl]

"Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?"

The Gibson version is miles better, but I wouldn't cal it amazing. His tone is kind of blatty IMO. He was probably using that bridge pickup rolled off tone control woman tone thing. It wasn't working.

I don't get it with Clapton, how someone that had such righteous tone at one point, who defined a whole new realm of guitar tone for countless rock guitar players, how can he be so damn tone deaf now?

I do like your suggestion for him though, but as long as he has that horrible suck ass tone he'll always be a disappointment.

[TwoFeets]

There's no real good way to say this, but for some reason in my head I liken the era I spent listening to Clapton play blues metaphorically to riding a bike with training wheels.

[S.W.Erdnase]

"Is it just me or is the Fender version awful and the Gibson version amazing?"

The Gibson version is miles better, but I wouldn't cal it amazing. His tone is kind of blatty IMO. He was probably using that bridge pickup rolled off tone control woman tone thing. It wasn't working.

I don't get it with Clapton, how someone that had such righteous tone at one point, who defined a whole new realm of guitar tone for countless rock guitar players, how can he be so damn tone deaf now?

I do like your suggestion for him though, but as long as he has that horrible suck ass tone he'll always be a disappointment.

I thought EC's last CD tribute to Robert Johnson was terrific.

So there.

[Goldie295]

Goldie 295, I may be in SF Gigging, email me what dates you there?


Kenny,

We pitch up about 8pm on new years eve (after a 56 hour train journey) and will be around for 3/4 days.

Would be great to hook-up if the dates work.

Cheers,
Phil

[jimfog]

There's no real good way to say this, but for some reason in my head I liken the era I spent listening to Clapton play blues metaphorically to riding a bike with training wheels.

You know.....I felt this way at one point, too.

Like a lot of us, I cut my teeth on Bluebreakers and Cream, etc, and when I got deeper into the old and more obscure stuff, I left EC behind.......with a wee bit of snobbishness, I admit.

I've since come full circle, and I feel that British Blues, ala Clapton, Green, Taylor, etc is not just "chicago lite", but an entire valid sub-genre of it's own....and, in fact, even though I'm playing West Coast now, mostly, I try and bring a bit of that Brit attitude, tone and snarl to it.

I think it's silly to run away from the full range of your influences, hip or not........but, to each his own, I reckon.

- Jim

PS......A-freakin-MEN on Keltner!!!

[TwoFeets]

A lot of Clapton's early stuff was something that made single string lead playing accessible for me. The "Guitar Boogie" record with Clapton, Beck and Page was big for me, as was the Yardbirds stuff.
I think it's just that once I started listening to the sources, the British stuff felt like it was being played through a filter to me.

"From the Cradle" was actually the record that got me started into more traditional blues. I used to love the version of Reconsider Baby on that record... then I heard Lowell Fulson and now the Clapton version just sounds like noodling to me.

I do still break out the 60's stuff now and then though especially the Yardbirds.

[KBR]

I went to London for the USAF, mid 69-72.
Before I liked some Cream, but mostly Real Black Blues stuff.
BB, Freddie, Albert (King and Collins) Wolf, Walters & Sonny Boy, T Bone.
Jimi, a bit, too.
I never could listen to Mayall, so I wasn't Hip to EC or Peter Green that much.
I got into the Beano lp way late and Have You Heard the Guitar work is among the Best I ever heard, ditto for Peter Green, especially the SuperNatural song. These 2 Cats, EC & PG are among the Best I ever heard.

Unfortunately Eric is using a tired sounding Guitar, and Peter took the brown acid...
I did see the EC tour 3/18/07 and really dug Doyle and Derek and the Band. EC, to me plays well, but way too much & with that tbx tone.

See I am still about 95% an Old Blues sound lover prefering Albert King in the late 60's, and BB in the 50's and 60's. Ditto for Albert Collins 1969 tones.
I like Magic Sam alot, and some Otis Rush, too.
One of my students has a nice $5k. VOS 59 Les Paul clone and a Vicky 5 watt 1x12 amp that absolutely nails the Beano tone, if I ever record again, I am gonna have to use that.

[Echo Are]

For an example of Eric Clapton Signature Strat-tbx tone control-canned cheeze whiz tone, check out the video below, at 3:22. Aye! Ouch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0WO8XoVWes

Everybody sing:

Bad tone!
Bad tone!
It's something I don't wanna oh-oh-own...
Bad tone!
Bad tone!
Go home, bad to-oh-one!
:D

[Poppa Stoppa]

I have to say I prefer Eric's note choice on the Strat on those two clips. The tone of the 335 has more grit and grunt though.

A harp player once said to me "the amp has to sound like it's raging..." - get a raging amp tone and nine times out of ten it sounds better than when it's clean.

The Gibson/Marshall thing was one of those amazing lucky coincidences that made for incredible tones. What happened then was that everybody started searching for the tone and somewhere along the line forgot that you have to learn to play good too. The 60's Brit guys like EC, Green, Beck, Stan Webb, Jon Morshead and Mick Taylor were good players. Their legacy is the countless thousands of blues jammers who think that tone is everything and can't actually play.

One of my students has a nice $5k. VOS 59 Les Paul clone and a Vicky 5 watt 1x12 amp that absolutely nails the Beano tone, if I ever record again, I am gonna have to use that.I'll look forward to that! I enjoyed Buddy Whittington's Claptonish tones on Mayall's 'Spinning Coin'.

[Strat-O]

I don't like Mayall's stuff, Cream or almost anything by Eric Clapton. He's written some nice melodic pop songs, but I just don't like it. "Riding with the King" was a good album because BB was there and most of the recording is cool. I know his Beano thing was 'groundbreaking' but it was only a matter of time until somebody did it...he just happened to be first. And, frankly it had already been done before he did it. Just not by a white guy. Same old story.

[nc slim]

ditto on Clapton, my son who likes metal slash shred likes clapton and I have him learning the guitar boogie record the early stuff w page If this is how he finds the blues so be it. He does admit that Anson is awesome and has a great touch but he does not want to learn that kind of playin.In the same sense he will learn clapton's blues licks. so we all have to give EC credit for hooking us on this stuff and in our search for tone we findthe real taproot of the great music thru the early records.

I saw Claptons Blues tour 2 nites in 94 front row it was great we can criticize subtle things in the sound and style but he really put on a history lesson at that concert. Every song he had a B/W slide of the original artists who did these songs He even did a song by an artist (Homer Harris ) who I did not know. I heard people complain about his lack of hits at the show but they did not get the tribute theme of the blues show. So three cheers for E C. As a great well known Blues guitarist told me "I am not much on his EC's style but you can't back him up and he will always come back at you "

Slim on deep blues thoughts

[nc slim]

speakin of the devil I just found this I remember seeing it and it is a great song w mac rebenack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJA21UmUquI

[Scott Miller]

I still give Beano a spin now and then, cranked up. Also Jeff Beck's "Truth." Also, for that matter, "Maggot Brain." A little over-cooked guitar goes a long way, but it fills a need.

[monstermike]

Clapton is perhaps my favorite guitarist of all time, and that "Journeyman" record (with the aforementioned "Bad Love" and more) is one of my absolute favorite records. The production and the guitar tones may be dated - which doesn't mean I don't like them, by the way - but the playing and singing are unbelievably good.

The Beano and Cream recordings are good, but my favorite Clapton recordings are mostly later than that - the first solo record with Delaney and crew, "Layla," "Just One Night," and of course, "Journeyman."

Thanks for the clip, Echo Are - I hadn't seen any of those "Journeyman" videos since 1990 or so, and I really enjoyed seeing it again. That "Bad Love" solo is brilliant - like "Badge," but better.

[jimfog]

Clapton is perhaps my favorite guitarist of all time, and that "Journeyman" record (with the aforementioned "Bad Love" and more) is one of my absolute favorite records. The production and the guitar tones may be dated - which doesn't mean I don't like them, by the way - but the playing and singing are unbelievably good.

The Beano and Cream recordings are good, but my favorite Clapton recordings are mostly later than that - the first solo record with Delaney and crew, "Layla," "Just One Night," and of course, "Journeyman."

Thanks for the clip, Echo Are - I hadn't seen any of those "Journeyman" videos since 1990 or so, and I really enjoyed seeing it again. That "Bad Love" solo is brilliant - like "Badge," but better.

Mike,

Interesting that you posted that.

I meant to include in my post above that I hear the influence of EC and other British players in a lot of the guys we consider more "legit".

As examples, I hear a lot of Peter Green in Ronnie Earl's playing, and quite a bit of Clapton in your playing........especially the last few straight blues discs you've made.

"Just One Night" is a real underrated classic, IMO.......his playing, dynamics and singing on "Double Trouble" are worth study.........and if you can find a bootleg called "Fillmore Double Nights" with the Dominoes, it's a scary good testament that the fire certainly wasn't gone in the 70's.....despite the common opinion.

cheers,

- Jim

[Echo Are]

Thanks for the clip, Echo Are - I hadn't seen any of those "Journeyman" videos since 1990 or so, and I really enjoyed seeing it again. That "Bad Love" solo is brilliant - like "Badge," but better.

You're very welcome, Mike. "Bad Love"'s not a bad song, I just have a thing about late-1980's production values: clean, techy, clinical, and...oye. Gad. But if it helped to get you started on the Blues path, more power to it.

Actually, I shouldn't dump on EC at all. Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream was the 1st record I got that could be called bluesy, however remotely.

Speaking of Layla, "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" is where you'll find my pick for Best EC Strat Tone On Record. EC was using "Brownie"(1956[?] sunburst Strat)into a maxed out Fender Champ for that cut, I think.

[monstermike]

It's not that it helped me to get started on the blues path (that had already been done by "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out," "Layla," and "Live At The Regal," in that order), it's still one of my favorite records to pull out and listen to.

Clapton's as legit as they come, really - besides the personal suffering in his lifetime (I don't really believe in " the right to play the blues," but if there is such a thing, Clapton qualifies many times over), his blues playing and singing are always heartfelt and rooted in tradition. You could say that he did the same thing for the styles of Freddy King and Buddy Guy that they did for the styles of B.B. and T-Bone - it's his own thing, but you can always hear the root. And he backed up Sonny Boy Williamson when he was just a kid.

And if he hasn't always played the blues, well... have you ever heard B.B.'s pop ballads or Little Milton's soul records or Johnny Guitar Watson's disco-funk?

The more I think about it, the more I think that Clapton is deeper and much MORE legit than a lot of the current traditionalists.

[S.W.Erdnase]

The more I think about it, the more I think that Clapton is deeper and much MORE legit than a lot of the current traditionalists.

Agree 100%. He's not a bullshitter/poseur. He's just a great blues musician. So what if it's not all stellar - who is?

Like I said, this recent CD is terrific:

Sessions for Robert J (http://www.amazon.com/Sessions-Robert-J-CD-DVD/dp/B000660UN0/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197666487&sr=8-2)

[Echo Are]

And if he hasn't always played the blues, well... have you ever heard B.B.'s pop ballads or Little Milton's soul records or Johnny Guitar Watson's disco-funk?

Johnny Guitar Watson: The Funk Anthology has some excellent, stanky guit-tar work on it("Ain't That A Bitch").

[monstermike]

As does "Bad Love."

[michael30]

I meant to include in my post above that I hear the influence of EC and other British players in a lot of the guys we consider more "legit".

As examples, I hear a lot of Peter Green in Ronnie Earl's playing, and quite a bit of Clapton in your playing........especially the last few straight blues discs you've made.

I remember seeing Buddy Guy in the 80's and thinking that a lot of his stuff sounded like Jimmy Page (only better).

[hasserl]

I think EC is one of the best of all time. I'm still stuck in the rock guitar realm and EC is one of my heros. I never meant to imply any less of the guy. As good as the Cream stuff was, I think his Dominoes period is especially great, and Layla is about the tops for me as far as record albums go, but their Live record is also very good. Blind Faith was some more great stuff and I love the Delaney And Bonnie live tour record. But his tone of late just sucks, sorry, but it sucks. IMO he needs to chuck whatever it is he's using and start all over.

[Short Bus]

Mick Jagger had a great comment about EC. He said that Eric is a better sideman. When he's not thinking about the whole song and band. I tend to agree with that. Just give him the key and let it unfold.

FWIW
I love all of EC's work. Even the 70s Don Gibson/JJ Cale era. I think playing that stuff helped him battle the demons that plagued him. I think after that period and the Journeyman period, his blues playing has a maturity and wisdom in it that wasn't there with Mayall.

[pete kanaras]

Johnny Guitar Watson: The Funk Anthology has some excellent, stanky guit-tar work on it("Ain't That A Bitch").

and he played most all of that waaay stanky-ass stuff plugged straight into the console. no amp at all

speaking of heart stopping clapton solos, check out the take of "while my guitar gently weeps" on the "concert for george" dvd. i've been listening to the man for 40 years and that is hands down the most intense, heartfelt playing i have EVER heard from him. it is not of this world

[bluesjuke]

On Clapton I have always liked "From the Cradle" quite a bit.
I think it is the best he has ever released and I'm not sure that even he can match it.

On a different note, are any of you familiar with a Chicago band, "Big G & the Real Deal"?

A coworker told me his brother, who has passed away, was the harp player.
I heard the CD, "Chicago Nocturne" several times and really enjoyed it.
He's bringing me a copy tomorrow.
It's a lot of fun and runs into Chicago, Western, jazzy Blues throughout the CD.

[S.W.Erdnase]

Mick Jagger had a great comment about EC. He said that Eric is a better sideman. When he's not thinking about the whole song and band. I tend to agree with that. Just give him the key and let it unfold.

Clapton acknowledges that in his autobiography. In fact, he comes across as a very humble person with many doubts about his abilities, something that I find pretty human.

[sideman]

Clapton is at his best playing rock. I like his Blind Faith stuff and the other rock he played back then. But for blues not so much. For example, Freddy King's Tore Down was big for me. Played it hundreds of times. Know every note. Clapton just copies it, in a version that isn't as good. As with his early Hideaway with the Bluesbreakers, it plodding and heavy. I don't know why he covers Tore Down so closely -- maybe he's trying to make it more accessible to modern young white ears? That's pretty much what he does. Clapton is like the Allman Brothers -- he, and they, were great at what they did -- mainstream blues rock. And when I was 17 - 25 or so I listened to plenty of that. Once and awhile still do. But that stuff just isn't very interesting to me any more. Call me crazy, but I'd rather go see Alex Schultz than Clapton, and my west coast swing and chess style blues records get alot more play than anything of Clapton's. Although that's not say much cause I'm afraid he doesn't get much at all. Is it blasphemy to say he's not god? Hope not.

[HappyValley]

Clapton is the reason I started playing blues, period. I had the "Journeyman" record and the "Crossroads" retrospective 3 or 4 Cd Boxed set (& accompanying tablature books for all of the above!), before I ever took a real guitar lesson or attended a blues jam.

Dial-Tone-the Paul Faulo clips you posted a few pages back were FANTASTIC! Just laugh -out- loud classic.

[sideman]

Matt Schofield is another guy I'd rather go see.

[HappyValley]

Matt Schofield is another guy I'd rather go see.
I, too, would much rather see Alex Shultz than Eric C TODAY; As a matter of fact, I don't think I even own a Clapton record anymore - my musical tastes changed & grew in a different direction well over 13 years ago. However,the point being made is that no one can deny the importance of Clapton's contributions to blues by virtue of his drawing guys like me & many others into the fold to investigate FURTHER, ultimately finding Wolf, Muddy, T-Bone etc.

[Strat-O]

Clapton didn't bring me to the blues, but I know he has done a world of good for exposing people to the blues. And he's got rabid fans, which is cool. I'm not down on him or anything, I just don't dig his music much. He does seem like a good guy.

The one thing he did that I really enjoyed was the tour rehearsal video for the "From the Cradle" tour. I bought that CD and wasn't too crazy about it. It just sounded like another white guy playing blues. But when I saw that video, it was filmed well and very, very laid back. Well, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't mind blowing, but just great well played classic blues by a guy who's passionate about it. I hope all of you hardcore Clapton fans have seen that. PM me if you haven't. Its very a very intimate and passionate performance. Tons of cool guitars and amps. Great band. Its hard not to enjoy it.

[HappyValley]

Tons of cool guitars and amps. Great band. Its hard not to enjoy it.

I remember DROOLING over the gear lineup on that tour!! I'm going through a serious 'gear dump' phase right now; Already sold via Ebay my red ES-335 RI & a 1936 Kalamazoo (depression era Gibson) acoustic; Have my VOS Les Paul Special TV up for auction as we speak.....
Just tryin' to simplify is all....

[Echo Are]

As does "Bad Love."

Eric's playing in that song is excellent. But I'd be curious to hear how those same solos and runs would sound with a Beano tone, or a Strat-thru-cranked Champ timbre:o

[musicofanatic5]

Boy, talk about the ultimate "living in a fishbowl" nightmare: "ey, I'm Eric Clapton. Been stickin' it out there for public examination for over forty years! Critique me, debate me, presume to know better than I, what I should doing! Then bugger off!!" Ha!
Say what you will about ol' Riccy, he can't be faulted as a champion of the blues, with his devotion to the heritage of the music and it's originators. His efforts have a lot to do with why blues music still has only one foot, and not yet both feet in the grave!
'ray f'slow'and!

[Eskimo_Joe]

with 7800 posts, at what stage of the game are you guys going to make your own forum? :)

[S.W.Erdnase]

I, too, would much rather see Alex Shultz than Eric C TODAY; As a matter of fact, I don't think I even own a Clapton record anymore - my musical tastes changed & grew in a different direction well over 13 years ago. However,the point being made is that no one can deny the importance of Clapton's contributions to blues by virtue of his drawing guys like me & many others into the fold to investigate FURTHER, ultimately finding Wolf, Muddy, T-Bone etc.

I agree. EC isn't someone I listen to a lot these days. I much prefer Kirk and Junior and Alex, Ronnie Earl, Robert Cray, etc.

But I think he deserves full credit as an excellent blues musician because he IS an excellent blues musician.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Wasn't EC going through a Soldano phase for 'Bad Love'? I never liked the tone of them much.

He got me started on playing too. Even now every once in a while I'll hear a killer blues track on the radio and gradually realise it's Eric laying it down very deep but with his own character showing through. And he hardly ever makes a mistake!

There was that rather touching story Hubert Sumlin told on the Howlin' Wolf Story DVD about Wolf's London Sessions album: "They didn't want me on there, but Eric said 'If Hubert isn't playing on this, I'm not either'..."

[sideman]

Agreed he played a key role making blues accessible to the money white audience. He also seems like a good guy, and I'd like to read his book (but don't want to spend the money). Something he used to do which was great and I think is part of what made his soloing unique was hit on a cool multinote, high register phrase, and repeat it a bunch of times. He does it, for example, in The Last Waltz. Initially his solo isn't remarkable, but at one point he locks onto one of those phrases and runs through it a bunch of times -- it had alot of power and the crowd reacted strongly. I put the film on replay several times, and figured out the notes he was playing. There was nothing magical about them -- but he found them at the right time in the right spot and used them perfectly. The flip side is his derivitive, not-quite-slavish but close adherence to black greats like FK. Remember the solo in Strange Brew, which was a note-for-note copy of an Albert King solo?

[Echo Are]

Wasn't EC going through a Soldano phase for 'Bad Love'?

Yeah, that's right, the SLO 100. I forgot about that. Thanx for reminding me.
Definitely an amp that does not readily come to mind when one thinks about classic blues rigs;).

[HappyValley]

Boy, talk about the ultimate "living in a fishbowl" nightmare: "ey, I'm Eric Clapton. Been stickin' it out there for public examination for over forty years! Critique me, debate me, presume to know better than I, what I should doing! Then bugger off!!" Ha!
Say what you will about ol' Riccy, he can't be faulted as a champion of the blues, with his devotion to the heritage of the music and it's originators. His efforts have a lot to do with why blues music still has only one foot, and not yet both feet in the grave!
'ray f'slow'and!
Well said, Jon.

[valcotone]

The one thing he did that I really enjoyed was the tour rehearsal video for the "From the Cradle" tour. I bought that CD and wasn't too crazy about it. It just sounded like another white guy playing blues. But when I saw that video, it was filmed well and very, very laid back. Well, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't mind blowing, but just great well played classic blues by a guy who's passionate about it. I hope all of you hardcore Clapton fans have seen that. PM me if you haven't. Its very a very intimate and passionate performance. Tons of cool guitars and amps. Great band. Its hard not to enjoy it.


Strat-O... I've seen that video as well, it's very fun to watch. There's one part where they just wrapped up a song, then Eric says "OK, lets do one more then we'll have lunch"... really shows how laid back the rehearsals were. I agree on the quality of the performance of that set.

[karmadave]

I just finished watching the Crossroads 2007 DVD and I have to say this is a great DVD! Clapton brining together some of the top acts for worthy cause. Eric is in fine playing shape, although some of his solo's do get repetitive. He really cuts loose on 'Queen of Spades' (slow blues in C minor). It's fun to see Clapton pass the torch to Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall. Derek's slide playing is superb and Doyle is a great all around guitarist/singer/songwriter. Clapton even has a go with his old Blind Faith buddy, Steve Windwood. I really don't care that Clapton is not 'hardcore' Blues. He's still a great musician and has a HUGE heart!

-KD

[bbarnard]

speaking of heart stopping clapton solos, check out the take of "while my guitar gently weeps" on the "concert for george" dvd. i've been listening to the man for 40 years and that is hands down the most intense, heartfelt playing i have EVER heard from him. it is not of this world

That was stellar although I have to say the guy I was most impressed with on that DVD was the guy from ELO (No NOT Lynn, the guy who just about nailed George's slide playing and tone, not an easy thing to do).

[aja]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lxn0TEeHE8
This is a little clip by Big George Brock a local St.louis,Mo. from Mississippi.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Nice clip of Big George Brock there aja.

Tina Turner on Ike's demise:
'Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made.'

[Poppa Stoppa]

Some of you guys may be interested in this ES5-inspired alternative to the Epiphone ZBD I found yesterday while out shopping - the Korean-made Peerless Wizard. It's a true hollowbody with a half depth body. The one I tried briefly was very cool and had quite an expensive feel to it. I though it could be a grand or more but street price is around £400, so if the dollar-pound guitar equivalent holds it's gonna be a bargain.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/ted149/peerless-wizard.jpg

[pete kanaras]

Wow

[Dave Orban]

Nice! :dude

['56 Merc]

Not bad at all. What did the neck feel like?

[jumpnblues]

Yeow!!

Tom

[hasserl]

Speaking of ES5 style, here's another one that looks like a pretty nice buy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140187688922&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2678043&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll %3FViewItem%26rd%3D1%26item%3D140187688922%26ssPag eName%3DSTRK%3AMEWA%3AIT%26ih%3D004)

American made too.

edit: man, check out the Subway Guitars website. Anyone have an info on these guys? Looks like some good stuff a very good pricing. http://www.fatdawg.com/

[musicofanatic5]

Speaking of ES5 style, here's another one that looks like a pretty nice buy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140187688922&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2678043&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll %3FViewItem%26rd%3D1%26item%3D140187688922%26ssPag eName%3DSTRK%3AMEWA%3AIT%26ih%3D004)

American made too.

edit: man, check out the Subway Guitars website. Anyone have an info on these guys? Looks like some good stuff a very good pricing. http://www.fatdawg.com/

American made? I don't think so. Define "made" (what is "is"?).

[Poppa Stoppa]

Not bad at all. What did the neck feel like?I didn't have more than a 5 minute play on it but the neck felt great. Good size, not big or too thin and nice wide/high frets. Wooden bridge, carved hardwood tailpiece, strings shorter between tuner and tail than ZBD (makes for easier bending). The half depth body was nice too. Cheaper new than my s/h ZBD and felt like a guitar with more pedigree.

[TwoFeets]

I had a Fatdog Gene V which was like an L5 with a Bigsby.

Korean made and finished, decent pickups and hardware installed here in the States. A step up from Epiphone and other imports IMO but not obviously on par with the more expensive stuff. I had mine for a long time and only got rid of it when I bought my ES350.

zappafrank had one of these Fatdog ES5's; he wasn't particularly impressed from what I recall.

[Scott Miller]

Fatdog's store is interesting, in a trainwreck sort of way. He has some great old oval-hole archtops and whatnot, and scads of trash electric guitars. You won't find any H-44s in there by mistake; he knows too much for that.

[hasserl]

American made? I don't think so. Define "made" (what is "is"?).

Sorry, I was a sucker for the "made in California" statement on that eBay ad. If they are Korean made, I stand corrected.

[groove_king]

Sorry, I was a sucker for the "made in California" statement on that eBay ad. If they are Korean made, I stand corrected.

Easy mistake to make. Fatdog imports the bodies from the Samick factory and assembles the guitars in his store, so you're able to get more customisation than you would if you just bought, say, an off-the-rack Epiphone, but I've heard the parts and workmanship are on par with the price (read: cheap).

[TwoFeets]

Easy mistake to make. Fatdog imports the bodies from the Samick factory and assembles the guitars in his store, so you're able to get more customisation than you would if you just bought, say, an off-the-rack Epiphone, but I've heard the parts and workmanship are on par with the price (read: cheap).

The parts on the Fatdog were actually pretty good. A nice set of Gotoh locking tuners, a Schaller roller bridge, decent knockoff Bigsby. He did the wiring harness up per my request. The body depth on the Fatdog was a full 3.5" versus 3.25" on the Epi jazz boxes and it was a lot more lively and acoustically resonant than the Epi's I've tried. The finish also seemed to be applied thinner than the Epis I've played. The pickups were serviceable and I gigged them for a couple of years but ended up eventually going with Duncan Antiquities.

The workmanship left a bit to be desired; it took a while for my tech to dial the thing in. The wiring was also noisy; not shielded and it acted like an antenna for a while until we got that squared away. When the guitar was delivered to me, something was rattling around inside the body... I tip the thing upside down and out pops all the bits of wood that had been drilled out to mount the pots! LOL

For what it was though I can't complain; a decent, serviceable, giggable 2 x P90 box that I got several years of good tone and decent playability out of.

[fretshop]

I agree. EC isn't someone I listen to a lot these days. I much prefer Kirk and Junior and Alex, Ronnie Earl, Robert Cray, etc.

But I think he deserves full credit as an excellent blues musician because he IS an excellent blues musician.


I feel the same way. I saw Clapton during one of Cream's first U.S. Performances at The Village Theater (later re-named Fillmore East) when they went on at midnight and played till almost 5:00AM...Baker just kept going, non-stop, Clapton with him 'till his exhausted end, unflinching...fresh ideas, new licks flowing endlessly. The playng was mind boggling...and I had an ear ache for at least three-four days after from the sheer volume. EC used the LP/SG painted with a psycheldelic mural (by "The Fool" of Amsterdam), playing out of four Plexis. Two years later, I got a chance to see him with Blind Faith in a more natural context...using a deep bodied ES335 (at the time, called an "ES-350 double cut"), a Blonde Dual Showman Amp right behind him. Free, featuring Paul Kossoff started the evening off, followed by The Byrds, with Clarence White, previewing their "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" Album. Blind Faith put the icing on the cake, then Clapton, Kosoff and Winwood later joined in with The Byrds for the "jam finale"....which was excellent. Clapton evolved on an amost daily basis, getting better and better, ideas flowing in every direction...and his followers came to expect nothing less...Enter Heroin. I heard him do some spectacular work with Aretha Franklin...If you didn't know it was EC, you'd have sworn it was Buddy Guy and Jimmy Nolen wrapped up in one performer.

I am approaching my 40th year in this business, and have been blessed with the opportunity to have met, played alongside, and created instruments for several music industry legends. Friendships developed...and with that...intimate conversations evolved, fostering revelations regarding the struggle between genius and convention.

If I may digress here for a moment ... from what I have observed, AND have been made privy to over four decades, most performers of Clapton's stature are almost always confronted with the task of "being all things to all men"....dancing to the whip of a fickle public, bowing whistfully to the whim of their record labels, and...in most cases, juggling the need to remain viable while attempting to retain their vision as artists.

Clapton's approach, his tone and phrasing, in my very humble opinion have become somewhat "processed"... homogenized, almost sterile since the advient of the "Cyborg" Blackie TBX/pre-amped .bells and whistles Strat. For that reason, I have mostly stopped following his career after the release of "E.C. Was Here", a stellar live album produced in mid winter of '75. Clapton, fresh out of rehab and seclusion wailed like the old days, this time around hefting a Gibson explorer, and blowing out of a pair of Music Man HD-130's.

Find it. Buy it. Turn up your stereo....You won't be disappointed

[Poppa Stoppa]

Nicely put, George. I think you captured the essence of his talent and impact way back.

[fretshop]

Nicely put, George. I think you captured the essence of his talent and impact way back.

I just edited it a bit....

Poppa, For over forty years I have been a messenger, attempting to add color and texture to the tonal palate of brilliant, creative human beings by tending to the tools of their trade. The journey has been nothing less than formidable. At times, I have likened what I do to "hearing Hieroglyphics" while trying to comprehend the artistic needs of a very gifted segment of humanity. Although I never came into contact with Mr. Clapton, I can very well understand his personal and artistic evolution....no one forces us to condone another's creative path whether it is chosen, or obligatory. We can, however, choose to accept gratefully their contribution at large to the genre.

[valcotone]

Poppa - Was that 350-inspired axe on Denmark St? I miss that place... crazy prices and so on, but it's cool to see so many shops within 1-2 blocks in downtown London.

George... very deep stuff there... thanks for sharing your thoughts on EC.

[Dave Orban]

Great Clapton post, George. You nailed it.

[Scott Miller]

I remember grabbing the album cover to one of Aretha's LPs, because I had to know who was playing that guitar. "Guitar obligotto by Eric Clapton," I think it said. At the time, I thought "Duh. Who else?" Now, after all that pop drivel he's done... well, you forget what he can do. I liked his acoustic leads on "Bare Wires" too.

My only live experience with Clapton was at Winterland, great stuff, but I took a nap on the floor during "Spoonful." I was a tired kid, and they played a really long time.

[frank62]

Clapton is next in line after BB and Buddy. Never underestimate what that man is capable of doing. He has lived and played the blues longer than most on this board have been alive.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Poppa - Was that 350-inspired axe on Denmark St? I miss that place... crazy prices and so on, but it's cool to see so many shops within 1-2 blocks in downtown London.'Valcotone' - that's great, Sean!

Actually it was at Chandler's in Kew. But I know what you mean about Denmark Street - it is a cool place apart from those prices! For example, the going rate for an ES-125 seems to be £1695. What's that, over $3,000?

Back to the blues...

[dukeh62]

Hey Guys,

I picked up the new Sven Zetterberg record "Hollerin' Up a Storm" CD last week. This is the one that he only sings and blows harp on. All guitar duties are handled by ex-Knockout Greg guitarist Anders Lewen. I highly recommend this one. The production is absolutely killer, the songs are great, and the whole band sounds terrific. Sven is a monster harp player, and Anders' playing is stellar as usual. Super tones all around.

Also on the Knockout Greg front, heard some good news on Jeff Scott's show yesterday that Mike Sanchez will be releasing another record backed by Knockout Greg and Blue Weather in late 2008. I guess he recorded this one before KOGABW broke up and has had it ready to go for a while. So there's more to be heard from this great band!

Over and out.

[valcotone]

Hey Guys,

I picked up the new Sven Zetterberg record "Hollerin' Up a Storm" CD last week. This is the one that he only sings and blows harp on. All guitar duties are handled by ex-Knockout Greg guitarist Anders Lewen. I highly recommend this one. The production is absolutely killer, the songs are great, and the whole band sounds terrific. Sven is a monster harp player, and Anders' playing is stellar as usual. Super tones all around.

Also on the Knockout Greg front, heard some good news on Jeff Scott's show yesterday that Mike Sanchez will be releasing another record backed by Knockout Greg and Blue Weather in late 2008. I guess he recorded this one before KOGABW broke up and has had it ready to go for a while. So there's more to be heard from this great band!

Over and out.


Excellent news (in both cases), thanks Eric!

Where did you find Hollerin'? I checked Bluebeat as per usual but he doesn't have it yet.

[dukeh62]

Excellent news (in both cases), thanks Eric!

Where did you find Sven's Hollerin' CD? I checked Bluebeat as per usual but he doesn't have it yet.

pacificblues.com had it in their imports section. I grabbed the last one a few weeks ago, but Jerry said more are on the way.

[mr tom]

Strongly recommend Hollerin' Up a Storm - it's great, as is all of Sven Zetterberg's stuff. Great songs, production, and playing. I couldn't wait for Pacific Blues - I think I got mine direct from Sweden. email Tommy at records@smokestackblues.com - he'll do PayPal and ship internationally, no hassles.

[blueskalle]

Ive been listening to that Sven Z-cd for more than two months now and it just keeps getting better!!!

[mikelaw]

u know what bothers me? my buddy has an early 60s es-330, black dog ear p90s, sunburst, not as big a neck as i like but decent...he never plays it. i somewhat understand but if it was me id be playing it because it sounds amazing!!!!!! call me dumb but instruments are meant to be played.

[HappyValley]

u know what bothers me? my buddy has an early 60s es-330, black dog ear p90s, sunburst, not as big a neck as i like but decent...he never plays it. i somewhat understand but if it was me id be playing it because it sounds amazing!!!!!! call me dumb but instruments are meant to be played.

Yazzir. That's why I've been an Ebay warehouse lately.....

[valcotone]

Yup.... me too. I'm starting to mentally prepare myself for a sell-off early next year. No need to rush things too much haha, but I'd like to lighten the load a little and let go of a few guitars and amps I don't use very often.

[TwoFeets]

Shoot, I ain't got nothin' left to sell!

On another note, I've seen lots of wacky abominations in my time, but this one's up there with the weirdest!

http://tampa.craigslist.org/msg/512911886.html

[westchesterdave]

Enlighten me please. I recently got a Silvertone Twin Twelve in on a trade. My knowledge of Danelectro/Silvertone is not all that extensive. The amp is in pretty good shape. Reverb and Trem are working. There is some noise from some of the controls. It sounds great plugged in and cranked up a little bit. Two pristine Jensen 12s. It's a combo amp model number 1474.

I noticed a few pages back some discussion of Twin Twelve model 1484. From reading the discussion it is my understanding that 1484 is a head and cab. Am I correct? Are there any other differences? How desirable a model is the 1474? Before I go diving into internet research I figured I'd ask the experts.

Thanks
West Chester Dave

[mikelaw]

ill buy it dave! i am THE silvertone guy! dont worry about the noise, ill take her! hahaaaa

[mikelaw]

ps- dave, the 1474 is actually twice the amp of the 1484. probably LOUD as heck too! looking at the schematics of the 2, the tone circuits look similar but the 1474 adds a rectifier tube as well as TWO 6l6's! 1474 should have FOUR 6l6's as opposed to the 1484's two.

[dial-tone]

Hey Guys,
Paul Fasulo has posted more Bottom Feeder Blues Drummer Videos. Some of the funniest stuff I have seen!!!

www.youtube.com/paulfasulo (http://www.youtube.com/paulfasulo)

[westchesterdave]

ill buy it dave! i am THE silvertone guy! dont worry about the noise, ill take her! hahaaaa

Mike, Thanks for the info. Send me a PM if you're interested in the amp. Let me know if you'd like any pictures or additional information.

Always like to see the cool gear go to those who appreciate it!

[Goldie295]

Thanks for the response to my Clapton post. He sure has had an influence on us all. I have read the autobiography and it is a good read. Perhaps a good stocking filler this xmas?

Cheers,
Phil

[TwoFeets]

Check this thing out. Imagine Tiny Grimes ripping on one of these.

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1788968

[bbarnard]

Check this thing out. Imagine Tiny Grimes ripping on one of these.

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1788968

Man I'd be afraid if I bent a note I'd snap that pencil thin neck!

[RickyKing]

ps- dave, the 1474 is actually twice the amp of the 1484. probably LOUD as heck too! looking at the schematics of the 2, the tone circuits look similar but the 1474 adds a rectifier tube as well as TWO 6l6's! 1474 should have FOUR 6l6's as opposed to the 1484's two.

My twin twelve ain't that loud...

[TwoFeets]

Anybody seen this clip with Ryan burning it up on Eric's goldtop?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=008yZGgIiKI

Dammit, even harp players are better guitarists than me!

[mikelaw]

My twin twelve ain't that loud...

does yours have 4-6l6's ricky?

[musicofanatic5]

Check this thing out. Imagine Tiny Grimes ripping on one of these.

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1788968
I have often wondered why Tiny chose the four-string? The legit tuning for a tenor is fifths (C G D A, low to high), but he tuned to the top four strings of the sixstring gtr. I wonder if it was just fierce individuality ("nobody else is doing this!"), or what? I play a couple tenors, but coming from a mandolin background (also tuned in fifths), I employ CGDA. Perhaps I should pick this one up and have a matched set; six and four strings (yeah, right!). It just doesn't look "right" with the bridge up so high. Leave it to Bernunzio to come up with this; They've always got the most obscure shit!

[musicofanatic5]

Anybody seen this clip with Ryan burning it up on Eric's goldtop?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=008yZGgIiKI

Dammit, even harp players are better guitarists than me!

Hmmm, if that's how it's gonna be, I'm gonna go to one of their shows and sit in on harp!

[Goldie295]

Cool Jr Watson vid HERE (http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19494141)

Cheers,
Phil

[RickyKing]

does yours have 4-6l6's ricky?

No,2 6l6,the 4 6l6 goes with the 6x10 cabinet!!:eek: Now thats the loud one....

[rhartt1234]

Dammit, even harp players are better guitarists than me!

In all modesty, I taught Eric everything he knows and a couple of things I didn't know.

[GOLDENSTRAT]

I have a Guitar Player magazine at home with an interview with Tiny Grimes. He says in it that he played a tenor guitar tuned regular guitar tuning d-g-b-e because he had small hands. fred

[rhartt1234]

Cool Jr Watson vid HERE (http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19494141)

Wow. Nemeth was no slouch on harp but I think all this road time has done him A LOT of good. I notice a significant difference between "Come and Get It" and that video

[bbarnard]

May have been brought up before but has everyone seen the JW Jones/Baty/Watson clip on youtube? They're trading off in the studio.

[Scott Miller]

Cool Jr Watson vid HERE (http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19494141)

Looks like Chris is playing an old Framus or something like that. Don't snap the neck, Kid!

[THINSOCKS]

Cool Jr Watson vid HERE (http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19494141)

Looks like Chris is playing an old Framus or something like that. Don't snap the neck, Kid!

it's a Kay... and usually the necks are close to 2" thick.

[Poppa Stoppa]

it's a Kay... and usually the necks are close to 2" thick....as played by Larry Taylor (with Kim Wilson) and Erkan Ozdemir (with Memo Gonzalez's band) amongst others...

[Scott Miller]

OK. It reminded me of the banjo-neck Framus that they guy in The Insomniacs plays.

[Autopilot Slim]

Love that Nemeth/Watson vid.....thanks Scott

I've got a couple of questions for youz guyz...

1) Just picked up a Gibson '56 goldtop RI and the pups are OK but nothing to write home about. I've been thinking of replacing them with the Lollar P90's. I know that Igor mentioned that he has the 50's wind in his, and they sound great. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

2) Also just picked up a Bassman RI. Any suggestions for tubes or settings? I'm a Bassman virgin.

Thanks.
Dan


Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.
John Lennon

[valcotone]

Dan -

I have the standard Lollar P90s in 2 guitars... in my Edwards P90 GT and in an old Silvertone set-neck archtop. I think they have a slightly extended frequency range than most P90s, but I really like them. The only thing I would change is to ask him to wind the bridge hotter (or neck weaker) because in both sets it needs to be too close to the strings relative to the neck pickup (more so than with other sets).

Alternately, I just got a Wolfetone bridge P90 that I put into a semi-hollow tele project that is just killer. Rich and thick tones... really nice!

[Autopilot Slim]

Valcotone....Thanks for the info.
There is a set of Lollars for sale here in T.O. that are most likely a standard set. I think I might order them straight from Jason and specify the output.

[dukeh62]

Dan -

I have the standard Lollar P90s in 2 guitars... in my Edwards P90 GT and in an old Silvertone set-neck archtop. I think they have a slightly extended frequency range than most P90s, but I really like them. The only thing I would change is to ask him to wind the bridge hotter (or neck weaker) because in both sets it needs to be too close to the strings relative to the neck pickup (more so than with other sets).

+1. I love my standard Lollars, but will also be ordering my next set with a slightly hotter bridge.

Also, if that's a newer R6, I'd recommend replacing the entire wiring harness with new pots and caps. You'll get a LOT more functionality if you do. RS Guitarworks seems to be the standard for replacements. They have full kits ready to go.

[jetlag]

Another pickup option, and lower in cost, is to have this guy (David Plummer) wind you some: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=319176

Right now he's doing P90 soaps for $50. Or you could get your gibsons rewound by either him or Don Mare. I have a pair of David's rewinds and the back pickup is amazing. The front one we've dialed in and I like it alot to. If you go that route PM me, I'll give you details on my winds (that also went into a R6). I have old P90s, lollar, fralin and voodoos to compare against and, for a R6, I like these the best. I imagine Wolfetones would be very similar. I agree with Duke on the new harness too. Maybe check out the Dr Vintage harness instead of the RS one Valcotone turned me onto that guy). While you're at it, make the bridge pup tone knob a push pull for out of phase stuff.

Setting up a Reissue bassman - I would put a bias pot in it if it didn't have one already. Then a NOS 5R4G rectifier tube and some NOS philips 6L6WGB output tubes. For preamps, if staying with new stuff, I'd start with Tung Sol 12AX7 reissues. If you can pop for NOS stuff or pulls, you can't get any better than old RCA 12AX7As/7025s - either greyplate or blackplate. Very nice sounding. Rebias the amp for the recto and power tube swap. After doing all of that, it should sound great and knock a little volume off the rig. If you don't want to pop for the Philips output tubes, I would go with the TAD short bottle 6L6WGCs. The alternate rectifier I listed will knock off some voltage off the amp and brown it out a bit, making it sound more like an old one.

[Strat-O]

Have you guys seen the "Luxe" caps that RS is selling in that kit? Do you (Eric/Karl) have any experience with them? Or the RS "Superpots"?

[jetlag]

Strato - I've seen those caps. They look real cool. Luxe is on ebay and has been for some time. He puts that faux-vintage covering over modern caps - the ones that RS sells are his deluxe model that are Russian foil in oils. So they should be really nice. It's what Dr Vintage includes in his pot/cap upgrade kits as well. I have yet to try the Russian FIOs, but use NOS American ones all the time in both amps and guitars. I love them. I haven't put any RS "superpots" in a guitar yet, but think that Sean has. Their taper is supposed to be really nice, but they are a little stiff to turn. I think you can flush them with stuff that rinses the grease out of them, and that makes them easier to turn. You would then want to spray a lubricant in there to replace the grease's function. Only use them on the volume controls, their taper is optimized for that, not for tone controls. Use standard CTS audio tapers for tone controls.

[Poppa Stoppa]

...Just picked up a Gibson '56 goldtop RI... Dan, you lucky dog.

[dukeh62]

Have you guys seen the "Luxe" caps that RS is selling in that kit? Do you (Eric/Karl) have any experience with them? Or the RS "Superpots"?

I've only used the RS Superpot on the volume of a strat I built recently. Jetlag nailed it...great taper, yet a little stiff to turn. Honestly, I've never had a problem with the stiffness while performing...only notice it when I'm sitting there "analyzing" it. I think it has loosened up some too.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Have you guys seen the "Luxe" caps that RS is selling in that kit? Do you (Eric/Karl) have any experience with them? Or the RS "Superpots"?Strat-O or any of you guys while we're on caps can you recommend a cap to use with hershey bar pickups????

[RickyKing]

Ok here we go,
I have an early reissue Bassman,I have a bias pot,
Tung Sol 5881 @ 36ma, rca black plate ax7 V1,
rca grey plate ax7 V2, GE ax7 V3, GE GZ34 recto.
early blue p-10 alnico reissue spkr.
Sounds Great.
I have a set of RS pots and Hovland caps in my
Chin. Epi dot 335 w/Seymour Seth Lover waxed.
Very Hi Fi and accurate,takes a bit of getting used to.
Love to hear some with P-90.
I have a set of Lollar p-90 in a Harmony Master Arch.
I also have his vintage set in my Tele, He does great stuff.
IMHO, of course...
BTW the amp sounds amazin when run @ 112 acv...

[mikelaw]

i think acme guitarworks has a better selection of the 'luxe caps and resistors then RS. fyi

[mikelaw]

any idea what a 50k pot for my strat vol pot will do? im thinking of trying it for added warmth. i noticed the clapton strat used it....

[Strat-O]

Thanks, I hadn't checked there yet.

I got burned on the hi-fi replacement P90's so now I'm all paranoid about it. I'm sure Lollars 50's set is probably killer. I use Don Mare P90 rewinds and love 'em. The bridge is killer! Reminds me alot of a 50's Tele/Broadcaster pickup. I just got the rewinds yesterday for my 54 LP and am trying to get them in now. They run about $65 per pickup for a rewind.

[monstermike]

any idea what a 50k pot for my strat vol pot will do? im thinking of trying it for added warmth. i noticed the clapton strat used it....

That's an active guitar - the rules are completely different.

[Schwalbe]

any idea what a 50k pot for my strat vol pot will do? im thinking of trying it for added warmth. i noticed the clapton strat used it....
I'd expect a very dull thunk.
If you want to experiment, put a 100K resistor across the outside lugs of your volume pot. That'll give you ~ 70 K (1/[1/100 + 1/250]). See what it sounds like for the cost of one cheap resistor.
You'd probably have better results using a small cap to ground. I've done that on my Tele bridge pick up. Maybe 100 pf to 250 pf, some where in there will take the sizzle of the top.

[valcotone]

hey guys -

If anyone wants to try a nice set of two 1950s .02uF/400VDC Grey Tiger wax-dipped paper tone capacitors email me and I'll send them to you. These are NOS and are the same GT4S2 model caps Gibson used in their '49-55 guitars. I scored a bunch a while ago and thought I'd pass some along for free to you guys as a thank you for all the great discussion. They sell for anywhere between $50-100 each on ebay. Just PM me and I'll set you up. I've got 10 I'll give away so be quick.

Happy holidays!

cheers,
Sean

[KBR]

i sell lollar pickups & van zandts, if you like a discount

[TwoFeets]

hey guys -

If anyone wants to try a nice set of two 1950s .02uF/400VDC Grey Tiger wax-dipped paper tone capacitors email me and I'll send them to you. These are NOS and are the same GT4S2 model caps Gibson used in their '49-55 guitars. I scored a bunch a while ago and thought I'd pass some along for free to you guys as a thank you for all the great discussion. They sell for anywhere between $50-100 each on ebay. Just PM me and I'll set you up. I've got 10 I'll give away so be quick.

Happy holidays!

cheers,
Sean

Wow. PM Sent, my ES350 could use some help!

[straightblues]

Just picked up a Gibson '56 goldtop RI and the pups are OK but nothing to write home about. I've been thinking of replacing them with the Lollar P90's. I know that Igor mentioned that he has the 50's wind in his, and they sound great. Does anyone else have any suggestions?


I have a 56 RI and I have some Duncan pickups in it that Don Mare rewound for me. They are amazing. Don winds great P90's. My second choice would be Lollars (I have them in two other guitars).

Once thing that you need to be aware of if you use pickups other than Gibsons you will likely have to remove a little bit of wood from the pickup cavities. The base plates are a little different. I would highly recommend getting the stock pickups rewound by Don Mare so you won't have to take any wood out. (the wood I had to remove was just a little but I did have to grind off the corners of the pickups base plates to make them fit.)

PM sent to Valcotone on those caps as well. That is very nice of you. Merry Christmas.

[dukeh62]

Once thing that you need to be aware of if you use pickups other than Gibsons you will likely have to remove a little bit of wood from the pickup cavities. The base plates are a little different. I would highly recommend getting the stock pickups rewound by Don Mare so you won't have to take any wood out. (the wood I had to remove was just a little but I did have to grind off the corners of the pickups base plates to make them fit.)

I've heard others mention this, but I didn't have any problems once I swapped the Lollar covers for the original Gibson covers. My problem was with the covers. I've also heard other folks say they just swapped the covers too.

BUT...my R6 is from the mid '90s, I know the current specs are a little different. So there could be a potential problem. Straightblues, what year is your R6?

[Guitarzan]

hey guys -

If anyone wants to try a nice set of two 1950s .02uF/400VDC Grey Tiger wax-dipped paper tone capacitors email me and I'll send them to you. These are NOS and are the same GT4S2 model caps Gibson used in their '49-55 guitars. I scored a bunch a while ago and thought I'd pass some along for free to you guys as a thank you for all the great discussion. They sell for anywhere between $50-100 each on ebay. Just PM me and I'll set you up. I've got 10 I'll give away so be quick.

Happy holidays!

cheers,
Sean

Wow. I bet those would sound killer in my P-90 175. Can I get in on that

Josh

[straightblues]

I've heard others mention this, but I didn't have any problems once I swapped the Lollar covers for the original Gibson covers. My problem was with the covers. I've also heard other folks say they just swapped the covers too.

BUT...my R6 is from the mid '90s, I know the current specs are a little different. So there could be a potential problem. Straightblues, what year is your R6?

My R6 is a 2000. The corners of the Duncan base plates wouldn't fit on either pickup. I had to grind the corners off then they fit. The Duncan covers weren't a problem. On the neck pikcup, I had to deepen the cavity just a little bit. My dad has a mill and it took about 15 minutes so it wasn't a big deal. But I am sure someone would charge you $50 plus dollars to do it.

[Autopilot Slim]

Thanks for your feedback guys, it is very much appreciated.
I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Birdseye]

I have a 1995 R4. I've tried both the standard Lollars, and the 50's winds, in that guitar. I love the 50's winds. They give more of the single coil tone, nice highs, almost Fendery. None of the mud or low-mid thunk that bugged me with the stock units, and was still there to a lesser degree in the standard Lollars. Lollar standards were a step in the right direction, but never quite there, still too thick and not enough chime. You can always dial out highs with the tone controls, but if they aren't there...

I was after the very versatile tones that I've heard Sean Costello get out of his old goldtop. The 50's winds nail it, and no wonder. They were a copy of Sean's pickups that Jason had in for a repair; he spec'd them and made copies. Sean says they sound like his old ones. They don't slam the amp like a typical P90. Underwound, and demagnetized. I'm happy enough with them to say I'm set for that guitar.

I've gone through a ton of different strat pickups though, and Don Mare ended my search for the strat, I love his strat pickups and would be curious to hear his P90's.

[KBR]

Don is a Master at Tones & Jason Lollar, ain't bad, either.
I use these 2 Pickup Makers, exclusively.
I have an Old WL van Zandt 5.6 K true Vintage Strat pup that nails old T Birds tones, too.

[bluesjuke]

An R6 is my next victim and I'll sure be sending the pickups out to Don.

[groove_king]

I have a 1995 R4. I've tried both the standard Lollars, and the 50's winds, in that guitar. I love the 50's winds. They give more of the single coil tone, nice highs, almost Fendery. None of the mud or low-mid thunk that bugged me with the stock units, and was still there to a lesser degree in the standard Lollars. Lollar standards were a step in the right direction, but never quite there, still too thick and not enough chime. You can always dial out highs with the tone controls, but if they aren't there...

I was after the very versatile tones that I've heard Sean Costello get out of his old goldtop. The 50's winds nail it, and no wonder. They were a copy of Sean's pickups that Jason had in for a repair; he spec'd them and made copies. Sean says they sound like his old ones. They don't slam the amp like a typical P90. Underwound, and demagnetized. I'm happy enough with them to say I'm set for that guitar.

I've gone through a ton of different strat pickups though, and Don Mare ended my search for the strat, I love his strat pickups and would be curious to hear his P90's.

I've got a set of the Lollar 50s winds in my Edwards Gold Top. Gots to agree with everthing Birdseye said. When I was emailing Jason Lollar, I happened to mention that my go-to guys for the Gold Top sounds are Hubert Sumlin and Freddy King - Jason said "You want the 50s winds". I've never been one to try and nail a guy's sound to the nth degree, but I've got pretty close to Freddy's Hideaway sound with the Lollar 50s winds. YMMV.

[Dave Orban]

Anybody know anything about these amps that Victoria builds for Gretsch?

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/images05/G6163_md.jpg

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/amps.html

[groove_king]

Anybody know anything about these amps that Victoria builds for Gretsch?

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/images05/G6163_md.jpg

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/amps.html

Dunno nuthin' about 'em 'cept they look funkin' cool! :dude

[bluesjuke]

I didn't know they did amps for others.

[saggybottom]

Valco inspired designs. Mark Bair sandbagged one of his favorite prototypes of the Gretsch designs for his Regal I.

[RickyKing]

Dunno nuthin' about 'em 'cept they look funkin' cool! :dude
$$$$$$$$$$$

[Schwalbe]

Anybody know anything about these amps that Victoria builds for Gretsch?

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/images05/G6163_md.jpg

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/amps.html

Sorta looks like an AB763 circuit. The trem is the 'roach' type. The slope resistor looks to be a 56K, which would make it a little beefier than a Blackface. The first stage cathode resistor looks like a 2.2K from what I can see. That should set up the pre-amp to run a little cleaner being cooler biased. The power stage is fixed bias and uses a full sized adjustment pot, it's that round silver thing to the left of the board under that nest of wire. I wouldn't be surprised if it sounded similar to a Deluxeb Reverb.
All just guesses though. It looks well made, Sprague caps and carbon composition resistors on an eyelet board, just like Leo used to do.

[mikelaw]

I have a 1995 R4. I've tried both the standard Lollars, and the 50's winds, in that guitar. I love the 50's winds. They give more of the single coil tone, nice highs, almost Fendery. None of the mud or low-mid thunk that bugged me with the stock units, and was still there to a lesser degree in the standard Lollars. Lollar standards were a step in the right direction, but never quite there, still too thick and not enough chime. You can always dial out highs with the tone controls, but if they aren't there...

I was after the very versatile tones that I've heard Sean Costello get out of his old goldtop. The 50's winds nail it, and no wonder. They were a copy of Sean's pickups that Jason had in for a repair; he spec'd them and made copies. Sean says they sound like his old ones. They don't slam the amp like a typical P90. Underwound, and demagnetized. I'm happy enough with them to say I'm set for that guitar.

I've gone through a ton of different strat pickups though, and Don Mare ended my search for the strat, I love his strat pickups and would be curious to hear his P90's.

i heard on costello's new record he uses bakos lp deluxe goldie with mini hb's in it for some of it! KILLER tones with mini hb's...otis rush, magic sam...etc... a riviera would be great to have. the more i play and learn about guitar and sounds...etc...the more i like humbuckers. its against the grain with lots of 'traditional' blues guys but i just LOVE them. played an 80s SG with hb's one night sounded amazing...335's are great. LP standards Ive played. something about them with my old silvertone amps just...........MAKE SENSE.

[jawjatek]

I loaned my "345 to Sean for "Cuttin In" and he used it on a couple tunes (he gave me a "thanks to" on the CD notes, nice).

Funny, I can't seem to get those same tones out of it he did. DOH! :rotflmao

[valcotone]

hey guys -

If anyone wants to try a nice set of two 1950s .02uF/400VDC Grey Tiger wax-dipped paper tone capacitors email me and I'll send them to you. These are NOS and are the same GT4S2 model caps Gibson used in their '49-55 guitars. I scored a bunch a while ago and thought I'd pass some along for free to you guys as a thank you for all the great discussion. They sell for anywhere between $50-100 each on ebay. Just PM me and I'll set you up. I've got 10 I'll give away so be quick.

Happy holidays!

cheers,
Sean


That was quick.... they are all spoken for and I've just responded to everyone's PMs. I'll send them out after the holidays.... hope you all dig the caps!!

cheers,
Sean (formerly skilback)

[TwoFeets]

I loaned my "345 to Sean for "Cuttin In" and he used it on a couple tunes (he gave me a "thanks to" on the CD notes, nice).

Funny, I can't seem to get those same tones out of it he did. DOH! :rotflmao


He played my Tokai goldtop the last time he was in Orlando and he also found a bunch of notes I didn't know it had in there.

[valcotone]

You can hear one of Sean's new songs at his Delta Groove profile page here:

http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/music/artists/sean_costello/main.html

Nice singing and raw guitar tone. Reminds me a little of the North Mississippi Allstars....

[TwoFeets]

Some cool H44 stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjOGNYHU9A

[Ryguy]

Mike,

Riviera's are amazing sounded guitars. Probably my favorite tone overall, very "woody." Several of the songs on myspace page were recorded with one through a Tweed Deluxe. (Check out one called "I'll be There", a shuffle.)

Alex Shultz plays one alot, there is a youtube vid of he and Tad Robinson at an outdoor show, through a '59 bassman that sounds near perfect to me. Through a tweed instead of a blackface, they are much beefier than the West Side Chicago sound.

I had an Epiphone Elitist; only sold it cause I just couldn't get around thin pencil thin neck at the nut. I don't need a bat, and it had a great feel further up, but the narrow 9/16ths' nut combined with the thin profile there, just drove me nuts in the long run. Maybe the Sheraton's have bigger necks.

[Dave Orban]

...I had an Epiphone Elitist; only sold it cause I just couldn't get around thin pencil thin neck at the nut. I don't need a bat, and it had a great feel further up, but the narrow 9/16ths' nut combined with the thin profile there, just drove me nuts in the long run. Maybe the Sheraton's have bigger necks.I hear that!

Several years back, I picked up a '66 ES-335 for $800!!! It sounded just FABULOUS, but the nut was something like 1-7/16, and I couldn't play anything below the 5th fret. I made out VERY well when I sold it (to a Japanese dealer), but it pained me to sell it, because it sounded THAT good!

[musicofanatic5]

I've been playing a ko-ree-un Riviera for a few months now that's become a favorite. I almost bought an Elitist Riv, but didn't care for the neck. While the neck on the cheapo is not huge, it's full and nicely rounded in profile, with a wide enough nut, much like my '64 SG. I had an elitist Casino for a minute; back of the neck was just flat. The Riv is my first hb gtr, and I'm digging the Otis and Sam sounds available. I play a coupla rooms with notoriously bad electricity and there is a welcome reduction of the constant 60 cycle HUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM.
Additionally, the center block is mahogany, not maple like a 335. I always though 335's sounded like a Les Paul; this (with a lower density center block) has a little more "hollowness" to it, sonically. Plus, it's a purty red with nicely figured wood. In my not-so-f*cking-humble-opinion: a helluva $500 gtr!

[Ryguy]

That good to hear about the neck on the Korean Riviera; I played a Korean Casino for a few years that was actually a nice guitar. I thought the elitist was a much nicer instrument, but again the neck killed me. So I might try to find a korean made one to replace it. I know there was a very limited run of US made Riviera's in the 90's that had bigger neck (and price tags). If any one here ever comes across one, PLEASE let me know.

BTW, this has been a good couple of months for gear. I got this Guild, http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p173/rygalli/9506_12.jpg
(I think I put a picture of this up before) that is sort of like an LP special, but almost completely hollow, which just smokes. It can sound almost identical to the old 330 I had, or a Gold Top, or almost even do a big fat tele. Just a killer guitar.

I also picked up a '59 Vibrolux with a new speaker and re-twee for cheap that sounds great with all my guitars, and just twos day ago got a '63 Tremolux here on the board pretty cheap. I can't wait to get that, and am hoping it fills the bill for the bigger places we play. I have actually gotten away from hoarding, and only like to own what I use, but have now got all the bases covered. Feels good!



But I still need a nice Riviera!!

[btg]

What model guild is that. I used to have an Aristocrat but it fed back way to easy.

[Ryguy]

Its called an M90. It was a custom shop model from the 90's, when the custom shop was run by Benedetto?. They made a couple of cool re-issue style models like this one (that also came with DeArmonds). No feedback at all, but it doesn't have the arched spruce top that the Aristocrats had. I actually play this a pretty high volumes with a rock band I play with and have no problems.

[HappyValley]

I hear that!

Several years back, I picked up a '66 ES-335 for $800!!! It sounded just FABULOUS, but the nut was something like 1-7/16, and I couldn't play anything below the 5th fret. I made out VERY well when I sold it (to a Japanese dealer), but it pained me to sell it, because it sounded THAT good!
Man, I hear ya....Many moons ago I had a '68 335 w/ orig. T-top HB's in it....great guitar. I had to sell it towards my es-350 which I traded towards my ES-5, so I'm not TOO bummed out, but definitely sentimental (sniff):(.

[groove_king]

Mike,

Riviera's are amazing sounded guitars. Probably my favorite tone overall, very "woody." Several of the songs on myspace page were recorded with one through a Tweed Deluxe. (Check out one called "I'll be There", a shuffle.)

Alex Shultz plays one alot, there is a youtube vid of he and Tad Robinson at an outdoor show, through a '59 bassman that sounds near perfect to me. Through a tweed instead of a blackface, they are much beefier than the West Side Chicago sound.

I'm sure they've been posted here before, but they are such awesome clips they deserve another go 'round:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ965pS1O7s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDPXSPPjuc8&feature=related

[Ryguy]

Ok, since we're at it, I hear both a yuz...I sold my Cherry Red '65 330 ten years ago to buy a one-way plane ticket down to Argentina. My all time favorite guitar. I only got 700 clams for it, and have been stuck here ever since!

[Ryguy]

Hey you can never get too much of Alex Schultz. Next to Jimmy, he is to me the most tasteful modern day blues guitarist. I remember seeing him and hanging out later with at show in Hollywood like ten years age; he was playing a blonde 350, and a '59 Bassman, and had the toooooone. I didn't know who he was until we started shooting it, and somehow I mentioned William Clarke's Blowing Like Hell, and he said "hey I recorded that!" and then went on to list a bunch of stuff of his I had copped when I was in college. He was such a mellow guy, and had great things to say about everybody. I told him I was playing a-go-go and lounge down in South America, and he said "yeah that's cool, I am thinking of leaving the states to try playing somewhere else." Now he's living pretty much full time in Europe and is quite the blues globetrotter. Anyhow...

[TwoFeets]

Man, I hear ya....Many moons ago I had a '68 335 w/ orig. T-top HB's in it....great guitar. I had to sell it towards my es-350 which I traded towards my ES-5, so I'm not TOO bummed out, but definitely sentimental (sniff):(.

I remember that guitar - that was the guitar you were playing the first time I ever heard you sit in at the Midway. I think you had a blackface Super Reverb too.

It sounded OK.

:D

[valcotone]

Ok, since we're at it, I hear both a yuz...I sold my Cherry Red '65 330 ten years ago to buy a one-way plane ticket down to Argentina. My all time favorite guitar. I only got 700 clams for it, and have been stuck here ever since!


:-) And I sold my 1960 ES-330 just a little while ago too. No regrets because it allowed me to get into an old Fender...

[THINSOCKS]

:-) And I sold my 1960 ES-330 just a little while ago too. No regrets because it allowed me to get into an old Fender...

Yeah, but you got a lot more then $700 for it. Ha-Ha.

[HappyValley]

I remember that guitar - that was the guitar you were playing the first time I ever heard you sit in at the Midway. I think you had a blackface Super Reverb too.

It sounded OK.

:D

You definitely have a FAR better recollection of that night than I ever will...
The BFSR/335 combo was/is a killer rig.

[THINSOCKS]

I just picked up my 3rd neck from USA Custom Guitars this week. Any of you guys looking for aftermarket necks or bodies should check them out. The wood, craftmanship and service is really a notch above the bigger guys like Warmoth or Allparts.

[Ryguy]

"Yeah, but you got a lot more then $700 for it. Ha-Ha."


I bet! Man nobody gave a shit about P-90's in the early nineties. Well...at least thats what the guy who bought my guitar said.

[dukeh62]

I just picked up my 3rd neck from USA Custom Guitars this week. Any of you guys looking for aftermarket necks or bodies should check them out. The wood, craftmanship and service is really a notch above the bigger guys like Warmoth or Allparts.

I'll second that Frank. I have one of their necks on my Nocaster, and a strat/body combo. All three are just top notch and sound amazing.

On a related note, I saw a BEAUTIFUL USACG hardtail alder strat body in the Emporium yesterday. I've got the same body and it's top-notch. I'm not affiliated with this auction, just thought I'd point it out.

[mikelaw]

costello here. probably the best version of the hucklebuck ive heard. not only is the playing great, what makes it the best version to me is the stamp he puts onto it. not just stock exact notes and playing as usual...killer. if i ever get this good which i wont, im quitting my day job.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pPmIPaWdChU

[groove_king]

costello here. probably the best version of the hucklebuck ive heard. not only is the playing great, what makes it the best version to me is the stamp he puts onto it. not just stock exact notes and playing as usual...killer. if i ever get this good which i wont, im quitting my day job.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pPmIPaWdChU

Woah! That was VERY cool!!!!

[bbarnard]

costello here. probably the best version of the hucklebuck ive heard. not only is the playing great, what makes it the best version to me is the stamp he puts onto it. not just stock exact notes and playing as usual...killer. if i ever get this good which i wont, im quitting my day job.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pPmIPaWdChU


Man he's the real deal ain't he!? And just an incredibly nice guy to boot. He's been here in Gainesville twice and both time just the nicest guy to talk to. Even let me take a look at the gold top up close (holding it). 53 if I remember correctly.

[bbarnard]

And then of course Sean has THIS voice (I believe this is an old Al Green song).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nrkv5ey1Oq4&feature=related

Very funky

[hasserl]

Holy Crap!! That guy smokes!!!

Mike, I don't think you can get that good while having a day job. :(

[Strat-O]

Day job doesn't have anything to do with it. He was born with an incredible gift. He was *that* good at 15! I don't believe there is another guitar player in his age group in the world who has the talent that Sean has.

[Dave Orban]

There are PLENTY of guys out there with "day jobs" who are incredible players.

I'm not one of 'em, but I personally know several. ;)

[bluesjuke]

Sean has a gift and is a gift to us.
I could listen to him forever.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Mike thanks for that Sean Costello link. Loved it.

I agree that Sean has a gift and I would also say you can't get that good if you're holding down a day job! But then I don't have the 'gift'!

Sounds like he used Junior Watson's arrangement of Hucklebuck (key, tempo and head style). Great original solo though.

I hear Sean's "50s wind" signature tone there but that doesn't look like his old gold top does it? Isn't that a '54 and he's got a '56 there?

[safecracker]

costello here. probably the best version of the hucklebuck ive heard. not only is the playing great, what makes it the best version to me is the stamp he puts onto it. not just stock exact notes and playing as usual...killer. if i ever get this good which i wont, im quitting my day job.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pPmIPaWdChU
That was so sweet I had to watch it twice. Incredible talent Sean has. Can't wait for his new release on Delta Groove Records. Thanks Mike...

[bluesjuke]

Poppa Stoppa-
"Isn't that a '54 and he's got a '56 there?"

Yes, but I've seen other performances with a '56 as well a this one.
Collect 'Em all!

[jumpnblues]

I really don't understand why this kid doesn't get more due. He sure deserves it. It's hard to believe he's not more well known than he is. And I mean in the blues field. Tremendously talented and pretty much plays and stays with straight blues and R&B. He is the future of blues. Matt Schofield is another to keep an ear on.

Tom

[Strat-O]

I really don't understand why this kid doesn't get more due...and pretty much plays and stays with straight blues and R&B.

You said it all right there. He's not covering Cream and Led Zeppelin tunes so nobody cares. He has alot of fans though. One day...

[jimfog]

I really don't understand why this kid doesn't get more due. He sure deserves it. It's hard to believe he's not more well known than he is.

Well....for one, the audience for this music we love is minuscule. Nobody even knows it, much less LIKES it.

Basically, we're like that sweet but odd eccentric old man down the street who spends his entire life feverishly collecting novelty shot glasses or some such unimportant, obscure minutiae .............and when we proudly show off our pride and joy to the world, they force a smile and indulge us, "ummm, wow........that's really, ummmm, INTERESTING, Mr. Lowell"'.....then leave, shaking their head at how we wasted our lives on such crap.

If we're lucky, the local news does an ironic show ending 30 second human interest story on us with their "wacky reporter guy", for the Saturday 5am broadcast.

[Goldie295]

Hey all,

This recently married man is on his way to Chicago and San Francisco in two days on Honeymoon. Can anyone recommend a couple of good blues venues in each city so 'My Wife and I' can catch some of the local bluesmen throwing a few shapes.

So far we know about Buddy Guy's Legends, but otherwise we are flying blind in both cities...

Thanks.

Cheers,
Phil

[TwoFeets]

Well....for one, the audience for this music we love is minuscule. Nobody even knows it, much less LIKES it.

Basically, we're like that sweet but odd eccentric old man down the street who spends his entire life feverishly collecting novelty shot glasses or some such unimportant, obscure minutiae .............and when we proudly show off our pride and joy to the world, they force a smile and indulge us, "ummm, wow........that's really, ummmm, INTERESTING, Mr. Lowell"'.....then leave, shaking their head at how we wasted our lives on such crap.

If we're lucky, the local news does an ironic show ending 30 second human interest story on us with their "wacky reporter guy", for the Saturday 5am broadcast.

For that reason it's hard to watch Ghost World. It hits a little too close to home, even though it's a really funny movie. It's hard to not see just a little bit of yourself in Steve Buscemi's "Seymour" character. (Blues Hammer, anyone?)

[mikelaw]

Hey all,

This recently married man is on his way to Chicago and San Francisco in two days on Honeymoon. Can anyone recommend a couple of good blues venues in each city so 'My Wife and I' can catch some of the local bluesmen throwing a few shapes.

So far we know about Buddy Guy's Legends, but otherwise we are flying blind in both cities...

Thanks.

Cheers,
Phil

congrats on your hookup! san fran is laura and my FAVORITE we had such a blast and went 2 years ago during blues fest season there sept. which also happens to be the best weather there! i jammed at swig downtown on a sunday night with ed ivey.
http://sfblues.net/Swig.html

check here for more blues jams... http://sfblues.net/jams.html

[KBR]

Tom Holmes and Lollars and Voodoo's are my choices in HBers, and I really like the All Parts Mini HBers, too.

I will be doing a private Party in Los Gatos (The Cats) on Jan 4th.
RJ Mischo will be Hosting the Jam I started in Redwood City @ The LIttle Fox Theatre, CA 30 miles S of San Francisco, and a GREAT Jam on Wed Jan 2nd. usually 125-175 People, FREE and you can Play.
He is doing Nes Years Eve at the Mojo L>ounge in Fremont, Where we live and Steve Freund is on Guitar, Goldie, RJ is a Great Harp Player, so those 2 Gigs would be Good. I may come out on the Jan 2nd Little Fox Jam.

Happy Christmas, Dudes

[Scott Miller]

In SF, Biscuits and Blues gets the national acts, although there seems to be a spate of good locals coming up:

Friday December 28
Little Charlie and the Nightcats

Saturday December 29
Mofo Party Band

Thursday January 3
Andy Santana

Saturday January 5
Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

B&B is right downtown, and their food is good, too. Expect to drop some dough and be shuffled around like cattle from the management.

The other two reliable blues venues are Lou's at pier 47, Fisherman's wharf, and the Saloon in North Beach. Freund is at the Saloon often. Both places feature a variety of blues acts, some of it very good, some of it not so good. Lou's is a good room, the Saloon is a rather intense party atmosphere.

At Lou's of note:
Jackie Payne Dec 29 and Jan. 4
KBR Jan 9

Jackie Payne is a killer blues singer. Even fretshop knows that! KBR did a CD with him, I believe. His guitar player, Steve Edmondson, is great, and also the son of Travis, of Bud and Travis.

For jazz and some blues, go to Pearl's at North Beach. Kim Nalley is there every Tuesday, I think. Here is a link to Kim Nalley, which your wife doesn't want you to look at:

http://www.kimnalley.com/

Lord have mercy.

But, if there is any way to get over to Fremont and the Mojo Lounge on NY eve, rent a car, hijack a car, whatever, RJ's show should be a killer. Not sure how many local players have NY eve gigs, but if they don't, they'll be there.

[KBR]

Scott is right,
I have done