Robben Ford/ Gear hound or gear whore?

[OldSchool]

I love Robben like everyone else. I met him at the Sam Ash Music in Edison N.J. and he was super cool and polite. But can anyone here tell me what kind of Guitars this guy digs or did he ever have a #1? When I met him he was peddeling Fender CS guitars. Said they were the best ever. Then I saw him jump to Baker Guitars.........Now he's back to Stock Les Pauls and Fender Teles. What kind guitar does Robben Prefer? Is he just a Blues/Jazz boutique Version of Paul Stanley or Joe Walsh jumping from Maker to Maker or who ever is the elite taste of the day or does he have specific tastes that seem to change over time? If you were seriously trying to cop some Robben ford what guitar do you think best represents him? His Fenders sounded amazing at the time............(I am bias to Fender's custom shop BTW)

[Dave Orban]

Robben doesn't say too much bad about anything, so I suspect it's partly business sense and partly good manners.

He likes humbucker guitars, he likes his Tele, he likes his 54 goldtop. Gene Baker was at the Fender Custom Shop when Robben was pimping for them, and Gene has built many of Robben's current guitars.

I really don't think of his as a gear whore....

[OldSchool]

Gene Baker was at the Fender Custom Shop when Robben was pimping for them, and Gene has built many of Robben's current guitars.




really? I didn't know that. I guess ole Gene is the secret ingredient then. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif I haven't seen him use anything from the Fender era or any of his Baker guitars recently though. I'm guessing he doesn't want to give Ed Roman any good press? Surprised he doesn't have any of Genes New Guitars .........

[Dave Orban]

really? I didn't know that. I guess ole Gene is the secret ingredient then. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif I haven't seen him use anything from the Fender era or any of his Baker guitars recently though. I'm guessing he doesn't want to give Ed Roman any good press? Surprised he doesn't have any of Genes New Guitars .........
He may, but I think Robben requires a fair amount of "tweakage", so maybe the new B3 recipe isn't quite there yet, for Robben...

Gene also worked at Gibson's custom shop, before Fender...

[OldSchool]

Gene also worked at Gibson's custom shop, before Fender...

The man has skills huh? :)

Thats probably a fair assesment..........Plus Gene has to walk the line of coming up with something that not only Gibson and Fender won't get pissed off about..........he needs to stear clear of his Roman owned Baker designs. Could take time.

Could you imagine Ed Roman sueing Gene Baker for copyright infringement!? Now that would be Ironic!! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon13.gif

[MarcJ]

I think most of Robbens humbucker guitars have coil splitter switches or push-pull pots. I read somewhere that he prefers single coils for lead playing. I know I get better results with single coils when trying to get Robben type sounds.

[telest]

Like most everyone, he probably likes a change of gear now and then. :AOK

Steve

[Dave Orban]

The man has skills huh? :)

Thats probably a fair assesment..........Plus Gene has to walk the line of coming up with something that not only Gibson and Fender won't get pissed off about..........he needs to stear clear of his Roman owned Baker designs. Could take time.

Could you imagine Ed Roman sueing Gene Baker for copyright infringement!? Now that would be Ironic!! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon13.gif
Oh, he's already selling the Robben Ford B3 model...

Look in the Dealer Emporium under Cliff C's posts...

[John Hurtt]

Surprised he doesn't have any of Genes New Guitars .........

He does, here are a couple small pics of the new B3 Gene sent him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/JHurtt/03_10_06_001cropped.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/JHurtt/03_10_06_007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/JHurtt/03_10_06_003.jpg


From what I've heard/seen, Robben uses his 60's tele on most gigs, along with a couple Les Pauls, including a vintage one given to him by Larry Carlton. I'm sure you will see this B3 show up as soon as Robben has some time to spend with it.

[OldSchool]

Oh...............My wife is gonna Hate you guys!! :jo

Let me see one in wine Red and somebody will have to take my check book away!! :messedup

[Dave Orban]

Oh...............My wife is gonna Hate you guys!! :jo

Let me see one in wine Red and somebody will have to take my check book away!! :messedup
I know what you mean...! LOL!

[stout-hearted]

Getting back to the original thought - "What guitars does Ford like?"...I recall seeing pictures of him in one of his instruction books with a good ol' Danelectro. A blues/jazz player will use whatever tool fits the song or gig. It is amazing what you can get out of those budget guitars that you pull out of your "dream guitar."

[mockoman]

He played a 335 back in the 70's...LA Express,George Harrison Tour,etc.

[Marty s Horne]

I remember seeing him with Jimmy Witherspoon early in his career and he had a Gibson jazz box, either an L 5 or a Super 400.

[Robertito]

The man has skills huh? :)

Thats probably a fair assesment..........Plus Gene has to walk the line of coming up with something that not only Gibson and Fender won't get pissed off about..........he needs to stear clear of his Roman owned Baker designs. Could take time.

Could you imagine Ed Roman sueing Gene Baker for copyright infringement!? Now that would be Ironic!! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon13.gif

When John Fogerty released "Centerfield" in the late 80s, Saul Zaentz, who owned the CCR catalogue, sued him for plagiarizing himself. Nice guy.

[go7]

No doubt,Ford is an awesome player. I have seen him use many different guitars.I do think he does enjoy his endorsement cheques. And so would I.

[John Hurtt]

When John Fogerty released "Centerfield" in the late 80s, Saul Zaentz, who owned the CCR catalogue, sued him for plagiarizing himself. Nice guy.

It's my understanding Roman has the "Baker" name and the headstock shape. There is no issue with the new ones.

[OldSchool]

When John Fogerty released "Centerfield" in the late 80s, Saul Zaentz, who owned the CCR catalogue, sued him for plagiarizing himself. Nice guy.

:eek: !! That actually might put him in a lower class then Ed Roman..........if thats possible.

[stratoquack]

When I saw Robben a couple of years ago with Gregg Allman & Friends, he played 2 Les Pauls, a gold top and a sunburst. I was a little surprised at first, but when they broke into the 1st tune...it just sounded like Robben Ford.

[Mrgearguy]

On tour now
http://www.santellaproductions.com/guitar/RFEJ2.jpg

[Mullet Kingdom]

Like most everyone, he probably likes a change of gear now and then. :AOK

Steve
+1

He really doesn't vary too much though. For example, he's been playing Les Pauls and 335s for several years.

I don't know his whole history, but it seems like the same guitars keep popping up in his arsenal.

Robben has also suffered from severe tendonitis. It seems plausible that his switch to the Fender Elite model might coincide with this; given that the Elite has one of the smallest, easiest necks to play. Moreover, if you watch his left hand when he plays he doesn't splay his fingers so much as he just sort of pivots his hand and forearm.

[HHB]

On tour now
http://www.santellaproductions.com/guitar/RFEJ2.jpg

what I wanna know is how the frick does Eric Johnson always look fresh, pressed and perfect in his dress, it's uncanny

[Dana Olsen]

what I wanna know is how the frick does Eric Johnson always look fresh, pressed and perfect in his dress, it's uncannyI heard that!

I myself have looked like an "aging surfer" basically my whole life - this no matter what I wear, or how my hair is worn (really long, really short, in between ...)

Maybe I should audition for Dick Dale ....

In 1996 saw Robben play a Baker, the Tele, a Gold Top, a black Strat, and an ES-335 in the same set. And YES, he still managed to sound like Robben. (GRIN)

Dana O.

[Southbay Ampworks]

At the recent Safari Sam gigs with Michael Landau, Robben was playing his LP GT that Carlton gave him, and a newer LP cherry burst. The old GT sounded warmer, and better IMO. The amp was the Dumble ODS with a 2x12 cab, and a couple of pedals on the floor. You can probably do a search on his name or Safari Sam's and get his whole gear list, as I think someone posted it.

[Jatmosphere]

Saw Robben play a few tunes w/ The Yellow Jackets @ the Monteray Jazz Fest last Sept. He was playing this beautiful custom "LP" type guitar called a Noupaul made by a cat named Taku Sakashta http://www.sakashtaguitars.com/Sakashta/directory.html.
His long time tech (sorry, forgot his name?) said that he was using SD antiquity paf's but was experimenting w/ different pups. He and the guitar sounded stunning! BTW Robben was Dumble powered w/ a 2 x12" cab. Just a smokin' tone!

[Mondoslug]

Maybe he likes playing Tele's, LPs and other guitars.

[pfflam]

[nevermind . . . I guess you folks do . . .]

[Sean French]

I know Michael James who is friends and works with Robben.He told me Robben said he has not played a better guitar than the '54 Les Paul Goldtop Carlton has permanently loaned to him.His Tele is very dear to him as well.

[keith_t4e]

jazz/fusion version of paul stanely too funny oldschool. Paul plays the Silvertone all the way from the Sears catalogue. wow, silvertone. Theres a household name in guitars. He is back with Washburn now. The guitar looks decent though I'm suprised that he got Rafael from Rock Star house band to play one. The man is Alex Lifeson whom I really believe plays what he wants to. Whatever he plays he makes sound good. The H&K sound the best I've ever heard them sound. He us now using PRS, Gibson, Fender etc. To me these guys Ford, Carlton etc. never stray too far from a good ol 335.