ROBBEN is RIDICULOUSLY good [Archive]

RichardB

10-17-2008, 07:42 PM

I know y'all are sick of the RF threads and all, and I know this vid has been linked to at TGP bfore, but this is some insane playing and tone:

RF in Tokyo 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm0DRR_sUBw

It doesn't get better than that for feel and time and everything

rwe333

10-17-2008, 07:51 PM

Strong performance, indeed.
That said, I find his playing/sound on the Tele far less compelling than his humbucker work.
YMMV...

Wagster

10-17-2008, 07:54 PM

Strong performance, indeed.
That said, I find his playing/sound on the Tele fare less compelling than his humbucker work.
YMMV...I feel the opposite.Love his Tele work the best.

rwe333

10-17-2008, 07:54 PM

I feel the opposite.Love his Tele work the best.

Cool...
He's a wonderful player.

Wagster

10-17-2008, 07:55 PM

Different strokes for different folks aye :AOK

More your speed Wayne? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08-C6a_46uo

rwe333

10-17-2008, 08:07 PM

Different strokes for different folks aye :AOK

More your speed Wayne? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08-C6a_46uo

Nice! Esp. the King tribute at the end...

aeolian

10-17-2008, 11:39 PM

Strong performance, indeed.
That said, I find his playing/sound on the Tele fare less compelling than his humbucker work.
YMMV...
It's amazing that he plays that thing the way he does at all. The action reminds me of an old St George I had when I was 10. He's played with lower action on his flatter radius humbucker guitars and that allows him more flexibility in playing whatever comes into his head, but he seems to gravitate (especially for blues) to the dynamics of the Tele. The guys at Black Market who sold it to him said that he knew within minutes of trying it that it was what he wanted.

I briefly played though his backup Dumble at a clinic and it was obviously one of those fight you back/shove the tone up the wire kind of amps. I guess he likes the resistance and working it to get the flavor of note he wants within a phrase.

michael.e

10-18-2008, 12:08 AM

I briefly played though his backup Dumble at a clinic and it was obviously one of those fight you back/shove the tone up the wire kind of amps. I guess he likes the resistance and working it to get the flavor of note he wants within a phrase.

I can totally hear that in his playing on this OP song.

GREAT stuff!!

Clean, nasty, funky, dirty......

Killer.

Emee

michael.e

10-18-2008, 12:13 AM

Now I am running through all of these '08 Tokyo tapes...

3 guys filling such sonic space..

Oh crap, I must be getting old :D

No worries, I still have tons of tastless fiddle tossings in my Converse.:banana

Emee

live-I-evil

10-18-2008, 01:00 AM

I just caught Robben at a local benefit show in my town and he kicked MAJOR arse. Such an amazing artist with such an amazing sound.

fretfreak76

10-18-2008, 01:26 AM

It's amazing that he plays that thing the way he does at all. The action reminds me of an old St George I had when I was 10. He's played with lower action on his flatter radius humbucker guitars and that allows him more flexibility in playing whatever comes into his head, but he seems to gravitate (especially for blues) to the dynamics of the Tele. The guys at Black Market who sold it to him said that he knew within minutes of trying it that it was what he wanted.

I briefly played though his backup Dumble at a clinic and it was obviously one of those fight you back/shove the tone up the wire kind of amps. I guess he likes the resistance and working it to get the flavor of note he wants within a phrase.Yeah!That was very cool;any idea what pups he has in this tele?:BEER

CocoTone

10-18-2008, 05:04 AM

Love to hear him on a Strat.

CT.

ButchR

10-18-2008, 05:50 AM

Those were great videos. I loved 'em.

Lucidology

10-18-2008, 05:51 AM

Love to hear him on a Strat.

CT.

He played a Strat when he was with Miles ...
I think there's even some youtubes of Robben using it ...

JohnK24

10-18-2008, 06:01 AM

Those are great tracks, I've watched them many times and I just continue to get blown away by Robben's chops and amazing use of dynamics in his playing...a master.
I do like his tele work a great deal.

Wagster

10-18-2008, 08:46 AM

Yeah!That was very cool;any idea what pups he has in this tele?:BEERI assume that they are stock vintage p/u's from the 60's

pullagnm

10-18-2008, 10:23 AM

http://www.online-discussion.com/RobbenFord/viewtopic.php?t=132&highlight=tele

"Is Robben's Tele all stock? Just curious what he has on there for frets and pickups.

The Tele is stock except for the addition of large frets. The bridge p/u has been rewound once by Lindy Fralin, but purely for repair, not as a mod."

Dave Orban

10-18-2008, 10:44 AM

Great clip... Thanks!

straticus

10-18-2008, 10:46 AM

There really seems to be a lot of "Different strokes, different folks" going on when it comes to RF.

Speaking for myself, I never get tired of his playing. He's one of my favorites.

karmadave

10-18-2008, 11:31 AM

If you really want to appreciate Robben, attend one of his clinics. This will give you some insights into how he operates as a musician. He definitely approaches it more from a Jazz perspective. This is reflected in his approach to rhythm and groove. His lead work reflects heavy use of both Pentatonic and Diminished scales. Most importantly, Robben has developed his own UNIQUE voice as a musician. Some people might not find Robben to their taste (taste is always subjective), but there is little denying he is a very talented musician who has developed a unique voice and style.

-KD

future2future

10-18-2008, 11:41 AM

When i saw the topic title i thought you were talking 'bout Arjen Robben...

dets1

10-18-2008, 11:47 AM

i saw larry carlton last year at the blue note with this same rythm section. i think that's larrys son travis on bass and i forget the drummers name. but i did sit next to his girlfriend all night. i kinda like robben on a tele too but i don't think i wouldn't like him no matter what he played.

Structo

10-18-2008, 11:48 AM

That was great.
I heard he had HAD recently do some work on his ODS.

His tele sounded more like a tele than previous recording I have heard.

Anybody that doesn't like that song doesn't like black eyed peas!

johan

10-18-2008, 01:12 PM

Red Suede

10-18-2008, 01:25 PM

Nobody else does what he does which is an accomplishment in itself.

GGE

10-18-2008, 01:50 PM

I had the pleasure of spending a day with Robben in one of his clinics and he played through an old 335 and a Fender Deluxe Reverb. It's in his fingers. I've seen him play several times and the guys just has a touch and phrasing that is out of this world.

Good thread here for us Robben fans.

Thanks.

realityczech

10-18-2008, 09:47 PM

Use headphones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJB_X80mJhY

CocoTone

10-19-2008, 06:08 AM

Dig the shoulder pads!! Some serious funk thrown down!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIJ017JpIE

CT.

Frankee

10-19-2008, 10:28 AM

It's no secret that I'm a huge critic of Mr. Ford......

But that clip was quite juicy.

aeolian

10-19-2008, 12:00 PM

Love to hear him on a Strat.

CT.
He owns a very nice vintage tobacco sunburst Strat. Early 60's I believe. It mostly gets used for background parts. He did use it on a couple of songs from Tiger Walk, Freedom and Oasis, and took it out for the first couple of tours in support of that album. But then put it back under the piano at home and went to playing those songs on the Tele or whatever he felt like at the time.

I have a feeling that while a Strat fights you back a bit, they don't have the same sort of dynamics that the guitars he prefers have. Unless you string them with sailboat rigging (ala SRV) they tend to plink out when pushed. Maybe Robben just hasn't run across one of those magic Strats that hold up under durress. Blueswail let me borrow a very nice custom builder Strat (can't remember the name) the other night at the Redwood City jam. Plugged though a Zendrive into a great Vibroluxe Reverb that Chris Cobb had brought, it had a very definite RF vibe to it. Solid tone on the bridge pickup and able to respond to popping strings and digging in without plinking. Love to hear Robben play that guitar.

CocoTone

10-19-2008, 12:29 PM

Ah,,,the infamous plink factor. I think thats why Strats respond to higher action than most other guitars need. Probably why lots of folks don't like them. When they do come across one that has"it", then they know the reason why so many great players eventually gravitated towrds them. I have a 335, but I am at home on my Strat.;)

CT.

Blues Fuse

10-19-2008, 12:34 PM

Robben Ford was the cover story in the October 2007 "Vintage Guitar" magazine and in that interview it was mentioned that his '58 Strat went missing in action while moving from one Hollywood studio to another during the recording of his last album. The serial number is 25560. I don't know if the guitar was ever recovered.

AlChuck

10-19-2008, 01:50 PM

Blueswail let me borrow a very nice custom builder Strat (can't remember the name) the other night at the Redwood City jam. Plugged though a Zendrive into a great Vibroluxe Reverb that Chris Cobb had brought, it had a very definite RF vibe to it. Solid tone on the bridge pickup and able to respond to popping strings and digging in without plinking. Love to hear Robben play that guitar.

Was that a Grosh, by chance?

homerayvaughan

10-19-2008, 03:05 PM

fretfreak76

10-19-2008, 07:19 PM

It's no secret that I'm a huge critic of Mr. Ford......

But that clip was quite juicy.Just curious on exactly what there is to say negative about him?:boxer

karmadave

10-19-2008, 10:03 PM

I was just spinning Jimmy Witherspoon - 'Live at the Mint' today. Jimmy's voice was a bit shaky, at that point, but Robben's guitar is absolutely superb. There was a genuine friendship between those two and it really showed Robben's skills as a sideman...

-KD

aeolian

10-19-2008, 11:56 PM

Was that a Grosh, by chance?
No, he has a Grosh but this is some other thing. Name I'd never heard of before although he knew what it was when he found it. Red slightly reliced thing. I've played a Suhr, a Tyler, couple of Chapins, and many Fenders including some vintage. Never played one that was this solid in fundamental tone in that RF sort of fashion.

musicofanatic5

10-20-2008, 12:34 AM

Just curious on exactly what there is to say negative about him?:boxerWhat is this, bait?!? Well, I'm one of those fellas here who becomes ill when y'all are like school girls in love over him, but I really enjoyed the OP's clip, too. What I don't care for (you asked!) is his gain-y, h.b., (dare I say it?) Dumble thing. The L.A. schmoove-Jazz (or whatever you call that Yellowjackets/Rippingtons kinda stuff) thing does not attract me either. He flat played the sh*t outta that tele, though, and some true blues to boot! And yes, I liked his Witherspoon stuff on that Super 400, too.

MartinC

10-20-2008, 05:40 AM

Wow!

That tele tone was phenomenal.

duanesworld

10-20-2008, 08:24 AM

I am not sure why people are so picky when it comes to RF. I have a hard time thinking of someone in the blues n jazz combo that is as interesting. He combines old school and new so effortlessly. for me his rythym playing is more interesting then most leads I hear. so I would be curious from the people who are not impressed, who does impress you in this type of music? or maybe its just the blues your bored with.

Frankee

10-20-2008, 09:08 AM

Just curious on exactly what there is to say negative about him?:boxer

It's not him... it's me. I can't wrap my puny little brain around the whole smoooooth jazz/fusion-blues-mall-soundtrack. I preferred Robben as Davis' sideman. But that's just me.

traviswalk

10-20-2008, 09:38 AM

I thought those were all amazing clips and the Tele sound knocked me right out. Awesome stuff from a master.

paulsmulebarn

10-20-2008, 10:23 AM

always been a Robben Ford fan. tasty licks and sick tone.

eddie101

10-20-2008, 10:27 AM

It's not him... it's me. .....

Oh, no, not the infamous "it ain't you...it's me" trick??! :jo

God knows how many times this century old line was used to get out of a relationship.... It is alway better that you use it before SHE does, of course... :D

Strat335

10-20-2008, 11:13 AM

GREAT CLIP! Thanks for sending me back into Youtubeland for an hour when I should really be working! LOL

That guy is one of the best guitarists ever, in my book.

gkoelling

10-20-2008, 12:07 PM

Great clip! I like his Tele work just fine, thank you.:AOK

dets1

10-20-2008, 01:27 PM

He owns a very nice vintage tobacco sunburst Strat. Early 60's I believe. It mostly gets used for background parts. He did use it on a couple of songs from Tiger Walk, Freedom and Oasis, and took it out for the first couple of tours in support of that album. But then put it back under the piano at home and went to playing those songs on the Tele or whatever he felt like at the time.

I have a feeling that while a Strat fights you back a bit, they don't have the same sort of dynamics that the guitars he prefers have. Unless you string them with sailboat rigging (ala SRV) they tend to plink out when pushed. Maybe Robben just hasn't run across one of those magic Strats that hold up under durress. Blueswail let me borrow a very nice custom builder Strat (can't remember the name) the other night at the Redwood City jam. Plugged though a Zendrive into a great Vibroluxe Reverb that Chris Cobb had brought, it had a very definite RF vibe to it. Solid tone on the bridge pickup and able to respond to popping strings and digging in without plinking. Love to hear Robben play that guitar.

at the newport jazz fest circa 1990, robben played with david sanborn and used a strat. it was tobacco IIRC, but i wouldn't trust my memory any more. and he definitely sounded ........ like robben.

jimfog

10-20-2008, 01:31 PM

There's some bits in the "Back to the Blues" DVD where he plays a nice strat, and sounds great, of course.

bc-cosmo

10-21-2008, 12:10 AM

Makes me want to play a Tele even though I's no good at it!

BluePowder

10-21-2008, 06:58 AM

For some killer Robben Tele action you gotta check out his Live DVD performance at Ohne Filter!

THAT ONE WAS SMOKIN' ALL THE WAY.:D

nrvana8775

10-21-2008, 07:19 AM

Wow, he does have good tone.

First time I've ever listened to music of his.

reddgeetarzan

10-21-2008, 07:31 AM

Its all in the hands! The amps help, I'm sure, but he could sound good playing out of a tin can hooked up to AM radio.

strattitude

11-10-2008, 01:09 AM

I always love Robbens playing and tone!

On a tele he usually sounds more old-school blues, nice and raw tone, very cool!

mountain blues

11-10-2008, 01:13 AM

I just love how Robben thinks as a player. He hears and captures stuff that is brilliant.

telesquire

11-10-2008, 01:21 AM

If you want some Robben Strat action then buy the Ohne Filter Revisited dvd from earlier this year.It has footage from his Euro Tigerwalk-era gig with his now stolen 50's Strat.

Bluewail

11-10-2008, 10:40 AM

Bluewail let me borrow a very nice custom builder Strat (can't remember the name) the other night at the Redwood City jam. Plugged though a Zendrive into a great Vibroluxe Reverb that Chris Cobb had brought, it had a very definite RF vibe to it. Solid tone on the bridge pickup and able to respond to popping strings and digging in without plinking. Love to hear Robben play that guitar.

Aeolian,

It's a Vinetto DC60 SB loaded with Lollar Blackface pups. It really is a great strat with lots of body but still has that strat quack. The bridge pup is great, even better with the tone rolled down just a hair. What really gets me about that guitar is the dynamics. It responds to pick attack ridiculously well. As AlChuck mentioned, I've got a very early Grosh RC that's been my #1 forever, and it's still no slouch, but this Vinetto is something special.

AlChuck

11-10-2008, 04:02 PM

One of these days I just have to get me a truly excellent guitar... or several.
My wish list would include one great archtop ala an L5, a great thinline hollowbody ala an ES-335, a great Strat, a great Tele, a great Les Paul - or two, one with P90's and one with humbuckers - maybe a Parker Fly... oh my, this can go on and on if I don't stop...