Duane's tone on the first Allman Brothers album?

[Stratoben127]

I've been obsessed with the entire Allman Brothers catalog and Duane for months now and I know all of the gear he's used except for what he used in the studio on the first album. I even read his biography- twice! I've heard lots of different stuff, 335s, Champs, Brownface Fenders etc. What was it really? It's a lot thicker than later on and he uses the neck pickup a lot more which I love.

[zappateer1]

I, personally, would suggest shooting off an email to Jim Wagner at WCR Pickups at jim@crcoils.com. If anyone knows Allman tone, down to individual periods, it's Jim. Expect lightning fast replies and encyclopedic knowledge.

[zep41]

I know I read from a credible source years ago that it was all Fenders on the first album. And it sounds exactly like it.

[Stratoben127]

Originally Posted by zappateer1

I, personally, would suggest shooting off an email to Jim Wagner at WCR Pickups at jim@crcoils.com. If anyone knows Allman tone, down to individual periods, it's Jim. Expect lightning fast replies and encyclopedic knowledge.

I've talked to Jim before maybe I'll ask him I need really talked to him about it. I did ask what pickups get the Duane tone and be seemed to know a lot.

[Stratoben127]

Anyone else know?

[buzzp]

Originally Posted by zappateer1

I, personally, would suggest shooting off an email to Jim Wagner at WCR Pickups at jim@crcoils.com. If anyone knows Allman tone, down to individual periods, it's Jim. Expect lightning fast replies and encyclopedic knowledge.

With that being said I have WCR pickups in an all maple hollowbody that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. SUCH great pickups

[Stratoben127]

I was gonna get a set from him but went with Wolfetone instead and I got a "prewired" electronic kit from Jim... Not prewired at all and worked terribly. The pots had absolutely TERRIBLE taper. Maybe it was my set but I'm not too fond of his products now. Seems like a nice guy though. Back on track now... I'm really liking the tone on Dreams and It's Not My Cross To Bear and Don't Want You No More. Anybody know what he's playing through on those tracks?

[fulltone1989]

I have a pair of WCR Fillmores in my Les Paul. Great pickups!

[Crowbar]

If we can't find it in a book, I dunno if we will.
Some photos of the first album sessions have Betts with a semi'hollow 335 type , Oak with a semi-hollow Guild bass and Allman with a gold Lester. Think Allman was still using Fender Twin then. There is that one intro lick on the record where you can hear the reverb and vibrato.
I think a good start for that Duane sound is to turn up loud and slack the tone knob off a bit.

[Rockledge]

My memory, being old and faulty, might not be on about this but it seems I remember that he used an SG and Fender Twins then.

[AllmanFan]

Duane played a sunburst strat with a black pickguard w/ either a blackface Bandmaster or Showman. I can't remember which. He also used a Fuzz Face on the album for a little more punch. The batteries were really the interesting part. He used to pull old batteries from alarm clocks and random other gizmos. Greg used to get pissed about always having to replace the batteries in his clock because duane would steal them. The gibsons came very shortly after the first record. Duane wanted more presence on stage and a more round tone. Hence the les pauls and the JMP 50 heads.

[Tiny Montgomery]

Originally Posted by Rockledge

My memory, being old and faulty, might not be on about this but it seems I remember that he used an SG and Fender Twins then.

I don't think he had the SG until pretty near the end. He got it from Dickey, if I'm not mistaken on that.

[gtraddict]

Originally Posted by Tiny Montgomery

I don't think he had the SG until pretty near the end. He got it from Dickey, if I'm not mistaken on that.

I take it that is where the "One brother to another SG comes from"

[Rockledge]

Originally Posted by Tiny Montgomery

I don't think he had the SG until pretty near the end. He got it from Dickey, if I'm not mistaken on that.

That very well could be, again my memory is getting a bit ragged and that was a LONG time ago. It was just a vague thing in the back of my mind.

[AllmanFan]

Does anybody know exactly where and when the Goldtop showed up? I know it came towards the beginning og the ABB creation but I cant remember when exactly.