Fresh Cream Tone - gear or fingers?

[Poppa Stoppa]

For those that have not heard it, take a listen to Udo Pipper playing the so-called Betts-Toler Les Paul through a '65 JTM 45:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfCLYlzYO68&feature=related

 

[trisonic]

Who's Udo Pipper?
I've always thought the JTM45 to be the King of All amps!
I've often considered how interesting it would have been if Mike Vernon had produced "Fresh Cream" and at Broadhurst Gardens.......

Best, Pete.

 

[monstermike]

Here's the simple answer - both.

 

[Polynitro]

wow that nails it. Id say 90% gear 10% fingers.

 

[Tone_Terrific]

wow that nails it. Id say 90% gear 10% fingers.

'Fingers' seems to be the buzzword for everything except the hardware itself.
Play the same gear, set it up the same way, play with the same technique, then record it and process 'til it sounds as close as it can to your target and you still won't be perfect, imo, but the last 2% is close enough.

 

[Poppa Stoppa]

I'm gonna bump this once just to say the tone that Udo Pipper has got there is the holy grail for early Clapton fans and to ask - can that be reproduced without genuine period equipment?

 

[Pole With Soul]

Here's the simple answer - both.

+1 Both

 

[MBreinin]

I just wish old Udo would bend a little more in tune. But, he has the tone nailed pretty solidly.

 

[Poppa Stoppa]

+1 Both

Well yes and no...it's like a master painter painting with amazing paint - you can identify the paint quality and the draughting skill separately.

In the case of old Udo - he can't play like Clapton, but you can damn sure tell that he's been up Mount Olympus, done a deal with Zeus himself, and come back with the Sound Of The Gods. Or God in this case.

So my question is - can that incredible timbre be got without a superb 58-60 Les Paul and a great 65 JTM45 with KT66's?

 

[GCDEF]

That just goes to show, if you can't get your bends in tune, it really doesn't matter what you're playing, you still sound like a cat with its tail caught in the door.

 

[soldersucker]

That just goes to show, if you can't get your bends in tune, it really doesn't matter what you're playing, you still sound like a cat with its tail caught in the door.

Oy Vey! that bend at 30sec was ugly!

 

[Poppa Stoppa]

Haha, GCDEF, soldersucker, I don't suppose you have really got tin ears, you must be just messin'! It's not about how good a player that dude is, it's the sound he has got there.

Hehe you know that, I know.

 

[sanhozay]

So my question is - can that incredible timbre be got without a superb 58-60 Les Paul and a great 65 JTM45 with KT66's?

Not like that tone. Gotta be those pieces.

 

[lgehrig4]

If his bends were out of tune then I guess I prefer out of tune because that whole thing sounded great to me. I'm glad I'm just a home playing hack because it would suck to be so good that I couldn't enjoy clips like this.

 

[It's Time!]

Can't get that tone with a Strat and a Twin.

 

[groove_king]

BFD .. his bending and phrasing were crap, IMHO .. so what he has good gear .. it's still not musical

 

[Poppa Stoppa]

BFD .. his bending and phrasing were crap, IMHO .. so what he has good gear .. it's still not musical

The calibre of the player is immaterial. This equipment has a special tonal quality...

 

[Luke Gibson]

Here the clips are in Quicktime format from the German magazine site. Aside from the over/under bends the tone is there..... Vintage JTM45 + Vintage cab. = TONE!


http://www1.gitarrebass.de/magazine/0607/marshall_jtm45.htm

 

[TommyMambo]

Both

 

[sanhozay]

If his bends were out of tune then I guess I prefer out of tune because that whole thing sounded great to me. I'm glad I'm just a home playing hack because it would suck to be so good that I couldn't enjoy clips like this.

Yes, a bittersweet moment when one has elevated their skills to such a high level that a byproduct of superior wisdom is harsh critic. The playing has been done before by others with better chops but the Udo clips are very satisfying and demonstrate the objective extremely well. No flies around him.