Robert Nighthawk Blues

[chenette]

Any ideas how to get this sound?
What guitars and amps?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oypAbJj-fEs

 

[Alvis]

He's playin a Gretsch Corvette
Could be a Sears amp
But it's mostly Robert

 

[musicofanatic5]

Wow! My favorite bottlenecker (whatta vibrato!!) and second favorite singer (Elmore holds the #1 spot) in blues music!
Not to further beat to death the tired "the tone in the hands, dude" mantra, I imagine if Robert walked into your gig today, and sat in on your reissue whatever plugged into your boutique whatever, it would still sound pretty much like Nighthawk.

 

[James Sallis]

Robert Nighthawk was from my home town. I grew up listening to this kind of stuff -- Sonny Boy Williamson was still playing around town when I was a kid -- and, fifty-plus years later, have never gotten away from it. I play a lot of different music now, and a lot of different instruments, but I always go home to blues.

 

[KBR]

Read what Alvis says.

I really Dig Robert Nighthawk.

 

[snarkle]

Stunning clip...thanks for posting!

Heavy strings, high action, and single-coil pickups would be a good place to start...and a small tube combo amp, cranked up.

But, yeah, it's mostly Mr. Nighthawk...I've owned a couple of Gretsch Corvettes, and I play passable slide, but I've never been able to make a noise quite like that...

 

[mr tom]

Wow! My favorite bottlenecker (whatta vibrato!!) and second favorite singer (Elmore holds the #1 spot) in blues music!

You, sir, have good taste! Elmore, Robert, and Earl Hooker are the kings.