LesBonfire Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 A lot of discussion in here is on modifications, pick ups, wood types, mahoganey tops, maple tops, rosewood and ebony fingeerboards, graphite and bone nuts ... this and that...what I'd like to know is if any of you think that guys like Muddy, BB, Chuck Berry and the rest of the greats cared about this stuff when they were making some if not the greatest music in the last century??? Or they just played...and played...and loved that its what they did professionally? I'd like to hear peoples input on this one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 I just play. you dont see mee comin on and asking what should I put on _____. it tarnishes the fun of playing when you worry bout it too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 I agree with you in principle, but consider this; How many choices did they have? Even if Gibson built several versions of a single model (they rarely did) there wasn't a guitar shop on every corner to choose from. Finding a guitar that would fit your needs was about as much as those guys hoped for. Then, could they afford them? Very often, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Electric guitars were a new phenomenon when the guys you name got started. And, yes; they do care what they play...surely you've heard BB go on and on about his Lucille. And I don't think you'd have to dig far to get an official opinion from Chuck on anything he's used professionally. I don't think they were indifferent about their instruments. And John Lee Hooker...hell, he went to his grave unable to write anything but his own name. Couldn't read a lick. Apparently that wasn't particularly important to him. But he played Epiphone Sheratons for years...long after he could have bought any guitar he wanted. He played what he liked...just as most of us do. But when he started, the electric guitar was pretty much a prototype. Wouldn't have occurred to someone back then to mod something so new and untried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillybilly Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 then why are you on this forum at all? shouldnt you be playing? i keed i keed. some like to tinker, some are just bored, and some dont realize they cant play worth a crap and figure the problem must be in the gear. i fall into the last group. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Oh yeah, that last group has me as a Charter Member. I figured once I got some decent gear... Nearly 20 years later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 John Lennon used his Epiphone Casino because he liked the Feel and Tone Chuck Berry used Gibson semi Hollows (ES 335, 337, 336 and such) because he liked the Feel and Tone BB used his ES 337 because he liked the Feel and Tone Buddy Holly used a Strat because it was new and he liked the Feel and Tone John Lee Hooker used his Epi Sheraton because he liked the feel and tone Buck Owens used Teles because he liked the Feel and Tone George Harrison had a Rosewood Tele made because he liked the feel and Tone If they weren't interested in those atributes, they would have played Stellas and Sivertones. Now when it comes to the old Black Blues Greats, they were poor when they started, so they had to use Stellas and Silvertones, but soon as they cut a record and made some money it was J-45s and Martins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Consider this. They had classic gear to begin with. The old 335's, ect. That stuff goes for megabucks today at Gruhns, ect. Les Paul was always tinkering, as am I. I assure you Chuck Berry tinkered with tubes and cords, and stuff, it just wasn't in an internet forum. Any working musician "hears" things other people don't hear, and they are constantly adjusting. I just came off a 2 nighter weekend, and had monitor problems, Mexican Radio Stations, and an idiot wanting to "sit in"....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Sometimes i wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas to test on my guitar. Once it was an idea of a soild rose gold bridge...still wanting to try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 George Harrison had a Rosewood Tele made because he liked the feel and Tone His tone and playing, on the lead for "Let It Be" was the worst of his career...... I bet he wished he'd used Johns Epi on that solo...... Or a Stella....... :D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 LesBonfire, how about the flip side. Looks at the other greats, Page, Clapton, etc., who constantly tinker with their gear searching for different sounds. I'm pretty sure it was a Clapton interview where he said they'd be constantly swapping pickups between guitars, always searching for that sweeter tone. Page, well, look at his Les Paul - it's a marvel of electrical wiring...enough said! Consider this. They had classic gear to begin with. It wasn't exactly classic gear when they bought it, was it? It was new or newer gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 His tone and playing' date=' on the lead for "Let It Be" was the worst of his career...... I bet he wished he'd used Johns Epi on that solo...... Or a Stella....... :(/ [/quote'] His Ric was the best. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 His tone and playing' date=' on the lead for "Let It Be" was the worst of his career...... I bet he wished he'd used Johns Epi on that solo...... Or a Stella....... :D/ [/quote'] George didn't like his Rosewood Tele? I'm crushed under the weight of this news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 It wasn't exactly classic gear when they bought it' date=' was it? It was new or newer gear.[/quote'] Good point Tim. I just meant, it was the stuff everybody wants NOW.... Ya know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 George didn't like his Rosewood Tele? I'm crushed under the weight of this news. I'm sure he thought he liked it at the time. Serious..... Go listen to that solo...... It sucks. That is the thinnest sounding Tele in history, and "BY GOD...." That's saying something.................. ( I played a Tele for years, and own one, why, I don't know?) :-k/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 George didn't like his Rosewood Tele? I'm crushed under the weight of this news. It gets worse... [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Lets not forget folks like Seymore Duncan, he didn't waste any time re-wrapping those old Pick Ups for more Girth. Not to mention the pedals he pioneered for Better electric Tone. They all had their amps Tricked out for more power. **** Dale wired three 30 watt Fender Heads together in series to make a 90 Watt amp. Most big players of the day had a Master Volume added tot heir Marshalls. In fact, I go out on a limb and say Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery likely had Mods done to their old Jazz Boxes. After all, the Horn Players of the day would use after market and custom Reeds, Mouth Pieces, Keys, and of course entire instruments made to suit their ear. They could heve used any old Cleveland or Crown and the Audience wouldn't have noticed, but the Player would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 continuing on earlier post with me its just the fact that I dont want to worry bout it... of course I'll mod my guitar but my first priority is playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 I'm sure he thought he liked it at the time. Serious..... Go listen to that solo...... It sucks. That is the thinnest sounding Tele in history' date=' and "BY GOD...." That's saying something.................. ( I played a Tele for years, and own one, why, I don't know?) :-k/ [/quote'] It wouldn't do me much good, I'm not much of a Beatles Fan. Or a tele Fan, for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 George said later, that he hated his "Beatles" guitar tone! The tone that so many "Beatles Freaks" now, Try so hard, to obtain! LOL! Everyone goes through this...IMHO. I go through periods, where I like the tone I'm getting....then, changing nothing, I get bored with it, or start disliking it, for some reason. That's why we all change "pickups and hardware" or even guitars and amps...we get bored, or want a change...to try to find that perfect tone, feel, whatever. It's a "Tail Chase," no doubt...as there is NO "perfect" tone, and it, along with "feel," changes as our moods or even physical feelings, change. Just a part of being "human," you know? Though, it can drive you "crazy," at times...huh? ;>) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 George said later' date=' that he hated his "Beatles" guitar tone! The tone that so many "Beatles Freaks" now, Try so hard, to obtain! LOL!Everyone goes through this...IMHO. I go through periods, where I like the tone I'm getting....then, changing nothing, I get bored with it, or start disliking it, for some reason. That's why we all change "pickups and hardware" or even guitars and amps...we get bored, or want a change...to try to find that perfect tone, feel, whatever. It's a "Tail Chase," no doubt...as there is NO "perfect" tone, and it, along with "feel," changes as our moods or even physical feelings, change. Just a part of being "human," you know? Though, it can drive you "crazy," at times...huh? ;>) CB[/quote'] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesBonfire Posted September 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Great responses guys...innovation is what it comes down to I guess eh? Wanting the newest sound, trying not to go stale! I was gonna mention Page and Clapton but thought I'd stick to the originators in the start of the topic...but even musicians now adays could fall into this category. Tom Morello from RATM is an example I'd suppose. I just think sometimes, when I'm on a night shift and get the chance to pop on the forum I always find that there are few of us "newbies" who are askin question about what nut to install to keep them tuned properly, or what pick ups to put in to get this person or that persons tone. It makes me feel like I'm wasting time just reading some of them...and should be at home playing...and then I get all worked up to finish work. We all have dream guitars but if we don't know how to play the guitar even on an entry level like the Epiphone SG that I have then what's the point...not trying to be harsh...just bringing up what's in my head. I don't try to chase tones...I try to chase the time that my gf isn't around so that I can play my damn axe! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Yeah, and the guitar is one of the "easiest instruments to learn to play, and one of the most difficult, to lean to play WELL!" Always...something to learn, some tone to get, some new rif or run to know...or, even "make up," huh? LOL! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 "Tone Chasing" is Something beginners shouldn't really worry about. If you can't nail a good Vibrato or Bend a note where you want it, then new Pick Ups won't help a bit. Using a Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat and a TS-9 won't do you a bit of good if you haven't learned how to Boogie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Boogie. <<<<<<------------------ Yep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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