Brewing Master

Question:

David: I play pretty much BB King styled blues.  I have the past couple of years.  You probably know that BB uses a 490 equipped semi hollow in the 335 vein (Lucille).  He does not use the vaitone from the articles/interviews I have read, he liked the idea but just doesn’t find he uses it.  He generally plays .10’s (His Gibson Namesake as I recall).  He has used a variety of amps, from solid state to tube over the years as well, with his tome remaining pretty much the same.  I currently use a strat clone with a 57 classic neck and 57 plus bridge. I have a Line 6 POD and a Blues Junior.  This guitar gets very close to the BB vib., as will most solid body guitars.  The semi hollow has a slightly different vib that only it produces.  But, the largest part of the vib from BB comes from a million years with his virbrato technique (fingers).  I would bet none of us will ever match his tone perfectly as it is largely in his fingers not the guitar. It is rumored he used a strat for the U2 thing when he recorded it, but I have only heard his after the fact play of this tune so I can’t tell you if it is true. The point is your guitar with classics should be pretty close with the right settings. The Blackface setting on the POD with the EQ at noon (or the trebel pushed to 2-3 o’clock), chorus 1 at 8 o’clock, and reverb at about 2-3 o’clock.  For leads the drive should be about noon to 2 o’clock, while rhythm back the drive to about 10 o’clock.  HIs leads are slightly overdriven when played hard but clean up when not pushed (His SS days were all clean). This will get you real close to BB as well.  But, the Blues Junior is not going to get you as close as you may think.  I really like mine, but it (at least mine) has a harder edge, with less bass response (treble feel) and it could also stand a better reverb unit.  I really like the Blues Junior but a 2×12 cab would be a good additon to it for the BB thing.  You may want to check out a Flextone (2×12), or the Fender 2×12 reissue if you are looking for an amp with his tone.  The trick is at least 1 and perferably 2 12 inch speakers for BB’s feel (at least to me). I also own a Blueshawk.  Love it, but it will not get close to the recorded BB tone.  While BB is endorsing a modified one, his interview said "it is not the same as the real thing" I believe (Check the Gibson site).  It is a tele-strat toned guitar with a country (Gretch) feel to it. I think it is a money thing for him, not a players thing.  But, I have not seen him in concert since the endorsement so maybe he is playing it more than for an endorsment deal and I do not realize it. Guitar Player had an article about gear for various blues tones, includings BB’s a few months ago.  Check their site as see if it is archived. www.guitarplayer.com/ Hope you find something helpful here.  If I can be of any other help drop me a note. Dale – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Frank – Thanks for the reply.  I’m just moving into electric blues from acoustic blues, and its a whole different ball game as far as sound options go.  I’m looking for a BB King like sound and have found the buckers to be either too clean or too distorted.  (I find describing sound nuances with words particularly difficult).  Anyhow, I did try replacing the Epi humbuckers with Gibson 57 Classics and didn’t find much of an improvement in tonal quality (but a bit more hum). Right now, I’m playing through a small Marshall solid-state, but looking for a Fender Blues amp.  Maybe that’s the problem.  Still, I wonder if it’s worth it to spend $300 on new pickups or just get a "blues" guitar. Thanks again, Dave G. Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice. Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

– Dale —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

David: I play pretty much BB King styled blues.  I have the past couple of years.  You probably know that BB uses a 490 equipped semi hollow in the 335 vein (Lucille).  He does not use the vaitone from the articles/interviews I have read, he liked the idea but just doesn’t find he uses it.  He generally plays .10’s (His Gibson Namesake as I recall).  He has used a variety of amps, from solid state to tube over the years as well, with his tome remaining pretty much the same.  I currently use a strat clone with a 57 classic neck and 57 plus bridge. I have a Line 6 POD and a Blues Junior.  This guitar gets very close to the BB vib., as will most solid body guitars.  The semi hollow has a slightly different vib that only it produces.  But, the largest part of the vib from BB comes from a million years with his virbrato technique (fingers).  I would bet none of us will ever match his tone perfectly as it is largely in his fingers not the guitar. It is rumored he used a strat for the U2 thing when he recorded it, but I have only heard his after the fact play of this tune so I can’t tell you if it is true. The point is your guitar with classics should be pretty close with the right settings. The Blackface setting on the POD with the EQ at noon (or the trebel pushed to 2-3 o’clock), chorus 1 at 8 o’clock, and reverb at about 2-3 o’clock.  For leads the drive should be about noon to 2 o’clock, while rhythm back the drive to about 10 o’clock.  HIs leads are slightly overdriven when played hard but clean up when not pushed (His SS days were all clean). This will get you real close to BB as well.  But, the Blues Junior is not going to get you as close as you may think.  I really like mine, but it (at least mine) has a harder edge, with less bass response (treble feel) and it could also stand a better reverb unit.  I really like the Blues Junior but a 2×12 cab would be a good additon to it for the BB thing.  You may want to check out a Flextone (2×12), or the Fender 2×12 reissue if you are looking for an amp with his tone.  The trick is at least 1 and perferably 2 12 inch speakers for BB’s feel (at least to me). I also own a Blueshawk.  Love it, but it will not get close to the recorded BB tone.  While BB is endorsing a modified one, his interview said "it is not the same as the real thing" I believe (Check the Gibson site).  It is a tele-strat toned guitar with a country (Gretch) feel to it. I think it is a money thing for him, not a players thing.  But, I have not seen him in concert since the endorsement so maybe he is playing it more than for an endorsment deal and I do not realize it. Guitar Player had an article about gear for various blues tones, includings BB’s a few months ago.  Check their site as see if it is archived. www.guitarplayer.com/ Hope you find something helpful here.  If I can be of any other help drop me a note. Dale Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice.

– Dale —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

Frank – Thanks for the reply.  I’m just moving into electric blues from acoustic blues, and its a whole different ball game as far as sound options go.  I’m looking for a BB King like sound and have found the buckers to be either too clean or too distorted.  (I find describing sound nuances with words particularly difficult).  Anyhow, I did try replacing the Epi humbuckers with Gibson 57 Classics and didn’t find much of an improvement in tonal quality (but a bit more hum). Right now, I’m playing through a small Marshall solid-state, but looking for a Fender Blues amp.  Maybe that’s the problem.  Still, I wonder if it’s worth it to spend $300 on new pickups or just get a "blues" guitar. Thanks again, Dave G. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice. Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

Response:

It is rumored he used a strat for the U2 thing when he recorded it, but I have only heard his after the fact play of this tune so I can’t tell you if it is true.

   It was a no-name brand stratoclone that Bono had "lying around."  And since we know how well Bono plays guitar…  ;)    darius "Bill Clinton is a son of a bitch and Tony Blair is the grandson of that  bitch."    - on a sign of a Beijing student protesting the Chinese embassy bombing

Response:

What are you using for an amp? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice.

Response:

You should have this site bookmarked and look at it often.. lots of good stuff.. http://www.stewmac.com articles in their free catalog on wiring and new electronic bits, etc, too. I use Donald Brosnac "guitar electronics’ and I really like this book. (cont. below) Thanks to everyone who reponded with suggestions – especially Twang who suggested putting my middle pickup out of phase.  Perfect!  That’s the sound I was looking for but couldn’t get.  I’m now immersing myself in all kinds of info on sound tweaking and pickup wiring, but it’s load of fun.  In another week I’ll probably have all my wiring exiting out to a breadboard where I can plug and play.

I have one made of cardboard. *S*  Well, perhaps that can wait for another time, I’m back in love with my guitar again so it’s time to play. In doing some research today, I happened across a company named "Torres Engineering" that offers custom kit guitars and modifications.  Found a six-position Varitone for $39 that claims to give that out of phase sound plus others filters.

I think there might be a couple of options here.. you can vary the varitones effect from pos. to pos., too. BBs position on the switch is supposed to be a five decibel cut at 1500 hz. if that helps.  The only problem with having my middle pickup out of phase with the others is that the sound is difficult to control since one vol pot acts to mitigate the other.  Working with headphones on can be danerous as once the canceling pickup is quieted the others really come to life.  Still I’ve gotten close enough to BB’s tone that I can chase his technique now.  Gimme about 75 years of playing full time and I might just get it Thanks again,

happy picking! Twang! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dave To me, its like the difference from hearing notes as "bee-bee-bee" vs. "beer-beer-beer".  Maybe that’s all him, a goodly portion of it is. He keeps his setting consistent and the rest is touch. I dunno, but when playing clean, hitting the same notes, mine is sounds almost acoustic. BB uses a filter to cut some lows out. using the middle pickup on your guitar out of phase can give a sound very like that. That’s sounds good, how do I get it out of phase? You reverse the wires from the middle pickup at the pot it runs to… the hot becomes the ground and the ground becomes the hot. just those two wires. it’s not exactly like his sound.. but without putting in a varitone, this is what most people use.

Response:

bb uses or used "Lab Series" ss amps if I remember. And he has humbuckers on "Lucille" Gerry

Last time I saw him (January), he was using Gibson Lab Series (L5) loaded with Peavey speakers. Cheers, — Don Idyllwild Brewing Company (home-brewed beer and tube guitar amps)

Response:

I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille?

From reading your other follow-ups, it sounds like you’re looking for a B.B. King sound, right? The guitar you have can come close, although some of what you hear in B.B. is the classic semi-hollow tone. Of course, B.B.’s fingers have a lot to do with his tone too. That vibrato of his is quite distinctive and difficult to emulate. Here’s what I do to try to get into the B.B. King ballpark, although I still have a lot of work to do. I have a Carvin Bolt that I re-wired in a H/S/H configuration with very flexible switching. On this guitar I activate the neck and bridge humbuckers. On the floor, I have a Snarling Dogs VeryTone pedal. It’s essentially a Varitone circuit with a clean-ish boost in a pedal. I set it to it’s "semi-hollow" setting. I then add a tiny bit of either echo or reverb to get closer to the semi-hollow sound. Finally, I go into a clean Fender tube amp or a SS Peavey. Hopefully, this gives you some ideas…. Frank Carr

Response:

IMO, over half a person’s tone and playing style have to do with his/her’s mentality…..any axe is a blues axe, strats have been used for hard rock. Maybe you just aren’t a blues player?  I wouldn’t go that far, but try a good, small tube amp like a Fender Champ, and put some good pickups in….the amp will make more of a difference in your sound than the amp, I think.  BTW, BB King does distort his amp a bit, and I think the Champ would do that nicely w/humbuckers at a moderate volume.  Later, Ethan. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice. Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

Response:

bb uses or used "Lab Series" ss amps if I remember. And he has humbuckers on "Lucille" Gerry

however i saw him on TV very recently, some R&B Soul awards show I think, and there was a Matchless amp in the customary place. There was also another amp off to the side, I couldnt tell what it was, and i also couldnt tell which one BB was actually using….. howldog

Response:

 To me, its like the difference from hearing notes as "bee-bee-bee" vs. "beer-beer-beer".  Maybe that’s all him, I dunno, but when playing clean, hitting the same notes, mine is sounds almost acoustic.

Roll off the tone on your guitar a bit. Or reduce some of the treble on your amp. — PGP key and more… http://www.lightside.net/~david/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You had a blues guitar before you ever switched the pickups. I suggest you are right.. you want tube sound. It’s much more key to your complaint than the pickups or the guitar. A fender blues jr is nice, and not expensive, and has all the blues tone you want. I seem to remember that BB King uses SS amps. Or was that Albert King? Or both? — PGP key and more… http://www.lightside.net/~david/

bb uses or used "Lab Series" ss amps if I remember. And he has humbuckers on "Lucille" Gerry

Response:

If it’s too clean.. I don’t know what to say. Clean is clean. How can you have too clean?

Again, words fail me when trying to describe sounds.  In many tunes, BB plays clean but there’s still a twang, so to speak, to the notes.  Maybe its the varitone and single coil pickups.  To me, its like the difference from hearing notes as "bee-bee-bee" vs. "beer-beer-beer".  Maybe that’s all him, I dunno, but when playing clean, hitting the same notes, mine is sounds almost acoustic. BB uses a filter to cut some lows out. using the middle pickup on your guitar out of phase can give a sound very like that.

That’s sounds good, how do I get it out of phase? Anyhow, I did try replacing the Epi humbuckers with Gibson 57 Classics and didn’t find much of an improvement in tonal quality (but a bit more hum). You shouldn’t have had more hum. Somethings not right.

Only had hum within about 3 or 4 ft (of a 15W amp).  Further away or repositioned, the hum was gone. I read somewhere that is considered within normal limits. Still it was more than the Epis. Thanks for the advice.  I’m intrigued by the out-of-phase middle pickup idea.  I’ll have to do some research.  In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye out for a used Blues Jr. Thanks, Dave

Response:

Just MHO, but I think you can play the blues with just about any guitar you want. Famous bluesmen have used Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, ES-335s, and everything in between. Is there a specific player whose sound you have in mind?

You are right, of course, and as others have pointed out, I may need a better or more suitable amp than my small Marshall solid-state. With a little distortion, I think my guitar sounds great, but trying to capture that trademark clean BB King sound is frustrating me.

Response:

Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice.

Response:

Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice.

That should make a fine blues axe with the addition of some good pickups. I’d try the Duncan Seth Lovers, myself. Tery

Response:

Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille?

Just MHO, but I think you can play the blues with just about any guitar you want. Famous bluesmen have used Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, ES-335s, and everything in between. Is there a specific player whose sound you have in mind? — PGP key and more… http://www.lightside.net/~david/

Response:

Frank – Thanks for the reply.  I’m just moving into electric blues from acoustic blues, and its a whole different ball game as far as sound options go.  I’m looking for a BB King like sound

BB uses a filter to cut some lows out. using the middle pickup on your guitar out of phase can give a sound very like that. but BBs sound is not the only blues sound. You should be doing very well with three humbucks, even if they were epis.  and have found the buckers to be either too clean or too distorted.

If it’s too distorted back off the guitar pickup volume knob. If it’s too clean.. I don’t know what to say. Clean is clean. How can you have too clean?  (I find describing sound nuances with words particularly difficult).  Anyhow, I did try replacing the Epi humbuckers with Gibson 57 Classics and didn’t find much of an improvement in tonal quality (but a bit more hum).

You shouldn’t have had more hum. Somethings not right. Right now, I’m playing through a small Marshall solid-state, but looking for a Fender Blues amp.  Maybe that’s the problem.  Still, I wonder if it’s worth it to spend $300 on new pickups or just get a "blues" guitar.

You had a blues guitar before you ever switched the pickups. I suggest you are right.. you want tube sound. It’s much more key to your complaint than the pickups or the guitar. A fender blues jr is nice, and not expensive, and has all the blues tone you want. Twang! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks again, Dave G. Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice. Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

Response:

Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice.

Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

Response:

Thanks to everyone who reponded with suggestions – especially Twang who suggested putting my middle pickup out of phase.  Perfect!  That’s the sound I was looking for but couldn’t get.  I’m now immersing myself in all kinds of info on sound tweaking and pickup wiring, but it’s load of fun.  In another week I’ll probably have all my wiring exiting out to a breadboard where I can plug and play.  Well, perhaps that can wait for another time, I’m back in love with my guitar again so it’s time to play. In doing some research today, I happened across a company named "Torres Engineering" that offers custom kit guitars and modifications.  Found a six-position Varitone for $39 that claims to give that out of phase sound plus others filters.  The only problem with having my middle pickup out of phase with the others is that the sound is difficult to control since one vol pot acts to mitigate the other.  Working with headphones on can be danerous as once the canceling pickup is quieted the others really come to life.  Still I’ve gotten close enough to BB’s tone that I can chase his technique now.  Gimme about 75 years of playing full time and I might just get it Thanks again, Dave  To me, its like the difference from hearing notes as "bee-bee-bee" vs. "beer-beer-beer".  Maybe that’s all him,

a goodly portion of it is. He keeps his setting consistent and the rest is touch. I dunno, but when playing clean, hitting the same notes, mine is sounds almost acoustic. BB uses a filter to cut some lows out. using the middle pickup on your guitar out of phase can give a sound very like that. That’s sounds good, how do I get it out of phase?

You reverse the wires from the middle pickup at the pot it runs to… the hot becomes the ground and the ground becomes the hot. just those two wires. it’s not exactly like his sound.. but without putting in a varitone, this is what most people use.

Response:

You had a blues guitar before you ever switched the pickups. I suggest you are right.. you want tube sound. It’s much more key to your complaint than the pickups or the guitar. A fender blues jr is nice, and not expensive, and has all the blues tone you want.

I seem to remember that BB King uses SS amps. Or was that Albert King? Or both? — PGP key and more… http://www.lightside.net/~david/

Response:

Those pickups (Gibson ’57’s) are supposed to be very good.  Try a good tube amp, like a champ or something, it will make all the difference in the world in your sound.  It’s more of the sound that the pickups or wood.  A great amp can make a crappy guitar sound good, but a great guitar can’t make a crappy amp sound good……Later, Ethan. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Frank – Thanks for the reply.  I’m just moving into electric blues from acoustic blues, and its a whole different ball game as far as sound options go.  I’m looking for a BB King like sound and have found the buckers to be either too clean or too distorted.  (I find describing sound nuances with words particularly difficult).  Anyhow, I did try replacing the Epi humbuckers with Gibson 57 Classics and didn’t find much of an improvement in tonal quality (but a bit more hum). Right now, I’m playing through a small Marshall solid-state, but looking for a Fender Blues amp.  Maybe that’s the problem.  Still, I wonder if it’s worth it to spend $300 on new pickups or just get a "blues" guitar. Thanks again, Dave G. Hi.  I have a beautiful Epi G-400 Custom (3 pickup, ivory), but I need a strong blues axe and those three buckers don’t cut it.  Is there anyway I can replace the humbuckers with other pickups (coil splitting of some type) and rewire the guitar?  Or is that more trouble than it’s worth and should I be looking to pickup a Blueshawk or Lucille? Thanks for any advice. Humbuckers aren’t cutting it for blues?  How do you figure?  What don’t you like about the sound?  Maybe putting in decent pickups would change your mind on the matter.  BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, early Clapton and Page and Beck all used humbucker equipped axes.  Maybe you should try out some guitars equipped with good quality humbuckers before looking at other pickup types. What kind of amp are you using? Frank Yang University Of Waterloo "I’m not an engineer, but I play one on TV"

Response: