Cream Clapton Tone
- Thread starter Twang Man
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Through a cranked Marshall? Any of them could do it if you've got the right touch and know the licks. I like the 59 alot, but I like and use all of those pickups. Clapton's Cream tone is my very favorite humbucker tone. I couldn't honestly say that any of them do it better than the other three. Lew
Twang Man said:
Through a cranked Marshall? Any of them could do it if you've got the right touch and know the licks. I like the 59 alot, but I like and use all of those pickups. Clapton's Cream tone is my very favorite humbucker tone. I couldn't honestly say that any of them do it better than the other three. Lew
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
I'd say either the Seth or the Antiquity. I've had the Seth in the neck of a Dean Hardtail, which is tonally similar to an LP given it weight and construction. For my personal taste, the 59 is a little too boomy in the neck, and the PG has an upper mid spike that I don't really care for.
Clapton was using PAF pickups during that period, and the Seths and Ants are as close to those as you can get today, without spending thousands on the originals. Click on my soundclips in my sig, and scroll down a little ways. You will see clips of the PG
and the Seth. Those were both in the neck of my Dean Hardtail, thru my Marshall JCM 800 2205 circuit, gain fairly high. I'm just noodling around over a backing track, but you'll get the idea.
I love the Seth.
I'd say either the Seth or the Antiquity. I've had the Seth in the neck of a Dean Hardtail, which is tonally similar to an LP given it weight and construction. For my personal taste, the 59 is a little too boomy in the neck, and the PG has an upper mid spike that I don't really care for.
Clapton was using PAF pickups during that period, and the Seths and Ants are as close to those as you can get today, without spending thousands on the originals. Click on my soundclips in my sig, and scroll down a little ways. You will see clips of the PG
and the Seth. Those were both in the neck of my Dean Hardtail, thru my Marshall JCM 800 2205 circuit, gain fairly high. I'm just noodling around over a backing track, but you'll get the idea. I love the Seth.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Don't forget how much a cranked Marshall stack can define that tone...it's a huge part of Clapton's Cream tone.
I saw Clapton with Cream at least three times around 1967. Twice he played the painted SG and the last time he played a reverse Firebird I with one mini bridge humbucker. Through those cranked Marshall stacks he didn't sound much differant than he did when I saw him play the SG with full sized humbuckers!
I think if Eric Clapton were to plug a pair of Antiquitys, pair of Seths or pair of 59's into a Marshall and do his thing like he did with Cream, he would get a great Clapton/Cream tone out of any of those.
The pickups in his early 60's SG were probably alnico 5 humbuckers like the '59's, and I like a '59 bridge humbucker alot.
The Antiquity, Seth and PG are alnico 2 humbuckers and Clapton probably wouldn't have had alnico 2 humbuckers in that SG. But through a Marshall, those would still do a great job of getting the Clapton/Cream tone, and the more pronounced mids of alnico 2 humbuckers might bring out even more of that vocal squawk Clapton was known for.
But when he switched to a Strat for Layla and Delaney and Bonnie his tone changed completely and he's never sounded the same again.
Anyways, I think it'd come down to what works for you and what you're hearing in your head and just personal preferance.
I like them all and I use them all.
If you feel comfortable with the bucks, go for the Antquitys...tho any of those you mentioned will do the trick.
Another good choice would be the Duncan Custom Shop EVH pickup.
Lew
Don't forget how much a cranked Marshall stack can define that tone...it's a huge part of Clapton's Cream tone.
I saw Clapton with Cream at least three times around 1967. Twice he played the painted SG and the last time he played a reverse Firebird I with one mini bridge humbucker. Through those cranked Marshall stacks he didn't sound much differant than he did when I saw him play the SG with full sized humbuckers!
I think if Eric Clapton were to plug a pair of Antiquitys, pair of Seths or pair of 59's into a Marshall and do his thing like he did with Cream, he would get a great Clapton/Cream tone out of any of those.
The pickups in his early 60's SG were probably alnico 5 humbuckers like the '59's, and I like a '59 bridge humbucker alot.
The Antiquity, Seth and PG are alnico 2 humbuckers and Clapton probably wouldn't have had alnico 2 humbuckers in that SG. But through a Marshall, those would still do a great job of getting the Clapton/Cream tone, and the more pronounced mids of alnico 2 humbuckers might bring out even more of that vocal squawk Clapton was known for.
But when he switched to a Strat for Layla and Delaney and Bonnie his tone changed completely and he's never sounded the same again.
Anyways, I think it'd come down to what works for you and what you're hearing in your head and just personal preferance.
I like them all and I use them all.
If you feel comfortable with the bucks, go for the Antquitys...tho any of those you mentioned will do the trick.
Another good choice would be the Duncan Custom Shop EVH pickup.
Lew
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Twang Man
New member
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Thanks for the info guys. And thanks for the extra info about which gtrs he was using.
My next question: What is the difference between the Antiquity and Seth? They both are Alnico II magnets, are unpotted and both supposed to be replicas of the original PAF pups designed by Seth Lover. It sounds like the only difference would be that the Antiquity has an aged looking cover. Does that mean the cover on the Antiquity may have some rust on it? Right now I'm leaning toward the Seth and if it happens to be too microphoninc for my liking I will try wax potting it myself by dipping it in some parafin wax as Jeff H explained in another thread. How much will wax potting alter the tone besides eliminating some of the early breakup?
I wonder why there isn't an Antiquity II version of the PAF Humbucker which would have Alnico V magnets.
Thanks for the info guys. And thanks for the extra info about which gtrs he was using.
My next question: What is the difference between the Antiquity and Seth? They both are Alnico II magnets, are unpotted and both supposed to be replicas of the original PAF pups designed by Seth Lover. It sounds like the only difference would be that the Antiquity has an aged looking cover. Does that mean the cover on the Antiquity may have some rust on it? Right now I'm leaning toward the Seth and if it happens to be too microphoninc for my liking I will try wax potting it myself by dipping it in some parafin wax as Jeff H explained in another thread. How much will wax potting alter the tone besides eliminating some of the early breakup?
I wonder why there isn't an Antiquity II version of the PAF Humbucker which would have Alnico V magnets.
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Twang Man
New member
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
I am just a little concerned about how loose or spongey the bass would be for playing Rock such as I mentioned (Cream) or such things as early Sabbath. I wouldn't be using for shredding much though. I'm into the more vintage overdriven tone. Like Lew, the Cream tone is my favorite humbucking tone also. Would wax potting a Seth tighten the bass any?
I am just a little concerned about how loose or spongey the bass would be for playing Rock such as I mentioned (Cream) or such things as early Sabbath. I wouldn't be using for shredding much though. I'm into the more vintage overdriven tone. Like Lew, the Cream tone is my favorite humbucking tone also. Would wax potting a Seth tighten the bass any?
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
I think that Alnico II doesn't have a REALLY spongey bass. I have a PG set in my LP and they are tight in the bass with good highs and strong mids. They work for anything from jazz to STP style grind. I also had similar results using the Seth's in my Epi Sheraton. The Seth's were somewhat microphonic, but going nto uncontrolable feedback was rare. A cool thing with the Seth's was that you could controll the feedback and use it to sustain notes and full chords for some cool effects.
I think that Alnico II doesn't have a REALLY spongey bass. I have a PG set in my LP and they are tight in the bass with good highs and strong mids. They work for anything from jazz to STP style grind. I also had similar results using the Seth's in my Epi Sheraton. The Seth's were somewhat microphonic, but going nto uncontrolable feedback was rare. A cool thing with the Seth's was that you could controll the feedback and use it to sustain notes and full chords for some cool effects.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Regarding the "spongey Bass" thing, alnico 2 humbuckers don't have spongey bass. They sound fine. The Seth Lover does seem to have a little less bass, but it's not sloppy or loose or anything like that at all, and I find the bass response from the Seth, PG and Antiquity neck humbuckers to be clearer than the 59N...not sloppier or woofier.
When I saw Clapton play his SG, I honestly thought his lead tone was the best I'd ever heard but his neck pickup tone sounded very muddy. At that time, Clapton had not yet developed into the steller rythym player he is now, and he mostly strummed full bar chords!
Lew
Regarding the "spongey Bass" thing, alnico 2 humbuckers don't have spongey bass. They sound fine. The Seth Lover does seem to have a little less bass, but it's not sloppy or loose or anything like that at all, and I find the bass response from the Seth, PG and Antiquity neck humbuckers to be clearer than the 59N...not sloppier or woofier.
When I saw Clapton play his SG, I honestly thought his lead tone was the best I'd ever heard but his neck pickup tone sounded very muddy. At that time, Clapton had not yet developed into the steller rythym player he is now, and he mostly strummed full bar chords!
Lew
flank
New member
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
The SEths has full strength A2 magnets........where as the Antiquitys magnets are slightly weakened to replica how a magnet would have changed a bit over the 40 years.....
i heard some clips, very much in the clapton style and tone,......and the Seths sounded a bit more aggresive with more high end........where as the Ants were a tad sweeter..........but both were very clear,and the bass was fine......... overall, they were not THAT much differnt sounding at all
The SEths has full strength A2 magnets........where as the Antiquitys magnets are slightly weakened to replica how a magnet would have changed a bit over the 40 years.....
i heard some clips, very much in the clapton style and tone,......and the Seths sounded a bit more aggresive with more high end........where as the Ants were a tad sweeter..........but both were very clear,and the bass was fine......... overall, they were not THAT much differnt sounding at all
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Regarding the full strength magnet vs aged magnet: my heroes ( Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, etc.) used '59 era Les Pauls that were not even 10 years old when they made thier classic recordings in the 60's! Those magnets were almost brand new in 1966 or 67! Lew
Regarding the full strength magnet vs aged magnet: my heroes ( Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, etc.) used '59 era Les Pauls that were not even 10 years old when they made thier classic recordings in the 60's! Those magnets were almost brand new in 1966 or 67! Lew
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Cream Clapton Tone
Try this....sometimes soundclick goes down for a few hours, such is the chance you take with free hosting sites.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/jeffhaggardmusic.htm
Twang Man said:
Try this....sometimes soundclick goes down for a few hours, such is the chance you take with free hosting sites.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/jeffhaggardmusic.htm
