Derek Trucks pickups?

R

robo

New member
I saw Tedeschi Trucks Band a few days ago and was blown away by Dereks tone. I've heard the albums and they're great but live was just on another level.

Do anybody know if he uses stock Gibson pickups or any aftermarket stuff? I have never seen any Derek Trucks signature pickup. Just love that tone!

 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

I dont know what is actually using, but for his signature SG he has chosen Anilco II PAF-style HB called Classic 57 (made by Gibson I suppose).

I am sorry missed Tedeschi Trucks Band last week in Paris. I planned to go and than forgot about it. So I will watch your video.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

I saw a rig rundown were he said he plays mostly a Gibson Duane Allman signature SG. It was made in really small numbers he said. I have never found any specs of that guitar. Maybe some of you have?
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

Yeah I know. Unfortunatley he does not play his own signature model. He plays a Duane Allman signature model. He talks about it in a rig rundown video from Premier Guitar. I have yet to find any specs on those guitars though.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

Googled some more and found this. Maybe Derek got it wrong in the rig rundown video and it's actually a Dickey Betts he's playing? Sounds unlikely he got it wrong since it's his main axe and he's played with the Allmans himself. But this page suggests that anyhow, that he's actually playing a Dickey signature SG. If that is so then we know what pickups he's got in the guitar: Gibson Custom Buckers with Alnico III magnets.

Ground Guitar.com – Derek Trucks guitars and gear/
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

In 2013 at least, he was using his signature:

“And you and Gibson developed your signature SG…

Yeah, and it’s what I use, for the most part. we’ve been working on an updated version. For a while, I was playing a ’63 reissue that I put a stoptail on, but left the big piece of metal (from the Maestro vibrato) on because it looked nice. I used it for a long time, so they did a version of that. They’re doing a new one.”

https://www.vintageguitar.com/16701/susan-tedeschi-and-derek-trucks/

I imagine if you’re after his tone and you can’t get it with 57 Classics or something similar, the problem isn’t the pickups.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

He is one of those guys that get that tone no matter what guitar or pickups he uses. He had the beginnings of that tone when he was 9.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

I think we got it now, it's a Dickey Betts signature artist proof guitar that he got from Duane Allmans daughter. From GroundGuitar.com

"Derek acquired one of Dickey Betts limited edition SGs in 2011 – however, Galadrielle Allman (Duane Allman‘s daughter) had received an Artist Proof #4 of this model and Derek liked that one better so she ended up giving it to him (The SG Guitar Book, Tony Bacon, p. 109). This guitar (the Artist Proof #4) eventually ended up replacing the ’61 Reissue SG as Derek’s main axe in 2012 and he used it ever since, even preferring it over his own signature model.
The guitar is based on a 1961 Gibson SG that belonged to Dickey Betts but was at one point played by Duane Allman, who was obviously one of Derek’s main influences. It features aged cherry red finish on a mahogany body, a glued-in mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard with 22 banjo frets, ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, and two “Custom Bucker” pickups with Alnico III magnets.

Just recently Derek seemed to have replaced the two volume controls knobs with black top hat knobs similar to those fitted on newer Gibson Les Paul Specials (although the top seems to concave), but except that nothing else looks like it has been played with. Also please note that since the guitar is a direct replica of Dickey Betts 1961 SG, it too features a couple of screw holes on the left end of the body which were originally holding a Gibson sideways Vibrola on Dickey’s SG."
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

derek had antiquitys in one sg, 57 classics in one, maybe the custom buckers in his current one... it always sounds like him. sg->cable->amp. used to be a bf super reverb for years now its a custom alessandro head based on a super reverb into a 4x10 cab.

robo got the story of his current sg correct. not sure what pups were in the artist proofs or if they have been swapped out but im sure it was some kind of paf. pretty sure the bridge has been swapped since those dicky/duane sgs came with nylon saddles. bobby swaps things as he needs it and derek isnt a big gear head. even though he plays a 10k guitar and 12k amp :D
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

10 or 15 years ago, he was using a Washburn with a Custom Custom & ‘59. He’s used an old Super Reverb and now has PRS amps. Still sounds like him, like everybody is saying.

Derek’s tone is all in his touch, and particularly in how he pushes the slide into the frets sometimes. Greg Koch did an awesome break down of it on Jude Gold’s No Guitar is Safe podcast.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

he did use a washburn for a short period around the time of joyful noise. he used the prs amps for while with the abb cause the super wasnt keeping up. he tried a super six for a while but it didnt work out.

ive seen that koch thing and i dont think derek does that as much as greg thinks ;) at least not as long as ive been seeing him live.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

Maybe that’s the poor man’s route to his sound? If anything Greg does can be called poor man’s anything :)

But yeah, Derek’s sound is all him. Bet if he played Susan’s Strat or Tele you’d never hear the difference. Gear seems to submit to his will.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

its a poor mans way of having perfect intonation with a slide :D im sure he would sound a bit different on a strat but he would still reach the same musical heights
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

Mincer said:
He is one of those guys that get that tone no matter what guitar or pickups he uses. He had the beginnings of that tone when he was 9.
Click to expand...

True ! Because the various kinds of slide vibrato he uses are more crucial than his gear.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

his old super had the pyledriver speakers but he hasnt used those for a long time. derek sounds like derek no matter what, most people cant say that, so a 57 classic is fine for him but that doesnt mean its good enough for others. i think he sounds best through his supers compared to the prs or alessandro but i get that those suit certain needs better
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

He needs a reso with an electric pickup in a dual amp setup, like Anders Beck, the dobro player from Greensky Bluegrass.

Derek's one of those guys I'd pay an absurd amount to watch him improvise for a few hours.
 
Re: Derek Trucks pickups?

got to any show and youll get to see some of that. paid $1 to see dtb back in the 90's at a club i played all the time. jimmy herring played that night too. best dollar i ever spent
 
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