Freddie King tone

[gripweed]

I love Freddie King's tone on some of the later records (although he got a great tone on the early records too). For example his version of "Going Down." What pickup would you suggest for achieving that tone? It sounds to me like maybe an A2 neck pickup of some sort.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Freddie King tone

Check this out: http://www.mikesguitarsite.co.uk/gear/freddie_king/

 

[gripweed]

Re: Freddie King tone

Check this out: http://www.mikesguitarsite.co.uk/gear/freddie_king/

Thats a very cool site Todd, thanks!

Love the Bluesbreakers tab too!

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Freddie King tone

Love Freddy King...I recall him using P90's in a LP Goldtop.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Freddie King tone

Love Freddy King...I recall him using P90's in a LP Goldtop.

Yes and its a great tone. I'm talking about the later years though when he was using 345's and 355's. I believe they have the varitone on them but I'm wondering what kind of humbuckers would get his tone on those guitars (like on his version of Going Down. It sounds like A2 to me. I don't know maybe it was the varitone though...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Freddie King tone

Yes and its a great tone. I'm talking about the later years though when he was using 345's and 355's. I believe they have the varitone on them but I'm wondering what kind of humbuckers would get his tone on those guitars (like on his version of Going Down. It sounds like A2 to me. I don't know maybe it was the varitone though...

mist of not all of Freddie's ES guitars (335, 345, 355. ets) were from the 60's (mostly middle late 60's) and they would have had Alnico 5 stock Gibson buckers...a set of 59's with covers in a semi solid axe with a varitone into a BF or SF Fender amps cranked to a mild break up will get you very close...

 

[hans-jürgen]

Re: Freddie King tone

The main part of his sound was the thumb pick alternating with the fingers and hitting the strings really hard while cranking his Fender combo. I don't know which year his ES guitar was built, depending on that it either had original Gibson PAFs or PATs.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Freddie King tone

bump

 

[MBreinin]

Re: Freddie King tone

From what I have heard, use the middle position on a 335-345 style guitar. Roll the volume and tones down to about 7, attack the strings pretty hard. I had a 335 style and this setup produced a good FK type tone.

Mike

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Freddie King tone

I'd say a 335 style guitar with a 59' in the bridge. To my ears Freddie's
tone was very Bright like a A5 mag sounds.