keith richards tone

[UCSDBoy]

I was just going through my rolling stones tracks today and man, Keith Richards's tone is the definitition of rock and roll! Apart from style, does anyone know what kind of equipment he uses? I know he uses a tele...

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: keith richards tone

Yup! A Tele w/t a humbucker in the neck tuned to open G most of the time.
As far as amps? It's hard to pin him down to one amp. I'd say he has used
every thing at one point. Last Stone's Concert I saw looked like he was
useing some kinda fender custom Shop amp? In the early 70's he used
Ampeg's. I think he just has his sound and can dial it up on most amps.

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: keith richards tone

His tone on "Midnight Rambler" just flat out kills me every time I listen to it.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: keith richards tone

52 and 72 Teles, among others like Gibsons and Fenders....even a few MusicMans.

In the early days, usually Ampeg Reverberockets or Fender Tweeds or Twin Reverbs.

Now, I think he's mostly using Fender Custom Shop Tweed Twins and Bassbreakers.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: keith richards tone

Keef has played loads of different gear over the years. That tone is in his soul. :approve:

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: keith richards tone

There's a quote from Keef that goes along the lines of :

'it doesn't matter what piece of gear it is, in next to no time I'll have it sounding like me'.

I saw a recent stones live clip on TV and there were vibro kings onstage. Couldn't tell if they were Keef's or Woody's, though.

 

[Mac-P]

Re: keith richards tone

Keith has used everything over the years. He used Boogies for a long time and obviously Fenders.

On the Steel Wheels tour I saw him up REAL close (14th row center - woo hoo!) and he was switching between a Fender for clean (I forget what kind, probably a Custom Shop number like a Tone King), and an old Marshall Plexi for his crunchy tones. Both sound great. Uh, yea....that's an obvious one....

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: keith richards tone

I'd heard he generally used Fender Twins on the road and Ampegs in the studio.

But Keith is one of those guys that sounds like him no matter what he plays with.

I know he has a deep affection for the Trace Elliot Velocette amps.

 

[FretFire]

Re: keith richards tone

Doesn't he use Duesenberg geets occasionally?

 

[LesStrat]

Re: keith richards tone

There's a quote from Keef that goes along the lines of :

'it doesn't matter what piece of gear it is, in next to no time I'll have it sounding like me'.

I could say the SAME THING!!! Bwahahahahaha! :smack: :chairfall

 

[Curly]

Re: keith richards tone

AFAIK, he has two early, tweed Twins with consecutive numbers

 

[Duesenberg USA]

Re: keith richards tone

Ronnie Wood plays our Duesenberg TV model along with Elvis and Slash.

 

[dani]

Re: keith richards tone

Ronnie Wood plays our Duesenberg TV model along with Elvis and Slash.

that will be elvis costello and not elvis presley i guess. :22:

 

[dani]

Re: keith richards tone

as for the original post. yeah, he is with his tele most of the time. tele lead pickup and a humbucker in the neck. how did he get them to balance output-wise?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: keith richards tone

Someone i know was backstage at a Stones show.... She told me that she could not believe just how old looking the Stones gear is these days. I read an interview where Keith says that their techs look after their gear so well it is like playing thru a new amp every night.

For a while Keith even used Boogies in the 80's.... Marshalls, Ampeg's, Fenders!

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: keith richards tone

His tone on "Midnight Rambler" just flat out kills me every time I listen to it.

Me too. Great tune. Great guitar sound.

 

[deftgala]

Re: keith richards tone

Ronnie Wood plays our Duesenberg TV model along with Elvis and Slash.

Slash used one of those for playing the national anthems at the Blue Jays Home Opener in Toronto a few months back.