Neil Youngs Guitars

Guitar Toad

Toadily Stratologist
I've seen Mr. Young playing Les Pauls and acoustics. Does he use other electrics besides the LP?

EDIT1:

ok so I went ahead and Googled.

Wikipedia has this:

* 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop –
* Martin D-45 – His primary steel-string acoustic guitar; used to write "Old Man" and many other hit songs.
* Martin D-28 – Nicknamed "Hank" after its previous owner, Hank Williams.
* 1927 Gibson Mastertone – A six-string banjo, tuned like a guitar. It has been used on many recordings and was played by James Taylor on "Old Man".
* Various vintage Fender Deluxe amplifiers – Neil's preferred amplifier for electric guitar is the diminutive Fender Deluxe, specifically a Tweed-era model from 1959. Neil purchased his first vintage Deluxe in 1967 for $50 and has since acquired nearly 450 different examples, all from the same era, but he maintains that it's the original model that sounds superior, and is a crucial component to his trademark sound. A notable and unique accessory to Young's Deluxe is the Whizzer, a device created specifically for Young, which physically changes the amplifier's settings to pre-set combinations. It has gone through many incarnations, and now includes effects pedals hardwired into its circuitry.
* Gretsch 6120 (Chet Atkins) – Before Neil bought Old Black, this was his primary electric guitar used during his Buffalo Springfield days.
* Gretsch White Falcon – Late '50s hollow body that Neil purchased near the end of the Buffalo Springfield era; in 1969 Neil acquired a stereo version of the same vintage guitar from Stills, and this instrument is featured prominently during Neil's early '70s period, and can be heard on tracks like "Ohio," "Southern Man," "Alabama," "L.A.," others.

EDIT 2:
The above says the Gretsch White Falcon was made as a stereo version which NY acquired in '69. I never heard of a stereo guitar. Very interesting...I assume this means it has two output jacks. I'm gonna have to Google again.
 
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Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

That Les Paul is the only one I've ever seen him with his hands on.

Lots of history to it...Firebird pickup, refin in black....
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

He's got some cool stuff. I think he may have partially retired the Black LP and uses a Goldtop with the same configuration.

I think he played the Gretsch in the Springfield and on Everybody Knows. Some of the tunes have extra twang on that one.

He used an Esquire on Tonight's the Night. Still sounded like him.
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

He's got some cool stuff. I think he may have partially retired the Black LP and uses a Goldtop with the same configuration.

He's still playing old Black. Actually, old black IS the Goldtop - someone added a certain (bad) paint job.

When I saw him he played an Orange Gretsch, and Old Black electric wise.
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

He's still playing old Black. Actually, old black IS the Goldtop - someone added a certain (bad) paint job.

When I saw him he played an Orange Gretsch, and Old Black electric wise.

Did you see Greendale? IIRC, he had a goldtop in that, or at least in part of it.

At any rate, the Black one is the coolest LP of all time. :)
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

* Various vintage Fender Deluxe amplifiers – Neil's preferred amplifier for electric guitar is the diminutive Fender Deluxe, specifically a Tweed-era model from 1959. Neil purchased his first vintage Deluxe in 1967 for $50 and has since acquired nearly 450 different examples, all from the same era, but he maintains that it's the original model that sounds superior, and is a crucial component to his trademark sound.

:chairfall In 1967, a 1959 Deluxe was just a used amplifier. It wasn't vintage yet. Thank you, for this interesting post. I've been a Neil Young fan for years.

Sprinter
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

thanx. ive started gaining more and more respect for Neil over the past month. His Acoustic stuff is just awsome.
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

Old Black was retired awhile ago---he is playing a goldtop lately.
Beside the Deluxe, he also uses a Magnatone and a big Baldwin SS amp...
 
Re: Neil Youngs Guitars

Yep, a Baldwin Exterminator. They must be quite rare, I've only seen one in person back when they were being sold, at a local music store. Never played through one though.
 
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