Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
- Thread starter Lee_M.
- Start date
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
You got it, bro! The review will be coming on the guitar and pickups! Will someone (in advance) be willing to host sounds clips if I send them the CD? I want everyone to hear the before and after of the '57 Classics and MJ's PAFs. I will then do the Timbuckers after the MJ PAFs, so we have all three pickups on the same tape.
Just to be comparable, both guitars will have similar electronics in terms of pots and caps. Although the guitars may not be the same, at least you can hear what the pickups can do!
So who can host my soundclips and pics?
You got it, bro! The review will be coming on the guitar and pickups! Will someone (in advance) be willing to host sounds clips if I send them the CD? I want everyone to hear the before and after of the '57 Classics and MJ's PAFs. I will then do the Timbuckers after the MJ PAFs, so we have all three pickups on the same tape.
Just to be comparable, both guitars will have similar electronics in terms of pots and caps. Although the guitars may not be the same, at least you can hear what the pickups can do!
So who can host my soundclips and pics?
dr.barlo said:
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
I'd be happy to host both the pics and the clips Lee.
I'd be happy to host both the pics and the clips Lee.
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
I have heard ZHANGs custom PHAT CATS and WOW
These stories impress me as well. Makes me open minded to the higher costs. MJ is sooo quick to call back when she returned one of my calls. They talked me OUT of the EVH saying if I liked my APHs, to stick with them and not spend the dough.
BTW I AM STILL INTERESTED IN THE EVHs
I have heard ZHANGs custom PHAT CATS and WOW
These stories impress me as well. Makes me open minded to the higher costs. MJ is sooo quick to call back when she returned one of my calls. They talked me OUT of the EVH saying if I liked my APHs, to stick with them and not spend the dough.
BTW I AM STILL INTERESTED IN THE EVHs
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
Female, remember?
Just messing
I've read some stories around here and lets just say I'd love to put in an order. Who knows, one of these days I just might
Curly said:
Female, remember?
Just messing
I've read some stories around here and lets just say I'd love to put in an order. Who knows, one of these days I just might
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
Duane's tone on "You Don't Love Me" is about as good as it gets. I am going to get a staple pickup from MJ for my new R4 and it sounds like I should have her do a P90 for the bridge too. Hard to find examples where you specifically know it was a 54 Custom on the record other than Steve Gaines on Street Survivors and he doesn't go very loud. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford use 54's, but you never know what they are using on any specific cut after the first record, particularly Perry.
Duane's tone on "You Don't Love Me" is about as good as it gets. I am going to get a staple pickup from MJ for my new R4 and it sounds like I should have her do a P90 for the bridge too. Hard to find examples where you specifically know it was a 54 Custom on the record other than Steve Gaines on Street Survivors and he doesn't go very loud. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford use 54's, but you never know what they are using on any specific cut after the first record, particularly Perry.
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
You are correct. It is hard to find specific examples of a tune where the artist 'live' or 'studio' a 54 the whole time. But, if you can find one (a CD recording) and get it to MJ to listen to, you'll be back a very good pickup.
As an FYI, she wouldn't wind my Duane pickups until Seymour listened to "You Don't Love Me", so I'm assuming that they are going to be kick-arse if she wanted the man to opine on the tonal qualities.
Way to go MJ and "Thank You"!
You are correct. It is hard to find specific examples of a tune where the artist 'live' or 'studio' a 54 the whole time. But, if you can find one (a CD recording) and get it to MJ to listen to, you'll be back a very good pickup.
As an FYI, she wouldn't wind my Duane pickups until Seymour listened to "You Don't Love Me", so I'm assuming that they are going to be kick-arse if she wanted the man to opine on the tonal qualities.
Way to go MJ and "Thank You"!
jdm61 said:
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Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
"I Know a Little" is the only one I can think of and while it is a great song with great playing, it really doesn't give a real broad example of what the 54 sounded like. The P90 is realtively easy. You could probably just wind it to the specs of the bridge from a 54 Goldtop and be spot on. Its the A5 staple pickup that i worry about nailing.
"I Know a Little" is the only one I can think of and while it is a great song with great playing, it really doesn't give a real broad example of what the 54 sounded like. The P90 is realtively easy. You could probably just wind it to the specs of the bridge from a 54 Goldtop and be spot on. Its the A5 staple pickup that i worry about nailing.
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
the neck pickup on the 54 Custom is not a regular P90. it has little rectangular pole pieces instead of screws or round poles. They look like fat staples. It is supposedly Alnico 5 and is pretty hot. Neil Young has a 54-56 Custom with the stock staple pup in the neck and a metal cover P90 type Bigsby pup in the bridge position.
the neck pickup on the 54 Custom is not a regular P90. it has little rectangular pole pieces instead of screws or round poles. They look like fat staples. It is supposedly Alnico 5 and is pretty hot. Neil Young has a 54-56 Custom with the stock staple pup in the neck and a metal cover P90 type Bigsby pup in the bridge position.
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
When are the clips going to be up?
We gotta hear some clips, man. Post 'em ASAP.
When are the clips going to be up?
We gotta hear some clips, man. Post 'em ASAP.
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
I hear you, brother. Unfortunately, it won't be until April 1st at the Greensboro Jam that you'll get clips and pics! See the following links:
http://lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106701
http;//www.reviwear.com/lpjam.htm
I have a small gig this weekend that won't be recorded, but we'll have plenty of one-off A/B/C/D/E clips at the Greensboro Jam that'll be posted the following week.
What am I using?
A. Amp = Blockhead "Skunkworks" 50W Marshall (circa late '60's Bass Head, but heavily modified like Duane's)
B. Cab = 2x12 Blockhead Open-Back Extension Cab with single-ring JBL D120Fs (reconed about 12 years ago with original kits).
C. Guitars:
We'll likely try the following guitars and pickup combos since these are these are the 'showcase guitars' for the Jam:
1. My new '59 VOS with stock Classic 57's.
2. My new '59 VOS with MJ's 'Duane Pickups'.
3. Jimmy's new '59 VOS with stock Burst Buckers #1 and #2.
4. My '02 R8 with Timbuckers.
5. Jimmy's '94 R9 with Tom Holmes.
6. Jimmy's TBD with Wagner Fillmores.
It will be really cool to see how the guitars/pickups all sound through: (i) the same 50-Watt Blockhead, (ii) the same Amp settings (no adjustments at all), and (iii) all the Guitar Controls on 10 for each 'clip').
What will we play?
We'll be playing the distorted parts from the following Allman Brothers songs: (i) Stormy Monday (Duane's Solo at 3:32) and You Don't Love Me (Duane's Solo at 14:25).
To me, those tones to me just are super sweet and very hard to recreate....but, with Ossie's help at Blockhead, we seemed to have done the impossible and have recreated the Duane Fillmore Tones with a Master Volume 2 channel EL34 "Skunkworks Amp" and basic PAF clones (we tried Timbuckers and Tom Holmes....they sounded almost identical).
What do you do if you haven't heard those parts?
If you have the Fillmore Concerts or Fillmore East CD's, great, but if not, download these 2 songs from I-tunes ("You Don't Love Me" and "Stormy Monday"). Then listen to how beautiful it is when Duane picks the guitar and squeezes out those massive bends and tone!
Note that Duane is in the left channel of your earphones, and he plays the first solo on "Stormy Monday", as well as the first solo on "You Don't Love Me", plus the noted clip at '14:25'. Those parts just smoke and when you play them (yourself) you really have to work hard to use the Volume and Tone Controls to mimic the tones - it makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in some parts of the songs.
Duane was definitely a master of utilizing 1meg Pots for the Volume Controls and 500K Pots for the Tone Controls!! Listen closely and you'll see what I mean! Anyway, got to go, but have a listen so you have a benchmark for the tone. My guess is that MJ's PAFs are going to be the best!!!
Best,
Lee Moore
sufferinrewind said:
I hear you, brother. Unfortunately, it won't be until April 1st at the Greensboro Jam that you'll get clips and pics! See the following links:
http://lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106701
http;//www.reviwear.com/lpjam.htm
I have a small gig this weekend that won't be recorded, but we'll have plenty of one-off A/B/C/D/E clips at the Greensboro Jam that'll be posted the following week.
What am I using?
A. Amp = Blockhead "Skunkworks" 50W Marshall (circa late '60's Bass Head, but heavily modified like Duane's)
B. Cab = 2x12 Blockhead Open-Back Extension Cab with single-ring JBL D120Fs (reconed about 12 years ago with original kits).
C. Guitars:
We'll likely try the following guitars and pickup combos since these are these are the 'showcase guitars' for the Jam:
1. My new '59 VOS with stock Classic 57's.
2. My new '59 VOS with MJ's 'Duane Pickups'.
3. Jimmy's new '59 VOS with stock Burst Buckers #1 and #2.
4. My '02 R8 with Timbuckers.
5. Jimmy's '94 R9 with Tom Holmes.
6. Jimmy's TBD with Wagner Fillmores.
It will be really cool to see how the guitars/pickups all sound through: (i) the same 50-Watt Blockhead, (ii) the same Amp settings (no adjustments at all), and (iii) all the Guitar Controls on 10 for each 'clip').
What will we play?
We'll be playing the distorted parts from the following Allman Brothers songs: (i) Stormy Monday (Duane's Solo at 3:32) and You Don't Love Me (Duane's Solo at 14:25).
To me, those tones to me just are super sweet and very hard to recreate....but, with Ossie's help at Blockhead, we seemed to have done the impossible and have recreated the Duane Fillmore Tones with a Master Volume 2 channel EL34 "Skunkworks Amp" and basic PAF clones (we tried Timbuckers and Tom Holmes....they sounded almost identical).
What do you do if you haven't heard those parts?
If you have the Fillmore Concerts or Fillmore East CD's, great, but if not, download these 2 songs from I-tunes ("You Don't Love Me" and "Stormy Monday"). Then listen to how beautiful it is when Duane picks the guitar and squeezes out those massive bends and tone!
Note that Duane is in the left channel of your earphones, and he plays the first solo on "Stormy Monday", as well as the first solo on "You Don't Love Me", plus the noted clip at '14:25'. Those parts just smoke and when you play them (yourself) you really have to work hard to use the Volume and Tone Controls to mimic the tones - it makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in some parts of the songs.
Duane was definitely a master of utilizing 1meg Pots for the Volume Controls and 500K Pots for the Tone Controls!! Listen closely and you'll see what I mean! Anyway, got to go, but have a listen so you have a benchmark for the tone. My guess is that MJ's PAFs are going to be the best!!!
Best,
Lee Moore
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sufferinrewind
New member
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
Oh, ya. I forgot that you said they wouldn't be there until April. Sorry, kinda slipped my mind.
Did you get the Blockhead yet, or is it still being constructed/shipped/whatever?
Oh, ya. I forgot that you said they wouldn't be there until April. Sorry, kinda slipped my mind.
Did you get the Blockhead yet, or is it still being constructed/shipped/whatever?
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
It is done and we did the final tweek last Tuesday before I went out of town. The JBL's are breaking in, nicely, and the amp nails the Stormy Monday "Duane Parts", as well as the "You Don't Love Me" clip at 14:25.
The cool part about this amp is that the clean channel is a basic 50W low input Marshall, so I can use all my Landgraff and XOTIC pedals to get Dickey's or Warren's tone depending on what we are playing.
That amp is definitely a jack of all trades and modeled after how Duane had his amps set-up for live performances. My source is reliable for this, so I share this with confidence. During the '70-'71 shows, Duane used an A/B & Line Driver Box (like a VHT Valvulator) to switch between his two Marshalls for "clean" and "lead" parts. How could I know this. Stormy Monday is a perfect example. And, trust me, this is very true once you hear my amp and turn the volume down to 1....there is no way on earth you can get the Stormy Monday cleans with that much distortion on 1 - impossible.
As such, Ossie set me up with an Channel Switcher box with a Volume Boost. The box allows me to put the effects I want on each channel or on both, which is very cool given that today's pedals are really nice and flexible for transparent clean boosts or mid-range boosts.
Anyway, got to go, but one of these days, I'll share more information with everyone about Duane's rig and lay all the rumors to rest. What you thought was correct (except the 50 Watt Bass Heads and JBL D120F's) is not. He did a lot to his guitars and amps, just like Blockhead and I just did (for 30 man hours on one channel and one tone)!
Cheers,
DLM
sufferinrewind said:
It is done and we did the final tweek last Tuesday before I went out of town. The JBL's are breaking in, nicely, and the amp nails the Stormy Monday "Duane Parts", as well as the "You Don't Love Me" clip at 14:25.
The cool part about this amp is that the clean channel is a basic 50W low input Marshall, so I can use all my Landgraff and XOTIC pedals to get Dickey's or Warren's tone depending on what we are playing.
That amp is definitely a jack of all trades and modeled after how Duane had his amps set-up for live performances. My source is reliable for this, so I share this with confidence. During the '70-'71 shows, Duane used an A/B & Line Driver Box (like a VHT Valvulator) to switch between his two Marshalls for "clean" and "lead" parts. How could I know this. Stormy Monday is a perfect example. And, trust me, this is very true once you hear my amp and turn the volume down to 1....there is no way on earth you can get the Stormy Monday cleans with that much distortion on 1 - impossible.
As such, Ossie set me up with an Channel Switcher box with a Volume Boost. The box allows me to put the effects I want on each channel or on both, which is very cool given that today's pedals are really nice and flexible for transparent clean boosts or mid-range boosts.
Anyway, got to go, but one of these days, I'll share more information with everyone about Duane's rig and lay all the rumors to rest. What you thought was correct (except the 50 Watt Bass Heads and JBL D120F's) is not. He did a lot to his guitars and amps, just like Blockhead and I just did (for 30 man hours on one channel and one tone)!
Cheers,
DLM
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sufferinrewind
New member
Re: Special Thanks for MJ - Great Custom Shop Success Story
That's excellent stuff, man. I can't wait to hear it. I'll keep an eye out the first couple of weeks in April for the clips. Are you going to make a new thread for the clips, or just post 'em in the first post here?
That's excellent stuff, man. I can't wait to hear it. I'll keep an eye out the first couple of weeks in April for the clips. Are you going to make a new thread for the clips, or just post 'em in the first post here?
