Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

[jbear]

I'm thinking about changing out the Custombuckers in the 59 Historic 335 that I've got. I'll have to mess with them a bit more first, but not diggin' them overly after about a month (love the instrument...CB's seem thin sounding). I've got Florence Voodoos in another and love those. Like something a bit different. If you've heard Robben Ford, Live at Rockpalast...that's what I'm going for.
Note: I still have to mess with pole pieces and height, but I've got quite a few guitars...not sure that's gonna do it so I'm researching.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

I remember Robben specifically speaking about using Seymour Duncan "Eclairs" in an on line/youtube show, like "The Captain and Chapper's" - not the older guys with beards and a pipe. He brought his Gold top to the show. They are wound pretty low, if I remember correctly. They are still for sale.
Good Luck.
Steve

 

[Discharged]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

If you've heard Robben Ford, Live at Rockpalast...that's what I'm going for

If you mean the one on DVD, that 335 is a stock '63, so it should be hosting Early Pat#.

The closest to the guitar's inherent tone with Duncan-made p'ups would be an A3n/A2b-modded '59 set., paired with a high-end harness, using a 550K pot for the volume on the neck p'up and 500K for the other pots. Linear taper for volume, Audio taper for tone.

That'll get you closer to that guitar's tone-footprint, although most of RB's tone come from his highly-personalized Dumble amp.

/Peter

 

[jbear]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

Have seen that video...he's got a nice R8...looks like a lightburst or honeyburst maybe. I know he's got the Eclairs in there...actually...two identically wound PUPS, rather than a hotter bridge, but there's a very particular tone from that 335 on that recording...like Peter said. I'm not going to be getting my hands on a' 63 any time soon...unfortunately.

 

[jbear]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

"That'll get you closer to that guitar's tone-footprint, although most of RB's tone come from his highly-personalized Dumble amp."

That's great input Peter, and I do have a set of 59's I could mag-swap.
I'm playing through a Ceriatone Overtone Special that Nik @ Ceriatone modded...remarkably close in tone! Closer than I had dared to hope it would be.
Anyway...that recording has the sweetest 335 tone...to my ear. Hence the quest.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

Have seen that video...he's got a nice R8...looks like a lightburst or honeyburst maybe. I know he's got the Eclairs in there...actually...two identically wound PUPS, rather than a hotter bridge, but there's a very particular tone from that 335 on that recording...like Peter said. I'm not going to be getting my hands on a' 63 any time soon...unfortunately.

Jbear, even if you used RB's own rig, you woudn't sound like him. His touch and picking are so particular that's is close to impossible to imitate. I've personally experienced this very thing in a seminar RB held in my neck of woods some time ago.

Bottom line: he sounds like himself no matter what gear he uses. It's infuriating!

Wanna sound like him? You're welcome to try... although I wouldn't keep my hopes too high, if you know what I mean.

/Peter

 

[jbear]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

I do realize that...I'm just tone hunting.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

I do realize that...I'm just tone hunting.

I know I'm seeing this thread fro back in Summer. However, I would like to chime in. You could use all of Robben's gear, his exact gear, and you would not sound like him. Pickups aren't going to do it. Amplifiers aren't going to do it. Robben's hands and soul are the only thing that will. The more you can emulate his style, touch, and phrasing, the closer you will get; no matter what gear you're using. There are also subtle tricks. From a humbucker perspective, roll the tone down a little to get more of that creamy OD that he gets. I got that from just trying things and it was validated by Guthrie Govan.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

I always thought his sound was essentially early PAFs with a Dumble or a Zendrive into a Fender. Good luck getting a Dumble, but a Zendrive, while expensive for an overdrive, has been modeled by most modelers and they do a great job.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

his sound in that video (2007?) is pat # pup in a 335, or 1960 tele into a dumble amp with magic robben fingers. the amp is expensive but not as hard to obtain as the fingers

 

[Adieu]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

...what IS it with everybody and 335's??

I just don't see the appeal. As a player. OR as a listener, for that matter, because if I've ever liked a track with a guitar part played on a 335, well then that'd be news to me

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

i think robben sounds great on that show. 335 isnt my bag either but works great for some people

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

335’s have been used on more famous recordings, across genres, than people realize. Same with Telecasters.

 

[jbear]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

...what IS it with everybody and 335's??

I just don't see the appeal. As a player. OR as a listener, for that matter, because if I've ever liked a track with a guitar part played on a 335, well then that'd be news to me

Then WTF are you posting in this thread for? I hate mayonnaise...I can't see why anyone else would like it. Sound similar?

As far as Ford's sound being in the fingers...who here doesn't know that? My question is specifically asking about tone...not style or technique.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tone: Robben Ford at Rockpalast...PUP suggestions.

Ritchie Blackmore on a 335 was a thing of beauty. He used one for the first 4 Deep Purple albums. John McLaughlin used an ES-345 for some time in the mid 70s, too, with some great results.