Ben Harper - Red House

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Ben Sims
Posts: 99
Joined: 19 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: New Mexico

Ben Harper - Red House

Post by Ben Sims »

I have a very on again/off again interest in Ben Harper's music, mostly because I just don't like his songs. But once in a while he puts out a blistering lap steel performance that just knocks it out of the park. Here's just such a cover of Jimi Hendrix's Red House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIJDT3cAoQc

His new album, Give Till It's Gone, actually has some pretty decent songs on it, surprisingly - not a huge lap steel workout (though there are a couple of good solos) but worth checking out.
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Mark Mansueto
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Joined: 21 Dec 2007 9:30 am
Location: Michigan, USA

Post by Mark Mansueto »

I'm a Ben Harper fan but I'm not in love with everything he's done. I think his rendition of Red House is very soulful and I dig it.

I need to check out the new album.

Thanks for posting it.
Damon Wack
Posts: 11
Joined: 18 May 2009 7:20 am
Location: Florida, USA

Post by Damon Wack »

That was great. Thanks for posting!

What effects can you use to get the distortion sound he has? I just bought an Asher Jr with the Lollar pickups.
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Brad Bechtel
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Post by Brad Bechtel »

I don't know how old this article is, but it says he uses this stuff:
• Acoustic Guitars: Weissenborn Teardrop (circa 1930s) and two Style 4 (1925 and 1927) lap-style guitars; a 2004 and a custom 2005 National Reso-Phonic Model D Western squareneck; 2005 Martin HD-28VE; vintage Gibson J-50; 2005 Cole Clark dreadnought.

• Electric Guitars: Asher Ben Harper lap-steel; 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special; Fender Custom Shop Telecaster.

• Amplification: Seymour Duncan Mag Mics (Weissenborns); National/Lace Humbucker (Nationals); Fishman Ellipse System (Martin); Trance Audio Amulet system (Gibson); Cole Clark Dual Input Acoustic Pickup (FL2); Radial JDI direct box; Dumble Overdrive Special amps—one 1980s 100-watt 1x12 combo and a 1970s 50-watt head driving a 2x12 Dumble cab.

• Effects: Ernie Ball volume pedal; Vox V847 wah; Teese RMC wah; Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer; Ibanez AD99 Analog Delay; Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser, Demeter Tremulator; Line 6 DL4.

• Strings: D’Addario EJ16, EJ17, EJ18, and EJ22 sets for slide guitars; D’Addario EFT16 sets for Cole Clark, Gibson, and Martin acoustics; D’Addario EXL110W sets for Les Paul and Telecaster.
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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