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Topic: New TT in my Fessy U12 |
Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 5:08 am |
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Well, new to me anyway. I bought a TT for my Fessy U12 from Buster Warren...thanks again, Buster...to replace the BL712 that came in it. I have loved this guitar for many reasons, but the tone left a bit of a void that I just couldn't seem to fix...no matter what I did...tone control settings, effects, body tension adjustments, pickup height, etc., etc...nothing seemed to work...until this TT came along.
What an impressive change!! I had, recently. been looking for an MCI U12, because I used to have a couple of them, and KNEW it could get the sound I wanted from one of them. I was just unsatisfied with the tone of the Fessy.
Well, what I was looking for was right there in the guitar the whole time...but was hiding behind the 712.
I had just finished stripping the Fessy down completely and cleaned and readjusted everything...and I mean everything. After reassembling it, it still just didn't have that warm, clean, "feel it in you gut" sound I wanted. I played it for several days trying to get some equipment settings that would work...but everything just sounded blah. No real "life" in the sound.
THEN, the TT arrived in the mail. I was very excited, and installed it immediately. (maybe this would help in my quest) Before firing up a basic rig (N112, pot pedal), I set the 112's controls straight up...I wanted to hear the guitar without any tone change from the amp...no effects at all.
From the first note I was blown away!! What sweetness! What an expressive tone!! It grabbed me right in the gut and I couldn't stop playing every song I could think of....I just wanted to keep on hearing those tones. I wish I could convey the experience more accurately. There's a gentleness about the tone, but, yet, the feeling that it could kick your butt if you asked it to...like a sleeping giant...sweet and kind until you really push it, then watch out!! Does that make sense??
Anyway, I've never, in my 43 years of playing music of all kinds, had such a personnal connection with the sound of an instrument. A Gretsch Tennessean I once had came close, but this Fessy now beats it all to heck.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on and on...but I had to tell someone...and I knew you guys would understand.
Thanks for listening.
(here's a scary thought...add one of Brad's Black Boxes!!!...don't know if I could handle that!!! lol |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 5:38 am
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| Quote: |
| here's a scary thought...add one of Brad's Black Boxes!!!...don't know if I could handle that!!! |
That's exactly what I'm using. When Jerry was building my current guitar I wanted a TrueTone but Jerry W wasn't able to provide one so I settled for a 712. I found that pickup too harsh and the 912 too mellow but the TrueTone was (as Goldilocks once said) JUST RIGHT.
Samples from my most recent CD are here. That's what was used in the studio.
The Black Box / NV112 combination is another match made in heaven.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 6:22 am
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Larry, that was the Fessy on the "Ricky" cut?!?
THAT'S the sound my Fessy gets now. Pick technique becomes much more effective with slight changes in angle and attack.
I listened to all your samples...Just wonderful, my friend. Impressive playing, too. You have a great touch and sense of timing. Very pleasing to the ear. Well done, and thanks for providing them.
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 6:39 am
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Thanks for the kind words, Mike
Yes, the Fessy with TT was used on Rikki. I believe it was recorded direct rather than through an amp. The Beatle tune, the Charlie Parker tune, the Wizard of Oz tune, and a couple of others were my push-pull but I have a hard time telling them apart on a recording.
That says a lot for the Fessy AND the TrueTone. I actually choose that guitar over my VERY NICE Emmons and Sho-Bud for most gigs.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 7:19 am
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Those words were well deserved, Larry. I'll be a customer real soon.
And, yes, it does say a lot for the Fessy...that's pretty stiff competition indeed! Appreciate the info. |
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C. Christofferson
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Posted 11 Jul 2006 11:51 am
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| L.B. 'also wanted to say that your playing is awesome. after hearing your earlier clips and then some of these...inspiring is an understatement. |
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