Best Country Guitar?

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 3 Dec 2004 2:35 pm

JIm Phelps, in case you're interested, Microfrets is back in business! http://www.micro-frets.com/index.asp

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 3 Dec 2004 2:53 pm

Well I'll be darned! Thanks Dan, I didn't know that. How cool is this:

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 4 Dec 2004 10:28 am

I play both kinds of country guitars:

Fender Telecasters & Gretsch 6120's.

Tay Joslin · Post by **Tay Joslin** » 14 Dec 2004 7:09 pm

Briefly stated: Whatever worked for Don Rich is perfect for everybody else. Telecasters are king of the hill in Nashville! Well, at least they used to be, right up until that awful "Murder on Music Row". Did that guy ever get the death penalty? I hear he's a friend of Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker. Enough said.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 15 Dec 2004 5:14 am

My '95 Tele w/humbucker and Bigsby B-5.

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Fessenden D-10 8+8 / Magnatone S-8 (E13)

Tony Trout · Post by **Tony Trout** » 15 Dec 2004 7:58 am

I'm currently playing a reissue paisley rele with a SteelBender B/G bender (installed by Bill Bores in Houston, Texas) with Scruggs tuners on both "E" string (I'm a big Clarence White fan!) and I'm playing through a '65 DRRI amp and that seems to work for me just fine.

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Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 15 Dec 2004 8:53 am

Which guitar with what set up (electric) do you think is the best all around guitar for country, new and old and Rockabilly too?

Country is in the hands. Not in the guitar.

Terry

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 15 Dec 2004 11:16 am

I agree, Terry, it's the player more than the guitar, however...

When a player finds the guitar that really resonates with his or her style and "sound they hear in their head", it does something. I'm sure that Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Roy Nichols, Don Rich or any other Tele monsters could have played anything they could play on any guitar, but would they have played the same way on an L-5 or Les Paul? I don't think so. There are some players who play their unique style on anything, but there are also many players who play differently on different guitars. I'm one of the latter. Different guitars with their different responses bring out different things in me, and many other players, according to the tones and responses of each unique instrument.

It doesn't matter what kind of guitar you play, what matters is that it's the one that resonates with the players' sound in his head and brings out what's inside the player, then he'll be at his best.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 15 Dec 2004 2:49 pm

If we're talking appearance more than sound, I'd have to say that a Fender Tele Thinline with single coil pickups and a Bigsby vibrato looks the most 'country'. If I played in a country band and wanted to look like a cowboy I'd be playing a Tele Thinline with a Bigsby.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 16 Dec 2004 2:38 am

YES and NO..of course accomplished guitar players can play pretty much on any guitar that is handed to them..but can they play in the same style ? probably not exactly the same..and thats partially because the guitars are not the same..they are physically and tonally different. They also weigh different amounts and players may have to adjust..lots of things going on..

This is why Guitar players have a Guitar of CHOICE..not necesssarily because one is better.. that is not the issue..
The Tele' pickup and saddle design makes for a very comfortable/consistent right hand position for playing in a specific style as opposed to the semi hollow body guitars with the tailpieces.

Overall final tone is also a desirable consideration, this is personal choice,not because one is better than another. Round Wound bright snap from a Tele is dominant..It's what the slab bodied, screwed on neck, simple angled PUP close to the saddles does.

If one really likes the kind of tone and characteristics of a particular style which is perhaps played on a Tele..why would you go out and get a 335 and try to simulate that style on a 335 ?

Lots of if's going on..If Roy Nichols, If Don Rich , If James Burton, If Brad Paisley, If Brent Mason, If If If.. point is ..they didn't..and don't..the only real IF is IF you like that style and Tone characteristics..then play it on Tele.. IF you really like Duane Allman then do it on a Les Paul..IF you really like BB King do it on a 335 style with the HBuckers..

I don't see this as any sort of which is better or worse..it's more of a choice of what works for you and what it is you are trying to accomplish..

I love my Tele's , but I play different on the Strats, and a whole lot different on the 335..I hear different music when I pick up different axes..

Now if I could just get them all in tune at the same time...

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 16 December 2004 at 02:41 AM.][This message was edited by Tony Prior on 16 December 2004 at 02:43 AM.][This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 December 2004 at 02:47 PM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 23 Dec 2004 8:20 pm

The Telecaster is a very versatile guitar. I love 'em for country music.

On a slightly different "note", I've been playing a lot of jazz on the Les Paul Deluxe recently. This stems from the fact that I've been having feedback troubles on my hollow-body jazz guitars. That neck-position mini-humbucker just sounds great, and it's good to be reminded that these guitars were not originally designed to be played through a wall of Marshalls. It's a darn good jazz guitar in the right hands, and will do the job. I miss the hollow-body warmth- but not the feedback!

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 24 Dec 2004 11:36 am

I had a Les Paul Deluxe, bought it in '75, one of the best-sounding newer Les Pauls I ever had, really a versatile axe, I wish I'd kept it. I love the mini-humbuckers, never had a bad-sounding guitar with those p.u.'s.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 25 Dec 2004 4:21 pm

I agree, Jim- those mini's are beautiful pickups.

I copped a gorgeous blonde flamed/birdseye Epiphone Sheraton in trade yesterday. This one says "Kalamazoo, Michigan" on the label, but it may be one of the Norlin-era, Japan-made guitars. I put some flats on it this afternoon, and it plays and sounds like a dream! I may have found the perfect guitar to solve my problem.

I fully agree with the poster above who said that country is in the hands, not the axe. Didn't Reggie Young play a Strat on all those hits in the 70's and 80's- or is that my misunderstanding?[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 25 December 2004 at 08:42 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Dec 2004 1:48 am

Reggie Young on the Strats in the 70's and 80's.. uuhhmmm....

Keep in mind that was the era for Strat-O-ad nauseam. Every producer on the planet wanted the Strat tones on the recordings. Session musicians did not and do not play what they want..they play in the style and tone structure of the man with the checkbook..

I did a session one time in NYC..early 80's..I went to do a very small Steel part..then they asked if I would do a small Electric part..

I only had a Tele' with me..they wanted a Strat out of phase sound..we recorded with the Tele'..a few days later they recorded the guitar track again with a NYC player who had a ..guess what.. A Strat..

Where are the Strats on the HOT chart Records today ? It seems most of the producers want the other guitar that Leo built..you know, the first one...

Happy almost New Year..

t

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 26 Dec 2004 2:07 am

I have a feeling that modern equalization techniques and three-pickup Teles and coil-tapped humbuckers kind of screw up the whole "classic tones" argument. Strats are famous for being able to occupy a similar sonic spectrum to a Gibson by using the middle and bridge pickup combo, but listen to Brad Paisley's tone on a Tele - it sounds to me much more like a big "rock" tone than a classic Tele twang. That's what God made all those knobs for, after all.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 26 Dec 2004 4:19 am

Reggie Young has a Strat...I've seen pictures of him playing it...but the bulk of his recorded work was probably done on his old black Telecaster...which has a Strat pickup in the middle position.That's the only guitar I've ever actually seen him use(on sessions)and he told me it was his main guitar and that he had been using it since the late'60's/early'70's.This guitar is on"Drift Away"(Dobie Gray)...on the choruses...Reggie used a Les Paul Deluxe on that famous intro...

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 26 Dec 2004 8:56 am

"I have a feeling that modern equalization techniques and three-pickup Teles and coil-tapped humbuckers kind of screw up the whole "classic tones" argument."

Right, doesn't Brent M. have a Gibson humbucker on his Tele? And the other pickups aren't Fender items either, are they? So what's left that makes it distinctively a Telecaster? The bolt-on neck and bridge? There's obviously more to Brent's (and Reggie's) sound than what's written on the guitar headstock. I'll bet Brent and Reggie could pick up my LP Deluxe and they would still sound like Brent and Reggie.

I just sold a USA James Burton Telecaster on Christmas Eve- 3 Lace Sensors and a five position switch. Is that really a Telecaster? I'm not sure.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 26 Dec 2004 2:11 pm

Rick McDuffie, Leon Rhodes played an Epiphone Sheraton (w mini-hums) for many years with Ernest Tubb.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 26 Dec 2004 2:23 pm

Danny Gatton played a black Les Paul with Buddy in '79.

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Dec 2004 2:38 pm

Most of the top players are using Barden PUPS on there Tele's..I believe Brent does as well.. but that does not detract from the original Tele tone..there are so many factors involved with Tele PUPS..but when you go to Fralins or Bardens you are adding to the Tele characteristics, not taking away from it. These single coils are wound to perfect specifications..

Stock Fender PUPS are notorious for not being wound consistent,too bright..too middy..not enough lows etc...

Most cats that have the HB'er on the neck of the Tele use it for the ballad/bluesy tunes..NOT the pickin' tunes...

And yes Danny did play other guitars..but he is most recognized as a Tele' slinger..there is even a Tele cut bridge named after him...

I'm not sure what we are trying to do here but it seems we are attempting to take the Tele's out of the hands of the great Tele pickers !

Danny, James, Don, Brad, Brent, etc..Primary guitars of choice are Tele's..we ain't gonna change that..

happy New Tele' Year

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 December 2004 at 07:26 PM.]

erik · Post by **erik** » 26 Dec 2004 7:11 pm

This guitar is on"Drift Away"(Dobie Gray)...on the choruses...Reggie used a Les Paul Deluxe on that famous intro...

and the famous outro?

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....Strat in the 80s ... all the dance/pop records had that funky strat tone (Madonna, etc)

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-johnson

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 26 Dec 2004 8:24 pm

Tony, my friend, I was only making the point that the James Burton "Tele" has as much (or more) in common with the Eric Clapton Strat as with a stock Telecaster. Which begs the question: What constitutes a Telecaster? Is it the distinctive shape of the body and peghead?

It seems to me that you reach a point where these guitars are so heavily customized that they bear little resemblance to the guitar that Mr. Fender designed. In this case, I'm not sure what there is to be defended.

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 26 Dec 2004 8:43 pm

http://www.gibson.com/whatsnew/pressrelease/2003/jul30a.html

What do you guys think of the Gibson Valley Art Brent Mason signature guitar (click above)? Personally, I just gotta have that cool Tele headstock.

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<A HREF="http://frankestesmba.com/" TARGET=_blank>Frank Estes
1978 Emmons D-10 8+7 #2441D
1968 Emmons D-10 8+4 #1234D</A>

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 26 Dec 2004 9:06 pm

I didn't realize that Gibson owned Valley Arts now. You think Fender will sue Gibson, ala Gibson's PRS lawsuit?
THE PERFECT COUNTRY GUITAR ONLY KNOWS THREE CHORDS!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 Dec 2004 3:48 am

Stephen..what are the other two chords ?

Frank, yes Gibson jumped on this one..and there is a story behind it I am told..but do look at the photo below..it tells the real story..

Rick..non issue my friend....there is no reason to defend..( hey..kinda rhymes)

It's still a slab body with a bolt on neck with a very close to the saddle angled PUP which will murder you on the high end..regardless of which over the counter PUP you put on the dang thing..

At the end of the day..It's still a Tele...and here we are over 50 years later still trying to figure out why we love these dang things and are still chasing the licks, style and tone of those that had them in there hands for over 5 decades !

and here is the real deal with the real Tele'..and do note the position of the pick up selector..( taken March 2004..3rd and Linley)

<img src=http://www.bprior.com/brent.jpg>

pretty amazing stuff..50 years from now I doubt anyone but my daughters/families will even remember I existed !
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 27 December 2004 at 04:05 AM.]