Buddy E's best sound?

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 20 Aug 2002 9:50 am

Any sound that comes from his hands on the strings of a PSG. Strum, pick, tap, slam. It don't matter. He da' man!

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 20 Aug 2002 9:55 am

John: I too like the sound he got on the 1000. In fact I had the duet where he played parts with Bobby Garrett on his first Sho-Bud mixed up. Neil Flanz got me right side up on that but like you said, He just sounds good on anything.

Regards, Paul

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 20 Aug 2002 12:40 pm

Boy, Tony, you really did start something! In 1970 I followed Buddy all over Nashville,
During the D.J. Convention, just to see what
equipment he was using. The Echoplex went
everywhere with him, so naturally I went out and bought one too. It didn't make me sound
as good as him but definitely improved my
sound. I even gave up my reverb. That helped
even more. I don't try to sound like Buddy,
but it's always smart to learn from the best.
Nowadays, the Ecoplex is history and I use
a Digitek RP-2000, but I still miss the tone
of the Echoplex. That's not just in my mind
either; you see, the Plex had a feature which
none of todays digital echoes have (at least
none that I'm aware of!) It was a small re-
cessed screw-adjustable feature called "swell". It really gave more uumph to
the notes. Well, maybe some electronics genius will read this and do something about it! Buddy E., if you're listening, my life
has been much more rewarding simply because you chose to play steel. Thank You!
W.C.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 20 Aug 2002 1:06 pm

I agree; it's really difficult to find flaws in Buddy's tone or his delivery. "Border Serenade" on the Four-Wheel-Drive CD doesn't sound like Buddy. It sounds as if he only gave 110%, instead of his usual 120%.

I have never heard the tune played any better; but some how the tone isn't typical B.E.

Rick

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 20 Aug 2002 1:37 pm

I agree Rick.Does anyone know what year Border Serenade was cut?It always sounded more like Jimmy Day to me.I'm thinking around 61? I wasn't around then.But have heard the records via Tom Bradshaw.Not a slam against Jimmy.It just seems to me that around 63 Buddy pulled alway in the tone department.Just my opinion of course. --bb

Eddie Lange · Post by **Eddie Lange** » 20 Aug 2002 2:59 pm

I really like the kind of funky, mid-range thing he had goin on Mel Tillis' "Lookin For Tommorows." That is probably my favorite E9 tone he had ever had.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Aug 2002 4:01 pm

Well, it looks like I'm alone on this one, but I think Buddie's

best sound was on his first album that I bought back in '63.

Steel Guitar Jazz!

I just love the way his sound blended with the jazzy sax and piano, and I find it's very easy to forget the fact that he's playing the <u>only</u> electrified instrument on the album. His tone is so perfect for the music, it sounds more like a "live" recording than something done in a studio! It has almost an acoustic/brass quality that just "knocks my hat in the creek!" Despite the fact that there's breakup on some of his chords from the small (single 12" speaker) amp he used, the album is nevertheless a landmark, and a benchmark in both the steel world, and the jazz world as well.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 20 Aug 2002 5:32 pm

Maybe I'm dreaming but
I coulda swore Buddy mentioned awhile back
that he thought one of his best tones was
on his Christmas album. Didn't he say he
used an EMCI for that?

Brooker Buckingham · Post by **Brooker Buckingham** » 20 Aug 2002 5:40 pm

Is that BE playing on Ray Price's "The Other Woman" album? That is some unbelievable tone as well. I just picked up 8 or 9 early 60s Ray Price albums last week. It's a double-header. One of the best pedal steel players ever and one of the best vocalists ever!

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 20 Aug 2002 5:42 pm

THE 1965 RAY PRICE RECORD ON
COLUMBIA " ANOTHER BRIDGE TO BURN " HAS
ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE. BUDDY PLAYED
THE MOST TASTEFUL AND MOST BEAUTIFUL
STEEL GUITAR THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD.WHEN
YOU HEAR HIM PLAY "HEALING HANDS OF TIME",
IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE WHY HE WAS AND ALWAYS
WILL BE THE BEST.HE WAS DOING THINGS THEN
(ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO)THAT WE ALL WISH WE
COULD NOW.TONE,INTONATION,SUSTAIN,PHRASING,
NO ONE WILL EVER DO IT BETTER IN MY OPINION

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 20 Aug 2002 7:34 pm

There are many recordings of which we can all differently cite in reference to the Big E's best sound/tone. I occasionally pull out my tape of Buddy's "Learn to Play" album instructional material. There's something about the tone from that bundle of licks album that is so wonderfully listenable.

Bob Farlow · Post by **Bob Farlow** » 21 Aug 2002 2:35 am

I would have to vote for the Christmas Album.
I talked to Buddy about this at the NTSGA show last month, and he said he probably put more effort into this album than any of his other ones. It shows.

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 21 Aug 2002 5:17 am

I have a lot of Buddy's tablature and it's just the way he plays it. But as Jerry Byrd says "you can’t copy a guy’s SOUL."

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10 Stereo steel Amp

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 21 Aug 2002 5:53 am

My Buddy nemesis came when I went home after a gig with the bass player and his girlfriend to drink and listen to music about '73-74, shortly after I started to learn to play. He stuck on "Another Bridge to Burn" and I just couldn't believe the steel work on that. It sounded like he was back-phrasing everything, yet was right in the pocket. Before that, all my mentors were west-coast hippie country guys. After that it changed.

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 21 Aug 2002 6:03 am

I'll bet Buddy reads this stuff and says " AW,SHUCKS".

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10 Stereo steel Amp

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 21 Aug 2002 6:10 am

Yep, I think there's a few Buddy Fans here.
I haven't heard a lot of him, as I'm mostly a guitar/dobro/lapsteel player, but one of my favorite CD's of all time is the Redneck Jazz Explosion album with the TeleMaster himself, Danny Gatton. The two of them threw licks, melody lines, and riffs at each other like challenges one minute, then jokes and punchlines the next, then jumped in together to play in off-the-cuff harmony. You could just hear them trying to one-up the other guy. And this was a LIVE cd. Absolutely amazing. Before that, I'd never heard anyone play Steel like that, or guitar like Danny. I was properly dumbfounded.
And have been studying/learning Danny's guitar technique ever since. A lifelong project.
-andy-
(And looking for more ripping redneck Buddy Jazz/Blues/Swing type stuff! Suggestions??)

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 21 Aug 2002 6:27 am

Andy;

<SMALL>"I was properly dumbfounded."</SMALL>

You hit the nail on the head! I couldn't have said it better... I AM properly dumbfounded when I listen to Buddy (or Danny.)

------------------
My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 21 Aug 2002 10:17 am

I like his solo on Sweet Dreams on the Hargus 'Pig' Robbins album. For me that's the way I like to hear BE.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud Pro III Custom; Sho-Bud LLG

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Aug 2002 1:12 pm

Buddy's best sound??? One time I heard him do a really good armpit fart. Now that was a good sound!

Brad Sarno

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 21 Aug 2002 2:16 pm

I agree with Bruce Heffner and Donny Hinson..

That Dwayne Eddy album was terrific as was Steel Guitar Jazz!

All of his work is top drawer that's what made him the class act that he is. While all of us wanna-be's are out here listening and immitating in our efforts to improve our talents/skills/sounds.....those guys are busily blazing even newer, more challenging trails in unfamiliar terrain for each of us to trek.

They have given me much........and I thank them all!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Aug 2002 2:07 am

It's a good thing we have a reference, no?

I had a chance to see Buddy a few times in the mid 70's playing his "Blade"..I still listen to those tapes today ( regularly) and refer to them as the standard to play by.

Thanks Buddy..

tp

Neil Flanz · Post by **Neil Flanz** » 22 Aug 2002 9:44 pm

Buddy's best sound? Very hard to pick out as the touch and tone of THE master are there on everything that he's ever recorded. The sound that he got on Danny Boy on the Live in Denver album is in my opinion the epitome of Excellence. Absolutely breathtaking but then again I love it all! Am anxious to see what he gets with his new Standel. I wonder if he'll be bringing it to St. Louis. ???????

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 23 Aug 2002 9:18 am

Buddy E's best? It's virtually impossible. Let me try any way.

1. "A Way To Survive"-sends chills up your spine if you're alive at all.

2. "Sittin and Thinkin"-classic tavern honky-tonk"

3. "I'm Not Crazy Yet"-see # 1

4. "Touch My Heart"-see # 1

If I'm wrong, call me an idiot or anything you'd like. I won't mind. I handle rejection well.