Skunk's sound?

[Joachim Kettner]

I find that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's tone on this is very similar to Buddy's LA recordings. Did they have the same guitars? I've read about the "Blade" before...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krjpMRGRJXE

[Olli Haavisto]

Baxter played a P/P Emmons through a Vox Super Beatle solid state amp before he became a Sho-Bud endorsee in the 80's. So, yes, same guitars.

[Joachim Kettner]

Thank you so much Olli! Btw, I thought that Vox made valve amps only.

[Jack Hanson]

Btw, I thought that Vox made valve amps only.

In the 60s Vox licensed Thomas Organ in California to manufacture amps for the U.S. market.



Best thing about them were the speakers (sometimes Vox "Bulldog" Celestions). The solid state heads often went up in smoke.

[Joachim Kettner]

Thanks Jack, it's amazing what you learn here!
I once played my steel through an AC-30 and I wasn't satisfied. When the valves heated up it sounded terrible.
Although it was good for standard guitar.

[Paul Hoaglin]

I read that same info on Skunk about the Emmons and the Vox in the Guitar Player article on the Doobies from June '76. A very interesting and inspired choice for a steel amp! I'll bet it was in a similar (albeit maybe a bit darker) tonal range as the Peaveys of the time. (He did say that he also used Sierras and Sho-Buds, but I'm guessing that his most common recording horn was the P/P.)

I suspect he went direct on some of his Steely Dan tracks, like "Pearl Of The Quarter" and "Razor Boy" from Countdown To Ecstasy, just based on the tone and clarity (and Don and Walt's production ethos of the time!). In any case, Skunk's steel tone (and playing in general) is very much underrated in my opinion. Those tracks really sealed the deal for me to need to play steel myself....

[Joachim Kettner]

Apologies for the small letters, But it'd still readable

[Rick Hearne]

Hey fellows, I own that pp Emmons, bought it on ebay a few years ago with certification. I found some pics of Skunk playing it. I'll try to post an image this week. Ciao, Rick

[Ray Minich]

"Brooklyn" by Steely Dan and "Southcity Midnight Lady" by the Doobies have always stopped me in my tracks...

[Brett Day]

His steel work on "At This Moment" by Billy Vera & The Beaters" is awesome! In the live video of the song on YouTube, he's playing a Sho-Bud Super Pro, which he also played with the Ventures on their version of Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk"

[Joachim Kettner]

Thanks Brett! How well that steel fits the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkk8boWoak0

[John Brabant]

Sounds like he played thru Fender Twins on the Steeley Dan stuff:
http://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneo ... 1976/13403

[John Goux]

About a month ago I was seated near Jeff and his daughter in an LA area restaurant. We got up to leave at the same time, and I was able to chat with him for a bit. I asked him it he still plays pedal steel. His eyes lit up and he said, yes, for hours every day. I told him I'd just bought a an Emmons PP, and we immediately started talking shop. I could see the knowing look on his daughters face, having seen it all before, and she was almost physically dragging him to the car. What was clear, and why I'm posting this here, is that Jeff still has a lot of enthusiasm for pedal steel. And he said he plays it every day. That's good news for us all.
John

[Roger Rettig]

Great to see a mention of JB's contribution to 'Razor Boy' - it's one of my favourite tracks with pedal steel content.

I didn't know it was a p/p.