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Topic: Emmons Guitars Still in the Recording Studio? |
Tom Quinn
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 12:54 pm |
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This might be a dangerous question, Is anyone still using a push pull with a major act in the recording studio? I've read somewhere that engineers have their ears and their boards dialed in for Franklins and they don't want to mess with other brands. I have no axe to grind. I love my Emmons guitars and would still play one regardless if I was the only one...
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I need an Emmons! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 1:22 pm
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As far as I know, Mike Johnson is still playing and recording with an Emmons p/p. 
Erv |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 1:23 pm
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| I think Mike plays live with a PP Emmons, but records with a Franklin. |
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Bill Burch
From:
California, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 2:15 pm
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That’s got to be one of the strangest things I’ve heard in a long time. How is this any different from an engineer saying you can’t bring a Les Paul in because he’s all set up for a Strat? Or no Taylor’s since my board is optimized for a Martin.
Bill |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 2:49 pm
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Ask the engineers...
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I need an Emmons! |
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Dale Hampton
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 3:20 pm
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| I agree with Roger, I have got to witness Mike on a session. He brought his Franklin. Sonny Garrish recorded his P/P. Doug Jernigan Recorded on his P/P because the session leader asked him to. Steve Hinson recorded on a single neck P/P. Danny Muhammad played his P/P on at least half of James Mitchell's CD "until I get It right".Thanks to my friend Bruce Watkins....I'm a very lucky guy. Dale |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 3:47 pm
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Apparently, engineers are like some steelers, they get "stuck" on a certain tone (or two) and think nothing else is acceptable.  So depressing. I'm always glad Buddy Emmons wasn't like that!
in the old daze, it was the recording engineer's job only to capture what the musicians and singers did. Nowadays, it seems they get to tell them what to play and how to sing.
Duh ?
And we wonder why everything on the major labels sounds so much alike??? 
' |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 28 Apr 2020 10:12 pm
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Engineers used to record the musicians that the producer had hired for the sound they made.
Admittedly that was last century.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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mtulbert
From:
Plano, Texas 75023
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Posted 29 Apr 2020 4:35 am
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I still record whatever steel the player decides to use. In my Nashville days I was not partial to any particular tone. I did spend a lot of time with Hal Rugg to get the tone he wanted. I never severely modified the tone but would use subtle eq to make it sit better in the mix.
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Mark T
Rittenberry Laquer D10, Rittenberry Prestige SD10, Revelation Preamp,Revelation Octal Preamp,Lexicon PCM 92 Reverb, Furlong Cabinet |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 29 Apr 2020 5:22 am
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Couple of things to consider
1) We are in the world of 'Save settings' as per even new p.a systems have that now controlled by ipad's, you can save an eq for a room you play, and then name the patch for the club you played then save it until next go around, it will get you close instead of starting over. All major touring groups are using this, they even have autoprogrammable volume raise and lower for solo's etc.
2) So bring your rig to the studio, we dial it in, we save those settings to a micro, showing up with something new might spook the budget, who knows...
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A.K.A Chappy. |
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Stephen Silver
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 29 Apr 2020 4:40 pm
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If the player is JayDee, then you can bet the farm it's a p/p Emmons
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Life is mostly Attitude and Timing |
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Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 29 Apr 2020 8:20 pm
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Tyler Hall and I were talking about this the other day. Sadly, some producers and engineers hear with their eyes more than they do their ears. I've been on several sessions and have actually been asked if I could get ahold of a Franklin a few times. To me, you're going to sound like you on any guitar with any amp set up. But some producers/engineers can't get that in their heads. Ive recorded with a BMI, Franklin, Mullen G2 and an Emmons LeGrande 3. All sound extraordinary in the studio, but all have some very very minor nuances that the other guitar lacks.
I've requested someone to buy me a Franklin if they want me to use one in the studio, and they checked the prices of them and said "just play what you got, it sounds great!" Lol.
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"Hotrod"
Steel guitarist for Cody Jinks
Member CMA |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 12:58 am
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| mtulbert wrote: |
| I never severely modified the tone but would use subtle eq to make it sit better in the mix. |
Me neither. Admittedly I worked in broadcasting where the task was to reproduce the sound of an act, not create one. If an instrument sits nicely in the mix it's unlikely to be questioned. EQ is to shape sounds so that they fit together like stones in a wall. Like Austin says, you are going to make "your" sound on any reasonable instrument anyway. Tone isn't just a physical characteristic of the guitar but the result of how you join one sound to the next, as on the piano.
Sadly, a lot of engineers are just that and miss some of what's in the picture artistically. I was lucky to work in an environment where electronics specialists serviced the gear and I could give my full attention to the artists and producers. When I listen to a steel player the last thing I care about is the instrument - I'm listening to what the player is doing. And I'm certainly not wondering what kind of computer the engineer's using!
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 2:41 am
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what if they don't own a Franklin, they don't get called for a session ?  What if the only own an Emmons or a Zum etc...?
Now what ?
What if they only play an LDG ? Go home ?
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 5:27 am
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I know for a fact that there are are several Emmons push-pulls being recorded in Texas for artists on a routine basis. I don’t know if these artists qualify as “major†but a lot of people hear these records and I don’t hear any complaints about the steel tone
I did a session with a ‘67 bolt-on in Nashville for a prominent producer a few years ago. I fully expected come mix time that he would tame the highs and thicken the mids somewhat. But what I hear on the record is what I recall hearing that day I played on the tracks.
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 7:48 am
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When I was doing major sessions in NYC I played whatever I wanted. It varied over the years between Frankin, Emmons PP and Rains. Never any issues with steel brand. My experience recording in Texas has been the same.
No one has mentioned sho pro. They seem to be very popular with top Nashville studio players.
With that Franklin’s have a unique quality that really shines in the studio.
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Bob |
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Tyler Hall
From:
Mt. Juliet, TN
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 9:04 am
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I got called for a session once but they said the console was set for a blue GFI so I had to decline.
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www.joshturner.com
www.ghsstrings.com |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 9:08 am
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Gee, I wonder if a red GFI would have worked! 
Erv |
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Tyler Hall
From:
Mt. Juliet, TN
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 9:40 am
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Most people I work for wouldn’t know an Electraharp from an Electraglide. I can’t think of one time I’ve ever been turned away from a session because the brand of equipment I brought isn’t what the console was adjusted for. It’s not the gear they call for the session, it’s the player.
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www.joshturner.com
www.ghsstrings.com |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 9:46 am
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Albert Svendahl was doing some session work in Nashville and when he showed up with a Williams guitar they all looked down their nose.
Erv |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 10:56 am
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Proves how little they know...
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 10:57 am
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Ian,
How right you are!
Erv |
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Greg Derksen
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 11:16 am
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I just did a song for an old Friend singer/producer type guy.
I sent Two tracks , a Emmons Legrand 3 track, and a Franklin track, I kinda used it as my own experiment,
Ironically, He picked the Emmons track, He liked the Franklin track as well.
You never know, He felt the Emmons sat a bit nicer in that song,
, different guitars make you play a bit different, brings out different character in your playing, no question.
Franklin and Emmons are probably the dominant guitars we have heard, so I think its a comfort zone, like a precision bass or a LA 2A compressor, they are all standards that have proven themselves, but like most things, its the Indian and not the arrow thats to blame.
Mine is not a PP Emmons , but thought I would add my two cents on session I just did.
Greg |
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Chris Bauer
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 11:39 am
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| Thankfully many of the newer consoles in Nashville have an Emmons/Franklin/Mullen/ShowPro switch so it’s all a lot easier now. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2020 11:43 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
Albert Svendahl was doing some session work in Nashville and when he showed up with a Williams guitar they all looked down their nose.
Erv |
One of the best players I've ever heard, the late Dave Knight -- who at the time lived in Coon Rapids, MN -- was playing an early Williams guitar back in the 1970s. It sure did sound good when Dave played it.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353616&highlight=dave+knight |
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