That Sound????

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 23 Apr 2012 7:35 pm

I hear different players talking about a certain identifiable sound being attributed to a certain brand instrument. So let's do a poll! Is the sound more the player or the instrument?

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 23 Apr 2012 9:23 pm

Need an option that says "both".

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 23 Apr 2012 9:56 pm

I was in the studio today working on tracks playing my '71 Emmons PP, replacing and even punching in on earlier tracks done on a 2010 Williams. Same recording chain and approximate effects, but I was still amazed at how close the recorded guitars sound.
I guess I just sound like me, for better or worse!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 24 Apr 2012 3:12 am

Player every time.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Apr 2012 3:54 am

I voted for the player, but I remember hearing Emmons at St Louis one year with a Sierra and although it was Emmons he didn't sound like he usually did. The next year he was back to his Emmons steel and sounded like Buddy Emmons.

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 24 Apr 2012 4:57 am

Gotta go with player

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 24 Apr 2012 5:33 am

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 24 Apr 2012 6:11 am

I didn't vote because there is no choice for both (actually, I would have preferred a "who cares" choice.

I have to agree with Jack. I could tell a slight difference after Emmons and Hughey switched to Zum's. I don't believe it is strictly in the players hands. Even listening to Emmons in the old days when he played a Sho~Bud, it was different.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 24 Apr 2012 6:16 am

I voted 'Player'; I accept that there's sometimes a marginal difference when a good player switches guitars, but that difference is insignificant and the player's special touch will predominate every time.

It's not 'insignificant' to the player, though, and if he's not hearing what he wants to hear it won't be long before that guitar becomes history.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Apr 2012 7:39 am

What Roger said.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 24 Apr 2012 8:19 am

What Donny agreed with.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Apr 2012 8:30 am

How about the ears of the listener?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 24 Apr 2012 11:51 am

Sort-of related.....

Here's a thread that appeared in 2002 after Buddy had played with Johnny Bush at the Midnite Jamboree (blimey! Is it really ten years ago???)

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... c&start=25

Clearly 'E' was having doubts about the tone he got that night and we're mostly being really diplomatic (sycophantic?) and telling him how great it was...

I can't find it now but he also referred elsewhere to his tone being reminiscent of the Afflac Duck (maybe that was in 'Ask Buddy'). For the handful of Forumites who weren't there that night, he played beautifully (not remotely duck-like).

And Smiley handed out dozens of black plastic Derbies to all the steel-players (and steel-owners) who were present to welcome BE on to the stage - he seemed to get a big kick out of that!

Fred Rushing · Post by **Fred Rushing** » 24 Apr 2012 1:20 pm

I just listened to Buddy on a Sho Bud from the sixties and EVERY NOTE TOLD YOU IT WAS BUDDY EMMONS PLAYING. He had The MYTHICAL SO CALLED TONE on the Bud just like he did every other guitar he ever played. get over it fellas. The player makes the music, not the guitar!!!!!!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 24 Apr 2012 8:09 pm

Using the "player" example, it appears we should all save our money and hang onto the worst guitar we've ever owned since we're never gonna sound any better.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 24 Apr 2012 8:40 pm

Wise words

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Apr 2012 8:44 pm

Barry Blackwood wrote:Using the "player" example, it appears we should all save our money and hang onto the worst guitar we've ever owned since we're never gonna sound any better.

... and then ask Buddy Emmons to sit down and play it for you and you'll see how good that crummy guitar can sound when played by a master.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 24 Apr 2012 10:22 pm

The initial topic was Is the identifiable sound more instrument or player?

The player's signature style and technique will always be the most critical factor in recognising the source of a piece of playing. Even when Buddy played the uniquely tonal Sierra guitar, it still sounded like him playing.

Lloyd still sounds like Lloyd regardless of whether he is on a Sho~Bud, JCH or Show Pro. Ditto Curley Chalker, whether on MSA, MCI or Sho~Bud.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Apr 2012 12:49 am

I forget what year it was, but some time during the 90s, Big Jim Baron produced a 2 day steel show in Sacramento with Jeff Newman, (God, I miss him,) Bobby Black, Jay Dee Maness and David Wright.

Jeff Newman brought 2 different guitars, a Carter and a Zum, and played one the first day and the other the second. I remember thinking at the time that the Zum had a little more growl on the low end. Emphasis on the word little. But basically Jeff sounded the same both days.

BTW, Bobby Black also played a Carter at the show, and his tone wasn't anything at all like Jeff's.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 25 Apr 2012 5:46 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:
Using the "player" example, it appears we should all save our money and hang onto the worst guitar we've ever owned since we're never gonna sound any better.

... and then ask Buddy Emmons to sit down and play it for you and you'll see how good that crummy guitar can sound when played by a master.

Exactly my point, Jim. The instrument has little to do with it, IMO ...

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 25 Apr 2012 9:20 am

i kept bending nails til i bought a stanley!

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