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Post new topic Tone of a P/P fatback vs. a standard model
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Author Topic:  Tone of a P/P fatback vs. a standard model
Austin Tripp

 

From:
Nashville TN
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 10:02 am    
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Is there a significant tone difference between a fatback model and the standard pp? Where is the tone difference more noticeable, in the lower bassy notes or in the treble range?
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 11:00 am    
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I have not noticed a tone difference.
I added this part after thinking about it:

To clarify my statement all the push pulls I have owned and played sounded a bit different from each other but not consistently different. Except for maybe metal neck bolt on steels. They have a sorta aggressive sound where the first cut tails seem to have a rounder/sweeter sound. I do not have enough experience with the wrap around steels to have an opinion.

Those early 70's fat back steels sound fantastic as do the later model PPs with legrande type pedals.

I remember a trend not so long ago where Emmons restore guys where cutting out the fat back to make them more easy to sell. I am not sure if anybody is doing that anymore though. And I don't remember it making the guitars sound any different.
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Bob


Last edited by Bob Hoffnar on 1 Aug 2014 9:27 am; edited 2 times in total
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Jody Cameron

 

From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 11:07 am    
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Austin I've owned 7 different push pulls through the years, and although they all sounded good, they did not all sound alike. I've owned two fatbacks. I noticed a less full, less bassy tone with more mids and highs in my fatbacks; but bear in mind, these differences are subtle and hard to define as well as not real pronounced. So, no, not a significant difference, but a slight difference.

I'm currently playing a '69 cut-tail with the cut away rear apron that I like very much. Rick Price has just done extensive restoration on it. I will have it back August 6th.
Smile
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Eric Philippsen


From:
Central Florida USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 11:29 am    
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I have a few push-pulls. As Jody mentioned, they certainly do not all sound alike. However, I have to say that I cannot say that a fatback sounds better or worse than one that isn't. Put another way, I can sit down at a push-pull and definitely say that, "Yep, this sounds like a push-pull." I can't, however, sit down at a fatback and say, "Yes, this definitely sounds like a fatback."
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 1 Aug 2014 6:33 am    
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Jody, that's exactly what I noticed about my 70 fat back. Both my push pulls have the same pickups and both are D-10's but the fat back I think has the best tone but they are really close but its black, maybe that's why.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 1 Aug 2014 11:35 am    
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I personally do not like the "fat back" rear apron as it limits leg room. I believe it was initially done as a cost cutting measure.

I've had two of them which subsequently had the back aprons routed. There was no effect on tone or sustain whatsoever.
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