Best fuzz for Hotel California tone ?

Pretty self-explanatory. Learning HC for one of the bands I play in and looking to get as close as possible to Felder's fuzz tone. Any ideas of what he used, a good clone, etc. ? Thanks.

Not really sure... kinda sounds like Tweed with some Phase 90 (or maybe that is a Leslie that was mixed in). Wait - that's the Walsh lead. Sorry.

I don't think Felder used anything but a Tweed Deluxe (or some other Tweed circuit). I could be wrong though...

Not really sure... kinda sounds like Tweed with some Phase 90 (or maybe that is a Leslie that was mixed in). Wait - that's the Walsh lead. Sorry.

I don't think Felder used anything but a Tweed Deluxe (or some other Tweed circuit). I could be wrong though...

Cool. Thanks. I guess my Catalinbread Formula n5 will be perfect then. :razz:

I don't think "fuzz" when I think "Hotel California".

I'm working on this song right now, and I'm using a Strat (as I'm playing all the leads, so I can switch pickups get a few different sounds)> GFS Brownie Classic> Phase 90, in places> DR- now I gotta figure out how to make it work- arpeggios!

edit: We've all seen/heard the old MTV/VH-1 video of Hotel California and Felder looks like he's playing a Boogie- That distorted tone he gets sounds like harsh clipping to me- gritchy; thankfully his playing is so good it transcends crappy tone- could be a D+ into the Boogie?

Get yourself an Eventide Pitchfactor to cover that other guitarist.

I played that song for years in an Eagles tribute and still today in a cover band. Both Walsh and Felder used a cranked Tweed Deluxe for HC. Walsh used a Phase 90, Felder used echo and chorus. I use a Red Llama if it's on the board, otherwise my Hot Wired does the trick for the overdrive through a clean Fender amp.

Get yourself an Eventide Pitchfactor to cover that other guitarist.

No, that's OK, no pitch stuff for me. not a big deal

So... I think I have my work cut out for me...:lol: I'm experimenting with pedals and settings right now. The Formula n5 sounds very good on it, I also have a Visual Sounds Double Trouble, a TS808 RI and a Marshall Bluesbreaker II. So many dirt boxes, so little time... :razz:

Both Walsh and Felder used a cranked Tweed Deluxe for HC.

With that in mind, the "pedal of choice" is going to be something kind of gritty/loose/fuzzy.

The hard part will be that the Felder solo is with a Gibson IIRC, while the Walsh solo is clearly a Tele. So one is a little fatter and more "standard melodic" IMO, and the other is more cutting, with Joe's little tricks like the "zip!" up the fretboard.

While Felder's solo is great, Walsh's simply has a bit more attitude, more flavor, and more bite, thanks to the Tele. So if wrapping both up is to be done by one guitarist, I think some auxiliary pedals might be in order - something to kill some highs and beef the lower mids for the Felder parts, and then "nothing else" for the Walsh parts, provided the drive box is articulate/clear enough while getting a little furry/5E3'ish.

Something to be mindful of is that neither solo has a whole lot of bass to it, which is not surprising if they were playing 5E3's. It's just a pitfall IMO to be avoided, since a lot of drive boxes (even some that may do a fair job of simulating specifically a 5E3) will be too heavy on the bass, or dialed in with too much bass.

IMO.

With that in mind, the "pedal of choice" is going to be something kind of gritty/loose/fuzzy.

The hard part will be that the Felder solo is with a Gibson IIRC, while the Walsh solo is clearly a Tele. So one is a little fatter and more "standard melodic" IMO, and the other is more cutting, with Joe's little tricks like the "zip!" up the fretboard.

While Felder's solo is great, Walsh's simply has a bit more attitude, more flavor, and more bite, thanks to the Tele. So if wrapping both up is to be done by one guitarist, I think some auxiliary pedals might be in order - something to kill some highs and beef the lower mids for the Felder parts, and then "nothing else" for the Walsh parts, provided the drive box is articulate/clear enough while getting a little furry/5E3'ish.

Something to be mindful of is that neither solo has a whole lot of bass to it, which is not surprising if they were playing 5E3's. It's just a pitfall IMO to be avoided, since a lot of drive boxes (even some that may do a fair job of simulating specifically a 5E3) will be too heavy on the bass, or dialed in with too much bass.

IMO.

Great insight. Thanks. So far I'm thinking of using the tone pot to kill some of the highs for the Felder lead and then bring em back and step on my EVH Phase 90 at the same time for the Walsh part.
For the intro, my Danelectro Cool Cat sounds awesome with the speed all the way down and the chill all the way up. Great 12 string/ slow leslie sound.

Well...I must be totally off. I am a youngster so I never saw the MTV/ VH1 stuff. I was just going off what I heard on the radio. I always thought it sounded like an LP into a Silicon FF.

I know you could prob get there 1000's of ways, and even with the same guitar and amp - in your hands, you might be off. But LP and Si FF sound wise.

As always, my opinion...

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Well...I must be totally off. I am a youngster so I never saw the MTV/ VH1 stuff. I was just going off what I heard on the radio. I always thought it sounded like an LP into a Silicon FF.

I know you could prob get there 1000's of ways, and even with the same guitar and amp - in your hands, you might be off. But LP and Si FF sound wise.

As always, my opinion...

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Cool. If you watch the video he's referring to, Felder does play a Gibson double neck and Walsh is playing a Tele.

H1iv6lof5JM

Cool. If you watch the video he's referring to, Felder does play a Gibson double neck and Walsh is playing a Tele.


Thanks for that!

It's just funny. Not saying anyone is right or wrong, but it's really cool to see other people's perspective. Your OP was thinking fuzz, another thought no fuzz, and I always thought Si fuzz. That's why I love forums; a wealth of opinions!

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Tube screamer, even though the box didn't exist when the song came out, but the effect tries for those tones of overdriven Fender amps.

^^^ This clip is what I thought MTV was going to be 24-7! (back in the day); live concert footage of my favorite bands...Oh, well...

With that in mind, the "pedal of choice" is going to be something kind of gritty/loose/fuzzy.

The hard part will be that the Felder solo is with a Gibson IIRC, while the Walsh solo is clearly a Tele. So one is a little fatter and more "standard melodic" IMO, and the other is more cutting, with Joe's little tricks like the "zip!" up the fretboard.

While Felder's solo is great, Walsh's simply has a bit more attitude, more flavor, and more bite, thanks to the Tele. So if wrapping both up is to be done by one guitarist, I think some auxiliary pedals might be in order - something to kill some highs and beef the lower mids for the Felder parts, and then "nothing else" for the Walsh parts, provided the drive box is articulate/clear enough while getting a little furry/5E3'ish.

Something to be mindful of is that neither solo has a whole lot of bass to it, which is not surprising if they were playing 5E3's. It's just a pitfall IMO to be avoided, since a lot of drive boxes (even some that may do a fair job of simulating specifically a 5E3) will be too heavy on the bass, or dialed in with too much bass.

IMO.


This is quite a response. Thanks for all your amazing posts, 11 Gauge. I have learned a great deal from you.

I also have the Digitech Clapton and Hendrix pedals. Let's see if I can find some tasty fuzz on there...:wink:

...it's really cool to see other people's perspective. Your OP was thinking fuzz, another thought no fuzz, and I always thought Si fuzz. That's why I love forums; a wealth of opinions!

It's also cool to have forums like this bring a subject like that up.

The guitar tones on that album are 100% Old School rock, even if they did spend an ungodly amount of time in the studio polishing it to death.

In this day and age, dirt boxes all have to be smooth/transparent/"Dumble-esque," whatever...

...Despite all the fantastic studio polishing, you can hear some of that low-fi 5E3 action going on, and "in a pedal format," it would probably not be very popular at the moment, unless someone wanted some fuzziness in there. Granted, it's very slight, but it is audible (to me). And it's kind a a key ingredient to the sound of the guitars on that track. It would sound "all wrong" with Marshalls or a Twin Reverb, even though they no doubt used amps other than the 5E3's for other purposes (live, reunion tours, etc.)...

It's funny. Both Page and Felder had to order double neck guitars so they could do on stage what they did in the studio. Wasn't Felder's original demo an acoustic 12 string in Em, but Henley couldn't sing it there so they had to transpose it to Bm?

As an aside, I have 10 gauge strings on all my electrics and my fingers are killing me right now. It's a fair assumption, I think, that Walsh used 9s or smaller. Felder played a Gibson, so not a real issue. But those 10s on the Tele are making those bends a real problem for me.:sad:

Wasn't Felder's original demo an acoustic 12 string in Em, but Henley couldn't sing it there so they had to transpose it to Bm?

Correct.

I seem to remember reading or hearing a LONG time ago that Felder used an MXR Distortion+ on that solo. From the tone I hear, he must have used it at a low-gain, high-boost setting into an already overdriven amp.

But those 10s on the Tele are making those bends a real problem for me.:sad:

11 Gauge: Is there a pedal that will make 10s feel like 9s?

Hey WaylonFan check out Jason Hobbs Hotel California solo on YouTube. It's the best I've heard. He used a Wampler Pinnacle. Nailed it to!

This is a great site to find out info about Felder's gear. Wish Walsh had a similar site... This site answered my question when I wanted to know what kind of pickups he uses in his Les Pauls. Basically they email him the question, he emails a response to select questions he thinks are best, and they post them.

http://www.felderfans.com/guitar-q-a-with-don/

And yes it was a '59 "Burst" LP (Felder) and a Tele (Walsh) on HC.

I play the Walsh parts. I use a couple different pedals depending on the amp. With a Blackface I use a Red Llama set lightly with the amp clean/slightly edgy and with a Tweed I use my Hot Wired Wampler through a clean or semi-clean setting.

I know this is kinda random, but the middle solo break on Bob Seeger's 'Till it Shines', sounds just like the Hotel solo - Tone wise! As always...my opinion. Someone else listen to it and tell me yay or nay. Then find out what THAT guy used !!

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I know this is kinda random, but the middle solo break on Bob Seeger's 'Till it Shines', sounds just like the Hotel solo - Tone wise! As always...my opinion. Someone else listen to it and tell me yay or nay. Then find out what THAT guy used !!

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Ha! I will have to give that solo a listen tonight! :lol:

This is a great site to find out info about Felder's gear. Wish Walsh had a similar site... This site answered my question when I wanted to know what kind of pickups he uses in his Les Pauls. Basically they email him the question, he emails a response to select questions he thinks are best, and they post them.

http://www.felderfans.com/guitar-q-a-with-don/

And yes it was a '59 "Burst" LP (Felder) and a Tele (Walsh) on HC.

I play the Walsh parts. I use a couple different pedals depending on the amp. With a Blackface I use a Red Llama set lightly with the amp clean/slightly edgy and with a Tweed I use my Hot Wired Wampler through a clean or semi-clean setting.

What Phase are you using for that Walsh solo? Since you are the resident Eagles guy on the board, I'm curious! :?:

Ha! I will have to give that solo a listen tonight! :lol:

And don't be afraid to say "Craig, that doesn't sound anything like it to me!" :) I won't be offended. But seriously, it retains that kinda fuzzy, no bass, sustain...

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Honestly, mate... I just gave them a listen and I think you could be onto something there. Not exact, but in the same arena.

I alway thought it was a flanger and not a phase. At least that's what it sounds like on the horrible live album the one with "Seven Bridges Road."

Interesting topic. The band I play with now and then does HC occasionally. I do the acoustic fingerpickin' stuff on my Tak ( never owned or played a 12 string). I messed about with delay and chorus and settled on subtle chorus (my least used pedal). The lead guy (a strat man) uses a light comp into an old rat and then some sort of boost on the end for the Joe bit, switches neck to bridge too I think. I never know what pedals he's using, he seems to change them every 3 days. It was an EP at one point, now....

Kristina

As an aside, I have 10 gauge strings on all my electrics and my fingers are killing me right now. It's a fair assumption, I think, that Walsh used 9s or smaller. Felder played a Gibson, so not a real issue. But those 10s on the Tele are making those bends a real problem for me.:sad:

It's funny how the radius changes the feel of strings. I use 10s and 11s on my tele but 10s on my les paul feel like vermicelli.

Can't comment on the od/fuzz sound at the moment, my phone will only find acoustic versions and the previous link isn't mobile friendly.

Great thread, I'm enjoying the discussion.

It's not the radius that impacts that, it's the scale length. A longer scale length means you retain more tension with lighter strings.