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Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 01:32 PM

My ear may lie to me, but it sounds like Don was using something like .009s in 1963!

Bill Hullett · February 8th, 2009, 01:47 PM

I think you're correct on the slinkys but a little off on the year of that performance.....Its probably closer to 1967....I don't ever remember Fender making the flat top acoustic that Buck is playing until CBS bought the company, and by '67 Ernie Ball had started making slinky strings.....I've used em ever since and loved em!!!

Bill Hullett

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Hullett

I think you're correct on the slinkys but a little off on the year of that performance.....Its probably closer to 1967....I don't ever remember Fender making the flat top acoustic that Buck is playing until CBS bought the company, and by '67 Ernie Ball had started making slinky strings.....I've used em ever since and loved em!!!

Bill Hullett

Forgot to mention that the video and audio are from two different times!

Video is from March 15, 1966 at the Buck Owens Ranch Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Audio is from October 22, 1963 at the Civic Auditorium in Bakersfield, CA.

HOBBSTER01 · February 8th, 2009, 02:01 PM

Gotta love Don.

marsopilami · February 8th, 2009, 02:03 PM

allot of people say they took the strings of a banjo and put them on their teles.

Bill Hullett · February 8th, 2009, 02:39 PM

.As far as custom gauging strings, that was a practice prior to Ernie Ball packaging slinkys ....

Where are you referencing the audio ???? I was never aware that on "The Buck Owens Ranch Show" that they lip synced....

Bill Hullett

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Hullett

.As far as custom gauging strings, that was a practice prior to Ernie Ball packaging slinkys ....

Where are you referencing the audio ???? I was never aware that on "The Buck Owens Ranch Show" that they lip synced....

Bill Hullett

The audio track is from Buck Owens' "I've Got a Tiger By The Tail" album. It's a recent re-released bonus track on the album.

The lip syncing was done in post production. You simply download the video clip, mute the audio, and overlay the "Act Naturally" mp3 over it. This was done by an amateur to post on Youtube.

blue metalflake · February 8th, 2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marsopilami

allot of people say they took the strings of a banjo and put them on their teles.

I'm pretty sure I read that Don was at this.

Mark Davis · February 8th, 2009, 05:49 PM

Don used 52-10 tuned down to Eb.

52-42-30-17-13-10

Merle uses the same size too.

DMace · February 8th, 2009, 05:57 PM

Don Rich always looked like he was having more fun than anyone in the world when he was on stage. And so tasty...never one note too many.

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Don used 52-10 tuned down to Eb.

52-42-30-17-13-10

Merle uses the same size too.

Hey Mark, I asked Jerry Brightman and he said Don used Ernie Balls 9,11,16,26w,36w,46w in nickel gauge.

No disrespect meant at all, but where'd you hear that?

and also...

Who made light gauge strings back in 1963?

Thanks

Mark Davis · February 8th, 2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lerb21

Hey Mark, I asked Jerry Brightman and he said Don used Ernie Balls 9,11,16,26w,36w,46w in nickel gauge.

No disrespect meant at all, but where'd you hear that?

and also...

Who made light gauge strings back in 1963?

Thanks

Those sizes were written on a guitar techs card he kept in a Rolodex at Pete Jones Music in Bakersfield. Don might have used thinner strings when they came out in the late 60's but just as you stated he wasnt using that light of a string in 63.

When I worked on Merles 51 Nocaster he ised on the 1978 ACL show he had a pack of Ernie Ball 52-10's in the case and thats what he wanted.

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Those sizes were written on a guitar techs card he kept in a Rolodex at Pete Jones Music in Bakersfield. Don might have used thinner strings when they came out in the late 60's burt just as you stated he wasnt using that light of a string in 63.

When I worked on Merles 51 Nocaster he ised on the 1978 ACL show he had a pack of Earnie Ball 52-10's in the case and thats what he wanted.

Thanks Mark. Cool stuff.

Do you know if Don was using the standard Ernie Ball 10-46? Or Nickel wound?

I know, I'm ridiculous...

Thanks

Mark Davis · February 8th, 2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lerb21

Thanks Mark. Cool stuff.

Do you know if Don was using the standard Ernie Ball 10-46? Or Nickel wound?

I know, I'm ridiculous...

Thanks

I never got to see any of Dons gear as he passed away in 1974 same year I moved to Bakersfield. Eugene Moles might know his daddy gene would know for sure but sadly he has also passed away.

Ir was kinda cool seeing those notes he listed the string sizes and how they liked their action. Didnt realize how cool all that stuff was until later on wish I would have taken a pic of all the stuff in the Music stores here in Bakersfield in the mid 70's.

Mark Davis · February 8th, 2009, 06:26 PM

here is some Ernie Ball history
-------------------------------------------------------------

THE STRING IS THE THING - THE GAUGE IS THE RAGE
It was the store's customers who were responsible for EB taking the step that carried his name and his business - far beyond the city limits of Tarzana. He noticed that beginning students were having difficulty pressing down the third string of the Fender #100 medium gauge set, which were the most popular electric guitar strings of the day. "The third guitar string was a 29 gauge, like a giant cable, and the poor kids were getting finger blisters."

IF YOU DON'T DO IT . . .
"I called my Fender sales rep, Tom Walker, and asked him to tell Leo Fender about the problem. Tom reported back that Leo wouldn't allow lighter gauge strings on his guitars because they caused string buzz, and he wasn't about to re-engineer his neck tension rods. I thought, "OK, Leo; If you won't do it, then I will! I talked a guitar string manufacturer into making me some custom medium gauge sets with a 24 third string instead of a 29."

In the early 60s rock and roll guitar was exploding. More and more people came in to buy a set of guitar strings, throwing away the sixth string, and then buying a banjo first string. This caused every string in the set to be much thinner. Ern thought there should be a rock & roll string set packaged with these lighter gauges. "Again, I called Tom Walker to explain my idea; and again, he reported back that Leo Fender wouldn't discuss it. Then I contacted the people at the Gibson guitar company and tried to talk them into making Rock & Roll strings, but they thought it was a lousy idea. OK; if you guys won't do it, then I really will! And that's how I came up with the first set of Slinky strings (Regular 10 - 46). At first they were only sold locally in my retail shop."

"It occurred to me that a guitarist might want a set of strings in any combination of gauges of his choosing, so I called the string maker again and asked for more strings, but this time I ordered plain strings, all gauges 8 through 24, and all even-numbered wound strings 18 through 58. I built a storage rack out of plywood and pieces of electrical conduit. This fit conveniently next to the workbench behind the counter. When I was busy with customers I would invite a string buyer to use the workbench behind the counter and experiment on his own. Soon scores of guitar players were tinkering around with the Custom Gauge string rack. They loved it!"

The legendary Merle Travis and the Ventures were regular store customers. They took the strings along on their tours, and when asked what kind they used, they would reply, "Ernie Ball." Mail orders started coming in, first from out-of-town guitarists and later from other stores. "We weren't a string company yet." Ernie says, "We were just a little store that had some strings people wanted to buy."

The demand for EB's Slinky strings continued to grow and in 1967 he sold the retail store and moved the string business to Newport Beach. "I wanted to change my lifestyle and work shorter days, learn to surf, learn to fly a plane, and grow a beard." With his staff of only two employees, he found himself doing everything from laying out artwork to packaging string sets. His sons, Sterling, David, and Sherwood, helped out in the warehouse after school.

During high school Ern's third son, Sterling, got a job at a local music store, gaining valuable retail sales experience. After graduating high school he quit the music store and joined the Ernie Ball Company full time as a travelling road rep and phone salesman. He would ultimately become a key character in artist and dealer relations, and later in the design of the Music Man instrument line.

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

I never got to see any of Dons gear as he passed away in 1974 same year I moved to Bakersfield. Eugene Moles might know his daddy gene would know for sure but sadly he has also passed away.

Ir was kinda cool seeing those notes he listed the string sizes and how they liked their action. Didnt realize how cool all that stuff was until later on wish I would have taken a pic of all the stuff in the Music stores here in Bakersfield in the mid 70's.

Thanks for the info Mark. Maybe Eugene'll chime in.

For-caster · February 8th, 2009, 06:40 PM

I met Don at this show in Orl. Fl. March 29 1969. The band had Jay Dee Maness by that time. I was 13, I had been playing about 3 yrs. and such a fan. After the show, it was very casual. Buck left the stage and accessablity to the band was completely open, no security or barriers at all. The Buckaroos were breaking down their own equipment(I don't recall any roadies around). I was shaking, but it was too tempting and no one was talking to the band. I walk right up to Don and asked for his autograph. While he was signing my ticket stub I thought just like you guys here, what kind of special strings must he have to get that sound. I thought they must be like BASS strings or something. Well he said to me..."I use custom gauge strings, you know" and he started these numbers, which I had no idea what he was talking about. I was using Black Diamonds and only knew 1st 2nd 3rd..etc. So that was that I said thank you, Don was just as nice as he could be to a young kid scared to death at meeting his guitar hero.

Lerb21 · February 8th, 2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by For-caster

I met Don at this show in Orl. Fl. March 29 1969. The band had Jay Dee Maness by that time. I was 13, I had been playing about 3 yrs. and such a fan. After the show, it was very casual. Buck left the stage and accessablity to the band was completely open, no security or barriers at all. The Buckaroos were breaking down their own equipment(I don't recall any roadies around). I was shaking, but it was too tempting and no one was talking to the band. I walk right up to Don and asked for his autograph. While he was signing my ticket stub I thought just like you guys here, what kind of special strings must he have to get that sound. I thought they must be like BASS strings or something. Well he said to me..."I use custom gauge strings, you know" and he started these numbers, which I had no idea what he was talking about. I was using Black Diamonds and only knew 1st 2nd 3rd..etc. So that was that I said thank you, Don was just as nice as he could be to a young kid scared to death at meeting his guitar hero.

Hmm, well that would (could) only make Mark's posting all the more 'real'.

And also...

YOU MET DON?!? That's awesome!

Bill Hullett · February 8th, 2009, 06:52 PM

I'm trying to remember, I don't think that there was any other strings in the 60's other than nickel wound for elec. gtr. No custom core or any high bred plating or anything....And if you really study Dons sound, it sounds like his strings are always a tad bit dead to me....( which is what nickel strings do.....Go dead pretty fast....) (they've always sounded that way to me, and I think he earned the title as a Twangy guitar player in style alone....not tone...) all this said I'm still a major fan of all he did, just stating what I think is probably the case....

Bill Hullett

For-caster · February 8th, 2009, 06:57 PM

That answer "Custom Guage" stuck in my head of course. I immediately started looking into that. I went on line and...no wait, there was no internet (hard to imagine). I had to get the latest Country Hit Parade magazine and check the ads. I found Emmons mail order strings, write for information. A few weeks later...I got the custom string order list info etc. Buddy Emmons sold strings by mail order back then. Guess what I ordered for my 63 Strat (sorry no Tele then) I ordered a 56 on the top...man that thing was hard to play but did sound deep.I couldn't handle them for long and later learned what was more balanced for me.

For-caster · February 8th, 2009, 07:06 PM

Bill that is a good point about Dons tone, probably partially due to tuning-down a half step but he had a bit of a thuddy sound I almost came to the conclusion sometime, that he was using flat-wounds! But nickel makes sense...after I discovered stainless for my Tele, I can never go back. Friend, Ray Riggs is a guitar player who lives here in Central Fl. who, to my understanding used to be around Don when Ray was with the Bakersfield Brass, he may can shed some light on this topic, I will ask.

musicmatty · February 8th, 2009, 10:13 PM

Custom guage could imply many things. My firsts thought would be, that Don may have been mix matching string guages himself and maybe even mixing from different brands.

I doubt that Don Rich had a string company making him custom guages just for him. As I recall, James Burton was mix matching his own strings at the time and I think that James said that they were buddys back N-the day...so I would not be surprised at all if they both had the same string game going. Of course, I have NO facts on any of this..just bits and pieces I have heard thru the years like most people...Logicaly, I somewhat sure that Don was customizing his own guages as James was.

Gene Moles · February 9th, 2009, 10:40 PM

I remember playing Don's sparkle Tele in Bucks studio while recording with the Buckeroo's. It was leaning against the drum booth. I picked it up and played it. The strings were heavy. I didn't use it because of that. I would have to agree with Mark. I took the strings off a yellow Tele of Don's. I saved them. They were heavy. And lost them unfortunately. Things happen when you get a divorce. I always thought the taper of his string bends were due to his heavy string gauge. I love Tele's!

Mitch Roberts · February 9th, 2009, 11:34 PM

What a great thread! Keep those factoids coming. When did Fender finally get with the program and start selling their 150's?
i'm pretty sure those were available at my Dallas music store, Minsky's, before the Slinkys made it to Dallas. Around 1964 or 65?

For-caster · February 10th, 2009, 02:04 PM

A friend gave me this 60's era "Picture and Song Album" complete with Buck, Don, Doyle, Dennis Womacks autographs. Now, I don't know when the autographs were from (what year) but Doyle and Dennis both played bass..so maybe this is from two different shows???I know they are for real because this guy was a big fan...anyway just thought I'd share what I have for the Don thread!
~Forest Rodgers
(Oh sorry about the quality.)

TELECASTERbstrd · February 10th, 2009, 02:05 PM

Ok, all those string guages are probably possible back in the day, I don't know except for what has been posted here. I'd guess that Don being the serious musician that he was with the #1 country band in that era could get anything he wanted to, to include Silver Sparkle guitars from Fender! Tuning down will make a guitar more plunky (by plunk I mean twang). I've tried all them guages, but I think it comes from the amp settings, the amp itself, and the pups! I'd also bet that Fender (150's...(Bullets?)) were available about that time, but that's pure speculation. I wonder, but, strings....?

Brass saddles give me twang/plunk. My old Tube amp gives me twang. My 62 RI gives me twang... Did Don use Brass saddles or did he have Steel?

Just wondering.

PITT · February 10th, 2009, 02:23 PM

That's a great story about Ernie Ball!

musicmatty · February 10th, 2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TELECASTERbstrd

Ok, all those string guages are probably possible back in the day, I don't know except for what has been posted here. I'd guess that Don being the serious musician that he was with the #1 country band in that era could get anything he wanted to, to include Silver Sparkle guitars from Fender! Tuning down will make a guitar more plunky (by plunk I mean twang). I've tried all them guages, but I think it comes from the amp settings, the amp itself, and the pups! I'd also bet that Fender bullets were available about that time, but that's pure speculation. I wonder, but, strings....?

Brass saddles give me twang/plunk. My old Tube amp gives me twang. My 62 RI gives me twang... Did Don use Brass saddles or did he have Steel?

Just wondering.

You've mentioned the amp settings and pups. I am starting to lean that way myself with that logic. I have 4 Teles, and only the 69 Thinline with it's 69 reissue pups pushin thru my Fender Devile, sounds hauntingly identicle to the Don Rich sound. Im using the Fender Super 250 L. nickel coated strings. Most noticably, it's the Bass E, A, and D strings that have identicle sound characteristics to Don's Bass strings that he used frequently. My Thinline is a $160. SX guitar with Ash body and maple neck...so go figure??

TELECASTERbstrd · February 10th, 2009, 03:20 PM

OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH...
A little off the Don Rich topic, but I was looking at Buck's autograph on For-caster's post and I thought that I should go ahead and put this one up.
It's Buck's sig. in the last day of his life. Not as good looking, but it's pretty hard to sign a headstock anyway. I miss his music and or him dearly!!! What a great guy and what a great Band.

mellecaster · February 10th, 2009, 04:03 PM

As I've often stated before...String sets were just not gauged until Ernie Ball came along in the 60s...The Pics clearly show this...Gene Moles probably has the Best answer to this, of all given...the rest is just guessin.
Old string pak.jpg

Fender old strings.jpg

Lerb21 · February 10th, 2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TELECASTERbstrd

...Brass saddles give me twang/plunk. My old Tube amp gives me twang. My 62 RI gives me twang... Did Don use Brass saddles or did he have Steel?

All the Sparkle Tele's that I see Don playing have steel saddles, and I believe many of them were threaded.

TELECASTERbstrd · February 10th, 2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lerb21

All the Sparkle Tele's that I see Don playing have steel saddles, and I believe many of them were threaded.

Thanks! My 62RI is as well as a couple others. I was just wondering. I love threaded saddles! I think that the steel saddles are hotter and I think that the brass are plunkier.
It's just my opine. Just the way I've heard them all to be.

JTM45blues · February 11th, 2009, 03:46 PM

A good buddy of mine was on Hee-Haw toward the end of Don's life and Don let him play his guitar. He said they were very light guage strings, definitely 9's or less.

In all the pics it always looks like steel saddles for Don. Though I prefer the tone of brass saddles.

Don is far and away my country pickin hero, I just love his style, and how he moves around so cleanly and effortlessly in those old videos. I listen to Buck almost daily.

jhundt · February 11th, 2009, 04:01 PM

wow! I love that Buck Owens signed sparkle headstock!

Quote:

It's Buck's sig. in the last day of his life. Not as good looking, but it's pretty hard to sign a headstock anyway.

what's the story?

Bill Hullett · February 11th, 2009, 04:11 PM

I could strongly guesstimate that Dons teles in terms of what bridges he used etc....were set up with what they came with...The first ever I saw of anyone offering aftermarket Tele bridges was an ad in guitar player circa 1974-75...We just never thought about that stuff....and really, unless you came in contact with an old blackguard and started comparing your "new tele" to the old one.....you flat out didn't know....that was unknown trivia of the day....

As far as his string gauge goes....Like all of you guys....I bet Don experimented with different sizes, within reason.....Back in the day....if they didn't have EB 9's in stock I'd just buy a set or two of 10's.....Now I'm Waaaaay to finicky to except anything less than what i want....
Bill Hullett

wikur · February 11th, 2009, 04:11 PM

Thanks Mark Davis and all others!
Great info and nice pics.

musicmatty · February 11th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Does anyone know what Don had in his fingers to play that way?

dobrodoc · February 12th, 2009, 01:21 AM

Saw an interview with Kenny Vaughan, who said that Don used flat-wounds (as does Kenny). No mention of whether the third was wound or not, though.

For-caster · February 12th, 2009, 01:21 AM

Regarding Don's fingers...Like Chet is quoted as saying when someone complimented him on how great his guitar sounded...and he set it in on the stand and said "how does it sound now"?

tele salivas · February 12th, 2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmatty

Does anyone know what Don had in his fingers to play that way?

years of fiddle sawing

a sense of humor

buck owens as a guitar teacher

February 8th, 2009, 01:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lerb21 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Florence, PA Age: 17 Posts: 3,029	The Always Twangy Don Rich My ear may lie to me, but it sounds like Don was using something like .009s in 1963! __________________ If it don't twang then it ain't worth havin'!

February 8th, 2009, 01:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,539	Lerb... I think you're correct on the slinkys but a little off on the year of that performance.....Its probably closer to 1967....I don't ever remember Fender making the flat top acoustic that Buck is playing until CBS bought the company, and by '67 Ernie Ball had started making slinky strings.....I've used em ever since and loved em!!! Bill Hullett

February 8th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
HOBBSTER01 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North GA. Age: 47 Posts: 1,623 4 Photos	Gotta love Don. __________________ The Hobbster

February 8th, 2009, 02:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,539	What!!??? .As far as custom gauging strings, that was a practice prior to Ernie Ball packaging slinkys .... Where are you referencing the audio ???? I was never aware that on "The Buck Owens Ranch Show" that they lip synced.... Bill Hullett

February 8th, 2009, 05:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 17,152	Don used 52-10 tuned down to Eb. 52-42-30-17-13-10 Merle uses the same size too. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

February 8th, 2009, 02:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
marsopilami Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: surrey,bc canada Posts: 138	allot of people say they took the strings of a banjo and put them on their teles.

February 8th, 2009, 05:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
DMace Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,993	Don Rich always looked like he was having more fun than anyone in the world when he was on stage. And so tasty...never one note too many.

February 8th, 2009, 06:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 17,152	here is some Ernie Ball history ------------------------------------------------------------- THE STRING IS THE THING - THE GAUGE IS THE RAGE It was the store's customers who were responsible for EB taking the step that carried his name and his business - far beyond the city limits of Tarzana. He noticed that beginning students were having difficulty pressing down the third string of the Fender #100 medium gauge set, which were the most popular electric guitar strings of the day. "The third guitar string was a 29 gauge, like a giant cable, and the poor kids were getting finger blisters." IF YOU DON'T DO IT . . . "I called my Fender sales rep, Tom Walker, and asked him to tell Leo Fender about the problem. Tom reported back that Leo wouldn't allow lighter gauge strings on his guitars because they caused string buzz, and he wasn't about to re-engineer his neck tension rods. I thought, "OK, Leo; If you won't do it, then I will! I talked a guitar string manufacturer into making me some custom medium gauge sets with a 24 third string instead of a 29." In the early 60s rock and roll guitar was exploding. More and more people came in to buy a set of guitar strings, throwing away the sixth string, and then buying a banjo first string. This caused every string in the set to be much thinner. Ern thought there should be a rock & roll string set packaged with these lighter gauges. "Again, I called Tom Walker to explain my idea; and again, he reported back that Leo Fender wouldn't discuss it. Then I contacted the people at the Gibson guitar company and tried to talk them into making Rock & Roll strings, but they thought it was a lousy idea. OK; if you guys won't do it, then I really will! And that's how I came up with the first set of Slinky strings (Regular 10 - 46). At first they were only sold locally in my retail shop." "It occurred to me that a guitarist might want a set of strings in any combination of gauges of his choosing, so I called the string maker again and asked for more strings, but this time I ordered plain strings, all gauges 8 through 24, and all even-numbered wound strings 18 through 58. I built a storage rack out of plywood and pieces of electrical conduit. This fit conveniently next to the workbench behind the counter. When I was busy with customers I would invite a string buyer to use the workbench behind the counter and experiment on his own. Soon scores of guitar players were tinkering around with the Custom Gauge string rack. They loved it!" The legendary Merle Travis and the Ventures were regular store customers. They took the strings along on their tours, and when asked what kind they used, they would reply, "Ernie Ball." Mail orders started coming in, first from out-of-town guitarists and later from other stores. "We weren't a string company yet." Ernie says, "We were just a little store that had some strings people wanted to buy." The demand for EB's Slinky strings continued to grow and in 1967 he sold the retail store and moved the string business to Newport Beach. "I wanted to change my lifestyle and work shorter days, learn to surf, learn to fly a plane, and grow a beard." With his staff of only two employees, he found himself doing everything from laying out artwork to packaging string sets. His sons, Sterling, David, and Sherwood, helped out in the warehouse after school. During high school Ern's third son, Sterling, got a job at a local music store, gaining valuable retail sales experience. After graduating high school he quit the music store and joined the Ernie Ball Company full time as a travelling road rep and phone salesman. He would ultimately become a key character in artist and dealer relations, and later in the design of the Music Man instrument line. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

February 8th, 2009, 06:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,539	In My Mind I'm trying to remember, I don't think that there was any other strings in the 60's other than nickel wound for elec. gtr. No custom core or any high bred plating or anything....And if you really study Dons sound, it sounds like his strings are always a tad bit dead to me....( which is what nickel strings do.....Go dead pretty fast....) (they've always sounded that way to me, and I think he earned the title as a Twangy guitar player in style alone....not tone...) all this said I'm still a major fan of all he did, just stating what I think is probably the case.... Bill Hullett

February 8th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#20 (permalink)
For-caster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 36	That answer "Custom Guage" stuck in my head of course. I immediately started looking into that. I went on line and...no wait, there was no internet (hard to imagine). I had to get the latest Country Hit Parade magazine and check the ads. I found Emmons mail order strings, write for information. A few weeks later...I got the custom string order list info etc. Buddy Emmons sold strings by mail order back then. Guess what I ordered for my 63 Strat (sorry no Tele then) I ordered a 56 on the top...man that thing was hard to play but did sound deep.I couldn't handle them for long and later learned what was more balanced for me. Last edited by For-caster; February 9th, 2009 at 11:03 AM.

February 8th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
For-caster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 36	Bill that is a good point about Dons tone, probably partially due to tuning-down a half step but he had a bit of a thuddy sound I almost came to the conclusion sometime, that he was using flat-wounds! But nickel makes sense...after I discovered stainless for my Tele, I can never go back. Friend, Ray Riggs is a guitar player who lives here in Central Fl. who, to my understanding used to be around Don when Ray was with the Bakersfield Brass, he may can shed some light on this topic, I will ask. Last edited by For-caster; February 8th, 2009 at 07:38 PM.

February 8th, 2009, 10:13 PM	#22 (permalink)
musicmatty Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown Maryland Age: 42 Posts: 871 5 Photos	Custom guage could imply many things. My firsts thought would be, that Don may have been mix matching string guages himself and maybe even mixing from different brands. I doubt that Don Rich had a string company making him custom guages just for him. As I recall, James Burton was mix matching his own strings at the time and I think that James said that they were buddys back N-the day...so I would not be surprised at all if they both had the same string game going. Of course, I have NO facts on any of this..just bits and pieces I have heard thru the years like most people...Logicaly, I somewhat sure that Don was customizing his own guages as James was.

February 9th, 2009, 10:40 PM	#23 (permalink)
Gene Moles TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 43	Don Rich Strings I remember playing Don's sparkle Tele in Bucks studio while recording with the Buckeroo's. It was leaning against the drum booth. I picked it up and played it. The strings were heavy. I didn't use it because of that. I would have to agree with Mark. I took the strings off a yellow Tele of Don's. I saved them. They were heavy. And lost them unfortunately. Things happen when you get a divorce. I always thought the taper of his string bends were due to his heavy string gauge. I love Tele's! __________________ Bakersfied born. Live in Nashville. Ex Haggard and Buckeroo band member.

February 9th, 2009, 11:34 PM	#24 (permalink)
Mitch Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: CT Posts: 491	What a great thread! Keep those factoids coming. When did Fender finally get with the program and start selling their 150's? i'm pretty sure those were available at my Dallas music store, Minsky's, before the Slinkys made it to Dallas. Around 1964 or 65? __________________ I think, therefore I jam.

February 10th, 2009, 02:05 PM	#26 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 1,008	Ok, all those string guages are probably possible back in the day, I don't know except for what has been posted here. I'd guess that Don being the serious musician that he was with the #1 country band in that era could get anything he wanted to, to include Silver Sparkle guitars from Fender! Tuning down will make a guitar more plunky (by plunk I mean twang). I've tried all them guages, but I think it comes from the amp settings, the amp itself, and the pups! I'd also bet that Fender (150's...(Bullets?)) were available about that time, but that's pure speculation. I wonder, but, strings....? Brass saddles give me twang/plunk. My old Tube amp gives me twang. My 62 RI gives me twang... Did Don use Brass saddles or did he have Steel? Just wondering. __________________ Country Tele guitar. my MySpace Music Last edited by TELECASTERbstrd; February 10th, 2009 at 03:46 PM.

February 10th, 2009, 02:23 PM	#27 (permalink)
PITT Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 196	That's a great story about Ernie Ball!

February 10th, 2009, 03:20 PM	#29 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 1,008	OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH... A little off the Don Rich topic, but I was looking at Buck's autograph on For-caster's post and I thought that I should go ahead and put this one up. It's Buck's sig. in the last day of his life. Not as good looking, but it's pretty hard to sign a headstock anyway. I miss his music and or him dearly!!! What a great guy and what a great Band. __________________ Country Tele guitar. my MySpace Music

February 10th, 2009, 04:03 PM	#30 (permalink)
mellecaster VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,644 17 Photos	As I've often stated before...String sets were just not gauged until Ernie Ball came along in the 60s...The Pics clearly show this...Gene Moles probably has the Best answer to this, of all given...the rest is just guessin. Old string pak.jpg Fender old strings.jpg __________________ Expert Repair....ReCrafting...and Set-ups Making your World a Better Place...One Guitar at a time

February 11th, 2009, 03:46 PM	#33 (permalink)
JTM45blues Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 581	A good buddy of mine was on Hee-Haw toward the end of Don's life and Don let him play his guitar. He said they were very light guage strings, definitely 9's or less. In all the pics it always looks like steel saddles for Don. Though I prefer the tone of brass saddles. Don is far and away my country pickin hero, I just love his style, and how he moves around so cleanly and effortlessly in those old videos. I listen to Buck almost daily.

February 11th, 2009, 04:11 PM	#35 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,539	Modding Teles.... I could strongly guesstimate that Dons teles in terms of what bridges he used etc....were set up with what they came with...The first ever I saw of anyone offering aftermarket Tele bridges was an ad in guitar player circa 1974-75...We just never thought about that stuff....and really, unless you came in contact with an old blackguard and started comparing your "new tele" to the old one.....you flat out didn't know....that was unknown trivia of the day.... As far as his string gauge goes....Like all of you guys....I bet Don experimented with different sizes, within reason.....Back in the day....if they didn't have EB 9's in stock I'd just buy a set or two of 10's.....Now I'm Waaaaay to finicky to except anything less than what i want.... Bill Hullett

February 11th, 2009, 04:11 PM	#36 (permalink)
wikur Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 417 18 Photos	Thanks Mark Davis and all others! Great info and nice pics. __________________ Cheers,Wikur!

February 11th, 2009, 08:22 PM	#37 (permalink)
musicmatty Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown Maryland Age: 42 Posts: 871 5 Photos	Does anyone know what Don had in his fingers to play that way?

February 12th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#38 (permalink)
dobrodoc Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ware Shoals, S.C. Age: 54 Posts: 702	Saw an interview with Kenny Vaughan, who said that Don used flat-wounds (as does Kenny). No mention of whether the third was wound or not, though.

February 12th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
For-caster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 36	Regarding Don's fingers...Like Chet is quoted as saying when someone complimented him on how great his guitar sounded...and he set it in on the stand and said "how does it sound now"?

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