Anybody else getting Neil Young's electric tone on a tele?

Dave Yeats · May 4th, 2006, 01:05 PM

I've been listening to Neil Young's new record online:
http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF23089/

I really dig his crazy LP-through-a-tweed-deluxe super OD tone on what is essentially a collection of folk songs. I'm wondering what you guys are using to get this kind of tone. I played my 12-string tele into a Chandler Tube Driver into a TV-front Deluxe, and it sounded pretty darn good. :)

PS- The Neil recordings I linked to are overtly political, so we may want to stick to talking about the tone, not the lyrics, on this forum.

Pete Galati · May 4th, 2006, 01:19 PM

I think Neil's sound is has a lot of P90 sound in it.

You could try a 4 or 5 way switch to run your Tele pickups in series, and that might get you a P90 sound.

Pete

w0odman · May 4th, 2006, 02:37 PM

right now I'm getting close with my tele on both pickups through a Blues Junior witha behringer vintage distortion goosed with a tube screamer. Killer Tone :)

OutlawSteph1975 · May 4th, 2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

I think Neil's sound is has a lot of P90 sound in it.

I just picked up the Red Rocks DVD, and was wondering what those were on Old Black. They look like P-90s for sure but they are silver. Does anyone know anything else?

I've never tried it but I would think my Custom's middle position might come pretty close to Neil's tone.

Pete Galati · May 4th, 2006, 03:21 PM

I'm not up to doing a bunch of reading right now, but this website probably has good info on hiw guitar. Somewhere in there. It at least has some good pictures of his guitar.

http://www.thrasherswheat.org/sound.htm

yegbert · May 4th, 2006, 03:27 PM

Yep, that link Pete posted looks like a good one.

I remember reading somewhere, it originally came with P90s, the bridge has been replaced with a mini humbucker from a Firebird.

Chip · May 4th, 2006, 03:37 PM

This is my Old Black copy. Started life as a 70's Deluxe.
Like Neil's it has a P90 in the neck and a Gigson Firebird
in the bridge. The Firebird is the key to his sound it's very
microphonic. But a tele comes as close as anything else.

Take a listen to the Tonight's the Night album he only
plays a tele on it.

Here is a photo of him on that tour.

moparmutt · May 4th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Great CD, It's so cool to hear Neil rocking again. I liked his latest movie Heart of Gold, but noisey Neil is best!

rust_preacher · May 5th, 2006, 04:29 AM

I am using a Fulltone Distortion Pro these days, into a Rivera R-55 to get that totally thrashed overdriven distortion sound from the Weld era. I use a Tele Thinline with humbuckers, a Strat with a bridge humbucker, and G&L ASAT Hollowbody with the MFD single coils.

The first time I got "instant Neil" sound was at a music store with a G&L ASAT Special, into a Mesa V-Twin pedal and a high-gain amp.

I hope this helps,

Jyrki

LOTF · May 5th, 2006, 07:29 AM

Fiirst, the new album is excellent. It very definitely has strong political content so I'll say no more about the non-musical aspects.

I mainly get my Neil sound through my SG. The DLX-1s I use are direct replacements for mini-humbuckers so they get that sound really well. I have pretty good results with my Tele, running my Jerry Donahue lead pup through the blackface model on my Line 6 Flextone using a moderate amount of Blues Driver with a touch of MXR Dyna Comp (about 9 o'clock on the compression level) to keep things under control.

winny pooh · May 5th, 2006, 07:33 AM

Nice one CHIP!!!!!:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by rust_preacher

The first time I got "instant Neil" sound was at a music store with a G&L ASAT Special, into a Mesa V-Twin pedal and a high-gain amp.

NO!NO!NO! High gain is the devil!

Redd Volkaert · May 5th, 2006, 09:28 AM

Durham Electronics, makers of the Sexdrive, just came out with a "Crazy Horse" pedal.

He'd been working on it for years, cause he's sick with Neil Young-eye-tous and says he's now developed a cure.

It'll sure get a bunch of those sounds. 8)

So, it sounds like to me, you'll get it if you get it! :?

"No affiliation with this pedal "
Redd

LOTF · May 5th, 2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redd Volkaert

Durham Electronics, makers of the Sexdrive, just came out with a "Crazy Horse" pedal.

He'd been working on it for years, cause he's sick with Neil Young-eye-tous and says he's now developed a cure.

It'll sure get a bunch of those sounds. 8)

So, it sounds like to me, you'll get it if you get it! :?

"No affiliation with this pedal "
Redd

Thanx, Redd! I'll freely admit that I've been an unabashed Neil freak for almost 40 years now and this pedal sounds like something right up my alley.

Now, if Fishman can only come up with the sound of Hank's old D-45 in their Aura library, I may have to save my pennies for a Martin OMC-Aura.

Paul in Colorado · May 5th, 2006, 10:30 AM

I have the Friends and Relations DVD where Neil plays Old Black, the White Falcon and a '50's Tele. I don't think they sound that different from each other. In my opinion, it's more of his rig then the guitars.

jholcomb · May 5th, 2006, 10:49 AM

I agree with Paul, his sound really doesn't change that much on the F & R DVD, no matter the guitar.

I used to use my '52 Reissue Tele through 2 Fulltone Fulldrives (early aluminum box versions) and then through a cheasy, cheap ass delay to get my Neil sounds. Then I got a '57 Historic LP with Bigsby and got a lot closer. I know the '57 Historic has HBs, but after all, the Firebird PU is a HB, also. I really think the reason it gets closer is because of the Bigsby, not necessarily the PUs.

I think a Tele CAN come really close, though, because a Firebird HB is thinner sounding than a PAF-style HB.

If you go to the Les Paul Forum and do a search for Old Black, you can find some KILLER shots of Old Black and Neil's rig. Someone who knew Larry Cragg had preshow access to Neil's entire arsenal and took some great close up shots.

aldurham · May 5th, 2006, 01:54 PM

See Redd, other people suffer from my sickness as well.

LOTF · May 5th, 2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jholcomb

Then I got a '57 Historic LP with Bigsby and got a lot closer. I know the '57 Historic has HBs, but after all, the Firebird PU is a HB, also. I really think the reason it gets closer is because of the Bigsby, not necessarily the PUs.

So there might actually be some sort of good use for the Bigsby detuner I have on my SG? I'm glad to hear that but I'm not putting one of the damn things on my Tele!

LOTF · May 5th, 2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldurham

See Redd, other people suffer from my sickness as well.

I prefer to think of it as good taste, not sickness. The Crazy Horse is definitely now on my wish list. :D

csapo · May 5th, 2006, 06:21 PM

I've been GAS'n for a Sex Drive, which I'm buying this weekend. Now I gotta deal with the Crazy Horse?!?!?!?

Mr. Durham, could you send an email to my wife explaining the merits of purchasing guitar pedals vs golf equipment? I've told her golf would be 10x as expensive but she isn't buying my legit excuse. Actually, your time is better spent developing these great pedals. I'll handle the wife.

Can't wait to plug in the Sex Drive!!!

Quote:

See Redd, other people suffer from my sickness as well.

aldurham · May 5th, 2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Mr. Durham, could you send an email to my wife explaining the merits of purchasing guitar pedals vs golf equipment? I've told her golf would be 10x as expensive but she isn't buying my legit excuse. Actually, your time is better spent developing these great pedals. I'll handle the wife.

I spoke with your wife. I simply explained to her that if she were to send me your White Falcon, you'd have more room to store your toys. She agreed with me, and said that it was entirely too large to keep around. I'll be sending you a Hondo II Les Paul copy, and a Sex Drive to replace it.

No need to thank me, it's all in a days work.

May 4th, 2006, 01:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dave Yeats Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 764 50 Photos	Anybody else getting Neil Young's electric tone on a tele? I've been listening to Neil Young's new record online: http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF23089/ I really dig his crazy LP-through-a-tweed-deluxe super OD tone on what is essentially a collection of folk songs. I'm wondering what you guys are using to get this kind of tone. I played my 12-string tele into a Chandler Tube Driver into a TV-front Deluxe, and it sounded pretty darn good. :) PS- The Neil recordings I linked to are overtly political, so we may want to stick to talking about the tone, not the lyrics, on this forum.

May 4th, 2006, 02:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
w0odman Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 470	right now I'm getting close with my tele on both pickups through a Blues Junior witha behringer vintage distortion goosed with a tube screamer. Killer Tone :) __________________ "The only true currency in this bankrupt world, is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." -Lester Bangs

May 4th, 2006, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,809 85 Photos	P90 neck and miniHB bridge Yep, that link Pete posted looks like a good one. I remember reading somewhere, it originally came with P90s, the bridge has been replaced with a mini humbucker from a Firebird.

May 4th, 2006, 03:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chip Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Medina, Ohio Age: 41 Posts: 136	This is my Old Black copy. Started life as a 70's Deluxe. Like Neil's it has a P90 in the neck and a Gigson Firebird in the bridge. The Firebird is the key to his sound it's very microphonic. But a tele comes as close as anything else. Take a listen to the Tonight's the Night album he only plays a tele on it. Here is a photo of him on that tour. __________________ Jemima Surrender, I'm gonna give it to you, I'll bring over my Fender And I'll play all night for you. L.Helm and J.R.Robertson

May 5th, 2006, 04:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
rust_preacher TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 47	Distortion Pro I am using a Fulltone Distortion Pro these days, into a Rivera R-55 to get that totally thrashed overdriven distortion sound from the Weld era. I use a Tele Thinline with humbuckers, a Strat with a bridge humbucker, and G&L ASAT Hollowbody with the MFD single coils. The first time I got "instant Neil" sound was at a music store with a G&L ASAT Special, into a Mesa V-Twin pedal and a high-gain amp. I hope this helps, Jyrki

May 4th, 2006, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pete Galati R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,104 2 Photos	I think Neil's sound is has a lot of P90 sound in it. You could try a 4 or 5 way switch to run your Tele pickups in series, and that might get you a P90 sound. Pete

May 4th, 2006, 03:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pete Galati R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,104 2 Photos	I'm not up to doing a bunch of reading right now, but this website probably has good info on hiw guitar. Somewhere in there. It at least has some good pictures of his guitar. http://www.thrasherswheat.org/sound.htm

May 4th, 2006, 04:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
moparmutt Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: honolulu Posts: 570	Great CD, It's so cool to hear Neil rocking again. I liked his latest movie Heart of Gold, but noisey Neil is best!

May 5th, 2006, 07:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
LOTF Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ Age: 53 Posts: 229	Fiirst, the new album is excellent. It very definitely has strong political content so I'll say no more about the non-musical aspects. I mainly get my Neil sound through my SG. The DLX-1s I use are direct replacements for mini-humbuckers so they get that sound really well. I have pretty good results with my Tele, running my Jerry Donahue lead pup through the blackface model on my Line 6 Flextone using a moderate amount of Blues Driver with a touch of MXR Dyna Comp (about 9 o'clock on the compression level) to keep things under control. __________________ Regards, LOTF TELES: 2008 '52 Vintage Hot Rod 2007 '72 Thinline reissue 1985 Squier (MIJ)

May 5th, 2006, 09:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
Redd Volkaert Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 415	Guess What? Durham Electronics, makers of the Sexdrive, just came out with a "Crazy Horse" pedal. He'd been working on it for years, cause he's sick with Neil Young-eye-tous and says he's now developed a cure. It'll sure get a bunch of those sounds. 8) So, it sounds like to me, you'll get it if you get it! :? "No affiliation with this pedal " Redd

May 5th, 2006, 10:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,318 3 Photos	I have the Friends and Relations DVD where Neil plays Old Black, the White Falcon and a '50's Tele. I don't think they sound that different from each other. In my opinion, it's more of his rig then the guitars.

May 5th, 2006, 10:49 AM	#15 (permalink)
jholcomb Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 197	I agree with Paul, his sound really doesn't change that much on the F & R DVD, no matter the guitar. I used to use my '52 Reissue Tele through 2 Fulltone Fulldrives (early aluminum box versions) and then through a cheasy, cheap ass delay to get my Neil sounds. Then I got a '57 Historic LP with Bigsby and got a lot closer. I know the '57 Historic has HBs, but after all, the Firebird PU is a HB, also. I really think the reason it gets closer is because of the Bigsby, not necessarily the PUs. I think a Tele CAN come really close, though, because a Firebird HB is thinner sounding than a PAF-style HB. If you go to the Les Paul Forum and do a search for Old Black, you can find some KILLER shots of Old Black and Neil's rig. Someone who knew Larry Cragg had preshow access to Neil's entire arsenal and took some great close up shots.

May 5th, 2006, 01:54 PM	#16 (permalink)
aldurham TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 20	Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Pedal See Redd, other people suffer from my sickness as well. __________________ Thanks, Alan Durham