Gene Moles fans???

[JTM45blues]

I listen to Buck, Merle, Johnny and Red on a daily basis, and time and time again, I'm AMAZED at what Gene Moles played on that truckin country stuff that Red Simpson did. His playing is so clean, and effortless sounding. What kind of guitar did he use? Any idea on amps? I know neither can make me sound like Gene, I'm just curious. It sounds like a Tele and a Twin Reverb, but you never know.

Also who played piano with Red on those records? The piano fills are really a treat on those songs too.

Any idea how to develop a similar style to Gene? Where to start? Most of the licks pass by very quick, and they're all really great.

I just love Bakersfield country, such killer stuff!!!

 

[Lerb21]

I have no idea, but I love the Bakersfield Sound too!

Maybe Eugene'll log on and shed some light...

 

[JTM45blues]

Your Don Rich thread is partially what prompted this. You've shed SO MUCH insight into his playing its helped me tremendously. Thank you again for that.

 

[getbent]

I love those Red Simpson records and Gene Moles is just a killer!

You might also like Wayne Moss' playing (girl on the billboard and many others)

not sure who the piano player is... Bill Hullett or Tjarko usually knows that stuff!

 

[stevewood]

I think that was George French on the Piano.

 

[Mark Davis]

When I knew Gene he played a custom made guitar with a weird body shape never did know the name. His son Eugene is a member here and he posts under the handle Gene Moles so hopefully he will see this and fill in the blanks.

 

[Bob L]

I'm another Gene Moles fan. Truck Driving Man is full of great licks.

 

[Cole]

Gene was a very cool guy! He had a little repair shop (where Niles St meets Oswell St) that I used to hang out at for hours on end listening to Gene's old stories about all the crazy clubs & characters from the early years that gave birth to the Bakersfield Sound. My very close friend Dale Sheehan (who now lives in OK) was pretty close to Gene for many years, both of them being top notch guitar repair guys in Bakersfield for a few decades. It was Dale that shared with me just how influential Gene was as a player in those early years. I feel privileged to have known Gene.

 

[Bryan H]

When I first started playing, I bought a couple of guitars and a friend took me to meet Gene at his shop. He loved to talk and he would do the set up on my guitars, Gene and my friend Larry went way back and sometimes Gene would say, "Larry. sit down and let's play a little". At the time I had no idea of Gene's musical history, I just knew he was a wonderful man and man, could he make a guitar sing! He had a custom guitar that he had built, it almost looked like one of Jerry Garcia's (Greatful Dead) guitars. He was very proud of it and as I remember, the workmanship was top notch. When he played, he would either take that guitar, or anything sitting around in the shop and plug in to any amp that was there, and make it sing. His tone was truely in his hands!

 

[Mark Davis]

First time Gene played anything for me was on that custom made guitar and he did those tuner tricks like Jr Brown does since Jr copied those from Gene anyway. It was awesome I was flabergasted in how he did that.

It wasnt till many months later i found out Gene had played with Buck and Merle who played BASS at the Lucky Spot a really seedy bar across fron the railroad tracks in the mid 50's. Gene was so humble he never bragged about himself at all zero ego one of the best people I have ever known same with Eugene the real deal.

 

[Dave Hopping]

And Gene was pals with Nokie Edwards.They co-wrote "Sunny River",which is on the first(of 2) "Twist with The Ventures" LPs.Gorgeous tune!

 

[MandyMarie]

I'm traveling and I've only got a couple of minutes to spend online - it felt so good to come here and see this thread, it brightened up my day!

I'll pass this onto Mr. Eugene Moles and hopefully he'll have the chance to answer your questions about his father.


I'm such a fan of Gene Moles that it's embarrassing and I can honestly say that if you like Gene...you're going to love his son, Eugene! Eugene is this incredible mix of his daddy and Roy Nichols...and together it's pure Eugene Moles. He's an amazingly unique player and one of the sweetest, most genuine people on the planet. I can't even imagine how proud Gene must have been.

I love reading stories about Gene - please keep them coming guys! I've always wished I could have met him so badly...but hearing stories about how humble and nice he was makes me wish I could have even more - please keep the stories comin' guys!

 

[Gene Moles]

My Dad's gear

My dad had a 50's tweed Bassman. Semi Mosely had made him a Mosrite. Hopefully my attachment made it up here. It was Mosrite number 2. The first one was made for Joe Maphis. Howard Dumble was also designing amps for Semi also. My dad had an early amp at that time I believe. My dad used a 50 or 52 guage for the low E. My dad played on a couple cuts on "Twist With The Ventures". Nokie and his wife were out shopping. And the producer had my dad take Nokie's place until he showed up. He played on a lot of Capitol recordings in L.A. They didn't put the player credits on the albums much back then. Tex Ritter, Pat Buttrum from the show Green Acres, Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens, Jody Miller, Wanda Jackson, Dick Curless, check out the Dick Curless and Kay Adams duet album. If I think of more I'll post. I believe it was George French on piano on Reds albums. Thank you for the interest

 

[MandyMarie]

My band played with Wanda Jackson in Cleveland (before her Hall of Fame Induction - yay for her being inducted!) on Thursday and I asked her a lot of questions about Gene Moles and Joe Maphis. She said those two were always her "go to" guys and that she always loved everything Gene did. She was soooooo sweet and told me a lot of stories about her session musicians and live band members right up until I had to leave and play - I felt horrible walking away because I realized that I didn't even ask her a single question about herself in any way, shape or form...I was too busy thinking about Gene and Joe!

 

[MandyMarie]

PS...how cool is that photo?!

 

[Mark Davis]

Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll Wanda is the Queen.

 

[WillShredForFood]

Dale Sheehan is my grandfather...he's been through some medical issues but hes still kicking. He can get around the house but hes mostly in the bed...hes still trying to get stronger after being in the bed for awhile. Its cool to see people out there that know his luthier legacy. If any of yall are still around or have any questions I'd love to answer em or get answers from him for you

 

[getbent]

dang... I sure miss Mark Davis and Dave Hopping.

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Gene was a great player no doubt. There was another Gene, Gene Breeden, that played a lot of the Red Simpson sessions and sessions at Capitol Records.

Gene Breeden was also one of the "Bakersfield Sound" architects. Both Gene's were good friends.

In his 80's now, Gene Breeden still has a studio in Nashville.

I'm A Truck was cut in Vancouver, Washington at Ripcord Recording Studio.

I worked at Ripcord for Gene and played many sessions with Red, Sheb Wooley, Rose Maddox and several other well known artists in the 70's and early 80's.

 

[Matt Sarad]

Time to revive this.
Once I was at Gene’s shop just talking. A grey haired grandmother was dragging twi Martin cases in from the car.
Gene opened up the new one and pulled out a shaded top D18 with “MERLE” inlaid on the neck. He opened the other case and it was the Martin pictured on Merle's “Same Tran A Different Time”.
The grandmother was Flossie, Merle's Mom.
I asked her if I could play that guitar. She said ,”Sure.”
I played the G chord, smiled, and put it back in the case.