Remembering Albert Collins

[dougstrum]

I like the look of the engine turned ashtray. Brightest tele I ever heard with a humbucker and he played with out a pick.

 

[Killing Floor]

I saw him in 1988 at the Cotton Club in Atlanta. Great show.

Me too! That place was dark and awesome.

 

[MickM]

Another great show in a small Pittsburgh bar (late '70s/early '80s). Besides being blown away by his show, when you saw Albert you also got splattered with his sweat when he walked through the audience while playing and you also got a complimentary case of ear bleed. Seeing him was an up front and personal experience for sure.

 

[ruger9]

I like the look of the engine turned ashtray. Brightest tele I ever heard with a humbucker and he played with out a pick.

Yeah but he played with a Quad Reverb, with most of the knobs on 10 LOL.


to quote the man himself:

I get most of my sound from the amp that I use and I always like to use my own amp- a 100 watt Quad Reverb I've been using since 1972. I always put the volume all the way up on 10, treble on 10, middle on 10 and I don't use bass, intensity or none of that. Reverb I set at 4.

 

[Old Deaf Roadie]

True legend.

 

[EllroyJames]

 

[effzee]

Chasing his tone is the reason I have a Telecaster. It's not just icepick, there's a woodiness in there that I feel in my spine, still my favorite Tele sound, and once in a blue moon I play a couple notes just right with my amp settings just right, and the stars aligned just right, and that tone jumps out at me, and I love it

He went waaaay too early

 

[EllroyJames]

Tongue Lashing

 

[brookdalebill]

Though I never met, or saw AC, I am a big fan.
I once got to play his Tele, circa 1985-86.
It was in the care of the late Danny Thorpe, who was employed by Clifford Antone (of Antone’s Home Of The Blues), and South Austin Music.
It was just on his workbench at SAM.
I asked if I could play it.
Danny gave me his “Don’t drop it” warning, and I played it (unplugged) for a moment.
Slim neck.
Great memory.
RIP, and thanks Albert, and Danny.

Here’s an AC story.
The reason Danny had AC’s Tele was kinda funny.
He wasn’t working on the Tele, he was re-making AC’s capo.
Danny accidentally broke AC’s hand made/home made capo while working as a stage manager at Antone’s.
Albert was not happy about that.
AC had made it himself, out of coat hanger wire and electrical tape.
Danny offered to replace it with a modern capo, but AC wanted what he made himself, and he insisted that Danny make him another.
At the time of my visit, he was dutifully trying to make it.
He was in the back of SAM, bending wire and, uh, fussing at how, uh, challenging it was to make it.
Silly, but true story.
I assume DT was successful in his endeavor.

 

[ruger9]

Here’s an AC story.
The reason Danny had AC’s Tele was kinda funny.
He wasn’t working on the Tele, he was re-making AC’s capo.
Danny accidentally broke AC’s hand made/home made capo while working as a stage manager at Antone’s.
Albert was not happy about that.
AC had made it himself, out of coat hanger wire and electrical tape.
Danny offered to replace it with a modern capo, but AC wanted what he made himself, and he insisted that Danny make him another.
At the time of my visit, he was dutifully trying to make it.
He was in the back of SAM, bending wire and, uh, fussing at how, uh, challenging it was to make it.
Silly, but true story.
I assume DT was successful in his endeavor.

I would not want AC mad at me LOL

 

[BigPapa]

Great master of telecaster. Had chance to meet him in Järvenpää Puistoblues 1982 and test his Telecaster.
We sat in trailer at backstage and ate great sandwitches that Järvenpää's Blues and Jazz Diggarit bought to Albert.
Talked about blues and music overall ansd i asked that if i coul test his Telecaster, so he said: "Sure, be my guest".
This week i finally got Fender Custom Shop Albert Collins Signature Telecaster 2013. Reminds of his Telecaster perfectly and reminds me about Albert and that day.

 

[Cloodie]

Only picked up my first Albert Collins album 2 years ago (Ice Pickin). I really should get more of his stuff.

 

[57joonya]

Yeah but he played with a Quad Reverb, with most of the knobs on 10 LOL.


to quote the man himself:

I’ve never tried any of these weird settings like I’ve been hearing about all the sudden. Treble on 10 bass at0? Got me curious

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Johnny Winter set up his amp similar, I've heard.

 

[Mr. St. Paul]

I saw him in '83 at the Union Bar in Minneapolis. The same venue where he recorded his live album on Alligator Records--at one point you hear Albert misspeak, "Thank you, Mindianapolis!"

I'd been playing guitar for 4 years at that time and was convinced I needed to learn more scales and put more notes into my solos. Albert played a 12-bar solo that night that consisted of one note. He bent it, varied his picking and dynamics--but it was one note. At the end of the solo, I was on my feet cheering, and I wasn't alone. One of the best lessons I've ever received.

Thanks, Albert. You left far too soon.

 

[msalama]

Never got the chance to see him live and that I feel bad about to this day. RIP Albert, you were one of the true greats.

 

[billy logan]

Me and my GF called him "Pirate Man" - wearing an earring on one of his album covers. It looked a little like this -

btw (just off the top of my head; don't bet money on this ... but) I'm pretty sure Robert Cray lobbied for, and succeeded in hiring Albert Collins to play the big dance at the school he was attending, I wanna say it was Robert Cray's high school

 

[tcadam]

Chasing his tone is the reason I have a Telecaster. It's not just icepick, there's a woodiness in there that I feel in my spine, still my favorite Tele sound, and once in a blue moon I play a couple notes just right with my amp settings just right, and the stars aligned just right, and that tone jumps out at me, and I love it

He went waaaay too early

The guitarist in his band for a while, Debbie Davies, could do a terrific impression. I've seen her a few times since his passing, and she reserved (although I did request it once) part of her set as an homage to Albert. I don't know that you could tell the difference with your eyes closed.