What Pickups and/or Electronics for Keith Richard Tone

[Onairangel2]

Hello again, everybody! I have a question, I plan on getting a Mexican Tele or a Squire Classic Vibe Custom, and I would to know what pickup set I can put on the guitar to get or to come close to a Keith Richards' tone. I'm sure alot of people have probably asked this, but I am just throwing it out there. I know on his McCawber guitar as Keith calls it, he had a lot of Mods done to it. But I would appreciate any input. Also, would this pickup set or electronic mod would work on a Squire Affinity tele? Sorry for the many questions. Thank you.

 

[jamieorc]

This was asked just last week. Search the TDPRI. First thing though, is take off the low E string, tune it to G-D-G-B-D, start playing those five-string songs and mess with your amp and Tele's controls and see how close you get before modifying the guitar.

 

[Onairangel2]

This was asked just last week. Search the TDPRI. First thing though, is take off the low E string, tune it to G-D-G-B-D, start playing those five-string songs and mess with your amp and Tele's controls and see how close you get before modifying the guitar.

Oh, okay Sorry about that! I don't come this page very often. Thank you for your suggestion...

 

[Alamo]

I don`t know what a search for McCaber comes up with but what you need is an early PAF hunbucker and a Champ Lap Steel pickup .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones named one of his guitars (an early 1950s Fender Telecaster with a Gibson PAF humbucking pickup installed in the neck position) "Micawber". Richards is known to be a fan of Dickens. Of the unusual moniker attached to the instrument, Richards said, "There's no reason for my guitar being called Micawber, apart from the fact that it's such an unlikely name. There's no one around me called Micawber, so when I scream for Micawber everyone knows what I'm talking about."

 

[Mike Eskimo]

This was asked just last week. Search the TDPRI. First thing though, is take off the low E string, tune it to G-D-G-B-D, start playing those five-string songs and mess with your amp and Tele's controls and see how close you get before modifying the guitar.

Pretty much.

Look online and you'll find out the songs he used open g on and of those, which ones are capo'ed.

If you've ever seen a bar band do some Stones chestnuts with a hot guitar player and he's playing the open G stuff in standard - it's pretty gross.



Cleanish/dirty-ish tube amp, pick near the end of the fret board - yer off to the races !

 

[Onairangel2]

I don`t know what a search for McCaber comes up with but what you need is an early PAF hunbucker and a Champ Lap Steel pickup .
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones named one of his guitars (an early 1950s Fender Telecaster with a Gibson PAF humbucking pickup installed in the neck position) "Micawber". Richards is known to be a fan of Dickens. Of the unusual moniker attached to the instrument, Richards said, "There's no reason for my guitar being called Micawber, apart from the fact that it's such an unlikely name. There's no one around me called Micawber, so when I scream for Micawber everyone knows what I'm talking about."

Hey Thank you for that! I meant to say Mcawber, Sorry about the misspelling, I guess I am going to need a new pair of glasses...

 

[televillian]

see my avatar

 

[dkmw]

I had an Affinity Tele for my first open g guitar. I could get in the ballpark by rolling off the volume just a tiny bit and tone about 1/4 down (guitar controls), on the bridge pickup. A warm, very slightly distorted amp tone helps a lot too.

For me, the same amp settings that work for open g seem to work for Keef's standard tuning stuff too. Just make sure you have an LP Junior and an ES handy for those songs.

And the hands are the most important part. KR is very economical with his playing - makes it look easy. Some of it is easy, but copying his feel and timing is the hard part.

 

[GoldieLocks]

Too bad nobody answered his questions about actual pickups used. I'm too lazy to look it up! But I would like to know (and he's probably changed them a few times over the years.)

I got quite a few Stones AND Keith Richards Dvd's. Only his Telecaster "MiCawber" sounds like that Amazing Rockin' tele -- the rest sound: good. But one loud chord from that Tele and FREAKIN WOW! None of his other guitars even come close.

 

[RodeoTex]

Supposedly the bridge pickup is from an early Fender steel guitar.
The Gibson humbucker was put in in the Exile period IIRC, so probably something stock.
These days I'd just call Jason Lollar for a set.

 

[Frodebro]

Honestly, there really isn't a singular "Keith Richards tone". He has a very recognizable style, but he's used numerous guitars and amps through the years. He also doesn't play in open G exclusively, either, though that tuning shows up often in the Stones catalog.

 

[Alamo]

Too bad nobody answered his questions about actual pickups used. I'm too lazy to look it up! But I would like to know (and he's probably changed them a few times over the years.)

I got quite a few Stones AND Keith Richards Dvd's. Only his Telecaster "MiCawber" sounds like that Amazing Rockin' tele -- the rest sound: good. But one loud chord from that Tele and FREAKIN WOW! None of his other guitars even come close.

Wait, I did in post #4
"an early PAF humbucker and a Champ Lap Steel pickup"

 

[Alamo]

Champion Lap Steel Pickup.
note only two screws to secure it.

 

[MilwMark]

The pickups almost literally don't matter. Nor the electronics. Get a cranked, but not distorted cleanish amp with some mids. Have at it. That's it.

@frodebo noted, he plays lots and lots of guitars. LPs, Strats, '335s, a huge list. Always sounds like Keith.

 

[misterdontmove]

Pretty much.

Look online and you'll find out the songs he used open g on and of those, which ones are capo'ed.

If you've ever seen a bar band do some Stones chestnuts with a hot guitar player and he's playing the open G stuff in standard - it's pretty gross.


Cleanish/dirty-ish tube amp, pick near the end of the fret board - yer off to the races !

Even when played well, there's something just not right in standard tuning.

 

[OaklandA]

1. There are a ton of threads on this subject. You should do a search.

2. Almost any Broadcaster type pickup will do it for the Keith Telecaster tone. In my experience the Don Mare 0038 bridge is really good. But so is the Duncan Broadcaster.

3. you actually don't have to have a Tele to do KR open G stuff. A lot of his classic open G songs were recorded on Gibsons, a Dan Armstrong, and others. A lot of his solo stuff with X-Winos was done with a Music Man Silhouette. You don't necessarily have to use a tweed type amp either. Brown Sugar was an SG through a dimed Twin Reverb. So there you are.

 

[Alamo]

1. There are a ton of threads on this subject. You should do a search.

2. Almost any Broadcaster type pickup will do it for the Keith Telecaster tone. In my experience the Don Mare 0038 bridge is really good. But so is the Duncan Broadcaster.

3. you actually don't have to have a Tele to do KR open G stuff. A lot of his classic open G songs were recorded on Gibsons, a Dan Armstrong, and others. A lot of his solo stuff with X-Winos was done with a Music Man Silhouette. You don't necessarily have to use a tweed type amp either. Brown Sugar was an SG through a dimed Twin Reverb. So there you are.

Maybe there have been are a lot of threads on the subject.... but why should the the OP not ask a question here on the subject?
Do you have a search engine at hand that covers all Q's?
I'd be interested too.

 

[OaklandA]

All questions?! There was only one, "I would to know what pickup set I can put on the guitar to get or to come close to a Keith Richards' tone.".

But hey, why search at all? Just have a rotation of the same subjects over and over. Sounds great.

 

[moosie]

Maybe there have been are a lot of threads on the subject.... but why should the the OP not ask a question here on the subject?

Agreed. For all we know, the OP started with a search, and was directed to TDPRI, but was dismayed to find all the relevant search results were just a bunch of old farts arguing.


If I were setting up a Keef Tele, I'd get a PAF clone for the neck, and a flat pole broadcaster for the bridge. I'd tune to Open G, and play through a Tweed-flavored amp. If I didn't wanna buy a new amp, I'd get a Catalinbread SFT. Arguably "Stones in a box".

There are literally hundreds of models of PAF clone out there. Something like a Gibson 57, or a SD '59 or Seth Lover, should do fine. I'd check the used market.

For the bridge pickup, a SD STL-1B should do it. $65 new.

 

[RLee77]

For all we know, the OP started with a search, and was directed to TDPRI, but was dismayed to find all the relevant search results were just a bunch of old farts arguing.