Who is who? Guitars, Guitarists and that Signature Tone?

Can you pass the test?:


http://grooveshark.com/s/...e+Wariner/3Wjq28?src=5

 You're welcome Danny,

 I just stumbled on it this morning and thought about how this was a good example of personal style being a component of your tone. I'm a fan of most of the guys listed and so I think I can tell them apart fairly well but I totally agree that it is very subtle. I don't think it can be a fair test if you are not familiar with the players because it's not just the tones that give it away. Some of the signature licks or tricks that they are slipping in provide the easier clues.

 I'm glad to think you enjoyed it.

 best regards,
mike

 

That is not my favorite style of music and I only recognize two of those names in the list, but that was an amazing piece of work. Thanks for sharing!

I'm a country guy, owned this CD since it came out, listen to all of these players (a ton) over the past 30 years, and I can't tell them all apart - not for certain anyway.

The only one that I can pick out (with at least 99% certainty) is Albert Lee. He plays so far ahead of the beat that some would argue is "sloppier" than the others, but that's the magic. The best description I have ever heard regarding Alberts playing is from Guitar Player Mag. "... sounds like a trainwreck the never derails!"

Here are the sections I am positive are Albert:
:51 - :58
1:57 - 2:03  (< although this could also be James Burton. The more I listen, the more I think it's James)
2:55 - 3:02

Points about the other players.

1: James Burton will sound like a tame Albert Lee. Albert used to listen to James Burton a lot, and expanded on his approach.
2: Albert Lee became the quintessential country player, definitely the one most copied! They ALL play a little like Albert (which in turn means they ALL play a little like James Burton as well)
3: Vince Gill sounds like a "perfected" Albert Lee. His timing is impeccable, tone a little tighter,  95% the same licks!
4: Steve Wariner will be the part doubled with a vocal! (1:34) This was his trademark style. I'm sure he is scattered elsewhere - but I can pick that part out :)
5: John Jorgenson will play a little dirtier, and is likely the one playing the "delayed guitar lines" at 1:42. John was a key part in the Hellecasters and also played with Elton John for many years. I think it is John at 2:33 as well! That sounds like him with the Hellecasters - slugging it out with Will Ray and Jerry Donahue!
6: Redd Volkaert! I used to watch him (even got to jam with him a few times) in Saskatchewan and Alberta during the early/mid eighties when he played with Danny Hooper out of Edmonton. He's always been a monster, but I seriously cannot pick him out on this recording. He was the master of Roy Nichols style (Merle Haggard) and that is likely why he landed a 5+ year gig with Merle and The Strangers.
7: Brent Mason. The best studio guitar player Nashville has ever seen! Problem is - this guy can sound like ANY ONE OF THE ABOVE (to perfection) so that makes all bets off on who's who - LOL! 

As for Brad Paizley himself, he's playing the head (first 45 - 50 seconds) with a few licks scattered throughout! Great player, and actually has Alberts ablity to "trainwreck without derailing"

Most of the guitars would be TELE's or Fender Custom Shops (with a TELE bridge p/u)! I'm not hearing anything here that says otherwise. Even Steve Wariner who quite often plays a strat sounds like he is on a Tele on this recording.

Thanks for posting this Mike. I love it when "country" gets a nod of approval and others get a chance to hear there are real "cats" in that scene!

Middleman


Actually I knew most of the players but Steve Wariner & John Jorgenson. Brent, Albert, Brad and Vince are easy to pick out as was Redd. I listen to all these guys a lot and have been studying chkn pkn over the last few years. Thanks Mike, fun listen.

You've been studying just the last few years, and you found Redd in this? I've been studying for 30+ and cannot pick his part out - LOL! I'm really curious, if you have a moment - can you point me to one of his parts (just the start time)?
 
In fairness, I need to buy a copy of Telewackin' as that may have helped me in identifying his playing. I have not heard him since the 80's and his "forte" then was the Merle Haggard (Roy Nichols) stuff, but I'm sure there is a lot more to his "original" tracks.
 
Brent Mason eludes me as well - mostly because he is a chameleon and could be any one of those parts
MIKE: Do your know and/or plan on posting who is actually playing which parts for this. I did some digging and came across an "outline" that appears to be very accurate when I listen back. I don't want to post it if you planned on doing so!

I'm BBQn right now but when I get some time this weekend I'll go through and point out my theory. How will we know though? Is there a key for the track somewhere......
 
A few minutes later.....
Ok, meat is doing fine. Here we go.
 
Well, it's all over the place and the darn time line keeps locking up and not giving me the exact time but here are some slices I picked up.
 
Brad 0 to 43
Red 43 to 51
Albert lee right after this (kind of a strat tone)
Not sure
Don't know (might be Vince, he hangs around Pentatonic)
Brad I think jumped back in here
Don;t know
Don't know
Brent Mason @ 1:57 pretty sure about his tone. Generally the most refined.
Albert Lee right after 2:05
Vince Gill at 2:11
So much jumping around after this it's hard to tell.
 
Those are my guesses. Oh and I've been playing guitar for 34 years and country for 20 but just got into the banjo rolls and pick and finger picking over the last 2. Redd is the one with the most basic tone but purest in my opinion he's hanging out in the left speaker through most of the track. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. (Until somebody shows me I'm wrong)

mike_mccue


Hi Codamedia,

I don't have anything to go on but my ears and some fleeting moments of recognition I have as a listening enthusiast.

Please post the info you have.

all the best,
mike

Sure, I'll post the "blueprint" I found. When I went through the parts myself most of them make perfect sense. This info comes from the Telecaster Forum (www.tdpri.com), and it appears this list may have come from the knowledge of Brent Mason himself. The poster "Blue Water Girl" claims to have been traveling in Ireland with Brent when the final track (mix) was released. Brent dissected it right away.
 
Interesting notes that all make sense when you listen to it are as follows.

• Brad Paizley actually pays tribute to all of the players for a very lengthly solo between 1:06 and 1:49. This is why some of the parts were confusing - they sounded like different players, but were all played by Brad.
• Each player got 2 short solo sections except James Burton. He got 1 longer solo section.
• Brads parts were all doubled in the mix - the soloists parts were not.
• Everybody played the full song, and nobody knew where there parts would be used in the mix. Hence the term "cluster pluck".

Here is the Blueprint. Take it with a grain of salt. It appears to be very legit, but you never know from the internet. The Tele Forums are usually pretty civil.
 
Brad Paisley 0-43
Steve Wariner 44-50
Albert Lee 51-58
Redd Volkaert 59-1.05 (This is Brent's favorite solo)
Brad Paisley gives tribute to all 7 players 1.06-1.49
John Jorgenson 1.50-1.56
Vince Gill 1.57-2.03
Redd Volkaert 2.04-2.10
Brent Mason 2.11-2.18
James Burton 2.19-2.32
John Jorgenson 2.33-2.40
Vince Gill 2.41-2.47
Steve Wariner 2.48-2.54
Albert Lee 2.55-3.01
Brent Mason 3.02-3.11
Brent Mason and Brad Paisley together 3.12-3.18
Finale - All Play Out 3.19--------
 
I will admit - there is one part that leaves me with a question mark. A couple posts above Middleman says that REDD has the purist tone - and that is what I always remember of Redd myself. The solo credited to him (as Brents favorite) at 0:59 - 1:05 is NOT that tone. The next part credited to Redd 2:11 - 2:18 seems to have a different tone. Aside from that anomaly this list lines up really nice - in my opinion!

That's great stuff.

Thanks for posting it.

:-)

I got a lot of them wrong if that list is to be believed. Like I said, back to the woodshed.

It's a 1974 Telecaster Custom which has seen a lot of part changes over the years. Not a vintage anymore but it sounds and plays like a dream. I designed the neck pickup and Seymour Duncan built it for me. Basically two standard neck pickups built into a humbucker with a coil tap.

Not to redirect the thread but I was watching a Brad Paisley video where his guitar tech talks about using steel wool on all of is necks. I tried that on the above guitar and I can attest it turns the neck into glass. Keeps fast slides and those quick up down over the fret nuances much faster. It's all about the tele in my world right now. Just trying to sound like those guys in your example above keeps me practicing hours a day. Here's another one I like to reference..this girl can play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO4xbv06m0Y

I love this.  Thanks Mike.  
I wish someone would make a box to make my Strat sound like a Tele!

Rim

Middleman


Not to redirect the thread but I was watching a Brad Paisley video where his guitar tech talks about using steel wool on all of is necks. I tried that on the above guitar and I can attest it turns the neck into glass. Keeps fast slides and those quick up down over the fret nuances much faster. It's all about the tele in my world right now. Just trying to sound like those guys in your example above keeps me practicing hours a day. Here's another one I like to reference..this girl can play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO4xbv06m0Y

Yes - she can play! Good stuff.
I've been doing the steel wool thing since the 80's. I always have a box of "0000" on hand.