Can you pass the test?:


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

Nope, I failed miserably but man that was a smokin' piece! They all sounded similar stylistically, all deadly and accurate...what a piece of guitar ear candy! Never heard that before...thanks for sharing, Mike! ;)

-Danny

 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

 

Yeah, it's definitely something a person would need to be into. Don't get me wrong, I listen to country stuff non-stop and actually work on it quite a bit here in the studio. But I don't really pay attention to names of the people involved when listening on the radio. Here in my area, rock is pretty dead so my car station is locked on XTU which is our country station here. All those guys that play on that stuff just blow me away when I hear them. That chicken-pickin' thing gets me every time. And they always get slamming tones...nice and warm yet with enough cut so that the tones remain pristine.

Safe to say though....when a guy can play like those cats, it probably doesn't matter as much what they use as long as they have the guitar of their choice and a decent amp or amp sim. You can tell when a tele or strat enters the picture...so in that style, the guitar definitely makes a huge difference. But those guys could probably all cut that track using a pig nose and the guitar of their choice and not sound much different. LOL! Freakin' maniacs! That's what the new "guitar shred" is for me...those country guys lightin' it up. Oh how I wish I could play like that. But alas, I'm so happy in the rock world that I'm too lazy to work on anything that challenging. LOL! :)

-Danny

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!

Damn, that was sweet to listen to.   Thanks Mike!

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!

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.

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!

Haha that's great. Country is not my kinda music (so I'm glad there was no singing!) but those parts were very nice. No idea who any of them are!