Members JasO Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Today we take it for granted that we can plug into an amp, turn up the volume, and dial in a variety of sounds. But in the earliest days of the electric guitar, when guys like Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker were experimenting with what was then a brand-new instrument, it was far more challenging! In 1995, I had the chance to sit down with West Coast bluesman Saunders King, who had vivid memories of meeting Charlie Christian and what it was like recording electric guitar and jump blues 78s, such as his own "S.K. Blues," in 1942, less than three years after Christian made his first records. Saunders remembered that they used two mikes: "One for me, and the other one would be off to the side, close to the piano setup. The horns were around the piano there. I had the guitar across my lap, and the amplifier was down on the floor alongside me." The rest of the instruments were distanced from the mikes according to their volume, the same way it was done back in the 1920s. Saunders had an interesting technique for making his electric guitar sound distinctive: "Instead of using a regular pick, I always used a new felt pick that was stiff and turned the volume up. That would get a good sound." On average, he estimated, he'd burn through three or four picks a night. (As a kid, I always wondered about those fat felt picks for sale in my local music store.) For me, it was amazing talking to someone who not only had heard of, but had actually seen Charlie Christian, Eddie Durham, Alvino Rey, and the others who pioneered electric guitar. If you're interested in more of Saunder King's recollections, including some great insights into Charlie Christian, I've posted them here: http://jasobrecht.com/saunders-king-charlie-christian-early-electric-guitar/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 What a great article!Many of us really appreciate you posting this stuff here. More! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Did you play at a low volume? Yeah, yeah. That Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 My old uncle learned to play electric guitar during that era. I've reconnected with him recently and he's been teaching me how they played back in the day.I'm amazed with the sounds you can get from such a basic rig. Sitting and watching him play even simple stuff is inspiring! Tone truly is in the hands. He can pick up my little rig and just make it sing. It has really made me think hard (and work hard) about how to get sound without fiddling around with a bunch of crap. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Did you learn any of [Christian's] music note for note? No. I didn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kevman Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 These guys here don't wanna hear what he has to say, since it involves simply practicing and not obsessing about obtaining mythical pieces of gear, or esoteric mods. You may be right about some of the forumites here but I'd be willing to bet there are more guys here who appreciate Jas' input than you'd expect. Way to generalize though, a nice broad brush is always best. I had one of those felt picks. Tried for years to figure out a good use for it. I find myself wanting more of them now that I have figured out they sound like fingers when used on a bass. I don't have to learn to play bass without a pick if I get the right pick . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pilon Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Jasawsome to see you posting here, and great to see your blog, just incredible stuff! In all the years you have written for Guitar Player who have you encountered or interveiwed that was maybe a surprise from their "public" persona? Maybe not as expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 I've used felt picks on uke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackCat Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 I've never heard Saunders King before. That S.K. Blues is a hell of a sexy sound. It reminds me a bit of T-Bone Walker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hubert Stumblin Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Great article. I've had the privilege of working with the master recordings (lacquers) of the Goodman sextet. And I always thought that the sound Charlie got was so beautiful. That guitar and pickup straight into the amp he was using just had this very punchy, immediate and yet very organic sound to it. It's so funny that people spend so much time and money on different guitars, effects, eq's, amps, etc. when all it really comes down to is just a very simple (and old-style) rig to get that sound. I guess the trick is finding that beauty of an old amp that still works and giving it a go. Make sure you mod it so it doesn't have the "deathswitch" though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 For me, it was amazing talking to someone who not only had heard of, but had actually seen Charlie Christian, Eddie Durham, Alvino Rey, and the others who pioneered electric guitar. If you're interested in more of Saunder King's recollections, including some great insights into Charlie Christian, I've posted them here: http://jasobrecht.com/saunders-king-charlie-christian-early-electric-guitar/ Excellent! Many thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisebloom Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 What a great article! Many of us really appreciate you posting this stuff here. More! EG Truly. You're already a great addition here, Jas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Northstar Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Where can one get felt picks nowadays? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pilon Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 I bought an old used (antique ) baritone uke once and there were a few huge felt picks in the case, I never thought to try to use them with a guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 You may be right about some of the forumites here but I'd be willing to bet there are more guys here who appreciate Jas' input than you'd expect. Way to generalize though, a nice broad brush is always best. I had one of those felt picks. Tried for years to figure out a good use for it. I find myself wanting more of them now that I have figured out they sound like fingers when used on a bass. I don't have to learn to play bass without a pick if I get the right pick . When I was first learning to play WAY back in the early 60s, a lot of bass players used felt picks. Haven't seen one in years. Nice read about Charlie. Charlie's solos sound so logical, melodic and effortless. I'm a HUGE Charlie Christian fan. Thanks Jas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Minnie The Moocher Posted November 3, 2010 Members Share Posted November 3, 2010 Charlie's solos sound so logical, melodic and effortless. Just that . I mean it seems that he was born to play that style with that gear. If ever he could have lived at least a decade more - I have the feeling he was still growing up. About gear: the "Charlie Christian" pickup is quite unique sounding, but P90 can be quite close (but less bright and articulate). About amps, you may search for a vintage one of course, but there's some modern replicas, for exemple the Vintage47 amps http://www.vintage47amps.com/files/index.php?id=1 (ok, it"s not exactly the Charlie Christian amps - he died in '42 - but you'll get close to his tone). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlueSky1963 Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 I'm amazed with the sounds you can get from such a basic rig. Sitting and watching him play even simple stuff is inspiring! Tone truly is in the hands. He can pick up my little rig and just make it sing. It has really made me think hard (and work hard) about how to get sound without fiddling around with a bunch of crap. EG Watch it! You're verging on heresy! Once the other fourmites get wind of this there may be consequences! (Once they look up "heresy" on Wiktionary, that is!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackCat Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 My old uncle learned to play electric guitar during that era. I've reconnected with him recently and he's been teaching me how they played back in the day.I'm amazed with the sounds you can get from such a basic rig. Sitting and watching him play even simple stuff is inspiring! Tone truly is in the hands. He can pick up my little rig and just make it sing. It has really made me think hard (and work hard) about how to get sound without fiddling around with a bunch of crap.EG I have to confess to a degree of envy. I've really been wanting to find someone to mentor me in that old style of playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted November 4, 2010 Moderators Share Posted November 4, 2010 Cool, now we have CSM and JasO:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 Cool, now we have CSM and JasO:thu: And don't forget Joe Gore ... He's around here someplace, and a damn useful fella to have on the set ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted November 4, 2010 Moderators Share Posted November 4, 2010 And don't forget Joe Gore ...He's around here someplace, and a damn useful fella to have on the set ... I've never heard of Joe Gore:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 My old uncle learned to play electric guitar during that era. I've reconnected with him recently and he's been teaching me how they played back in the day.I'm amazed with the sounds you can get from such a basic rig. Sitting and watching him play even simple stuff is inspiring! Tone truly is in the hands. He can pick up my little rig and just make it sing. It has really made me think hard (and work hard) about how to get sound without fiddling around with a bunch of crap.EG Be careful, there have been MANY threads around here arguing where tone comes from. I agree with you, tone comes from the player's hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 Great article. I've had the privilege of working with the master recordings (lacquers) of the Goodman sextet. And I always thought that the sound Charlie got was so beautiful. That guitar and pickup straight into the amp he was using just had this very punchy, immediate and yet very organic sound to it. It's so funny that people spend so much time and money on different guitars, effects, eq's, amps, etc. when all it really comes down to is just a very simple (and old-style) rig to get that sound. I guess the trick is finding that beauty of an old amp that still works and giving it a go. Make sure you mod it so it doesn't have the "deathswitch" though. You or I probably wouldn't sound like Charlie thru Charlie's 'rig'. It was in Charlie's hands, connected to his soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walrus1 Posted November 4, 2010 Members Share Posted November 4, 2010 Great interview! I love Charlie Christian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members akapuli Posted November 5, 2010 Members Share Posted November 5, 2010 And don't forget Joe Gore ... I learned a lot thanks to his articles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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