Clapton tone

[jhorvath]

Hey!

 

Is somebody experienced about the sound of a 000-GTE-Premium Matrin? I was wondering if I could make that sounding on a tone that Clapton has? Or which acoustic electric Martin has that tone? I have not enough money for buying an EC signature and that's an acoustic model.

[DonK]

 

Originally posted by jhorvath Hey! Is somebody experienced about the sound of a 000-GTE-Premium Matrin? I was wondering if I could make that sounding on a tone that Clapton has? Or which acoustic electric Martin has that tone? I have not enough money for buying an EC signature and that's an acoustic model.

 

 

I'm a little confused...you want to emulate Clapton's acoustic tone, right? But you're focused on an acoustic-electric.

 

A couple of things. Clapton doesn't play an acoustic-electric; he plays a vintage Martin 000 and mics it. His most famous acoustic song, Tears in Heaven, was recorded on a classical (nylon string) guitar through a mic, and that's how he plays it live as well. So if you're looking for that tone, start over. Apart from Tears and the lead on the acoustic version of Layla, I don't really think of Clapton as having a signature tone. It's just a great sounding guitar played through a mic by a decent acoustic player (he's not exactly Tommy Emmanuel or Doyle Dykes on an acoustic).

 

That said, no standard acoustic-electric, not even a small-bodied Martin, is going to get all that close to mimicking the tone of a vintage 000 played through a mic (or any standard small-bodied acoustic for that matter). Piezo pick-ups are more brittle sounding, while soundhole pickups generally don't get the articulation that playing directly into mic does.

 

If you have to go acoustic-electric, then your best bet probably would be a Martin Aura series, but that's going to cost you nearly as much as an EC 000-28.

[jhorvath]

Thanks your reply. So, I know how Clapton made the unplugged records, but I would mention, that nowdays he uses an EC signature Martin in concerts wich is plugged ( I don't know if it has pickup or microphone or both), for example on the One more car DVD... I think he has a tone or sound you can recognize as soon as he picks the Martin. Probably it's the guitar and his style at the same time.... I think I can catch the feeling and the way he plays but I need also a guitar to make it perfectly... And on stage, the best choice is the acoustic electric... I was wondering if you can set up a 000-16GTE by using the prefix pro blender to get close to E.C's sound? Sorry, if I'm not perfectly clear, my English is not on the top

[bigby]

If money is an issue and if you're currently using a light gauge string, try going to mediums if your guitar is built to handle the tension change. This should give you a fuller sound with what you have now.

[learn'r]

Originally posted by bigby If money is an issue and if you're currently using a light gauge string, try going to mediums if your guitar is built to handle the tension change. This should give you a fuller sound with what you have now.

 

agree.

[jhorvath]

Ok, I meant I plan to buy a Martin... The model I'd choose I 000-16GTE Premium. It's about $2000 while EC signature is $4150. I would like to know if the 16GTE sound is close to the way Clapton's Martin sounds. Both unplugged and with amp.

[Hudman]

I respectfully disagree with DonK regarding Calpton's tone. He does have his own tone. His classical guitar work sounds very similiar to his still string work. The tone is VERY close. I can hear him and recognize him right away.

 

With that said, he sounds similiar on different guitars. That proves a large amount of "tone" comes from the player.

 

I'm pretty sure he always uses a mic.

[jhorvath]

Originally posted by Hudman I respectfully disagree with DonK regarding Calpton's tone. He does have his own tone. His classical guitar work sounds very similiar to his still string work. The tone is VERY close. I can hear him and recognize him right away. With that said, he sounds similiar on different guitars. That proves a large amount of "tone" comes from the player. I'm pretty sure he always uses a mic.

 

On his recent tour - such as on the 'one more car one more rider' DVD - his Martin was plugged. I don't know if there was a pickup or a condenser in it, or both...

 

Yes, you recognize his tone, the way he plays and sounds, but there is a difference between the steel string and classical guitars... The picking style is the same of course

[Hudman]

Originally posted by jhorvath Yes, you recognize his tone, the way he plays and sounds, but there is a difference between the steel string and classical guitars... The picking style is the same of course

 

Of course there is a difference. I said the tone was similiar. Similiar as in it still sounds like Clapton.

[jhorvath]

Originally posted by Hudman Of course there is a difference. I said the tone was similiar. Similiar as in it still sounds like Clapton.

 

But the question is still opened...

[scottgd]

 

Originally posted by jhorvath Ok, I meant I plan to buy a Martin... The model I'd choose I 000-16GTE Premium. It's about $2000 while EC signature is $4150. I would like to know if the 16GTE sound is close to the way Clapton's Martin sounds. Both unplugged and with amp.

 

 

I got the 000-28EC from Woodwinds & Brasswinds for $2,789.

 

All I can say is, Damn that's one fine guitar.

 

Martin does have the option of adding the electronics but I don't know any details on that.

[jhorvath]

Originally posted by scottgd I got the 000-28EC from Woodwinds & Brasswinds for $2,789. All I can say is, Damn that's one fine guitar. Martin does have the option of adding the electronics but I don't know any details on that.

 

And does it sound like E.C.'s Martin? The unfortunate fact is that I live in Hungary, where U can only order this guitars.... So I can only collect infos this way...

[scottgd]

 

Originally posted by jhorvath And does it sound like E.C.'s Martin?

 

 

The guitar? Yes. Me? No.

 

I've seen Clapton about 6 times in the last 12 years. Half the time he was playing a stock 000-28EC plugged in. Half the time he played a small bodied vintage Martin that had a value of at the least $40,000. In a concert setting, in an arena, I really couldn't tell the diff.

 

If you are trying to replicate the sound he had on the Unplugged session, give up. Unless you are a very wealthy man.

[jhorvath]

Originally posted by scottgd The guitar? Yes. Me? No. If you are trying to replicate the sound he had on the Unplugged session, give up. Unless you are a very wealthy man.

 

Ohh...

 

And what if you compare the 000-GTE to the E.C. signature?

[StratAttackJack]

All you need is the Martin "clapons choice" guitar strings!!!!

just kidding, has anyone tried those?

[scottgd]

Originally posted by jhorvath Ohh... And what if you compare the 000-GTE to the E.C. signature?

 

I'm sorry to say I have never played the 000-GTE.

 

I just checked the specs on Martins site for this guitar. I'm not an expert but I don't think they would compare very nicely.

 

There appear to be too many critical differences. Scale length, bracing, materials, etc...

 

I believe in this case, the old saying is correct. You get what you pay for.

[lukejanthony]

I'm a huge Clapton fan, and I wonder how much it is worth worrying about how to "sound like Clapton". My playing is heavily influenced by Clapton, but whenever I try his signature guitars (acoustic and electric) they don't seem to fit my hands. I think what works for Clapton doesn't work for the rest of us...

 

It's mostly down to how he plays I think. He's got a very individual fingerstyle, picking hand and, of course, that infamous left hand vibrato. I would say I agree with the guy above who said that unless you're incredibly rich, I would spend more time trying to develop your own sound.

 

Sorry to sound negative!!

[1esotericguy]

 

Originally posted by lukejanthony I'm a huge Clapton fan, and I wonder how much it is worth worrying about how to "sound like Clapton". My playing is heavily influenced by Clapton, but whenever I try his signature guitars (acoustic and electric) they don't seem to fit my hands. I think what works for Clapton doesn't work for the rest of us... It's mostly down to how he plays I think. He's got a very individual fingerstyle, picking hand and, of course, that infamous left hand vibrato. I would say I agree with the guy above who said that unless you're incredibly rich, I would spend more time trying to develop your own sound. Sorry to sound negative!!

 

 

Agreed. It's in the phrasing. Whenever I say, "Damn, that dude sounds like - (whomever)," it's never the tone - always the phrasing and attack. If you listen to Van Halen's "When It's Love," solo, he's copping a Clapton. And you hear it, even though he's EVH and he's playing a Kramer with EVH tone (as opposed to a Lace Sensor Strat etc etc).

[DonK]

 

Originally posted by Hudman I respectfully disagree with DonK regarding Calpton's tone. He does have his own tone. His classical guitar work sounds very similiar to his still string work. The tone is VERY close. I can hear him and recognize him right away. With that said, he sounds similiar on different guitars. That proves a large amount of "tone" comes from the player. I'm pretty sure he always uses a mic.

 

 

It's possible we're talking about the same thing...I'm not sure. I can recognize his acoustic playing when I hear it right away, but I find that it's due to his phrasing rather than his tone. When I first heard that song he did with Baby Face I could tell it was him long before I heard his voice. But maybe you really are talking about his tone.

[EvilTwin]

 

Originally posted by StratAttackJack All you need is the Martin "clapons choice" guitar strings!!!! just kidding, has anyone tried those?

 

 

Yup, got 'em on my Seagull Folk now.

 

Clapton can get a pretty warm tone out of a small-bodied guitar, and I do think these strings warm up my 'Gull a bit.

 

As for sounding like Clapton...depends. For acoustic work, you can count on him using a mic for studio work (or Unplugged), and how you mic an acoustic, as well as what mic you use and a thousand other variables, contributes to the end product.

 

Live work in an arena...yeah, sometimes he also adds a mic, but mostly you're looking at an under-saddle pickup, probably going through a good preamp. The tone is one thing, but his phrasing is what is gonna be "signature" here.

 

But anyways, the strings are worth a shot. Not because of whose name is on the package, but because they sound good.

[jhorvath]

Well, thanks the lots of comments. I know that his phrasing is individual, of course it is. And I do not really want to copy that. But I would be interested how other Martins, for example the 000-16GTE can get close to that sound. You guys tried them, but I can't unless I travel a couple of 100Km. Does the other Martin sound so warm? If you play on a 000, would you say 'hey, I know this sound...'? I don't know if I can make myself clear...

[WaveRay]

I tried the EC choice strings on my D28 but didn't like them there. They were too mellow for my taste on this guitar. I think they could add depth to a thin sounding guitar, though.

 

Sorry guys, but I haven't been able to stay awake through anything EC has done in about 25 years. Maybe 30. Don't know why. To me, it sounds like everything he does should be done about half a step faster. I hate waiting for things that are late.

 

Don't judge me on this, I actually don't care for a lot of "standard great" guitarists. But Joe Walsh just tickles the hell out of me.

[JasmineTea]

You guys have any idea how many links there are in the signal chain between Clapton's git and your speakers?

 

I think it's a waist of time trying to find a guitar that emulates a recording. It's not a bad idea to get some references though.

 

Jhorvath, if you like the sound of a 000-28 (Clapton's git) you should look for guitars with similar specs, try 'em out.

 

000-16GT(E) is a cool guitar IMO. You might like it if you're not expecting it to sound like a Clapton recording.

[EvilTwin]

Originally posted by WaveRay I tried the EC choice strings on my D28 but didn't like them there. They were too mellow for my taste on this guitar. I think they could add depth to a thin sounding guitar, though. Sorry guys, but I haven't been able to stay awake through anything EC has done in about 25 years. Maybe 30. Don't know why. To me, it sounds like everything he does should be done about half a step faster. I hate waiting for things that are late. Don't judge me on this, I actually don't care for a lot of "standard great" guitarists. But Joe Walsh just tickles the hell out of me.

 

Heh, that's exactly why I like the Clapton strings on my 'Gull. It makes fairly hard flatpicking sound good on it.

 

Clapton's studio work is just hit or miss. In the studio, I haven't actually been impressed by anything since "From the Cradle."

 

But live, he can still show brilliance. The Cream DVD from 2005 is amazing, IMO. The only thing that is sub-par on it is the opener, an anemic version of "I'm So Glad" that made me think the whole concert would suck. Then they kick into "Spoonful" and all is right in the world.

 

Jhorvath, 000's do have their own tone, but any two guitars aren't going to have identical timbres. The 000-16 is a good place to start, and I'd actually recommend trying out a 000-15 while you're at it, to hear some contrast among this type of guitar.

 

But your ears are the best judge, and you aren't going to know either way unless you actually get one of these in your hands.

[postalsock]

he has his own martin model.