Robben Ford Discussion

[Dan Hall]

Greetings All:
Who can tell me which guitar and lashup Robben played on Worried Life Blues, track 4 from Mystic Mile.

I have been out of a real guitar for awhile and want to get set up to play again.

Dan Hall
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[Aeolian]

The quiet portion in the middle really sounds like the middle position on his Tele to me. And he can get that really thick lead tone out of the Tele when he wants to. He did mention at a clinic that the following song, Misdirected Bues, was a 345 (with a trapeze tailpiece that lets the string hop off the bridge saddle at inopportune moments, one of which he said was on that cut) and that axe can also get that kind of middle pickup sound. I don't know if Robben ever tracks different parts of solos with different guitars. I have the feeling that he likes to play straight though. But that would be a great question for someone to ask at the next clinic or if Daved knows of any instances where Robben has done that.

Oh, and most of the time he records the Dumble rig dry. In those days it was into a Marshall 4-12. Probably where he picked up on the Celestion 65s. I think he did say that on Tiger Walk he had his full TC2290/Dumblator rig hooked up for more of the familiar live feel.
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[Dan Hall]

I dunno? The first cut, "He don't play nothin' but the blues" sounds like my old Tele. It's always hard to tell because the guitars are modified but I hear a gibson on the Worry my Life track. I was just wondering if it was a deluxe. I know he's got one now, but not if he used one in 92.

Hey Robben, you on here? Sure would like to know?

Dan
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[Aeolian]

Daved has been swapping pickups around on Robben's recent Les Paul aquisitions, and there have been a few pickup swaps on the Bakers and the last of the Fender RF's. But the mainstay recording instruments, the Tele, 54 Goldtop and various 345's are box stock other than big frets. There was a period where he had the controls bypassed but that didn't work out as without the pots loading the pickups down, the guitar is unnaturally bright. According to Daved the Tele has had the bridge pickup rewound to stock by Lindy Fralin but otherwise the guitar is just as he bought it from Black Market. The 54 could benefit from some shielding for live use but he doesn't want to mess with it. One of the 345's is stereo and I've seen him wrestle with plugging the cord halfway in at live shows. If he were into tweaking on his guitars, you'd think that putting a mono jack in that one would be at the top of the list of things to do. I also think that the Strat and old Epi Rivera he recently found are unmolested too.

Robben has so much tone variation in his hands that it is really difficult to tell what guitar was used on what track, unless something really stands out, like a clean Tele bridge sound. When people ask at clinics, he usually professes not to remember such details, unless something comes up like the string poping off the bridge while he was playing that guitar which reminding him of it happening previously on that cut.

It seems like he has a pretty decent quiver of guitars. Laying under the piano at home, as he puts it. It would be interesting to know just what's in that collection. I think Daved made a stab at running it down awhile back and there weren't any LP Deluxe's at that point. But that doesn't mean he hasn't had one, or won't get one in the future. But he does seem to have a soft spot for his influences. Just as we watch what guitars he's playing, if Mike Bloomfield was seen playing something, you can bet Robben has at least checked out a couple, and may own one. Then again, Mike never had the luxury of working with someone like Gene Baker to give him exactly what he wants. So, as with his playing, Robben can take it to the next level.
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[Dan Hall]

I must be loosing my mind. I thought I saw right on this site somewhere a page with discussion of the Gene Baker guitar and a Deluxe that Gene had worked over prior to Robben's Japan trip. Now I can't find it. In the background of that Photo was a rack of 4 guitars, a black special with P-90s, a wine colored deluxe with mini humbucker looking things and the Telecaster with one other guitar. Now I can't find the link.

Anyway I just bought a wine 2005 Deluxe reissue today.

Anyone know a good guitar tech in the San Francisco area. I want a first class set up when my new beauty arrives.

Dan
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[Daved]

Gary Braur (Brauwer?) in the back of Real Guitars in S.F., on about 11th (?) about a block south of Market street. I've run many guitars by him thru the years, seen him pull off some 'miracle' work, and he also does Joe Satriani's specialized guitar and fret work.
I highly recommend him.
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( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[frank0936]

Dan, there's a picture similar to the one you describe on Daved's All Access page. I think the red guitar is the red Baker that Robben had (has?). Look on the All Access site and go to the gear page and see if that's the one you mean.
Frank

[Aeolian]

Gary might be closer to you in Sausalito but I also highly recommend Terry Hiatt in Redwood city. Terry used to be the artist endorsement tech for Chandler before striking out on his own. He is also a fabulous player which really helps in communicating what you want. He can watch you play and relate to what you are doing. Years ago I caught an Epi Emperor on sale and the first thing I did was take it to Terry. He cleaned up the frets and nut, and most importantly re-cut the wooden bridge perfectly so the sound of the guitar just opened up and was even. He is a master at rebuilding tune-o-matic bridges to get rid of dead notes and make the guitar play evenly.

Congrats on the Deluxe. Great guitars. I actually love mini humbuckers. I used to have a 50's Epi Riviera like the one that Robben recently found. Other than the skinny neck it was a wonderful sounding guitar. The mini humbuckers just have an openness to them. It's odd that Robben doesn't play one more often, as it would seem that the sound would suit him.
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There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[Dan Hall]

[Dan Hall]

Ehhhhhhhh Gads! You mean I got to let somebody listen to me play???

Thanks though, I'm familiar with the whole area having grown up thereabouts. I may look him up.

And also thanks for the kind words on the deluxe. I'll be building up some variant of an AX84 amp. We live on a boat so it'll have to be small. Zendrive will be ordered very soon
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[pedro]

Hi Dan,

If your up for building your own amp then check out the forum at http://ampgarage.com/forum/index.php ....you will be drawn in !

Ive just finished building my own 50W ODS inspired amp and i can tell you its very close to the Ford/Carlton tones.

have fun ,

Pete C

[bluejack]

Yeah Dan, congrats on your soon to be new baby! Welcome to the Club Deluxe. I string mine with a set of .010's thru .046's, but replace the first string with an .011. Plenty beefy and seems to work for me.
Enjoy,
J