Robben Ford Discussion

[marinblues]

First of all, let me say that I haven't been much into "guitar/music" things in the past couple of months due to other priorities, so I wasn't really thinking of going to see Robben play. However, I did manage to find a friend (i.e. "a victim") to accompany me to the Soiano del Lago (120km from Milan, where I live).

I'm glad that I did make it to the show.


Photo (from the left: Robben, Daved, Toss and Travis)

The venue was very cool. An interior garden of a small medieval castle close to the Lake Garda tourist resort. The audience was combination of hard line Robben followers and local tourists (I guess). Incidentally, I saw Robben a few years back in the same area in the garden of the Municipal villa (very elegant). I like the small, cultured venue because you can move around them easily and the crowd is generally well behaved.

Before the show I stopped by to say hello to Daved (Hi Daved! ). We had a quick chat and he kindly gave me a "Robben Pick" as a souvenir! Daved is ever so nice in these situations and I really appreciate that, albeit his business, he finds time for us fans before and after the gigs.

Larry's son, Travis Carlton played bass and Toss Panos played drums. Toss played in his usual powerful-yet-precise manner and Travis kicked ass too. I have to say that I saw Travis a few years back when he began touring with his dad and I must say that he has really matured as a player since. His solos are tasty and funky and his bass lines are rock solid. For those of you who have played in a trio situation, you know how important this is, especially when, as a guitarist, you go for solo's.

Now lets move to Robben.

I've seen Robben play maybe 4 or 5 times now and I have to say that his tone and playing last night where spectacular. Maybe it was the lake, maybe it was the castle, maybe he was in a good mood, maybe it was the small, friendly venue, maybe it was the Italian food.... he didn't play "safe" and the overall phrasing was closer to that eclectic, virtuoso "Jing Chi" type of thing, rather than the slower, blues-ier type which you can hear on his recent CD's.

Whatever....but he really ripped last night.

Regarding Robbens tone and gears:

Robbens gear was very simple: 2 rented twin, a Boss pedal which looked like a RV-5 with its output in stereo toward the Twin. A zendrive, a Cry baby and Ernie Ball volume pedal. The guitars were Robben blonde tele and the Sakashta singlecut. That was it.

In the past months, I have been caught up few GAS gear attacks and have incautiously participated in a few *umble discussions. Last night I realized how my BS goes on with gear and how some people simply have a good tone ALL the time, whilst other NEVER have a good tone, whatever the may use or do. Robben obviously falls into the former category and his tone was fantastic: raw, cutting, midrangy, bass-y, trebly, harmonically rich - it had everything. I've seen him with the Dumble every time in the past and I wasn't missing anything last night.

It made me think of Robben and Yellowjacket days. If I remember well, someone said that Robben used a solidstate Yamaha G100 at the time. Transitor and hybrid amp were popular in the early 1980 for some reason and this Yamaha model was used by Robben, Mike Stern, Metheny and I believe Carlton has it on the 1984 DVD. My brother had this Yamaha amp and we never managed to get a good overdrive tone out of even if we beat it to death....it really beats me how Robben got those Yellowjacket tones.
That was exactly the same thought which went through my mind last night: 2 mediocre Twins, a reasonable OD pedal and, with the right player, you're in tone heaven.

At the end of the gig, I had my ticket autographed by Robben (thanks! ) and I asked him:

- "Hey Robben, how do you get such an amazing tone out of a 200$ pedal?"

He answered (laughing): - "I don't think it has much to do with the pedal!"

Damn, how right he is.

more photos from the gig here: http://www.marinblues.it/photo/robbensoiano/

Marin
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[frank0936]

Thanks for a great review, Marin. I have a picture on my desk here at work of Lake Garda that I took a couple of years ago. That area is so beautiful it should inspire anybody!
Frank

[Bluelobster]

Hi, thanks , you didn't showed up for a while but now here is a lot of bread on the table. It seemed to me that it was that kind of "magic" night. Ihope your "victim" is robben's hooked now....
I am so pleased you had this true revelation about gear & gas. You're a musician first , yu knewt it anyways.
Like this hiram Bullock i am mourning these days , 1st time i've seen him play was a stock mesa combo and a bunch of non boutique pedals, mxr & boss. What a sound.........
Hope the best for u
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[JohnnyZ]

Hey Marin! We missed you here. Thanks for coming back with an awesome write-up! And, that photo is excellent. I really like the way Daved appears almost silhouette(sp?)-like in the background. As soon as hit submit, I'm going to link over to your other photos which I'm sure are just as excellent...

[FatTeleTom]

Nice review, and a classic response from Robben! And from that very nice pic, it sure looks like Robben, Toss, and Travis are having a great time.

One thought--I'm not sure I would use the word "mediocre" to describe Fender Twin Reverbs. I realize you probably meant it more in the "run of the mill" or "ordinary" sense, and Twins certainly don't get the boutique seal of approval, but there's a reason those amps have been revered and used by so many over the years--the sound good. Real good.

I had always assumed Twins would be sort of bright and thin until I got a chance to play a nice reissue at a rehearsals studio a few times recently. Even at low volumes, I got a wonderful rich, fat clean tone out of my Tele. Throw in a good, warm overdrive (Barber pedals in my case), and you've got a great tone machine.

Disclaimer: If I had more cash to spend, I'd be chasing a good Dumble-esque amp myself. But right now, if I only had room in the Miata to haul a Twin around, I'd be on a major search for a nice used reissue Twin, or maybe an affordable silverface.

I'm guessing 2 of them in stereo must sound particularly nice, too.

[PierreL]

Excellent review Marin ! And great pics ! Can't wait until October now.

[marinblues]

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[edpesco]

Great review and pics Marin! You're a gifted photographer, what gear did you use?
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[marinblues]

[edpesco]

f...! makes me want to switch to some "Spiegelreflex" (mirror-reflex? sorry I don't know the correct word for those kind of cameras in English)camera also

Ed
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