Robben Ford Discussion

[maxsmith]

I recently watched Robben's REH Blues instructional video from the '80s - he sounds awesome just picking over the backing track, it's inspiring and humbling all at once!

In the video, Robben mentions using an extra heavy pick turned around sideways. It appears to be a very thick white standard 351 shaped pick. Could you share any details of what pick Robben currently uses and what he's using in the instructional video?

Tiger Walk BURNS!!

Thanks,
Max

[Aeolian]

Noticed that no one has replied here. Last time I noticed, Robben was using something like a standard Fender Heavy pick, but it had something else written on it. Maybe someone who collected a souvenier can chime in.
Robben uses both the edge and the tip of the pick (as well as his fingers) depending how the sounds he's after. With hands like that, everything works.
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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

[JohnnyZ]

I've got a souvenir pick from Robben's June show here at the Regent Theatre, thanks to Daved.

It's shaped like a "standard Fender pick", white pearl, with a Planet Waves stamp on one side and Robben's signature stamped on the other. It doesn't say it's weight, but it feels like a medium.

I also have souvenir picks from Johnny A. and Leslie West. They're exactly the same Planet Waves picks as Robben's except that Johnny A.'s feels like it's a heavy, and interestingly, Leslie's is a light, maybe even extra light.

~JZ~
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Soul on Eleven

[12bar]

Daved was kind enough to give me one after a show last year - it was a Planet Waves pick that was fairly heavy but just slightly smaller in size than the Fender heavy picks I have used. I really like it but have not been able to find similar ones via retail channels.

12bar

[Daved]

For the "keep on running" tour, Robben has been using heavy gauge Planetwave signature picks, with the smaller Planetwave logo on one side and his signature on the other.

One is Shell with gold ink and the other is Pearl with black ink.

During my tenure, Robben has, on rare ocassion, used medium gauge when playing acoustic guitar, but the last time was about 3 years ago.

A couple notes of interest:

The edges of the pick must be absolutely smooth as Robben uses these edges in his playing. You will almost always seeing me check for this right before the show with the picks I put on his mic stand.

The old, larger Planetwave logo used to ocassionally bother Robben because he could feel the ink too close to the edges.

Robben has the lightest touch of ANY artist I have worked with in my 20+ years of teching. He can use the same pick for 2-3 shows with virtually NO wear. I usually put 3 picks on his stand and often those three are still there at the end of the show as he pulled one that he's been using for a couple days out of his pocket and proceeded to play the entire show with it before putting it back in his pocket because he feels it is still usuable. It's not unusual for him to wear the logo off the pick with his fingers before he grinds enough edge off the pick to make it unusable.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[maxsmith]

Thanks for the details!

Max

[Sonarguitar]

Daved's remarks were pretty neat.

I'm always changing picks during the set for different tones I seek....from Dunlop Jazz III to the Dunlop Stubby to the Dunlop Big Stubby and back to basically standard heavy picks.....occasionally a rather light standard size for slap-happy funk rhythms.

I don't seem to remember ever wearing out a pick, but that is because of a light playing technique AND a strange pick maintenance thing I got into while living with a manicurist in Los Angeles.

I actually do light "pick maintainance" with a rather cool "Tropical Shine 4-Way Buffer". It looks like a BIG foam-backed nail file with four grades of abrasive from serious grit down to pure polishing. Large ones cost about $3.50 and there's a small version that's always in my guitar cases that is only about $1.50.

Even if my picks are new, I'll use this to put a clean feel to the playing surface. On other picks, I might want a bit of uniform "rough" on the rounder edge for dragging the rhythm across the strings a bit, so I put it there. Easy!

You can have a pick with three different "feels" depending on which way it's held or turned.

I mean, I'm not seriously anal about this, but if I'm sitting around watching TV anyway, I'll polish up a few picks I know I'll be using soon.

I absolutely feel the difference in the same way new strings just "feel" correct and fast.

And, of course, it's perfect for the emergency finger nail clean-up as I play a lot with my fingers alone in a Knopfler/Amos Garrett hybrid styles. As I keep my right hand nails a bit longer, I'm always getting in trouble with divots and sags in them from day-to-day occurances and mishaps.

I often wonder why so many guitarists pay attention to every overly subtle gear nuance, but forget that the tone in where the pick and fingers meet the strings.

IT'S A CHEAP WAY TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, GUYS!

[bluesman]

Have a look and listen to my old invention: Ring Pick for 150-200 Bpm super fast rhythm playing here:http://www.drika.biz/pick.html

[marinblues]

No offence Ika, but it looks like a kinky little thing one would find in a sex shop!

Sorry, I couldn't help it.... I am sure that it picks very well.


M.
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Rhode Island Dispensaries

[bluesman]

Nice one Marin,

What a vision !!!
I’m sure if I approach porn shops, I’ll sell much more of them than in guitar shops – It plays fast, long lasting, flexible!!! Hmmm! I have to widen ring diameter though!

Thanks for idea my friend, wholesale’s 10% is yours.

[frank0936]

You mean, I'm not supposed to keep using my picks until they're nearly round?!?
Frank

[Sonarguitar]

[Bill Morgan]