Scott Henderson Discussion

jbear · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Marietta, GA

Hey Scott...
I very much dig this tune...structure, tempo, tone, and phrasing. Can you share some details about gear and inspiration. I love the energy in this tune! Do I hear a vibe coming from Jeff Beck's, Space Boogie in there?

Thanks so much...and I'll add my belated "Awesome!" for Vibe Station!

Scott Henderson · The Man Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2135

Honestly I don't remember much about it since it was recorded almost 20 years ago. Willis wrote that tune, so I have no idea what the composition process was. I used my OD-100 on that tune with amp distortion -no pedals. The cabinet was a 4x12 with Greenbacks.

jbear · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Marietta, GA

Appreciate the response Scott. If you remember...was that a single coil Strat? I'm just curious as it has a smoother, less percussive sound...SD 59-ish. The distortion is pretty spectacular and musical to me.
Biology teacher...I'm just a naturally curious person.
I have this guitar club here at school (I've mentioned that before...I think). Kids are digging your music...they wanted me to tell you that. They think it's the coolest thing that you are a "real musician" and you answer questions on this forum. Of course...I have to be selective about what they read...cuz...they're 12 and 13.
Thanks!

dizzy · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 406

I am sure Scott will respond but I gotta say you sound like an awesome teacher!

jbear · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Marietta, GA

Thank you so much...means a lot to hear that. I do love what I do...that helps!

Scott Henderson · The Man Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2135

Thanks jbear, and thanks for playing my music for the younger generation! You have good ears - that pickup is a Seymour Duncan '59, but a custom shop version with screws on both sides, instead of screws on one side and pole pieces on the other. It has less bass than a normal '59, but sounds much smoother. It was Allan Holdsworth's favorite pickup for a long time - he told me about it, and I think he helped them design it.

Also back in those days I was using 250k pots on my guitars. I still use them for my single coil guitars, but my SSH guitar is wired to switch the pot to 500k for the humbucker. A 250k pot with a humbucker filters out both treble and bass, making the tone even smoother, but thin. This is why I say my tone was much thinner back in the Tribal Tech days, however it seemed to fit that style of music we were playing.

jbear · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Marietta, GA

My pleasure for sure!
I have a set of those double-screw 59's in a Double Fat Strat...I love them!
There's a sound that you get when you hit more than one string the right way (distorted) that sounds so organic to me...it's like a "roar." Hard to explain but maybe someone knows what I mean.