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Post by BW on Feb 27, 2007 10:23:17 GMT -7
BW- I hope this hasn't been asked a million times. I was listening to some clips of Blues for the lost days. Your playing sonuds awesome. THe tone is great. Is it all Maz 38 thru Z-best? Thanks. Most, if not ALL of that album was my '63 mutt strat thru my ol' reliable single 12 MAZ 38 Studio Deluxe combo, my first Z. The tune 'Dead City' was a borrowed '58 'burst into an early Prescription head thru a borrowed Carvin 4X12 that was layin' around the studio. I like that one too, man what a bee-yoo-tee-full guitar THAT was. Long gone now, sold to the highest bidder back in about '97.
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Post by BW on Feb 27, 2007 10:30:31 GMT -7
Hi Mr Whittington Sir! I just wanted to say hello, and I think you are definately the BEST blues guitarist in the World. Period. Whilst the Dr Z does help, wouldn't you have said 90% of the tone comes from the player? With that in mind, is there any advice you would give me, to improve my playing? Also, I am looking at getting a Dr Z at some time, for home use. WHich would you recommend? Thanks a lot Buddy. Mr. Whittington is my father, My name is Bud ;^) Well I must say I like the way you think, but I must wholeheartedly disagree. Who IS the best, anyway? That's another thread around here somewhere! Could be it's Bluzsteel. Sho' nuff ain't me, I'm just the guy that drives the boss around, and sometimes they let me play a little. I must say I was completely and totally humbled this last weeked by the guitar stylings of one Mr. Carl Verheyen. Now THAT is what a guitar should sound like, ANY KIND or STYLE of guitar at that. Check him out on this forum in the 'Ask the Ex-Spurts' section (you know an 'expert' is just a drip under pressure) or at www.carlverheyen.com Yeah, I agree that a lot of one's 'sound' comes from within, but you have to have some quality electrical appliances so everybody else can benefit from it too. My favorite is the MAZ Senior, I've also been using my Ghia quite a lot lately to keep the db's down a little and keep all the grumpy old men I work around happy. (did I REALLY just say THAT? :^) Maybe for playing at home you could look into a Mini-Z. I think they're out of production now, but they crop up in the 'Buy Sell and Trade' section of this forum or on ebay from time to time. Maybe a Ghia, a MAZ Jr or the EXCITING new EZG40 with 6L6 output stage and a switchable boost channel would be an option, albeit with an Air Brake to keep everyone watching TV in the living room happy. Hope that helps a little, may the Schwartz be with you my son....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2007 11:27:20 GMT -7
Hi Buddy! Thanks for replying. You are very modest about your playing ability! I am only 15 and have seen you 3 times in Nottingham in the UK and I was AMAZED! I am lookinat getting a Maz 18, would you recommend the 210, 112 or 212, bearing in mind it is for home use, I will be playing a Paul Reed Smith Modern Eagle though it. Are there any exercises, tips, techniques, etc you would suggest for me to improve my playing? Finally, what do you look for in a guitar, and what do you like about Lentz? If you have ever played any, what do you think about PRS? (sorry for asking all these questions) Thanks a lot
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Post by BW on Feb 27, 2007 16:16:38 GMT -7
Well thank you Sir. Always enjoy playing Nottingham. Wow, 3 times, how old were ya the first time, 11? :^) I tend to like the head/single 12 cab route myself. That way, you can experiment w/ other setups and still have the portability. Let me tell you, its no picnic taking a combo amp of ANY size on a plane, a seperate head is the ticket for me, although I know you said yours would be primarily for home use. The PRS 'buckers would really sound great thru a 12 (although my pal Bugs Henderson, a longtime PRS endorsee, uses a Vibrolux with 2 10's to magnificent effect. Check out www.bugshenderson.com for some mighty fine Texas style pickin'. I like an instrument that is resonant and well balanced, and not too hard on the shoulder. The Lentz guitar is a really well thought out design that starts with a really good piece of wood. Scott has been repairing guitars for decades and really knows what makes 'em work (and what doesn't) I've been very fortunate to endorse his guitars and we all know how great ALL the Z amps are. Don't really have any playing tips, just play what you like, and try to see some shows that are inspiring (Led Zep and ZZ Top did it for me when I was your age!, still does it as a matter o' fact.) There are a million ways to learn things now that didn't exist back in the dark ages, just don't let 'em dictate what you play. Try to learn from 'em and take it your own way, to maybe develop a style that sounds like you. Hope that helps a little...
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Post by Curt on Feb 27, 2007 19:10:43 GMT -7
Well thank you Sir. Always enjoy playing Nottingham. Wow, 3 times, how old were ya the first time, 11? :^) I tend to like the head/single 12 cab route myself. That way, you can experiment w/ other setups and still have the portability. Let me tell you, its no picnic taking a combo amp of ANY size on a plane, a seperate head is the ticket for me, although I know you said yours would be primarily for home use. The PRS 'buckers would really sound great thru a 12 (although my pal Bugs Henderson, a longtime PRS endorsee, uses a Vibrolux with 2 10's to magnificent effect. Check out www.bugshenderson.com for some mighty fine Texas style pickin'. I like an instrument that is resonant and well balanced, and not too hard on the shoulder. The Lentz guitar is a really well thought out design that starts with a really good piece of wood. Scott has been repairing guitars for decades and really knows what makes 'em work (and what doesn't) I've been very fortunate to endorse his guitars and we all know how great ALL the Z amps are. Don't really have any playing tips, just play what you like, and try to see some shows that are inspiring (Led Zep and ZZ Top did it for me when I was your age!, still does it as a matter o' fact.) There are a million ways to learn things now that didn't exist back in the dark ages, just don't let 'em dictate what you play. Try to learn from 'em and take it your own way, to maybe develop a style that sounds like you. Hope that helps a little... Excellent advice my friend And on your previous post I think you may be correct... Bluzsteel may be the best blues guitarist......one ubum fo sho. BTW, Ginger say's "Howdy Bud".
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2007 3:21:45 GMT -7
Hi Buddy I was 11 when I saw you and I still think you are the best. As Lentz guitars aren't available in the UK, what could you recommend? Also, do you do special requests? I have seen a video of you on Youtube playing Going Down, which I think is the best perfomance of that song. Please will you play Cocaine, by JJ Cale, next time you come to Nottingham? Finally, if you do come to Nottingham again, please will you come out before or at the end of the show and sign autographs please? I would love to meet you in person!
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Post by BW on Feb 28, 2007 7:57:36 GMT -7
Hi Buddy I was 11 when I saw you and I still think you are the best. As Lentz guitars aren't available in the UK, what could you recommend? Also, do you do special requests? I have seen a video of you on Youtube playing Going Down, which I think is the best perfomance of that song. Please will you play Cocaine, by JJ Cale, next time you come to Nottingham? Finally, if you do come to Nottingham again, please will you come out before or at the end of the show and sign autographs please? I would love to meet you in person! That little clip of 'Goin' Down' was shot by my 'personal videographer', and former forum member, Zane ;^) He extracted himself from the computer to resume his weight loss activities and is now down about 70 pounds, guess I oughta get out there with him! ;^) Never know what's gonna wind up on the web these days! I think we were a little out of tune on that one, sounds a little 'warbly' to me. My favorite version of 'Goin' Down' is the Freddie King closely followed by the amazing Jeff Beck version with Max Middleton playing that outrageous honkytonk piano intro. Bands get fired around these parts for playing 'Cocaine' or 'Mustang Sally', so I'd better leave that one alone for the time being...
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Post by BW on Feb 28, 2007 8:15:51 GMT -7
Hi Mr Whittington Sir! I think you are definately the BEST blues guitarist in the World. Definately? DEFINATELY? OLDSTER! paging the OLDSTER!
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Post by bender72 on Feb 28, 2007 10:09:02 GMT -7
B-Dubs
Just loving the tone on "Blues for the Lost Days", especially "Romance Classified". I've seen that you used the Maz 38 on most of the album, but can't find what your using for speakers? Is it the Celestion G12H 70th Anniversary? or Alnicos?
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Post by BW on Feb 28, 2007 10:42:49 GMT -7
Hmmm, isn't 'Romance Classified' on 'Stories'? Anyway, the speaker in the MAZ 38 Studio Deluxe is a Celestion G12H100. I think they've discontinued 'em, dang it! I have 2 of 'em, the other one is in my 1X12 Z cab in storage at the bus company in Germany. 'Romance' is a Heritage H-140 (a GREAT little guitar that I ran across and fell in lust with some years back, traded a road case and 140 bucks for her to a good friend of mine) with Seth Lovers thru the Senior head into a ZBest outfitted stock with a V30/Heritage (Celestion) setup.
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 28, 2007 11:14:42 GMT -7
I've got one of those H140s. Great little guitars!
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Post by myles on Feb 28, 2007 16:34:42 GMT -7
Hi Mr Whittington Sir! I just wanted to say hello, and I think you are definately the BEST blues guitarist in the World. Period. Whilst the Dr Z does help, wouldn't you have said 90% of the tone comes from the player? With that in mind, is there any advice you would give me, to improve my playing? Also, I am looking at getting a Dr Z at some time, for home use. WHich would you recommend? Thanks a lot Buddy. Just a bit of a comment where you say 90% of the tone comes from the player .... Buddy has played a number of my amps and guitars. If I use his settings and play things exactly as he left them, and if I try to play some part of some riff that is simple enough for me to follow in the exact same way .... I will sound NOTHING like him ..... and thank God he will sound nothing like me It is NOT even subtle difference .... anybody that knows how to change songs on a CD or iPod and can hear the difference between one song and another would have good enough ears to hear the difference. The ability has to be there as do the chops and the tens of thousands of playing hours.
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Post by squeallydan on Mar 7, 2007 11:38:09 GMT -7
BW-
Just curious about something. I love the clips on the Z site and I love your playing. I want to get a recording that you played on. Which one do you think represents you best? I was thinking of "Blues for the Lost Days" but wanted to hear from you. Thanks!
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Post by BW on Mar 7, 2007 11:56:36 GMT -7
Aw, one's about as insignificant as the other! BFTLD is OK, it was quite a while back. I like "Ain't No Brakeman" from 'Spinning Coin' on Silvertone, might be out of print now though. That one actually got a little airplay, I heard it on the radio in a luggage store at the Mall of America in Minneapolis while I was buying a carry-on bag and had to stop a minute and get all emotional and stuff ;^) The 70th Birthday Concert DVD is about my favorite I guess, because we were in the presence of Eric and Mick, and everybody was on their best behavior. They even let me sing a couple on the Double CD of the 70th Birthday Concert, but cut it for the DVD. "Stories" is a purty good record, Some good tunes, one of which Joe Yuele and I wrote (Pieces and Parts) also an old tune of mine called 'Romance Classified' that came out OK. And on "Road Dogs", the current record, I have one called "Awestruck and Spellbound" again written by me and Joe, and Mr Mayall had me sing that one. The upcoming "In the Palace of The King" is all Freddie King covers (except one or two) and I'm singin' on "Big Legged Woman".. Sure wish we had Leon Russell on piano like on Freddie's original, we kinda sound like schoolboys without it! But that'll be out on Eagle Records in April. Enough gushin' from me....
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Post by squeallydan on Mar 7, 2007 14:28:32 GMT -7
I like the clips for BFTLD so I might start with that one. The live DVD sounds like a good choice all. LIVE music is always better to me! Thanks Bud!
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Post by kruzty on Mar 8, 2007 9:01:53 GMT -7
I just picked up the 70th B-day CD last night. I haven't listened to it all, yet (I'm in the middle of it), but it sounds great. Great playing, Buddy - and I love that complex tone! I think the CD is mixed really well. Which songs are you singing on?
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Post by BW on Mar 8, 2007 9:13:57 GMT -7
'Grits Ain't Groceries' and 'Jacksboro Hwy.' on Disc 1. As a singer, I'm outstanding in my field, and that's jes' where I shoulda sung it from, Out, standing in a field.
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Post by Don on Mar 8, 2007 12:04:19 GMT -7
'Grits Ain't Groceries' and 'Jacksboro Hwy.' on Disc 1. As a singer, I'm outstanding in my field, and that's jes' where I shoulda sung it from, Out, standing in a field. Hey, I find the shower is a more appropriate place to do my singin'. It's that natural reverb goin' on there, plus, no one can really hear me, so I'm not hurtin' anyone's ears. By the way Bud, I found something that you can use for your "natural" gas problem.
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Post by kruzty on Mar 8, 2007 13:24:56 GMT -7
'Grits Ain't Groceries' and 'Jacksboro Hwy.' on Disc 1. As a singer, I'm outstanding in my field, and that's jes' where I shoulda sung it from, Out, standing in a field. That's funny, 'cause those are two of my favorite songs on the discs. Well, I hope you get a check for a couple of cents from my purchase.
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Post by BW on Mar 8, 2007 14:00:24 GMT -7
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Post by BW on Mar 8, 2007 14:02:40 GMT -7
[/quote] Well, I hope you get a check for a couple of cents from my purchase. [/quote] If I DON'T, can I get in touch w/ ya Kruzty? Paypal ya know....
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Post by kruzty on Mar 8, 2007 14:22:27 GMT -7
If I DON'T, can I get in touch w/ ya Kruzty? Paypal ya know.... Hey now, I purchased that nice and legal-like. You'll have to check with Harry Fox, your PRO, or whomever to see if they're holdin' back. However, I might send you some beer money if I can steal a couple of licks off there...
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Post by BW on Mar 8, 2007 20:31:21 GMT -7
But Harry Fox is daid! ;^)
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Post by gtobill on Mar 8, 2007 22:41:38 GMT -7
Hey BW, This is Bill from down around Austin. I just bought a ghia and I am getting used to it. It is making play a lot less sloppy!. Anyway was surfing around on Youtube and found this video of you
I think the tone on this is killer. Is this staight into a ghia? If so, what tubes are you using. Also, I just bought the Mayall 70th DVD. Love it. I am a child of the 80's hair bands but I seem to be liking the blues more as I get older. Anyway with your Lentz it seems like your tone is bigger and grittier. Is this the reason you moved away from the strat? I might have to make a trip up to DFW to see ya sometime.
Thanks, Bill
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Post by BW on Mar 9, 2007 6:54:47 GMT -7
Wait until you're in a NO hair band, that's a reality check! Didn't move away from the strat, just got a new guitar I like a lot! Still play a strat quite a bit. That is indeed my original ghia that is now a 220v model for the UK and Europe. I have NO IDEA what tubes are in it, I just replace the 84's when it starts sounding a little flat w/ GTEL84 #6. Straight in except for a TU-2 tuner in line. Let me know if/when you head this way.
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Post by Curt on Mar 9, 2007 10:28:20 GMT -7
And on "Road Dogs", the current record, I have one called "Awestruck and Spellbound" again written by me and Joe, and Mr Mayall had me sing that oneSomeone gave me that disc and that is the standout cut fo sho. VERY tasty writin' there Bud.
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Post by BW on Mar 9, 2007 17:46:30 GMT -7
And on "Road Dogs", the current record, I have one called "Awestruck and Spellbound" again written by me and Joe, and Mr Mayall had me sing that oneSomeone gave me that disc and that is the standout cut fo sho. VERY tasty writin' there Bud. Thanks Curt, sure wish I could get 10 more of 'em finished and recorded.
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Post by Curt on Mar 9, 2007 17:50:41 GMT -7
And on "Road Dogs", the current record, I have one called "Awestruck and Spellbound" again written by me and Joe, and Mr Mayall had me sing that oneSomeone gave me that disc and that is the standout cut fo sho. VERY tasty writin' there Bud. Thanks Curt, sure wish I could get 10 more of 'em finished and recorded. Me too ;D Patience Grasshopper.....
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Post by Fabio on Mar 14, 2007 17:51:25 GMT -7
Hey Buddy !! I have a question/comment for you. First let me start by saying that before joining this forum, although having heard your name here and there, i didn't heard you're playing, so after reading a couples of post, i did my homework, went on youtube, googled and watched some stuff with Mr Mayall. Needless to say that I'm now sold to your tone/playing and looking forward to get any CD of the Bluesbraker with you on it !! So here comes my question: witch recording of John Mayall and the Bluesbraker besides the 70th anniversary would you recommend (i know you're a gentlemen and you would probably recommend all of them but i would like the one with you on it !! ). And wanted to say that its great to have a guy of your talent with a really down to earth and cool guy attitude. Thanks
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Post by BW on Mar 14, 2007 22:47:06 GMT -7
Hi Fabio, thanks for your kind words. Just happy to be here puttin' one foot in front of the other every day! I've been on 7 or 8 albums with Mr Mayall and the guys, 'Spinning Coin' on the Silvertone label may be out of print now, that's the first one I had a part of and there are a few pretty good tunes there, ('Ain't No Brakeman' being my favorite) but that was pre-Dr Z. "Blues For the Lost Days" has a tune called 'Dead City' that I like a lot. 'Along For the Ride' on Eagle Records was a really fun project and there are all kinds of GREAT players all over that one, they even let me play a little. 'Stories' (also on Eagle) has a couple of tunes that I either wrote or co-wrote with Joe Yuele, our drummer. Pretty good record I think, maybe my overall favorite. The current album on Eagle is "Road Dogs" and I was able to do a little singing, playing and writing on that one. The upcoming Freddie King tribute album on Eagle, "In the Palace of the King" will be out in April and we are looking forward to that. GREAT horns by Red Holloway, Lon Price and Lee Thornburg. And they let me sing one on that one too. Hope that helps a little, let me know which one you end up with.
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