1 Topic by CGB (edited by CGB 2020-06-19 18:51:00)

  • CGB
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Topic: BB King's Tone

[img]https://reverb-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/a_exif,c_limit,f_auto,fl_progressive,h_620,q_75,w_620/v1429553380/gkwggcrbmcn5cf4ujonb.jpg[/img]

BB used a solid state amp called  Lab Series L-5.

[img]https://reverb-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/a_exif,c_limit,f_auto,fl_progressive,h_620,q_75,w_620/v1429553380/gkwggcrbmcn5cf4ujonb.jpg[/img]

Your thoughts?

This song mentions Joe Bonamassa. https://soundcloud.com/cg-instrumental/ … lues-thing
https://soundcloud.com/cg-brady/crimson … ntum-blues
https://soundcloud.com/cg-brady/testosteroneblues
https://soundcloud.com/user-316831637/f … 20-mix-sax
  • DougH
  • DougH
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
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Re: BB King's Tone

BB played for a long time, solid state amps only started hitting big near mid 65 approx, so he would have used lots of tube amps over the years

BB was from the big band era where clean sound was preferred.

Also it wasn't uncommon a whole band would be going through just a couple of amps in those days.
Using both high and low inputs

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • CGB
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Re: BB King's Tone

DougH wrote:

BB played for a long time, solid state amps only started hitting big near mid 65 approx, so he would have used lots of tube amps over the years

BB was from the big band era where clean sound was preferred.

Also it wasn't uncommon a whole band would be going through just a couple of amps in those days.
Using both high and low inputs

BB could have played through any amp he wanted. He played with a lot of guitar players. He heard Fender, Marshall,Ampeg, Gibson, Vox, Orange, Mesa Boogie but he settled on the Lab Series. I have a buddy who had a Lab Series and I liked how it sounded. It did sound like a clean tube amp. He got rid of it because it got really hot.

I think what may have drawn him to the amp was the compressor knob that gave the amp a lot if sustain which may have helped him with his legendary vibrato.  BB's tone seemed to stay the same throughout his career. It was his trademark.

I play bass mostly so I'm fine with solid state. I have some solid state modeling amps that sound pretty good and I use amp sims for guitar when I record.

This song mentions Joe Bonamassa. https://soundcloud.com/cg-instrumental/ … lues-thing
https://soundcloud.com/cg-brady/crimson … ntum-blues
https://soundcloud.com/cg-brady/testosteroneblues
https://soundcloud.com/user-316831637/f … 20-mix-sax