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> I got a fairly detailed response to my string query from Dick. He
> takes his gear seriously. I don't know how you think you can tell
a
> plain G from a wound G on the basis of those recordings. Also
remember
> he plays the guitar upside down and chooses non-traditional
fingerings
> as a result.
How can you NOT tell? When guitarists started switching from wound
G strings to plain steel there was a HUGE change in the way lead
guitar was played. I had been trying to compare two different
guitar tones on the "basis of those recordings" and certainly one
was bending more. As a side note... Listen to anything James Burton
did with Rick Nelson. From what I've read guys like Jimmy Page,
Jeff Beck, and Albert Lee, all wanted to know what the hell Burton
was doing. When people would hear someone play with a plain G it
sounded different. I've heard Joe Brown say that Eddie Cochran was
the first guy to bring the idea of the plain G string to England,
and he refers to it as a "trick" one he thought was so worthy of
keeping a secret that he'd turn his back so people couldn't see what
he'd done.
> According to Dick, he was using these strings: 16p 18p 20p 39w 49w
> 60w. With strings that heavy, I don't think there would be much
> difference between a wound G and plain G.
> You can of course choose not to believe him; in that case there
really
> isn't anything more to discuss.
> It is kind of silly to argue about what strings Dick Dale was
using.
> It is even sillier to argue about what you believe Dick Dale was
> ACTUALLY using because you can't trust him.
> A very silly person,
Ask Dick Dale about the Reverb Tank and the Stratocaster! Dick Dale
was Leo Fender. Dick's memory of the past is why I called you out
on that plain G string comment. I wasn't arguing, just debating...
sorry. I figured this being Surf Guitar 101 people would like to
discuss wound g and plain g strings. Which I believe is a VERY
relavent surf topic, because only in surf music during the 60s do
you find guitarists not swapping for lighter gauges. Pretty much
every other rock and roll genre was going for the slinky sound. I
guess I'm the only one who finds this stuff interesting.
Bill
