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Brian,
As the rhythm guitarist for The Nebulas, I live in the world with which
you describe. "Chunkin'" is what we call it. To get that drip, it's a lot
like how Eddie Angel from the Straitjackets gets his tone. It has a lot to
do with equipment, and a lot to do with the player as well. I don't use any
kind of mechanical mute. I just use the side of my hand against the bridge.
I can change the effect of the "chunking" by squeezing the muscles in my
hand tighter, giving the drip more attack, or I can push harder on the
bridge, giving it more of the after-effect of the reverb drip. Depending on
whether i use a medium or a heavy pick will change the sound, and I'm sure
the strings would too but I only use 10's. I'm pretty sure the Astronauts
had only the bridge pickup on for that sound, but I leave both pickups on.
One thing that I find ULTRA-important is that you understand that if
you're using an outboard reverb tank that you COMPLETELY TURN OFF ANY
ONBOARD REVERB ON YOUR AMP. Adding that onboard reverb will hurt your sound,
not make it better. ESPECIALLY regarding the chunkin effect. You lose the
"bite" and it just gets washed out sounding.
As for an outboard tank, I use an original vintage model, and I also have
a reissue which I've done the cap and tube mod to, and trust me, it makes a
huge difference over the stock configuration.
The Astronauts are one of The Nebulas favorite bands, and I take a lot of
cues from their style.
I could be wrong, but my ears tell me that those Astronauts chunk parts
were only played on one string.
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
Come see The Nebulas open for The Boss Martians on May 25th at Jake's in
Providence, RI.
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