Trucks also sets his action as low as he possibly can, whilst still being able to play slide. If you want to sound like Duane Allman then, I would recommend either opting for a Gibson Les Paul, a Gibson SG, or a replica of either guitar. Light guitar strings are not a key element of Allmans sound. If you buy a modern Gibson guitar that replicates an early model, it is likely to come stock with vintage style pickups. . You want to develop a clear and precise guitar tone. Plug into a 2x10" extension speaker cabinet for bigger gigs. The nephew of Butch Trucks, former Allman Brothers drummer, Derek has been playing serious guitar since he was a pre-teen. What I've found is MOST people who play blackface amps cranked set it this way -, This is pretty close to how Jerry Garcia did it except I think he had bass all the way off. Try a few different slides out and experiment until you find the one that works for you. Learning finger style is not easy, but it is crucial if you want to sound like Derek Trucks. Mine has 25 watt alnico speakers and a JAN GE 5751 in V6/phase inverter slot, so that aids the OD. Page 1 of 2 - Derek Trucks - posted in Guitar Q & A: Ive seen Derek Trucks both with The Allmans and The Derek Trucks band Numerous times as well as Warren Hayens solo and with Gov't Mule. Over his short career, he played a huge variety of different guitars and amps. Here are three of the Tedeschi Trucks man's top axes Gibson Custom Dickey Betts SG Artist Proof #4 (Image credit: James Sharrock) Even if you arent playing slide, it is still worth using your fingers if you want to play like Trucks. In terms of their voicing, Marshall and Fender amps are basically on different sides of the tonal spectrum. With that in mind, and considering Allmans various different setups, again I would suggest that there are two different routes you can go down, depending on the overall tone you want to achieve. One of my favorites is when he recorded Loan Me a Dime with Boz, and the Swampers after they left FAME to open their own studio. But rather it shows just how much you can achieve with a simple rig. It also has the same indent at the bottom of the slide where the lid for the medicine bottle would have originally been. This actually sets him aside from a lot of other blues guitarists, most of whom seek out amps that break up and overdrive at lower volumes. In the lower price range, I would recommend going for either an Epiphone or a Vintage replica. And although second hand models of that guitar are available on sites like Reverb, the starting price is around $15,000/12,000. The Derek Trucks Band are an American blues rock grop founded by slide guitar prodigy Derek Trucks in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994. I can't always get away with putting the volume on 8, but the bass knob is sitting at 2-3, regardless. Use the lightest gauge of string that you can whilst still being able to play slide. Thanks GAT. Black mark for Fuzz setting, just backed off from full. Any of these guitars will help you to sound like Derek Trucks. If you really want to sound like Duane Allman and are happy to spend a bit more, you can buy one of these Dickey Betts, From One Brother To Another SGs second hand on sites like Reverb for around $4450/3600. Trucks' style is very unique in the way he can . I do use a plexi shield in places where volume is an issueat least for the first set. Yeah I know Derek pulled the second AX7 which adds a minute amount of gain. You will be amazed at how much you can change your tone, just by altering your attack. No post FX were added. Another interesting thing is that Fender amps with bright switches, you can't really tell the difference on/off with the volume knob at 6 or above. Out of all of the elements of his rig, Derek Trucks seems to place the most emphasis on his amplifiers. Another great article Aidan. Derek Trucks almost exclusively plays slide guitar. Derek Trucks of Tedeschi Trucks Band on finding the right way to release music, being a big 'Deadwood' fan, more Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB) found a way to create and deliver their 2022 epic 'I Am the Moon' in a way that best suited them. Thats basically how I set my DRRI when I had one (minus the mids knob of course). Duane Allman famously used a glass Coricidin medicine bottle for his slide. Beyond that, the Gibson 57 Classic Humbuckers would also make a great choice, as they are the pickups that Trucks uses in his Signature SG. Some of my top recommendations are: Beyond one of these Fender amps, it could also be worth like at the PRS Sonzera 20W. It is the same weight and is closed at the top. "I use DR Strings, like, an 11, 14, 17, 26, 36, 46, and always an unwound third, acoustic or electric. That is because he doesnt have to press down so hard on his strings. This actually sets him aside from a lot of other blues guitarists, most of whom seek out amps that break up and overdrive at lower volumes. If that is the case, then either aFender 65 Super Reverb Reissueor a Fender 65 Twin Reverb would be a great choice. Allman is of course a renowned slide player. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Use that with your Deluxe for classic Allmans tones. You can pick both of these up for less than $10. That will allow you to play slide, without making it too challenging to play your guitar when you take the slide off. I believe that I was not yet aware of them when I originally wrote this article, but a few readers have since put me onto them. Either that or you can very easily remove it yourself. I can use an ABY box for added ease of use. Derek Trucks uses a custom made set of DR Pure Blues in a .011-.046 gauge; but even that is quite light by a lot of slide players standards. I have wanted to sound like Derek Trucks since the moment I first heard him play. . You can reach me on aidan@happybluesman.com and I am always around and happy to help . Guitarist Derek Truck elaborates. Even if you dont play slide guitar though, there is a lot of information you can take away here that is still relevant. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Duane was playing in a standard E tuning when his friend John Hammond, Jr. showed open E, D and other tunings. That includes those featured on Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs, the album that is generally considered to be Eric Claptons greatest musical achievement. Derek Trucks is one of the purest blues guitarists in the world. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on aidan@happybluesman.com. This was most likely for aesthetic reasons, and because he doesnt actually play with a pick. If you want to sound like Derek Trucks then, it is worth placing as much emphasis on this, as it is on the gear you use. A Super Reverb on 8 is loud in a bar, if that's the natural OD tone you're going for. The Fender Showman head and the Fender Champ are probably the most significant of these. Duane Allmans tone is just awesome and continues to blow me away. How high you set your action is up to you. His playing style is heavily influenced by Duane Allman, and his rig and guitar set up reflects that. Is it just my impression or am I missing something here? I've found this change to be more than negligible. What's your favorite 335 style guitar for under $1000 used? He plays an SG, and actually uses a replica of Allmans SG, which was produced in a very small run by the Gibson Custom Shop in 2011, and given to Trucks by Allmans daughter. So although they will definitely help you sound like Derek Trucks, they arent a relevant option for most players. JavaScript is disabled. This tuning was first used by early Delta bluesmen, and is still one of the most popular tunings amongst slide guitarists. His notes always ring out with perfect clarity and his tone is never muddy. The Superior Board of Trustees on Monday expressed their support for the Fifth Avenue extension as part of the Original Old Town alley decontamination and improvement project. If you are most interested in trying to recreate Allmans fiery slide guitar sound, I would recommend opting for an SG. This means that unlike many of the guitarists I have covered in my Sound Like Series, you need quite a lot of gear to accurately replicate Allmans rig. Thankfully, there are some much cheaper alternatives. With Dixon and drummer Tyler Greenwell joining Trucks . Derek Trucks on Finding the Perfect SG and How to Set It Up Premier Guitar 635K subscribers Subscribe 4.2K 371K views 2 years ago One of the most impressive guitarists on the planet shares the. Beyond that, the key factor is comfort. It's a classic vintage guitar and they're not making any more of those! Towards the end of his career however, Allman switched to using Marshall amps. According to some sources, Allman also used a Maestro Echoplex Tape Delay later in his career. Trucks ' own skillful leadership has seamlessly melded rock, blues, jazz, and Eastern Indian modal music in a brew that is uniquely his own. Ray Chelstowski Jan 16, 2023 IT is easy to understand this with an amp and a guitar. That's a pretty common thing with blackface fender circuits, the more you crank it the more bass you bring in, just bring up the treble to where you like it. In fact, the only real commonality between the amps Allman used, is their size. This guitar originally came with a tremolo tailpiece, which Trucks removed and replaced with a stop-bar tailpiece. Echoplex set at around 26 (or 415-420 ms) about 4 or 5 repeats. Excellent site !!! In his early years and during session work, Allman had a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, which he reportedly powered using old 9v batteries. This is Derek's main live amp used with the Derek Trucks Band and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The brilliant slide guitarist Sonny Landreth uses .013-.056s! Clean is guitar vol at 7, roll it up to 10 for OD/leads. That way you can capture the spirit of the Skydog, without having to recreate every element of his setup. This is almost a necessity if you want to play slide, as you have to use your fingers to mute the strings you arent playing. As a result he is rarely spoken about as a being a key influence on some of the players who really made the blues popular in the 1960s; musicians like Eric Clapton, Peter Green and the Rolling Stones. If you really want to sound like Derek Trucks then, and you are happy to spend a bit more, the DT Humbuckers would be my top choice. It is not easy to sound like Duane Allman. But when the Tedeschi Trucks Band conceived that recently-completed schedule for their ambitious I Am The Moon project, it was precisely with the intention of giving their audience breathing space. It really goes to show how much tone comes from the fingers. Good luck! Load it with Weber Calis. The first option is to buy a set of lower output, PAF style humbuckers. And, on most of these amps at high volume, the treble knob adds 'gain', not treble after 6 on the dial or so. A lot of guitarists used the originalMaestro Echoplex Tape Delay in this way in the 1960s and 70s. You must log in or register to reply here. If you want to sound like Derek Trucks, you need to get an SG. In 2014, the Gibson Custom Shop released a Derek Trucks Signature model SG. Generally speaking, slide guitarists use very heavy strings and set a high action on their guitars. Hooker enjoyed a lot of commercial success during his lifetime. He doesnt have any overdrive pedals or other effects that will mask his mistakes (not that he makes any) or enhance his sound. In the lower price range, I would recommend going for an Epiphone replica. Saw a hole in the back. Research, browse, save, and share from 22 F-250 models in Greenville, OH. The stocks ones didn't come close to the variety of tones you get from high quality pots & caps. + Eric's rubber band tone enhancer. Ideal for Blues and R&B. The guitar is no longer in production, but you can easily buy new and second hand versions of the SG on Reverb. It is all about striking a balance here. I admired his facility but could not stand to listen to him play. It sounds like youre absolutely on the right track, and adding an SG and Marshall to your setup is a great move! It's all about feel. He believes that when it comes to volume, less is more. Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track Derek Trucks and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 17247 other Derek Trucks fans. Derek Trucks has a beautiful guitar tone that is perfect for the blues. Good luck, and if I can help in any way, please do let me know. My top recommendations in this bracket are as follows: Beyond this, if you really want to sound like Derek Trucks and are happy to spend a bit more, there are a number of options. Metal, brass and porcelain/bone slides all sound different to glass. It is hard to do that with a big amp if you are doing most of your playing at a relatively low volume, in a home or studio environment. Finally, if you are looking to spend a bit more and make an investment, then either a Gibson Les Paul or a Custom Shop model would be your best choice. Contains spam, fake content or potential malware. The Derek Trucks Band is the only touring group in recent memory comprised of a member in his 20s (Trucks), 30s (Smallie and Mike Mattison), 40s (keyboard player Kofi Burbridge), 50s (Scott) and . Not only will this help you to sound like Derek Trucks, it will also make you an infinitely better guitar player. Sign up here for the latest blues knowledge and information into your inbox. This is definitely a great page though. If you are also using your guitar to play without the slide though, then you should be a bit more conservative. Volume as high as I could get away with and the bass low. Instead, he uses his own Derek Trucks Signature Slide. MYRTLE BEACH, SC, United States Allen Old Flame 410, Boutique Super Reverb, Derek Trucks black Used - Excellent $1,050 + $75 Shipping There arent that many ready made string sets in this gauge, but Fender do offer a set of Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child strings in gauge .010-.038s. ANJE. Just pair it with a 412 Marshall cabinet, crank the volume, and youre good to go! Check out Missing Link Audio, I was tone chasing for a while till I found this company. These are typically not very high output pickups and they produce a beautiful and rich, vintage sounding tone. I just think he is less spoken about than some of the other key figures in the blues, because many of those interested in the blues today are guitar players. I have been practicing many of his songs and working on getting a warmer tone, your has confirm what I am doing is in the right direction with my LP Standard and Blues Jr Amp. However the good news is that compared with Gibson Les Pauls and ES-335s, SGs are a lot cheaper. They were gauge .010-.038, which is particularly light on the bass strings. . This will allow you to apply greater pressure on your slide without risk of it knocking against the frets. My top recommendations here are as follows: Again, if you are able to play at higher volumes, then the 1987X Vintage Reissue 50 Watt Headwould be my top choice. "I'm Derek Trucks' amp tech. There are however, two main guitars with which Allman is associated. Having said that, these are custom-order only and the prices start at $12,500/10,150. These included a Gibson Les Paul Junior, a Gibson ES-355, a Fender Telecaster and a Fender Stratocaster, amongst countless others. But Fender do offer a new version of the 150s (in .010-.046 gauge) that are made of pure nickel. They have a couple of different amps that will give you the tone of duane or dickie. The heavier your strings and higher your action, the more pressure you need to apply to play each note.