distortion/fuzz? in Hotel California
Dan Addington
reverb for effects
I've been getting more electric lately, and would like to be able to
identify the effects behind sounds I've heard for a long time.
For example, the lead guitar(s) in Hotel California. Is that a distortion
effect and if so, what pedal would achieve it. I've fooled around w/ the
Boss Heavy Metal pedal that a friend gave me, but I'd like to know what
creates that smooth, fine-tooth, creamy distortion.
--
Dan
Jim Anable
A tube amp?
Dan Addington
would suggest?
--
Dan
Visit the "Dennis Wilson: Dreamer" site at:
http://www.denniswilsondreamer.com
Jim Anable <j...@seattle-attorney.com> wrote in article
<40664B00...@seattle-attorney.com>...
D.R
"Dan Addington" <dan.gw...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:01c4147c$8189abc0$1fe4490c@gateway...
> So, if I'm playing directly through a PA, is there a stomp box that you
> would suggest?
Tech21 Tri-AC or...
Tech21 Sansamp GT-2
100% analogue! Unreal sound!
Sound samples online at:
http://tech21nyc.com/GT2sounds.html
http://tech21nyc.com/TRI-AC.html
Geetar Dave
.
> For example, the lead guitar(s) in Hotel California. Is that a distortion
> effect and if so, what pedal would achieve it. I've fooled around w/ the
> Boss Heavy Metal pedal that a friend gave me, but I'd like to know what
> creates that smooth, fine-tooth, creamy distortion.
I think you'll find it impossible to emulate without a good
lower-wattage tube amp turned up loud. I believe they used a Fender
Deluxe Reverb for that one, but I don't remember for sure.
Unfortunately, a pedal won't do it by itself, but it might help push
an amp into that place.
In the complete absence of an amp, you'll be well-served using an amp
simulator of some sort. I recommend the SansAmp.
Much of that tone and sustain comes from the volume of the amp
interacting with the guitar (and good players, and good mic placement,
etc)
That's a great sound you've chosen to try to get. Best of luck!
-dave
www.themoodrings.com
Nil
wrote in news:01c41476$f6f711a0$1fe4490c@gateway:
> For example, the lead guitar(s) in Hotel California. Is that a
> distortion effect and if so, what pedal would achieve it.
Felder's solo sounds to me like an overdrive or fuzz pedal. Walsh's
solo sounds to me like its played through a phase shifter pedal into a
loud amp.
Steve2000indeja
Felder used a fuzzbox for most of his 70s Eagles studio solos. I've been
searching around the net for awhile tonight and can't find any info on it.
When some magazine bothered to interview the under appreciated Don Felder, he
didn't talk about his fuzzbox the way he did about the various guitars and amps
he used on his 70s sessions and tours with the Eagles. But that pedal and
guitar sound was there on the first Eagles recording I ever heard him play on:
"Already Gone" from 1973's 'On The Border."
On that tune his guitar is also electronically doubled either by one of the
first digital delays or possibly a variation of the 'electronic double
tracking' (super fast analog tape slap echo with some modulation pioneered by
the Beatles) effect. This processing thickened up his guitar but also subtly
alters alters the character of the fuzz/distortion box tone which was to become
his signature lead guitar sound with the Eagles.
A good sonic reference point for Felder's distortion pedal is the thick, sweet
and obviously 'fuzzbox' guitar harmonies and solo on 'One of These Nights."
Listen to his guitar(s) on that one and you'll easily be able to pick the
distinctive sound of the box out on other tunes.
He's got the 'fuzz/distortion' knob on the pedal cranked up as much he ever did
on 'One of These Nights.' Heck it's so fuzzy (in a good way) on that tune he
might have gone straight into the board with it. The fuzz level is dialed back
some on other tunes where he's featured, like the "Hotel California' solo and
"Already Gone." His amp is probably set somewhat differently for those tunes,
more of a singing rock tone.
I heard "I Can't Tell You Why" on the radio the other day and realized (or
re-realized) that Felder's using the pedal very subtly to add a tiny bit of
sweet grind to his guitar tone on the long, simple melodic solo that ends that
tune. If I ever noticed the pedal on there before...I'd forgotten. I just
happened to be in a space to listen very closely to that solo (and the entire
tune) the other day and went 'whoa,' he's using even using the pedal on that
one.
I'm usually not a fan of overt fuzzbox tones, due to the abuse of the sound by
some mediocre players when fuzzboxes first came out in the 60s. But excellent
players like Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page -and the underrated Don Felder - showed how
cool a good fuzzbox can be in the right hands.
----------
Joe Walsh had a great section on his website last summer called "Ask Joe" where
he would answer fan questions about anything. I went there to look up his
current touring rig after seeing and really enjoying his playing and tone on
the Eagles tour stop here in August.
In the 'Ask Joe' section, someone had asked about his gear on the original
"Hotel California" recording. He said there wasn't particularly tricky about
his studio rig for that tune. It was just a Fender guitar into a 30 watt
Roland Cube amp, cranked up. No overdrive pedal, but I think Joe said he used
either a phase shifter or chorus pedal.
Unfortunately that part of his site is gone now, or maybe it's been moved to
the (paid) fan club only part of his site. I do remember being somewhat
surprised that Joe used a Roland Cube on for "Hotel California" leads instead
of the Super Reverbs he normally used with the Eagles back then.
But I was just only a bit surprised. After seeing and hearing Joe Walsh play
and sound as good as he ever has last summer (admittedly to my great relief)
through a Marshall - I don't normally think of Joe as a Marshall guy- it was a
reminder that for guys like Joe Walsh, the tone is mainly from the hands and
heart.
Steve
Mika
When I saw the Eagles in concert Felder was using an MXR Distortion+ in his
setup.
David Wilson
and it was pretty damn close to the sound especiall running through my Small
Stone.
That is a great solo!
"Mika" <mbenn...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20040403100147...@mb-m12.aol.com...
Mika
especially that very last note he hits in the solo...
Alan N
mbenn...@aol.comnojunk (Mika) wrote:
> >That is a great solo!
>
> especially that very last note he hits in the solo...
That's one of the best written/recorded rock songs in history. ( IMHO ).
I'm not a hugh Eagles fan either.
Steve2000indeja
It's a good tune. One of their best.
Unfortunately it's been played to death on rock and classic rock radio. Many
folks in the rec.pop.music groups slam it and the Eagles in general because
they've heard it all too much.
Victims of their own success, I guess. All the way to a very big bank.
The Eagles still have the biggest selling album/cd ever in the US: "Greatest
Hits 1971-5" or something like that. It's sold over 28 million units and it
doesn't even include "Hotel California"..
Steve
Steve2000indeja
>>
>> especially that very last note he hits in the solo...
>
>That's one of the best written/recorded rock songs in history. ( IMHO ).
>I'm not a hugh Eagles fan either.
>
It's a good tune. One of their best.
Unfortunately 'Hotel California' been played to death on rock and classic rock
radio. Many folks in the rec.pop.music groups slam it and the Eagles in general
because they've heard it all too much.
Victims of their own success, I guess. All the way to a very big bank. And
maybe the people who post in the music-fan newsgroups take their oldies a
little too seriously.
I don't play the Eagles around the house, but I'll almost always let an Eagles
tune play through when it comes on the radio. I admit I do have to be in the
right frame of mind to listen to the longish "Hotel CA "(and "Stairway" for
that matter)...
-----------
Keith Adams
hogwash you want thats void of meaning and still sell it.It was sort of a
bash against Steeley Dan and the listening public in general who were at the
time the Eagles biggest competition.I guess the Eagles felt SD wrote junk
and the public would buy anything.I think they proved their theory.This was
from an interview with either Glenn Frey or Don Henley.
Been awhile since I read this.
Keith Smith
Re: distortion/fuzz? in Hotel California
Group: alt.guitar.effects Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2004, 9:02pm (EDT+4) From:
keith...@socal.rr.com (Keith Adams)