Robbin Ford Model Fender Ultra
Henry Moon
luck on who sells what...how much...sound, etc.v Just a few pics.
Anyone know anything about the model? Played one? How much? Are they
available?
Since they have humbuckers instead of single coils and since I
understand they have carved cavities, could they make a decent jazz
axe and well as the fine blues screamer that Ford has made it.
BTW, Ford has got extraordinary depth- whatever musical bar-be-que
he's got- we need more of! It would enchance jazz or any style.
Henry
Mondoslug1
>> BTW, Ford has got extraordinary depth- whatever musical bar-be-que
>> he's got- we need more of! It would enchance jazz or any style.
>>
>> Henry
careful you'll hate yourself in the morning <g>
Peter Catlin
news:889aec26.0405...@posting.google.com...
> I was googling around trying to find more info on the Ultra. Not much
> luck on who sells what...how much...sound, etc.v Just a few pics.
>
> Anyone know anything about the model? Played one? How much? Are they
> available?
Apparently the first Fender guitar that was totally designed by Fender Japan
and subsequently adopted by Robben Ford so they turned it into a signature
model and jacked up the retail price. Typical comfortable but quite deep
neck and great all around workmanship although lacquer finish has been known
to craze on some models I believe. I owned the Esprit Elite version. Quite
heavy despite sound pockets but they do give it a discernable semi acoustic
quality. The original p'ups are fairly lifeless (Schallers I believe) so
tend to get replaced by Seymour Duncan PAFs (a la RF) or something similar
with a bit more depth and character. Rather confused attempt at
diffentiated marketing by Fender who sold their often overlooked arch top
jazzer under the same banner as well but assorted models do vary by degree
of flash e.g. dot neck or block, plain colour or sunburst, gold parts or
chrome etc. I believe coil tap p'ups were not an option on the cheaper
(standard?) model but were on elite and ultra versions.
IMHO certainly not a 'conventional' jazz guitar sound without mucho pre
processing ...shouldn't you be looking at their arch top model in this range
if you can find one? Original Japanese and later signature versions probably
discontinued as RF has been playing Baker guitars in more recent times (a
backward step soundwise IMHO) but anyway has always seemed to prefer playing
his old (1960?) Fender Telecaster to great effect.
Not that many come up for sale (not that many sold I suspect) but
second-hand prices around $1,200 - $1,400 top for original Japan version.
Peter
Al
> second-hand prices around $1,200 - $1,400 top for original Japan version.
The ridiculously high price I recall seeing was, I believe, an Ebay
Buy-it-Now, so that explains a lot.
Henry Moon
But the tone was not suped up...just for teaching.
Then at the end he really blows hard with *his* sound...and DAMN!
Then i read he plays a Dumble Amp in the USA. that probably explains
the gorgeous screaming quality that I heard...2nd only to the guy play
it.
Henry
I have not recovered yet form his playing on the Michael McDonald
album of almost 25 years ago.
Mondoslug1
Henry wrote:
I saw a clinic where he played the store's Fender "The Twin" amp......sounded
like Robben.
He's one of those guys who just gets the sound no matter which amp he's
using...........but yeah he sounds great through his Dumbles of course.
Tone
> castl...@ev1.net (Henry Moon) wrote in message news:<889aec26.04051...@posting.google.com>...
> Donte's with a jazz quartet about 20 years ago. He did the
> same schtick, same licks, but he knows how to make them
> work over changes. He's definitely one of those one-of-a-kind
> geniuses. Those clips you posted of your organ band had
> a Robbenesque vibe in your playing. I would like to
> hear more of you guys doing that thing you do so well.
Well he *did* do a stint with Miles Davis, so maybe I'll take your
word on it that he can play some jazz in addition to the blues ;-)
Mondoslug1
The first gig was without a rehearsal also......
>
>
Henry Moon
a Robbenesque vibe in your playing. I would like to
hear more of you guys doing that thing you do so well.
Thanks Tom. I just put up our take on "All Blues" on SoundClip.
See if you like it:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/henrymoonmusic.htm
Henry