Santo and Johnny fuzz sound

Frank James Pracher · From: Michigan, USA

Forgive me if I am beating a dead horse but I could not find this info with the search function.

I have a CD of S and J's first stereo albums and some of the tracks sound like there is fuzz tone on the steel. Does anyone know what fuzz was used?
Thanks
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one"

Bob Tuttle · From: Republic, MO 65738

If it was their very early recordings (late 50s) it was most likely amplifier distortion. The first electronic fuzz device didn't come on the scene until about 1962.

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

As I remember hearing, the original "Fuzz" sound was an Amplifier malfunction on Marty Robbins recording of "Don't Worry About Me". They didn't hear it until they played back the "Take". They left it in the record and then everyone wanted to duplicate the sound and a special effects box was created.

Bob Tuttle · From: Republic, MO 65738

Billy, I remember hearing that story. I believe the first "fuzz" box was made by Red Rhodes.

Frank James Pracher · From: Michigan, USA

I didn't realize the recording predated the "fuzz" effect. ( It's really a timeless recording). I think I could listen to it everyday and not get tired of it.
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one"

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

Bob: Red Rhodes was a very special Guy. We were good friends and he left us much too soon. I'm not sure but I think Red had a background in electrical engineering.

Bob Tuttle · From: Republic, MO 65738

Yeah, Red was quite a guy. Once in a while he would come out to hear us when I was playing at Georges Roundup with Danny Michaels. That was during the early to mid 1960s.

I seem to remember him redesigning Fender Princeton amps so they were about as loud as a Twin.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I was at a steel show and they did Marty's "Don't Worry About Me".
Before they started, I saw the steel player rummaging around frantically until he found an effects unit and plugged it in. It sounded just like it did on the recording. Afterwards I went over to see what kind of unit he was using and it was a "Rat", very effective.

Frank Welsh · From: Upstate New York, USA

Frank, I am familiar with Santo & Johnny's early albums. Could you point out the particular songs and passages that seem to be "fuzz"? I think that Santo used a Fender Bassman amp for his steel ("Guitar Player" magazine interview). If you watch the YouTube video of him playing "Sleepwalk", you can see him quickly adjusting the volume control just prior to the harmonics in order to give them a boost. The same effect can be heard in the harmonics in the tune "Teardrop." Of course, in the studio, the engineer could be manually raising the volume mixer control to give emphasis to the harmonics, possibly resulting in slight distortion.

This is my best take on the answer to your question. Perhaps others may have some insight to offer.

By the way, those early Santo & Johnny albums are what caused me to take up the steel guitar.

Frank James Pracher · From: Michigan, USA

The first track on that CD "Caravan" sounds to me like there was fuzz on the steel. But I gave a listen to it on the computer and I could see were it might just be amplifier overdrive.
I have been listening to this CD every night in my workshop and I find something new and interesting every time.
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one"

Hal Braun · From: Eustis, Florida, USA

There is a pretty accurate account here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_%28music%29

I had heard the stories about Link Wray poking holes in his amp speakers with a pencil to help get the "fuzz" tone.. but some of the others were new to me..

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