Thank you Bobbe Seymore!!!

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

"Tone is in the Hands, is nowhere near the truth! I'm glad somebody, especially in the class of Bobbe Seymore, finally tells it like it is! That quote is in Bobbe's news letter this week.

I've never beleived tone is all in the hands, and never will! Not saying the hands have nothing to do with tone, I beleive they do, but I also beleive good equipment has just as much, if not more, to do with tone than the hands.

Terry

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Mullen RP D10 /8x5 / MSA Classic 8x4 Nashville 112 x 2 / American Tele and Fender
Hotrod Deville 2x12's
Thank God for music.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I learned a bit about this notion when my Session 400 speaker recently bit the dirt. With my Pro 1 and Session, I felt like I finally acheived my best steel sound to date. Since the amp's been out of commission,I've had to avail of a few different amps for the last few gigs. My tone has been less than stellar, no matter which way I hold the bar or pick the strings. No amount of technique will help you when you are plugged into an unsatisfactory amplifier, or one to which you're not accustomed. Gear plays into the equation of tone, no question.

I think the notion that "tone is in the hands" should carry a disclaimer: "All gear must be functioning properly and of at least partially acceptable quality."

Maybe the old Chet story can be reversed:

"Chet, your hands sound really good playing that guitar." He puts the guitar in its case, and holds up his hands: "How do my hands sound now?"

I know....it doesn't make complete sense - but I thought I'd throw it in there for a laugh.

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 30 November 2006 at 03:26 PM.]

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Bobbe uses the word execution. I think this is a great covering word for the process that musicians use to create a sound from their instrument. I agree that the execution or delivery does play a part in the sound that eminates from a musical instrument, but it is only a part of the overall equation.

For me, excellent intonation and a bold delivery combined with an instrument that has great natural timbre is the major factor in what comes out at the end of the process.

Perhaps we just get too analytical at times.

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 4:20 pm

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Why do you think Buddy wouldn't be inclined to sell the "Blade", if tone is just in his hands, and he could get "that tone" out of a maverick, or any ole guitar? I would venture to guess that most of the guitars the greats sold off was because another guitar replacing it had a BETTER tone! If tone is in the hands, what do I need a guitar and amp for?

How about "tone in the hands " is part of the overall equation, involving equipment?

[This message was edited by James Morehead on 30 November 2006 at 05:12 PM.]

Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

Play with AUTHORITY!Confidence in youself and your equipment are important factors in the execution.......

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SHO-BUD LDG,MULLEN RP SD-10,(2)Webb 614E,Black Box,Dobro,Martin D-28

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 5:03 pm

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Sorry Curt, I edited my comment. I guess it's a long hard day for me. No offence ment. Cheers

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I don't really need to add a thing, other than thanks Bobbe.

Maybe some poeple will listen to YOU.

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 5:20 pm

No problem James. We're pretty thick skinned around here.

You should drop by "Off Topic" sometimes and have a look.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

This is great, fellars. My bad tone is the fault of the instrument and the amplifier. I always thought it was. It couldn't be me.

Next time that lousy amplifier lets me down I'll kick his tubes out. That'll teach him....

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Yeah, That's a great idea, Curt, you can show me around. Help me cut through the chase!

I'm with Chris on this one. I've sold my share of amps, for one sounding better. Same with guitars. I never thought once"If I practice long enough, this amp will start sounding better!"

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 5:37 pm

quote:
Maybe some poeple will listen to YOU.

Yeah.......

Listen to Bobbe play a Maverick with one knee lever, no picks, through a "Bandit 65" amp, and get a better "tone" than the vast majority of the people posting on this forum.

Me included.

Point is this:
A master steel player can make beautiful music out of a beat up old Maverick, just like a master violinist can make a "junk" violin sound wonderful.

A lot of the "tone" or "sound" is in the hands and touch of the player.

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Anyone ever notice that Bobbe sounds like Bobbe no matter what guitar he happens to be playing??........bb

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 5:44 pm

Point well taken Bobby.

Point well taken.................

Great summation!

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Well Curt, Maybe it WAS the amps. Ever think of that? And what if I DO know how to adjust the settings on the amps in question?? Maybe I felt I was trading up, and I could hear a huge difference immediately, WITHOUT having to improve my "technique" to hear the difference. Would it be alright according to your theory, for me to trade amps? Or if someone desides to ditch an amp for a better one, they automaticly are incompetant and should put in more "chair time"? Maybe, just maybe?

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I should try to stretch my gig schedule to include more than the 100-150 dates a year I do on pedal steel. Maybe then I can gain some real hands-on experience, and eventually I will know what I'm talking about. Someday I'll know enough. Until then, can you at least put up with me?

EXPERIENCE. A word carelessly thrown around here, most times with no anecdotes of experience to back it up. Some of you guys crack me up. Waylon Jennings once said that everything knows about music he learned in front of a crowd.

*edited for spelling, lest someone proof-reads my post.

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 30 November 2006 at 07:18 PM.]

Doug Seymour · From: Jamestown NY USA (deceased)

I have a sneaking suspicion that we all sound like we do no matter what we play!

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

quote:
Listen to Bobbe play a Maverick with one knee lever, no picks, through a "Bandit 65" amp, and get a better "tone" than the vast majority of the people posting on this forum.

I'm not so sure Bobbe agrees with that assumption Curt. That is if I read his news letter right. Have you read his news letter?

I beleive the hands play a part in getting good tone, but I beleive the quality of your amp and instrument play a bigger role in getting good tone than your hands.
If hands are the main factor for getting good tone, then I need a hand replacement.

Terry

Me included

Curt Langston · Posted 30 Nov 2006 7:37 pm

Hey James, I know what. Lets give a 10 year old kid who has never seen a steel guitar, a brand new Anapeg, a Steel King, and a Hilton pedal.

Check his tone out...............

The equipment does figure in, but not nearly as much as the touch of the hands!

[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 30 November 2006 at 07:38 PM.]

Stan Paxton · Posted 30 Nov 2006 7:41 pm

W e e e l l l, without going back & researching all the past posts relative to this subject, I just don't recall where anyone flat out said "ALL" the tone is in the hands....don't we seem to have a consensus that the hands are a factor? I am only an amateur, playing at it for quite a while, and seems to me the more I work at tone, the better it sounds to me: using the same instrument and amp. 'Course my ear ain't what it used to be, either, so maybe I just like my playing better.
Oh, yes, it does seem to sound better since I got the sound processer and the Hilton pedal !
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Mullen SD 10,3 & 5; Nashville 112,Dual Delta Fex, Hilton Pedal

[This message was edited by Stan Paxton on 30 November 2006 at 07:44 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Seriously, if any of you think certain guitars have a "bad tone", then you should consider it your civic duty, your moral responsibility, to inform all of us right here on the Forum as to which ones have a "bad tone". Name 'em! That way, we can be sure that they're eliminated from music forever, and that what we play will meet your, uhh (ahem), "expectations".

The game's afoot! ("Arty" liked that one, me too!)

So...who here is man enough to "call"?

Or are you just going to "fold quietly"?

Speak up, gentlemen!

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Sier....

Nevermind.

EJL

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Donnie,

That's not a realistic challenge. It's too small a world here to be putting down particular brand names.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Hey Donny, Good idea, but you'd better start with everybody's hands first. Afterall, that's where the tones at. Ok, now who will cast thy first fingerpick??

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