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Post by Buttler on Aug 21, 2014 16:53:54 GMT
If you still don't have it, buy the Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO on Itunes. In this documentary Jeff shows lots of his guitars, plays a wanderful riff with the Gibson Les Paul and an amazing "Showdown" intro with an electric green guitar (Can't name it), he recorded also an acoustic version too.
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Post by BSJ on Aug 21, 2014 18:16:16 GMT
Hi Buttler!
I keep meaning to buy Mr Blue Sky documentary. I've seen bits and pieces. The Bungalow Palace YouTube video is something I watch and/or listen to a lot. I just wish there were more songs.
He lays his guitars around like I do my books! Need always have them in sight. Just scattered everywhere! So unconcerned.
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Post by BSJ on Aug 21, 2014 18:21:45 GMT
My favourite examples of Jeff's playing are his solo from the Zoom Tour Live version of Roll Over Beethoven I watch him playing that song over and over. Just amazing! Thanks for the insight.
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Post by jefflynnenut on Sept 17, 2014 23:46:20 GMT
I have a '56 gold top reissue and you get those lovely Ma Ma bell sounds and Steppin out intro...its the P90 single wound pickups. I bet Lynne bought it for the early RnR sound. I'm a real sad head for colleting guitars my heros played. ..got the Red Strat American custom too! And ovation legend! But the real gem would be to find out what make that silver axe that Mark Bolan gave him? I'm embarrassed not knowing! It featured in the showdown promo in '72 along the Thames, and I swear I spotted it in the bungalow during the house recording/ interview. Anybody wanna put me outta my misery?
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Post by BSJ on Sept 18, 2014 0:47:55 GMT
I have a '56 gold top reissue and you get those lovely Ma Ma bell sounds and Steppin out intro...its the P90 single wound pickups. I bet Lynne bought it for the early RnR sound. I'm a real sad head for colleting guitars my heros played. ..got the Red Strat American custom too! And ovation legend! But the real gem would be to find out what make that silver axe that Mark Bolan gave him? I'm embarrassed not knowing! It featured in the showdown promo in '72 along the Thames, and I swear I spotted it in the bungalow during the house recording/ interview. Anybody wanna put me outta my misery? WOW - next party I have will you perform for us!!
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Post by cleldo on Dec 6, 2019 17:09:21 GMT
I have a '56 gold top reissue and you get those lovely Ma Ma bell sounds and Steppin out intro...its the P90 single wound pickups. I bet Lynne bought it for the early RnR sound. I'm a real sad head for colleting guitars my heros played. ..got the Red Strat American custom too! And ovation legend! But the real gem would be to find out what make that silver axe that Mark Bolan gave him? I'm embarrassed not knowing! It featured in the showdown promo in '72 along the Thames, and I swear I spotted it in the bungalow during the house recording/ interview. Anybody wanna put me outta my misery? If this is the guitar then it's a Veleno, custom made in aluminium. Attachments:
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Post by BSJ on Dec 6, 2019 18:46:19 GMT
Thanks, cleldo! Sadly jefflynnenut hasn't been seen in these parts for quite awhile.
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Post by StrangeMagic on Dec 7, 2019 20:59:25 GMT
Jeff did indeed once say it was the Les Paul that caused him back problems, while his Telecaster was bought in 1966 for just £30, and although the acoustic he shows during the Mr. Blue Sky documentary is described as his first, I definitely remember reading somewhere that before this he learned to play using a cheap plastic Elvis Presley signature guitar with just one string. Also, at some point in either the early '80s he acquired a dark pink/cherry red Stratocaster to emulate Hank Marvin's sound... this featured on a few Secret Messages tracks - particularly Hello My Old Friend - and the promotional video for Rock And Roll Is King. More recently, he was introduced to the "ukelele" (technically a banjolele for those who know the difference!) through George Harrison and received a custom Gretsch from his fellow Wilburys. Jeff received the custom classic Gretsch from Norm's Rare Guitars in Tarzana near Los Angeles, but they were only on loan for the photo shoot and a few days of recording.
Dinah and Fred Gretsch visited during the recording of the first Traveling Wilburys album to discuss the design and manufacture of the custom Traveling Wilbury guitars as a promotion for their planned reintroduction of Gretsch guitars. Gretsch Musical Instruments had been sold to Baldwin, who had discontinued the guitar line. The Gretsch family reaquired the company and wanted to start making guitars again. Dinah sent George and thank you note for appearing on the cover of Cloud Nine holding a Gretsch, and he invited her to the recording session.
They didn't give Jeff a guitar at that time, but they gave him a set of Gretsch drums. Jeff ultimately got his TW Gretsch guitar the following year when they were manufactured under the sponsorship of George Harrison.
These events are recounted in my book, Five Legends, Five Guitars, which I researched nearly as assiduously as you have researched yours. Sadly, I couldn't connect with Bill Bottrell like you did, who also produced "Handle with Care."
I don't know where he got the red Country Gentleman similar to George's that Jeff was pictured holding in 2012 or thereabouts.
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Post by dillwyn on Dec 9, 2019 14:08:08 GMT
i have a Fender 'Tele' love it to bits ...
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Post by StrangeMagic on Dec 14, 2019 0:30:01 GMT
Whenever I picture Jeff playing live it's always with the gold Les Paul. He must have been gutted when he had to give it up, old age doesn't come alone. I've read in a few places that he's considered a bit of a virtuoso on guitar by his fellow musicians. Not being a player myself I've never really appreciated that but can anyone else point out some of his clever moments? My favourite examples of Jeff's playing are his solo from the Zoom Tour Live version of Roll Over Beethoven and the "violin" sound he gets throughout Ben Crawley Steel Company - I've seen videos from other guitarists trying to achieve the same effect, but due to the design of their instruments it has to be done in a completely different way, usually through manipulating a volume pedal or hitting a string then adjusting the volume rather than everything being done in a single movement (Brian May in particular has problems using his much larger signature Red Special). I've heard plenty of people attribute this particular trick to the position of the various elements on a Telecaster in relation to each other, which allows someone to continue playing while altering the volume using their little finger rolled around the volume knob. However, on most occasions Jeff is actually quite reserved or buries more complicated parts deep in the mix... well, in the studio, at least! Does anybody know of any further live highlights? I can't remember my source, and don't like to throw things out when I don't have a reference. Perhaps someone else recognizes it.
The particular amp Jeff used back in the day, especially on the live version of "Deborah," had something to do with creating the violin sound.
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Post by ShardEnder on Dec 14, 2019 13:21:09 GMT
The choice of amplifier does indeed play a major role in creating that particular sound, but I can't find a quote as to what Jeff used back then. At the very least, I know that Brian May was already using a Vox AC30 by the time he got a few brief guitar lessons from Jeff, though he'd later use the so-called Deacy Amp built for him by Queen bandmate John Deacon in tandem with a signal booster to achieve his own take on the layered "orchestral" effect. While the tools of the trade were just that for many musicians, especially those yet to really make it big, quite a few of us are absolutely fascinated to know how these trademarks were established, and it's a shame we don't have more information. On a somewhat related note, I've been putting in ridiculous amounts of time researching the various keyboards, drum machines and even delay units heard across ELO's three albums released in the '80s, which should help fill in a lot of blanks for anyone looking to emulate this period with a degree of accuracy.
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Post by cleldo on Dec 17, 2019 19:58:29 GMT
If you still don't have it, buy the Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO on Itunes. In this documentary Jeff shows lots of his guitars, plays a wanderful riff with the Gibson Les Paul and an amazing "Showdown" intro with an electric green guitar (Can't name it), he recorded also an acoustic version too. Do you mean the grey or silver guitar for Showdown, if so it's a PRS (Paul Reed Smith)
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Post by StrangeMagic on Dec 20, 2019 5:10:42 GMT
The choice of amplifier does indeed play a major role in creating that particular sound, but I can't find a quote as to what Jeff used back then. At the very least, I know that Brian May was already using a Vox AC30 by the time he got a few brief guitar lessons from Jeff, though he'd later use the so-called Deacy Amp built for him by Queen bandmate John Deacon in tandem with a signal booster to achieve his own take on the layered "orchestral" effect. While the tools of the trade were just that for many musicians, especially those yet to really make it big, quite a few of us are absolutely fascinated to know how these trademarks were established, and it's a shame we don't have more information. On a somewhat related note, I've been putting in ridiculous amounts of time researching the various keyboards, drum machines and even delay units heard across ELO's three albums released in the '80s, which should help fill in a lot of blanks for anyone looking to emulate this period with a degree of accuracy. I want to say it's a Marshall amp. I know Jeff uses a couple of those now to tour and record, so I could be getting the equipment mixed up. If I run across it again, I'll let you know.
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Post by Buttler on Dec 20, 2019 17:18:36 GMT
If you still don't have it, buy the Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO on Itunes. In this documentary Jeff shows lots of his guitars, plays a wanderful riff with the Gibson Les Paul and an amazing "Showdown" intro with an electric green guitar (Can't name it), he recorded also an acoustic version too. Do you mean the grey or silver guitar for Showdown, if so it's a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) I thought it was green, but probably it's the silver one. He starts to play that solo at 39:27 anyway...
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Post by jackpunch on Jan 22, 2020 21:49:14 GMT
He's got a lovely Mike Campbell signature Duesenberg. It's a beautiful guitar.
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