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Author
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Topic: John Hughey sound anyone ???
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Jamie Lennon
Member From: England, Birmingham
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posted 13 May 2002 09:02 PM
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I have a profex II and the hughey sound is not that hot. I also know it is mainly down to his technique.I use a peavey session 500 and and PII anyone got any ideas ??? Thanks Jamie  |
Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 13 May 2002 09:39 PM
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Um... throw the box away and practice? Sorry, couldn't resist...  |
Jamie Lennon
Member From: England, Birmingham
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posted 13 May 2002 09:54 PM
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Good point - lol Keep pickin' Jamie |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 14 May 2002 06:37 AM
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Reverb and delay are the only fx I've ever heard John use. As you were wisely counseled before, most of it is in the hands. I assume you are referring to the way John sends chills up your spine, primarily on slow songs and ballads. One tricky part is playing accurately above the 15th fret (Emmons calls that section of the neck 'Hugheyland'). You need to be sure your tone settings are appropriate to reproduce the notes you find way up there and experiment with a little extra delay/verb. ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 14 May 2002 07:56 AM
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One thing I've noticed about John's vibrato at the last couple of steel shows I've seen him perform, is that he slides the bar more than he rolls the bar. Style of vibrato is of course one of the main determinants of "sound."------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 14 May 2002 08:56 AM
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The Profex II setting named after John Hughey isn't really John's setting nor is that an effect he used. Basically they brought the unit to John and asked him what he wanted more or less of and when it was close to what he was after, they saved the preset and named it John Hughey. From what my novice ears can tell, Hughey's sound is all about vibrato and impeccable intonation up high on the neck. He's the king of "bar shiver". Brad Sarno
Mullen U-12/Twin/BW |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 14 May 2002 01:10 PM
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I agree that the Hughey program on the ProFexII is pretty bland sounding. I used that program when I played Scotty's Convention in 1996. For the last few years I have been using the Jeff Newman #2 program. I think it is #87 or around that on the original ProFexII steel programs. Quite a bit more delay and reverb. The program on the ProFexII is not really the John Hughey sound. John is presently using a Zumsteel, with Evans amps. Seems like he had 710s on it and then went to the 910s. I remember Bruce showing him the new pickup when we were in Tulsa a couple of years back. He has used my pedal for about 2 years now. I really don't remember what effect rack mount he was using. John is one of the really nice people in our business. I really like John, and have admired his playing for years and years. Thought I would never learn his ride on Conway's, "Lost In The Feeling of Love". It just kept going up and up and up and up! |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 14 May 2002 01:23 PM
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Keith,
I could be mistaken, but I believe John's still using a Stewart 1.2 with an Evans preamp and Evans cabs. I didn't really notice what was in his rack this year, but in years past he's used a Lexicon LXP-1 for reverb and an LXP-5 for delay. I agree, he's one of the finest players and one of the finest PEOPLE on the planet.
FWIW.------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro
[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 14 May 2002 at 01:25 PM.] |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 14 May 2002 06:03 PM
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Yes, Larry, you are correct. You just jogged my memory. |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 14 May 2002 07:21 PM
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Alas!I'm disappointed that some folks still believe that a master steelplayer's technique and sound can be found in a "box". |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 14 May 2002 09:58 PM
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Donny you are reading way to much into this. All Jamie is trying to do is find reverb and delay settings similar the the sound that John Hughey gets. John Hughey uses reverb and he does use delay. Donny what is wrong with Jamie trying to set his reverb and delay like the man he admires? Is there something criminal about that? |
Wayne Morgan
Member From: Rutledge, TN, USA
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posted 15 May 2002 02:25 PM
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Hey Guys,,
If it is criminal to want to sound like John Hughey,,,,,"HANG ME" and I'll bring the rope.Regards to all Steelers..
Wayne |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 15 May 2002 05:46 PM
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Nope, nothing "criminal" about that at all, Keith! But, I tend to think that there are a lot of new players that visit here, and ask these kind of questions. Some of them (quite understandably) might believe that if they have the same gear (guitar-pedal-amp-effects), and use the same settings...that they will automatically sound like the player they're emulating. Not so. I've seen some "newbies" spend many thousands to "sound" like someone else, only to wind up being disappointed and disgusted after their bank book's empty. They've tried different amps, guitars, effects, etc., and then (sooner or later) they finally realize where a particular player's "sound" comes from. (Just my 2cents.) |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 16 May 2002 06:40 AM
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I understand exactly what you're saying, Donny. We've all seen it often, and many of us have been guilty of that ourselves.MY TAKE ON THIS (for what it's worth):
For anyone trying to emulate an 'icon', the FIRST order of business is to study their body of work and select a few tunes that typify that style. For John, obviously 'Look at Us' would be a good example of his approach to slow ballads. The second step is to buy the tab from John and learn the parts perfectly -- note for note (if not available, do the best you can to figure it out yourself). The third step is to take those notes and play small sections (e.g., the first 4 bars of the solo) and compare to the original recording. Listen to the nuances -- like some folks mentioned the bar shiver or the micro-timing. Once you have the part under the microscope, listen carefully for tonal differences -- e.g., is your tone too dark or too bright to convey the style you're shooting for? Make minor adjustments to your amp settings (or Profex or preamp or whatever controls your tone, reverb, delay, etc.) as needed. At that point, (IMHO), and only that point, should you use anything other than your hands, ears, memory, and persistence to capture that technique. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS (that I've found, anyway). Work hard, long, and smart. Throughout this process, keep your perspective. Recognize that the world already has a John Hughey. It probably hasn't heard much from YOU. Endeavor to make the YOU sound as interesting and beautiful as Mr. John -- that's a tall order, but I personally have much more respect for a player who has something of his/her own to contribute, over someone who can sound just like Buddy or John. There are some who can do both (and I hate them )
just kidding . . . kind of ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 16 May 2002 08:06 AM
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Larry Bell speaks words of great wisdom. Take heed.------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 16 May 2002 08:21 AM
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Amen! (Thanks, Larry!) |
Marco Schouten
Member From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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posted 16 May 2002 10:43 AM
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I just want to sound like me.
While I do like and admire the style and tone of the masters (Green, Brumley, Rugg, Hughey etc.) I have no desire at all to imitate one of them. I want to learn to play the best I can, and put my soul into the music. Am I strange???------------------
Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud Pro III Custom |
Dave Birkett
Member From: Oxnard, CA, USA
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posted 16 May 2002 11:47 AM
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As a youngster, Bird wore out records learning Prez solos note for note. It didn't hurt him any. Does anyone here claim to be more original than Bird? |
Pete Grant
Member From: Auburn, CA, USA
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posted 16 May 2002 02:58 PM
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Larry speaks volumes. No doubt, if you love a player's style, and work on phrases the way Larry suggested, you'll have elements of that style in your playing. It'll just be part of what you do. |
pdl20
Member From: Benton, Ar . USA,
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posted 16 May 2002 08:33 PM
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You hit it right on the head. |
erik
Member From:
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posted 18 May 2002 07:22 AM
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As a side note: I find it disturbing that one of the best hit song steel performances in the last 20 yrs is only available on 2 different CDs. Click here for one of them. I have the original 45 of Lost In The Feeling but have misplaced it. Haven't heard it in years. Guess i'll just get a copy of the CD to get a click and pop free version. |
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