Neil's guitars, effects, amps

Welsh Dan,
Im a guitarist myself!
and I have the VB-2 and the Memory Man, when I heard the tracks no doubt he was using some studio outboard-software gear that studios use but having seen him live a few times he switches the VB-2 on for a few songs ie-Locked out,ect, the Memory Man has a lovely analog wash of delay and vibrato, hit a few notes and its instant Dont Stop Now!!!Riff!!
Though the VB-2 is the real deal!! its kinda got a less harsh vib to it,when two guitars are playing together one straight and Vibrato you get a nice ocilation(Spelling!)spread!and create some interesting soundscapes!

Cheers for all the info Robbie!

You're so right about the VB-2, it's nigh on impossible to get hold of one now! You're lucky to have one! Am a bit dubious about getting one from e-bay, so I'm thinking of getting a Memeory Man Deluxe - you say it compares favourably with the VB-2 yeh? Sound wise?

Well its not as dry as the VB-2 but it has a lovely tone to it
here is a link to listen to it

http://www.ehx.com/ehx2/Default.asp?q=f&f=%2FCatalog%2F...ucts%2F01%5FEH%5FDVD

if that doesnt work go to www.ehx.com go to effects, go to dvd then media and pick the memory man,
But please check out other pedals
there are some nice boutique (home made) pedals out there after all its only wires and electric parts in a box I know when I last looked there were people making vibrato pedals and some of them are very nice and you have the luxury of it being one of a kind!
So I would put Boss VB-2 into a search engine on ebay and you should see some nice pedals come up

quote:

Originally posted by Welsh Dan:
Cheers for all the info Robbie!

You're so right about the VB-2, it's nigh on impossible to get hold of one now! You're lucky to have one! Am a bit dubious about getting one from e-bay, so I'm thinking of getting a Memeory Man Deluxe - you say it compares favourably with the VB-2 yeh? Sound wise?

most of my pedal puchases have all been ebay and now have a swag of things i would never have got close to owning, usually at a very cheap price too. don't be afraid !!

Well lads thanks for that veritable gold mine of info. All very much appreciated. I'm off to tentatively check out Ebay right now..

Thanks

Dan

Dan,

Check your pm's.

Folks,

Being a gear-head, this is the best thread ever! Thanks for sharing all this!

PS: there was a series on ABC Australia a couple years ago which interviewed famous guitarists, explored their gear, how they came up with riffs and sounds etc.

I've forgotten what the show was called, but I saw the Angus Young episode a while back and loved it (I'm not even an AC/DC fan). I think the production company was called Chieftan (or big Chief)... they used the Indian motorbike logo... It would be brilliant if they had of done a Finn episode.

PPS: I owned a couple of MIJ Gretsches until earlier this year - a White Falcon and a black double-cutaway Duo Jet (both sold due to a relationship break-up).

I bought and imported them both from the USA from eBay and got them for LESS than half the price I would pay for them in Australia, even after paying expensive freight costs, GST and import taxes.

Cheers

Andy

The show was simply called The Guitar Show and was fantastic. it ran for two series and gets shown sometimes on ABC2 or Ovation on cable.

got em all on tape, had a student of mine tape them each week for me.

quote:

punkrok78

Hi punkrok78,

thanks for the reply and the name of the show. I know this is off-topic, but who else appeared in the series? I only saw the AC/DC - Young brothers episode.

Cheers

Andy

Hi again, I found the show's website and despite being a few years old, it has an episode listing for all 13 episodes. What an awesome show... Wish I had seen the entire series.

Cheers

Andy

i remember other good guests where Richie Sambora and Bob Brozeman. Bob was extraordinary showing how he does those slide harmonics. A lot of episodes were shot around the time of one of the Byron Blues fests so meant a lot of similar acts. Ben Harper was probably on it.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingChat:
There's been a lot of interest in Neil's "new" 12-string he's had in the recent shows, and the people who had their money on it being a Maton would be right!

I came across a nice close-up of Neil playing The Maton Fyrebird - and he's wearing a Maton strap too!

Click here to see the Maton 12-string

Cheers

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by RavingChat:
Well the first electric he bought (in Soho, London, aged 19, Day 1 with Split Enz)was a Yamaha. Can't remember the model number, but it had a double cutaway. You can see it in early Split Enz concert pics. You can still get them because I saw one in a guitar shop in Singapore a couple of years ago.

The Yamaha solid body electric Neil played in his early Split Enz days was a Yamaha SG 800 series guitar.

The SG 500, SG 700 and SG 800 are essentially affordable versions of the SG1000/2000/3000s.

The main differences are cosmetic. The SG500/700/800 have less binding, simpler headstock designs, open or plastic covered pickups and chrome instead of gold hardware.

The cheaper models still share the same mahogany body and set neck as the more expensive models, but the 800 has dot markers on the fretboard instead of trapezoid inlays.

In the day, the Yamaha SG series posed a big threat to the traditional Gibson Les Paul market and the guitar became very popular in the 1980's.

High profile players using Yamaha SG guitars include Carlos Santana, and in the UK, Midge Ure (UltraVox & Visage) and the guys from Big Country. There was also this young Kiwi chap playing in his brother's band...

Hope that is of help or interest to someone, somewhere.

Cheers

Andy
Canberra, Australia

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bloodshift:
This is a great thread, since I'm a VERY amateur guitarist myself. Neil's Les Paul Deluxe is to me the second most iconic musical instrument in existence--only Paul McC.'s Hofners beat it in my eyes.

QUOTE]

You'll notice in the KCRW broadcast from last month that Neil has 2 Les Paul goldtops (or maybe Mark has one of his own?).

There's one track where Mark and Neil are playing one each I think. One looks quite fresh and the older looking one has gained a pick guard that it sorely needed... I'm assuming that's the '68 Neils had for years and years.

I think Mark also has his own goldtop, his is the shinier new looking one...I think there was a mention a few pages back that Neil's now playing a '71 goldtop, having broken the headstock of his '68 a few too many times (after reading about how the angle of the headstock and the truss rodd makes that part at the top of the neck particularly fragile it I've stopped laying my LP on its back!).

quote:

Originally posted by melbournian:
(after reading about how the angle of the headstock and the truss rodd makes that part at the top of the neck particularly fragile it I've stopped laying my LP on its back!).

All Gibson electrics seem prone to headstock breakage... beautiful guitars though.

Cheers

Andy

Mark's goldtop has full sized humbuckers, while Neil's has mini-humbuckers.

In Chicago, Neil using a black double cutaway Gretsch Jet, in addition to his usual guitars. I think it was used for "Say That Again".

For those wondering, Neil only has one goldtop and it's the same one he's always had. I asked John Walsh and he said Neil's only ever had the one.

Hey Tracy - next time you have a chance to talk to John Walsh, can you ask him where they got the mic stand mount for Mark's lap steel? My lead guitarist plays lap steel and I'm always trying to get him to figure out a way to play standing up.

Thanks!

I love good gear porn and that pedal board shot was a definite centerfold. If anyone can get good shots at any of the shows please post them here.

quote:

Originally posted by WindowSills:
In Chicago, Neil using a black double cutaway Gretsch Jet, in addition to his usual guitars. I think it was used for "Say That Again".

Wow, I didn't know Neil used or played a double cutaway Gretsch Duo Jet. I've only seen him play the single cutaway black Duo Jet and red Jet Firebird.

Does anyone have any photos of Neil playing a double cutaway Gretsch Duo Jet?

I used to own a MIJ double cutaway Gretsch Duo Jet (G6128T-1962 Duo Jet w/ Bigsby). A fun guitar to play. It was as light as a feather too, due to the chambered semi-hollow body.

Cheers

Andy
Canberra, Australia

Andy, I'm by no means a guitar expert, but would it be this one?

There are some closer shots there too (thanks to Craig for the pix).

I think these were taken during Nobody Wants To - IIRC it was the only song that night where Neil played this particular guitar. I had a very close view, and I remember that guitar - I was fascinated by the areas of wear along the top of the frets - I assume it's a vintage one - made me think about its previous life

quote:

Originally posted by Tracy:
For those wondering, Neil only has one goldtop and it's the same one he's always had. I asked John Walsh and he said Neil's only ever had the one.

I know that Neil has a goldtop. What is the other Gibson with finger plate that he plays with?

I remember seeing the double-cutaway Duo Jet last week in Chicago. I don't remember what song he used it for, but it wasn't Nobody Wants To (they didn't play that song).

The goldtop really is pretty beat up--it has a great vibe. I do wonder if it's been restored once or twice--beat up as it looked, it looked to be in better shape than it was in the Sessions at W.54th DVD.

I was sorry not to see the vintage Casino. although I understand they can be a real pain to manage onstage because of their tendency to feed back. That would have been an asset for Silent House, though, wouldn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by surferlisa:

quote:

Originally posted by Tracy:
For those wondering, Neil only has one goldtop and it's the same one he's always had. I asked John Walsh and he said Neil's only ever had the one.

I know that Neil has a goldtop. What is the other Gibson with finger plate that he plays with?

What I was saying is that he has only had ONE goldtop. Some have thought that he had two and we had a discussion about this awhile ago. Don't know about the Gibson. You'll have to ask John Walsh or Neil.

quote:

Originally posted by Tracy:

quote:

Originally posted by surferlisa:

quote:

Originally posted by Tracy:
For those wondering, Neil only has one goldtop and it's the same one he's always had. I asked John Walsh and he said Neil's only ever had the one.

I know that Neil has a goldtop. What is the other Gibson with finger plate that he plays with?

What I was saying is that he has only had ONE goldtop. Some have thought that he had two and we had a discussion about this awhile ago. Don't know about the Gibson. You'll have to ask John Walsh or Neil.

I'm pretty sure that i know what it is now, I think a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top.

Thanks Lisa

Just looking at John walshs myspace and I think Neil has added some effects to his board
on the top it looks as though its a memory man!!
then into his dd-3 then most prob a reverb unit
I have a line6 verbzilla that on the octo setting sounds like the effect on 'a sigh'

neil's got two goldtops. both are 70's les paul deluxe models.

GUITAR ONE:
the one he's always had - no pickguard, black ring around the toggle switch and non original tuners. probably schallers.
this one is the more 'worn' looking one with the crazed finish. (Looks really new in the split enz message to my girl video)

As somebody mentioned before, the neck has been broken at the headstock. You can tell because there are shots of it on the '96 farewell gig where the volute area has been clearly refinished darker (almost black). this is typical of a neck repair.
i've got videos of a '88 melbourne show where the neck volute area was still the original colour (not black). So it must have been broken some time in between. Its also got a pancake body. You can see it from the close ups on the farewell dvd during the world where you live guitar solo.

GUITAR TWO:
The second one seems to be new. New as in, i've only started seeing it since the live aid gig. It sports the pickguard, a cream coloured ring around the toggle switch and the original green tulip tuners. Its finish is in much better condition and doesnt have all the crazing.

Both have the extra rings/pickup surrounds around the mini humbuckers. Both are probably early 70s as gibson only put these rings around the mini humbuckers during that period. Doesnt matter what John Walsh or Neil says - neither one of the guitars are from 68. Gibson didnt have volutes, pancake bodies or the extra pickup rings on the Les Paul Deluxe until early 70s.

If you check out the photos in this thread - you can see he's using BOTH guitars at the same gig: http://frenzforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7601061171/m/2621074924

yeah i know - its a little weird that i've been taking notice of such details for the last ten years.

Don't see the pickguard on the second LP.

Also always figured those non-stock tuners to be Grovers.

According to John Walsh, Neil has only one Goldtop. When I asked him if Neil had more than one Goldtop he replied, "Neil's 1969 Gibson Gold Top is the same one he's always had, he only owns the one."

Maybe Neil was using Mark's guitar?

I did ask John Walsh about the guitar that i was on about he said that Neil has two 1971 Gibson Deluxe Goldtop.

Which are different to the Gibson Goldtop.

quote:

Originally posted by alucidor:
Andy, I'm by no means a guitar expert, but would it be this one?

There are some closer shots there too (thanks to Craig for the pix).

I think these were taken during Nobody Wants To - IIRC it was the only song that night where Neil played this particular guitar. I had a very close view, and I remember that guitar - I was fascinated by the areas of wear along the top of the frets - I assume it's a vintage one - made me think about its previous life

alucidor,

You're a legend! Thanks very much for the pic. I had no idea Neil had a double cutaway Duo Jet. Awesome!

Cheers

Andy
Canberra, Australia

just won myself a boss VB - 2 off ebay !!! not cheap but will be a nice addition to the family

quote:

Originally posted by robbie:
Just looking at John walshs myspace and I think Neil has added some effects to his board
on the top it looks as though its a memory man!!
then into his dd-3 then most prob a reverb unit
I have a line6 verbzilla that on the octo setting sounds like the effect on 'a sigh'

which pic can u see it in ??

Page 7
4th down
Looking a bit more closely I think hes put the vb-2 at the end!after the dd-3!
Not sure what the pedal is after the Hotcake
it could be another distortion?
Page 8 top 3rd along it a blue pedal could be a Plextortion!or another type of boutique pedal

I have another question for you all. What model is the elecrtic 12 string that Mark Hart used during the together alone / fttw time? It's black and I cant see and branding marks on it.

Any help?

i have had a look over this thread and I haven't seen anyone post on it, just the maton fyrbyrd.

The 12 string that Mark used to use was a Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones makes guitars based on popular Danelectro models of the 50's and 60's with higher quality than either the originals or the reissues (which came after JJ began making their versions).

Cheers, I thought it looked like a Danelectro but they dont have a 12 string.

Next question (This one may be a bit harder).
How do you get the sort of atmospheric effect that Neil does on the end of Silent House and Suffer Never (You can see them do it really well on the 7 world collide dvd). I reckon its cool. So what pedals would I need to pull it off?

Here's an older shot of the double-cut Gretsch DuoJet, taken from a 1995 performance by Neil and Tim of "Ballroom Blitz," posted on another thread by Hexed (and if you haven't seen the clip, you really owe it to yourself to take a look--it's a hoot).

With Neil's guitars/equipment, what did he use around the time of Luton and what equipment gave him that kick-a** sound?