EP103 J .J.Cale style licks.

[Geoff]

This was a great lesson that is technically easy but musically tricky. It was quite challenging to come in on the half beats the way Brian does 🤔

One thing I have never been sure of is my Strat, maybe strats in general. Maybe it’s just the way I hear things but the sound often comes out hard on my ear. The only solution I ever come up with is to dial back the tone – sadly, I forgot to do that here and I just didn’t feel like re-recording. The Guild always gives me what I want so,maybe, I just have to admit to being a humbucker pickup guy 😅

Anyway, I hope you like this . It was a fun one.

[John H]

Geoff
I think it sounds fine. Very JJ Cale-like. Single coils can sound a bit harsh. You have to have the right kind. There are so many types out there. I am a Strat lover. Again, there are so many kinds. I think you could find something more suitable to your ears. You are comparing the Squire to a high end hollow body in that Guild. I do have to say, the tone quality is superior with the Guild. It definitely energizes to play better. Nicely done.

John

[Geoff]

Thanks John, I get the impression Strats have “personalities” in that they can sound quite different to one another. I love the sound of them but I never feel that I get quite what I want out of my Squire. When I bought it I find the pickups way to sharp for my ear, so much so that I never used the bridge pickup. Eventually I replaced them with these “Wilkinson Classic Vibe” pickups which sounded better to my ear. Even then, I still find it can come out too harsh for my liking.

One thing I love about my Guild is it is very consistent and I usually get what I want out of it. It’s a “gentleman’s guitar”, the strat is a bit of a “wild child” – haha. Anway, I am going to try out my neighbors American Standard strat which is the best out there – see if I like that better.

Incidentally, my neighbor is an absolute guitar connoisseur. He has everything from Gibson Les Paul’s through to Van Halen heavy metal guitars. Interestingly, he doesn’t really like strats perhaps for the same reasons i am getting a little dubious about them. We all have our own person tastes.

[Helen Lazaridou]

I kept comparing both versions Geoff going back and forth and finally conclude that the second one sounds better but then again I’m not an expert 😍😍😍What a fantastic lesson!It has definitely inspired you to solo!!!!💖💞💗

[Geoff]

You always say you are no expert Helen but you know what you like and that’s what counts. Glad you liked this. I had a lot of fun with it.

[Wayne Nunez]

Sounds great I like the humbuckers as well but strats have a place I find you have to turn the treble down on strats,maybe that’s just me I also like the gibson scale length,I fine when I switch back and forth it messes with my muscle memory,but both versions sound great friend!

[Geoff]

I don’t think it is just you Wayne. I find the same thing – so much so that I seldom use the bridge pickups on my Strat and I have the tone control set to about half way. Even then I can find the sharpness annoys me.

I guess I am becoming more of a humbucker pickup guy over time but I am not ready to give up on my Strat just yet.

[charjo]

That takes me way back, Geoff. That lesson was the challenge for August 2016.
John

[Geoff]

It was a golden oldie way before my time with AM. I have to say, I like a lot of Brian’s older lessons – the only downside is he would provide the music score without the backing track – I had to find a way to work around that.

Thanks much John for your message. What you showed me there, is I have a lot to learn about playing strats. The difference with my Guild is I did not have to learn anything, it has always given me exactly what I want from the get go.

[Dieter]

Yes, the piece is indeed quite rhythmically demanding. You mastered it very good and created a very relaxed J. J. Cale vibe. Of course, the assessment of the guitar sounds is a matter of taste. For me personally, the humbucker version sounds a little better with its warm tone.

Dieter

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