• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Clean players who use Les Pauls

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
The clean sounds are what sells me on Gibsons.

3D waves of sound driftting through the air to my ears is so rewarding.
 

roadrunner

Active member
Joined
Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
Mike Bloomfield and Freddie King? That's funny, I never thought of their tones as "clean." Clean(er) yes, but anytime you're plugged in to a tube amp, there's gonna be a little hair on it.
A lot of the old blues guys would plug straight into the recording desk, to keep things clean. A lot of BB King's later output on Crown Records was recorded direct. You can hear it, little to no ambience, and REALLY clean (although the desks back in those days were all tube powered). A lot of T-Bone Walkers guitar tones are from being plugged into the desk and not using an amp as well.

Check out Mickey Baker, he did some rather clean sounding stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rSIaNjmyp8
 

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
Yes, MB had the tube saturation thing going on most of the time but not over the top.
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
I thought Bluesbreaker Clapton was pretty clean. Early Cream too, with the loafers and sweaters. But by the end he looked scruffier, definitely not as clean cut.:laugh2:
 

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
I hear in the early days Eric always washed his hands before playing too Al.
 

chuckNC

New member
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
1,261
I struggle with playing clean more than I used to. These days I have to pay more attention to nose hair. And ear hair and.....
 

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
That's hard enough Chuck when the bushy eyebrows start to get in the way of the already fading vision.
 

Elliot Easton

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
3,478
I realize that Bloomfield got some sustain from his amp, but using mainly Super and Twin reverbs, his tone was much cleaner than most of the Marshall guys. I've always considered small Fender amps 'clean' tones, compared to Marshalls and other high-gain amps. Obviously a cranked tweed Deluxe or Bassman is not a clean sound, but I think most of you understand what I mean. I'm not talking about "plugging directly into the board like Les Paul" clean, but what "most" of us refer to as a clean tone, like a Twin or a Deluxe Reverb amp.
 

JJ Blair

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
3,462
BTW, Elliot, I had to learn a couple of your solos for a gig last night. It was a real bitch playing that stuff left handed!
 

Elmore

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
1,853
There's an awful lot of Strat on that track. Jimmy Page did get some great clean tones from his Les Paul though, especially on live performances.

Yes, JP seemed to get the most out of all of his instruments. You can find live bootlegs of Ramble On and Over the Hills that have great intro clean LP tones. I am sure Beck has some on Blow By Blow.
 

Pat Boyack

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
4,510
A lot of the old blues guys would plug straight into the recording desk, to keep things clean. A lot of BB King's later output on Crown Records was recorded direct. You can hear it, little to no ambience, and REALLY clean (although the desks back in those days were all tube powered). A lot of T-Bone Walkers guitar tones are from being plugged into the desk and not using an amp as well.

Wow. Never heard that before...... :hmm
 

chuckNC

New member
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
1,261
I realize that Bloomfield got some sustain from his amp, but using mainly Super and Twin reverbs, his tone was much cleaner than most of the Marshall guys. I've always considered small Fender amps 'clean' tones, compared to Marshalls and other high-gain amps. Obviously a cranked tweed Deluxe or Bassman is not a clean sound, but I think most of you understand what I mean. I'm not talking about "plugging directly into the board like Les Paul" clean, but what "most" of us refer to as a clean tone, like a Twin or a Deluxe Reverb amp.
The first time I heard Mike Bloomfield (and knew it was him) was on a Chess album called Muddy and The Wolf. I wouldn't call the sound here through-the-board clean but I think it is within the parameters of the OP's question. And it's some good playing too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iltUij2wi2Y
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Wow. Never heard that before...... :hmm

That's a new one for me. They mostly played live and mic'd up to the board from what I know. Buddy Guy complained they wouldn't let him wack up his amp in the studio.
 

Elmore

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
1,853
Freddie King's Let's Hide Away and Dance Away album has some great clean LP tones. At least what most would call clean. P90s and a Fender amp clean.
 

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
Originally Posted by chuckNC
The first time I heard Mike Bloomfield (and knew it was him) was on a Chess album called Muddy and The Wolf. I wouldn't call the sound here through-the-board clean but I think it is within the parameters of the OP's question. And it's some good playing too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iltUij2wi2Y



Ahh, "Fathers & Sons", one of my favorites.
 
Y

yeti

Guest
Mike Bloomfield and Freddie King? That's funny, I never thought of their tones as "clean." Clean(er) yes, but anytime you're plugged in to a tube amp, there's gonna be a little hair on it.

Agreed.:dude:
 
Top