Mick Taylor 'Sway' tone...

[Jumping@Shadows]

Hi all, that solo tone on 'Sway' on the Sticky Fingers album kills me, just the woodiness, response and snarl...any ideas as to what gear he was using...was it even an LP? is that open woodiness coming from a ES guitar? 335?
p.s Im selling the '59 RI and going in for R4 GT! I've been chasing other people's historical LP/PAF tone for too long now, and I often feel like my sound is somehow 'wrong' when its not referencing Pete Green/Jimmy Page etc so I'm changing my palette...I will always love those sounds but their not my sounds..
Cheers all.

 

[sickboy79]

I believe he was using LPs at that point.......but a 335 wouldn't surprise me. That is such a killer song and tone!!! Pair a LP or 335 with a classic Tweed Fender amp......and you're in there!! (I'm not sure what amps he was using at the time.....I've heard Ampeg??.....but Tweed Fenders and Stones tone just go together, IMO!!)

 

[sixty2strat]

can't you hear me knocking is a 335 so it might be. I have seen sstudio photos with SF fenders and taylor used marshalls I have heard as well. I read years ago Jagger was using a SG on that tune. so that might give you a point to judge it from

 

[Art Werck]

I have a number a photos from that particular 'era'. Unfortunately Mick T. is playin' a different guitar in almost every one, 335's, Les Pauls and Fenders. However, in most of the studio shots I notice fender 'twin' amps being used. You know the Stones, they had dozens of different guitars at their disposal in the studio. I believe ampeg amps were their choice for concerts. Mick T. added some tasty guitar licks to some otherwise 'ragged' music. IMO Mick T. helped the Stones make the transition from 60's pop stars to the "greatest rock'n'roll band in the world.

 

[sickboy79]

IMO Mick T. helped the Stones make the transition from 60's pop stars to the "greatest rock'n'roll band in the world."

Right on. I love the pre Mick stuff a ton, the albums he played on are four of the best albums ever recorded, IMO!!! I'm with ya!!!
:dude

 

[BluesForDan]

Right on. I love the pre Mick stuff a ton, the albums he played on are four of the best albums ever recorded, IMO!!! I'm with ya!!!
:dude

Can you tell me which four albums those were? I already have Sticky Fingers.

thanks

 

[sickboy79]

Well, he played small parts of "Beggars Banquit" (or so I've read.....so I"m counting it), "Let It Bleed" (tie for best Stones album ever), "Exile On Main Street" (the other tie......I have a hard time choosing between the two). But if "Beggars" doesn't count.......I'll throw "It's Only Rock N Roll" in there........fantastic album, IMO!!!

 

[sixty2strat]

but he was also on get your ya ya's out, Goats head soup, and he was on some tracks on tatoo you , metamorphis ...I dont know why and jivin sister fanny are the best stuff on the album.



Ya ya's is sloppy but I learn a lot of guitar from it

 

[Art Werck]

"Get yer ya ya's out" is my fav live stones album. Mick Taylor's 'sound' is all over that record. "Love in Vain", "Stray Cat Blues" and "Sympathy for the Devil" you can tell the 1st solo is Keith, the 2nd is all Mick T. One of the reasons I love that album is because they used Gibson guitars... mostly.

 

[Capt. Willard]

Its all great stuff inho. I just picked up the two manditory Stones albums (Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers) on the new enhanced sound SACD? Anyway the sound is great for CD's ...must buys in my opinion. I cant take them outta the cd player in the car. Like most of their stuff but those two albums are must buys!

 

[monstermikewelch]

Mick wasn't on Beggar's Banquet - in fact, that was the record that first turned him on to the Stones, having been more of a Beatles and blues fan before that. He's also on VERY little of Let it Bleed - with the exception of Live With Me and Country Honk, that's Keith's guitar orchestrations all the way.

M

 

[sickboy79]

but he was also on get your ya ya's out, Goats head soup, and he was on some tracks on tatoo you , metamorphis ...I dont know why and jivin sister fanny are the best stuff on the album.



Ya ya's is sloppy but I learn a lot of guitar from it

Where is my brain??? Forgot about those. "Goats Head Soup" is another killer album. "Jivin Sister Fanny" is a killer tune too!!!

 

[Boffen]

Check out 'Blues from Laurel Canyon' a John Mayall album he played on before he joined the Stones. He's using a Les Paul and it sounds great.

 

[Jeff West]

Coming back to the original question, there's a GP interview w/Mick T. from around the time his album came out, a few years after he left the Stones, in which he says that "Sway" was his LP, and "Knockin'" was the walnut 345, which he's also pictured with on the Exile sessions. As I recall he's not real specific about amps, but said something like, "we actually did a lot of things on record playing through Twins". Interestingly, Jimmy Johnson has said that "Brown Sugar" was done with Twins.

 

[John Vasco]

Check out 'Blues from Laurel Canyon' a John Mayall album he played on before he joined the Stones. He's using a Les Paul and it sounds great.

In particular, 'Vacation', '2401' and 'The Bear'.


:lhg

 

[Todd68]

Crusade, Blues from Laurel Canyon and Bare Wires are all great albums. Mick Taylor is amazing.

 

[John Vasco]

Crusade, Blues from Laurel Canyon and Bare Wires are all great albums. Mick Taylor is amazing.

And also the two live albums with Mick Taylor on: Diary of a Band, Vols. 1 & 2.


:lhg

 

[Todd68]

Thanks for the tip John, I don't have those. :yay

 

[John Vasco]

Todd,

Here's a scan of the album cover to look out for. Both covers are the same. save for the reference to Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. 'I Can't Quit You Baby' and 'Snowy Wood', from Vol. 1, are excellent examples of Mick Taylor's soloing when he was just 19 years old.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL18/599837/2910215/56094214.jpg


:lhg

 

[Todd68]

Thanks again John. Is it out on disc? Have you seen the 75th Bday bash for Mayall on DVD? Taylor is good on that. Nice tone (as always).