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Ok Guys - here is the tone I want ,,,,, how do I get it in a Historic ?

Dr. Green

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Check out this video and tell me what combo of Historic - after market pups if needed and amp to get this sound .

its about 7 minutes long and in Japanese but there are riff thru out so you will definitely get the idea - which kind of reminds me of early ZZ top ,,,,, I have never had a Historic quite nail it to perfection like this

Now the closest I have heard - on the internet only - besides these Dry - Z are Wizz pick-ups which in the sound samples had a similar high end treble bite - for lack of a better term

any comments or thoughts ???

 
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Red Baron

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any les paul will sound like that. We're hearing amp and pedals.
Exactly!

To the OP, get yourself a Browne Protein pedal and plug it into just about any clean amp and you'll have even better overdriven tone than you're hearing in that clip. No need for a new set of pickups.
 

1allspub

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If you’re looking for the ZZ Top sound, there are some pedals out there designed to craft that tone specifically.

But if you want it more organically (ie, more from the guitar—at least as a better starting point) and you’re looking for pickups, look no further than Cream T Whisker Buckers (or their Scan 3 Humbuckers, which are the same Whisker Bucker wind, but w/o all the BFG packaging and paraphernalia). These WB/Scan 3 pickups are exact sonic copies of Pearly’s PAFs (at least that’s what Cream T claims)... and they are bloody brilliant! I have a set of the Scan 3s in my R9... WOW!
 

Dr. Green

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any les paul will sound like that. We're hearing amp and pedals.

That's a Greco!

Not any... Any with 500k pots. Thats what gets you the higher range of mids/treble.

WILKO -

you have a great ear for musical tones - what do you think of that Greco - mediocre or killer ?
 

Any Name You Wish

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I would say it is mostly the amp. But, it does have a slightly ES 335 woody tone going on in clean mode. The overdrive (Joe Walsh) part did not sound al that great to me, but the player was not exactly on it.
 

Wilko

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That sounds like a good guitar from what I can hear.

Like I said, any Les paul can sound like that. I know everyone is sick of hearing that "tone is in the hands" but in this case I'd say it's a good example. This guy is actually playing the strings hard (and soft at times). IMNSHO, the ONLY WAY to get those sounds is to learn how to pick a string hard enough to make a clean-ish amp overdrive. THAT is where the magic lives.

Jimmy page explains it well in this clip:
 

brandtkronholm

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Cellphone microphones and computer/cellphone speakers are no way to judge guitar tone.

BUT, I can hear that there might be some good tone in the video of the Greco.
Did it sound like that in the room? Probably not.

In general, for tube amps, especially those with a tube rectifier:
Crank the mids on your amp, dial back (maybe to zero!) the bass. Treble and presence to taste.
No pedals necessary.

Rhythm:
Turn your amp up all the way, play gently.
Turn your amp up all the way, turn your guitar down.

Lead:
Turn your amp up all the way, play with a bit more vigor.
Turn your amp up all the way, turn your guitar up.

Good tone, (ZZ Top tone): 100 watt Marshall (plexi) and a 4x12.

How to sound like Billy Gibbons

Marshall is at the core of Gibbons’ tone. As he stated in 2008, when asked what gear had the biggest impact on his tone: "I would say that it was the ’59 Gibson Les Paul, better known now as ‘Pearly Gates’, plugged into a hundred-watt Marshall. [It] designed a sound that still resonates today." The specific amp to which Gibbons is referring, is a Marshall 1968 Super Lead 100W.

I lament the demise of big amps.
However, an old tweed Fender Champ turned up all the way can be a thing of glory.
 

Dr. Green

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Thanks for the info guys ,,,,,, by the way ,,,,,, that Greco sounds KILLER
 

Wilko

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That greco sounds good --in that recording.

If I was hanging with you and your gear, I think I could show you how to get that sound from your gear.
 

Pat Boyack

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LMAO. Another veiled "check out how great this non Gibson guitar sounds for a fraction of the price!" post. Love it!!
 

Dr. Green

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"LMAO. Another veiled "check out how great this non Gibson guitar sounds for a fraction of the price!" post. Love it!! "

Pat -

once again you are completely and totally WRONG

That Greco cost MORE - not less than a Historic - LOL

find me a

"1980 Greco EGF-1800 or 1200 with Super Real Dry-Z "​


for the average price of a 58 Historic and I will give you a thousand dollar finders fee !

send me a PM when you want that money and have found my guitar
 

jb_abides

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FWIW, not an apt 'Apples to Apples' comparison for a single model year = 1980, Brazilian boards, and Super Dry Z.

So yes, they are rare as hen's teeth.

If you want comparable construction and hence sound there are 1981 into transitional 1982s which can be had with Dry Zs for $3-5k depending on condition, in still much more limited numbers than your average R8 across many model years.

Supply and Demand.

Here's one now, $4100 shipped from Japan:

Don't make me buy this lefty $5800 shipped from Japan, for a bake-off!
Back-off! :cool:
 

Dr. Green

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Jb-

The 1980 version is an all hand made guitar ........ can you find me a great deal on a 80 ?
 

jb_abides

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My point isn't to undermine the Greco, or take either side, just the comparison doesn't really work as an argument or retort, methinks. Too rare and specialized a beast.

That said, 4 months ago, a players 1980 Greco EGF-1800 sold for ~$4200 including domestic shipping.

But again, a single 1800. Too rare and specialized a beast.

Does a growing reputation, being in vogue, and limited supply matter? You bet it does.

So, given those all in favor of market pricing, where's the stratospheric price action? Not seeing it. It's rare and desirable to a limited audience, to be sure... the Reissues taken together are not so rare but with wider appeal. Although, 'average' R8, kinda a misnomer, so again not apt comparison.

How do we compare?

Which R8?
[all current Reverb prices follow...]

- The bulk of 'average' post-spec change TH & later R8s run $5500 to 7000k based on condition, top. I'd say roughly 2/3-3/4 of them [fractions!], the clear majority... Then 1/4-1/3 stay safely above the $4200 mark of above cited Greco, with ~15 under $4200.​
- A 2022 Murphy Lab R8 runs $8300​
- A 2018 Brazilian R8 runs $9000​
- A 1997 Monster Top R8 runs $9500​

Do you bring in Artist Signed, Tom Murphy Aged pre-ML, Collectors Choice, Dealer Exclusives?

Do you consider those modified with aftermarket hardware and pickups?

Handmade is an attribute you cited ...

- How about you try to compare the Greco with replicas: Max, Derrig, Terry Morgan?

- What about boutique facsimiles like Collings CL?

- What about pseudo-LPs builders Johan Gustavsson?

I think the overwhelming consensus to the thread as posed before any aroma of bake-off is, "a good LP-style guitar will get you there." In fact, I'd stretch to fit most PAF-like humbucker guitars with the right amp and settings.

Pearly Gates and a Super Lead is the schizzle... but Billy G can get there using a cornucopia of guitars, even HB-equipped Teles.

Just play what you like. No one will stop you from getting the Greco if your really want it. BTW my MIJ Zemaitis is a very fine guitar! The stock pickups have some differences, and the long scale changes things a bit, but it can tread those tones, too.

Apples-to-Apples
Apples-to-Oranges.
Oranges-to-Orangutans....
Funk to funky, we know Major Toms a junkie.
Strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low.


Look, see, we all KNOW the really pressing matter is: pcikguard on or off?
 
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