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The Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion is a great instrument - live clip proof inside

young angus

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Apr 17, 2005
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247
It´s a live clip with my freejazz group Das Mädchen. It´s all improvised, and starts very introvert with a trio on guitar, bass and drums. But then the hornblowers comes in and it´s total chaos for some minutes. Suddenly it goes over to gospel, and it ends with me duelling with the hornblowers. Fun obviously: you can hear the audience laugh at the end. In my opinion: the Howard Roberts sounds very good, and the controlled feedbacks are under full control:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNBbo-3LRE0&list=UUMQzh_NKBjah2zFx7lbGEbA&index=1

Uhm, head phones are necessary...
 

ES345

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Aug 13, 2006
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705
I only listened to about a minute or so and i wasn't getting the great HR tone.

I own one and the HR is a very nice guitar, for me, it is one of the most underated guitars that Gibson makes. the pickups are a bit hotter, but deeper, smokier, and a beautiful jazz tone. the wood block cuts way down on hollow-body feedback issues.

For the price, playability, tone i would definitely recommend it as an alternative to any hollow/semi hollow body jazz, blues guitar.

The first link is HR playing Angel Eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e63af0rvTgw

This link has video of HR playing Star Eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h76NVQjwRR0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5_-t7VSkkA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feGeAe9kKBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5nICjMV_7U

Amps, pedals, EQ all affect the tone but the HR model has the jazz/blues tone in it.
 
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young angus

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Apr 17, 2005
Messages
247
ES 345: I agree that the Howard Roberts Fusion has a deeper and jazzier tone compared to, say, a ES 335. The "fusion" in the name is well chosen, since it can do rock too. Gibson probably didn´t sell so much of this model; it was discontinued some years ago. Listening one minute is very short; the clip starts with the bassplayer doing some sort of solo, and I just make some noise behind him. But then I put on some more volume, and I keep that sound for the rest of the clip. It´s not a traditional jazz sound, it´s my sound and it´s how I want it.

Black 58: Yes, Peter Green for some years also used a black Howard Roberts and a tweed Fender Blues Deville. I have had that combination for some years before I realized that Peter Green had the same gear as me. :)
 

ES345

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Aug 13, 2006
Messages
705
If it is what you produce your tone with, then it is the right one.

I know my tone is a little more traditional, but fusion, is way cool,probably my favorite players, tone wise, miles apart, kenny burrell and john scofield.

I try to do both and am about 15 percent successful, got the tone, but not the chops.

Yes i have seen the peter green clip playing a black HR fusion, very cool. the other guy that is not so associated with this guitar but played one is Brent Mason.
 
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