electricfactory Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Wondering if anyone has stumbled onto a patch/ amp-cab combo that emulates BB King's tone in this vid; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RbFrW-hfBE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasdadgad Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Wondering if anyone has stumbled onto a patch/ amp-cab combo that emulates BB King's tone in this vid; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RbFrW-hfBE Alas, I think BB took his tone with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbieb61 Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I think BB used those old solid state Gibson LAB amps? The man's tone was definitely a combo of "Lucille" and more importantly...his fingers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricfactory Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 I think BB used those old solid state Gibson LAB amps? The man's tone was definitely a combo of "Lucille" and more importantly...his fingers No doubt about it, 90% of it. But, which of the Helix amps/ cabs would you use, all else being equal ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 For his sound I use my Gretsch hollowbody through the Roland Jazz Chorus with a Blue Bell cabinet, ribbon mic about 3 inches out. EQ to taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMP45 Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 B.B. used Fender Twin Reverb amps before the Lab 5. On the Helix I use the "US Double Vib" amp+cab model, the "421 Dynamic" mic, and a touch of "63 Spring" reverb. Having a dual humbucker semi-hollow body guitar is essential. My solid body guitars through the same patch don't sound anywhere close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbieb61 Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 So when he was in the studio it was Fender and in concert it was the Lab? Would that be the answer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunedinDragon Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Yeah. Pretty much. I've seen him twice. Both times he had the Lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornerstonetom Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 B.B. used Fender Twin Reverb amps before the Lab 5. On the Helix I use the "US Double Vib" amp+cab model, the "421 Dynamic" mic, and a touch of "63 Spring" reverb. Having a dual humbucker semi-hollow body guitar is essential. My solid body guitars through the same patch don't sound anywhere close. Tweed based amps (as well as certain JM style and Dumble) tend to play better with humbuckers than Blackface amps. What's cool about Helix is that, for the most part, if you know what's going on in the real world of music production, you can emulate that with the Helix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 The Lab amp had such a great sounding compression! I remember playing a used one a few years ago... Great tone. Of course BB's fingers made it sound so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AParedes Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 JMP45 called it - Early on BB used Fender combos, often a cranked twin. I have read interviews that stated he was often told to "turn down" during recordings, but live he would open up the amp to get more power amp saturation. Later BB switched to the Lab 5 amps (same amp as Ty Tabor in the early days of Kings X), which he often closed-mic'ed with a good ole SM-57. Here is a template to help if needed: http://line6.com/data/6/0a0643891080a57b6450bd1eef/application/pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hideout Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Definitely looks like a Twin behind him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatters Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Funny, the video starts, and I'm looking at amps of both BB and Eric, and then about half way through to the end, all that mattered was listening to them jamming it was magic!!!! Sry I'm no help, just a fan of them two!!! But I love how this community works together trying to help each other find the tone! awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AParedes Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 just posted some additional info in case you are interested: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/734297914213449580/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanecgriffo Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 i'm sure he could have plugged into anything and sounded sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricfactory Posted September 4, 2016 Author Share Posted September 4, 2016 Yup, the Twin seems to me the way to go too. Someone above mentioned humbuckers being essential to the recipe, I agree. And you know what's a pretty nice semi-hollow for the dough ? The ubiquitous Epiphone 335 DOT[ street price $300-$500], with very few upgrades [ if any] this guitar is a killer buy in the world of serviceable semi-hollow guitars. A good neck, nicely finished fretboard and frets, serviceable pickups and hardware, good looking finishing- and all for $300 or so ?? JMP45 called it - Early on BB used Fender combos, often a cranked twin. I have read interviews that stated he was often told to "turn down" during recordings, but live he would open up the amp to get more power amp saturation. Later BB switched to the Lab 5 amps (same amp as Ty Tabor in the early days of Kings X), which he often closed-mic'ed with a good ole SM-57. Here is a template to help if needed: http://line6.com/data/6/0a0643891080a57b6450bd1eef/application/pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankmadison Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 FYI This is not a patch per the original OP's request but I just had this built and put into my Helix FX loop. If you're interested Mark Moore of Mark Moore Audio Solutions in Wilmington, NC is building them. You can also search online to find the DIY project for yourself. I can't speak to getting BB's sound with this. I'm more of a fan of Ty Tabor's earlier tone which used the same amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkinder Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 FYI This is not a patch per the original OP's request but I just had this built and put into my Helix FX loop. If you're interested Mark Moore of Mark Moore Audio Solutions in Wilmington, NC is building them. You can also search online to find the DIY project for yourself. I can't speak to getting BB's sound with this. I'm more of a fan of Ty Tabor's earlier tone which used the same amp. Huge BB fan here....If you don't mind me asking, what kind of coin are these running? Went to Mark's site but there is no mention of this pedal....have a beautiful semi-hollow and would like to get close to BB's tone, though will never have that kind of soul....RIP BB!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankmadison Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Huge BB fan here....If you don't mind me asking, what kind of coin are these running? Went to Mark's site but there is no mention of this pedal....have a beautiful semi-hollow and would like to get close to BB's tone, though will never have that kind of soul....RIP BB!!! Mark only made a pedal for himself and me. When I picked this up the other day I asked if he'd be open to making more and he said yes. I would contact him directly to see what he would charge for the build. I spent about $400 on it. Not cheap but it's essentially a two channel amp with compression in a box. These are built from plans that can be found online if you're handy with a soldering iron. https://aionelectronics.com/project/lab-series-l5-preamp/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkinder Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Mark only made a pedal for himself and me. When I picked this up the other day I asked if he'd be open to making more and he said yes. I would contact him directly to see what he would charge for the build. I spent about $400 on it. Not cheap but it's essentially a two channel amp with compression in a box. These are built from plans that can be found online if you're handy with a soldering iron. https://aionelectronics.com/project/lab-series-l5-preamp/ Thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WickedFinger Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Don't forget the guitar has tone caps which have that tone or less high end and warm low end BB uses no gain dist, maybe why he prefers the solid state for no clipping.Being a Les Paul user myself my guitars do not have those tone caps in the jazzier model guitars. Like to have that in my bridge position. BB's tone is really not complex, very simple really. But you cannot have the wrong gear and get it. As far as models in the Helix go with the Roland 120 not sure what else is in there that might be close as well. Food for thought though now I have to work on some more Jazz tone presets, BYW that is one major cool custom box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.