The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
'Woman tone' refers to the tone that Eric Clapton used on Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love' (and many other tracks). It involves the neck pickup of a Gibson guitar (some sources say SG others mention a Black Beauty LP), tone on '0', and a good Marshall 50W tube amp with 4x12" cab cranked to Nigel Tufnel's 11.
Ah ok, thank you.
I know that tone, I have a lot of Clapton and Cream on my Ipod. Although I'm a big Clapton fan, I never liked this 'Woman Tone' from that period very much. It sounds a bit nasal and fuzzy to me.
But I'm sure Paul Gagon did a good job on those pickups, so I know there will be great sounds coming from them.
I just read an article about Paul Gagon on the G&L site:
Ivo wrote:Ah ok, thank you.
I know that tone, I have a lot of Clapton and Cream on my Ipod. Although I'm a big Clapton fan, I never liked this 'Woman Tone' from that period very much. It sounds a bit nasal and fuzzy to me.
But I'm sure Paul Gagon did a good job on those pickups, so I know there will be great sounds coming from them.
I just read an article about Paul Gagon on the G&L site:
in the 1980s /1990s Clapton 'woman tone' was more smooth to my ear. As noted above, it was originally the tone from the cream days but Eric has returned to it from time to time and tried to play with it. Listen to the album 'Journeyman' and you will hear a nice version (sometimes though Wah wah as well) where he has slightly rolled back the overdrive (only slightly - but it makes a big difference).
Dealing with the devil at the crossroads
Guitars
G&L USA Spalted maple Legacy
G&L Tribute Asat Classic (Indonesia)
Amplification
Vox VT-15 Valvotronix
Influences
Eric Clapton
Peter Green
Richie Sambora
I've always found the Woman Tone description a bit hard to take, a reminder of the severely altered states of consciousness of the late 1960's that were common at the time, to a degree that must seem really improbable nowadays.
The tone itself, of course, is just, well.... top-less. Though somehow my hunch is that this was not where Eric's head was at...
NickHorne wrote:I've always found the Woman Tone description a bit hard to take, a reminder of the severely altered states of consciousness of the late 1960's that were common at the time, to a degree that must seem really improbable nowadays.
The tone itself, of course, is just, well.... top-less. Though somehow my hunch is that this was not where Eric's head was at...
But Ivo's marital redefinition, I just love!!
These descriptions are more interesting than the actual "woman tone."
I had not known there was a name for it. I have considered that tone to be the sound of his amps cranked to a point where they lose range and hover in midrange. It is similar to Pete Townshend's live tone. With The Who during the same era, they were quite a wimpy sounding band in the studio yet they were known for playing extremely loud live. Townshend insists on playing extremely loud even when recording in the studio. Their late bassist John Entwistle was so deaf his hearing aids would feedback because he had them cranked up in order to have a conversation in a quiet room. In those earlier days all one could do was multiply equipment and crank everything up. Some people like Hendrix had enough insight to push the limitations while others figured out that clean volume allowed room to dial in tone (i.e. Pink Floyd). Whether it was resigning to the limitations, ignorance or apathy Clapton used it. It works for certain notes like the opening of White Room but it is flat outside of midrange ("topless"). It surprises me that guitarists of ages spanning 45 years want to dial in that tone. Maybe it has more to do with sounding like a favorite guitarist than wanting a rich tone? Clapton has never struck me as a musician that considered tone. I am just going by what is recorded and not anything he may have said about it. When he has played Strats he just seems to plug them in and play without caring about the tone. To my ears there is nothing desirable about his Strat tone either.
Some "warm" rock tones sound really good. Duane Allman's playing comes to mind. And with most all players and artists, they have great stuff, good stuff and mediocre stuff. I really like 1967-era Jimmy and don't care for the later Buddy Miles era much. For me Layla is the best work Clapton put out as it mixed great tunes with an inspired band. There's some great Cream stuff too, but I personally prefer Clapton's work with Mayall. I also agree his mid-70's and later Strat tones have never been particularly desirable. Then again post-Layla, and other than his pure blues forays, he's mostly been a songwriter/performer. If you have the equipment to play through then a woman tone can be huge and dynamic sounding. But like getting a brown sound, it rarely comes in a pedal. Except for the very few "wizards" i heard live, you need heavy iron pushing many square inches of air to get either. Posted my favorite track from the Beano album. Clapton's tone, playing and emotion on this track is in my humble opinion some of his best.
Yes, 'Have You Heard' is good. His tone these days is much better. Man, he has done so many recordings.
Layla, of course, but also his solo in 'while my guitar gently weeps' is a classic. My favorite song to play guitar to, you can really go crazy.
And his Strat sound on 'Pros and cons of hitch hiking' (Waters) always makes me want to play a Strat. His tone there is almost as good as my Phyllis . It's goes something like this:
[youtube]k1rgbblTbIQ[/youtube]
Since this is the Phyllis model, now we have a 'Womantone' after all.
Have you all seen Clapton live? I have, many times - his tone is very good and his note choices are to die for....to say clapton does not seem to care about tone would go against what everyone says about him. Back in the day he was a real bastard for the purity of the blues, a real stickler and pissed many people off because of this. This included tone.
He openly acknowledges that he was difficult to be around in the documentary "Crossroads" often shown on Sky Arts in the UK for reasons like this.
Clapton has not lost his fire, its just burning a different flame now and I like how he is maturing. Same for Dave Gilmour. I think these guitarists, like wine, get better with age and when the pressure is off.....seems to let the creativity flow.
Clapton is a great guitarist, and perhaps one of the most influential of the last 30 years, he is also a great groove player.....its not just about the solos. I also like his voice - great blues singer....
Oh - and dont forget he has a mid-boost circuit in his strats - to help give his warm (woman-ish) modern take on it a smooth sound with just enough bite....
Dealing with the devil at the crossroads
Guitars
G&L USA Spalted maple Legacy
G&L Tribute Asat Classic (Indonesia)
Amplification
Vox VT-15 Valvotronix
Influences
Eric Clapton
Peter Green
Richie Sambora
I am short of time and I want to continue the dialogue and cannot be as careful making these points at this moment........apologize in advance if I just blather on...
"Everyone says"? People say a lot of things and it does not necessarily reflect truth, knowledge or reality. People also like to repeat what they hear so they can play along with the game in a given subject they have interest in. This is especially true of music. Live sound is an illusion to some extent. Things can sound better or worse loud. There are so many variables. However, his tone is what is heard absent of the volume. I just recently learned that Rolling Stone had said Clapton was "a master of blues cliche." It was not meant as a compliment. I have been focused on his guitar playing and tone. The writer, singer and performer are a different subject. Who has Clapton influenced? I think he was one of the first to electrify American blues. Does anyone do Clapton? Everyone uses blues riffs. Do any conjure up thoughts of Clapton? If they do, I suspect it is the song where it was used and not the guitar playing that brings Clapton to mind.
IMO the signature guitar riff in While My Guitar Gently Weeps was Harrison's break using the Leslie cabinet, the lead is really just a series of pulls and vibrato.
Well, it's a matter of taste, and I would'n take it all too seriously.
It's just someone playing guitar. However, he was once declared as God.
Keep in mind that religious discussions can go on forever!
NickHorne wrote:I've always found the Woman Tone description a bit hard to take, a reminder of the severely altered states of consciousness of the late 1960's that were common at the time, to a degree that must seem really improbable nowadays.
The tone itself, of course, is just, well.... top-less. Though somehow my hunch is that this was not where Eric's head was at...
But Ivo's marital redefinition, I just love!!
These descriptions are more interesting than the actual "woman tone."
I had not known there was a name for it. I have considered that tone to be the sound of his amps cranked to a point where they lose range and hover in midrange. It is similar to Pete Townshend's live tone. With The Who during the same era, they were quite a wimpy sounding band in the studio yet they were known for playing extremely loud live. Townshend insists on playing extremely loud even when recording in the studio. Their late bassist John Entwistle was so deaf his hearing aids would feedback because he had them cranked up in order to have a conversation in a quiet room. In those earlier days all one could do was multiply equipment and crank everything up. Some people like Hendrix had enough insight to push the limitations while others figured out that clean volume allowed room to dial in tone (i.e. Pink Floyd). Whether it was resigning to the limitations, ignorance or apathy Clapton used it. It works for certain notes like the opening of White Room but it is flat outside of midrange ("topless"). It surprises me that guitarists of ages spanning 45 years want to dial in that tone. Maybe it has more to do with sounding like a favorite guitarist than wanting a rich tone? Clapton has never struck me as a musician that considered tone. I am just going by what is recorded and not anything he may have said about it. When he has played Strats he just seems to plug them in and play without caring about the tone. To my ears there is nothing desirable about his Strat tone either.
That "Woman Tone"thing always confused me too..I do know this though, my favorite Clapton tone is from the Derek and the Dominos era.. especially their in concert album..MHO..
Are there any more hidden links? 
Must be...
