Is anyone not a Steve Cropper fan? Not sure it's possible, unless you've never heard him. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for posting that pic. Cool story.
Didn't want to pirate a thread, so I thought I'd call it out here.
I see that you've got Cropper plying his beloved custom Peavey Tele as a Avatar. You a fan of the man? The axe?
Cropper is not only a pioneer, dude is a total class act. In one of my alternate identities, I drive for a venue here in Chicago, and I spent 4 days with the MG's, Cropper, Dunn, and Booker T, his wife AND Daughter.
Cropper was a TOTALLY chill dude, and I actually got to put my paws on that guitar when they were setting up for a gig with Mavis Staples.
It always amazes me how these guitar gods travel with nothing but a guitar, and simply spec the amp they want in advance. He plugged in, messed around with the settings for a few, and was good to go.
Here's my iPhone pic of his guitar from that night.
Total Icon. And honestly, hardly takes himself seriously at all. Honestly, the biggest pains in the butt are usually the superstars wives....but that's another thread altogether!
"It's never too late to be what you might have been" - Eliot
Guilars: '02 Heritage H-535 ASB; '04 Larrivée LV-03 w/Fishman Blend; '95 Washburn/Bourgeios D-55SW Cherokee
Amphs: Boogie DC-2; DVM/BYOC Tweed Champlifier; Marshall AS50D
Currently on Board: Ditto Looper; Boss TU-2; EB VP Jr; crybaby; DVM Spring Fever; DVM Mini Klone, Brena Effects Cali-Tremor tremolo; Strymon El Capistan
Is anyone not a Steve Cropper fan? Not sure it's possible, unless you've never heard him. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for posting that pic. Cool story.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
True enough. He's been everywhere for 50 years. Unbelievable.Originally Posted by R_of_G
"It's never too late to be what you might have been" - Eliot
Guilars: '02 Heritage H-535 ASB; '04 Larrivée LV-03 w/Fishman Blend; '95 Washburn/Bourgeios D-55SW Cherokee
Amphs: Boogie DC-2; DVM/BYOC Tweed Champlifier; Marshall AS50D
Currently on Board: Ditto Looper; Boss TU-2; EB VP Jr; crybaby; DVM Spring Fever; DVM Mini Klone, Brena Effects Cali-Tremor tremolo; Strymon El Capistan
When I try to explain to people what I love about the Telecaster, he's the first person I play them.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
How could I not be?!
"Pioneer and a class act", sums him up quickly. I love your story and the photo of his very cool T style guitar. Thanks for sharing it with us, you lucky %&#$!
His With a Little Help From My Friends is a must have for any lover of great guitar and music.
I just ordered his album Jammed Together, with Albert King and Pops Staples.
Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2
Love his playing,I learned to cheat from him,let the bass take the lows.Sumi
Guitars,Warmoth Tele,90's Fender Strat Plus/Fender CV 50's Tele/Parker p-36/Fretlight/Custom Strat(Fender body/warmoth Clapton neck,tonerider pups)Larrivee L03 mahogany acoustic
Amphs/66 Super Reverb/60's Bandmaster head and 2/12 cab/Blues jr//epi valve jr/supro super/ ZT lunchbox/Mahaffay Little Laneilei 3350/Pignose g40v
Pedals/Voods Rodent/MXR carbon copy/Duncan Pickup booster/Ts9/Rat/ts10/Line 6 tone port uk2
Line 6 M13
That's what they're for!Originally Posted by sumitomo
There's just so much to learn from Cropper's playing on those old Stax/Volt records. Swing, taste, melodic comping and he never gets flashy or walks over the vocal. Brilliant
Electric: Fat strat > Korg PB > TS7 > DS1 > DD-20 > Cube 60 (Fender model)
Acoustic: Guitar > microphone > audience
He's the master of getting a complete sound picture out of a song or band, and never puts his guitar ahead of that sound.Originally Posted by markb
Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2
Exactly, Tig. It's all about the song not the player. It's a rule I try to live by and Cropper was one of the first I picked it up from.
Electric: Fat strat > Korg PB > TS7 > DS1 > DD-20 > Cube 60 (Fender model)
Acoustic: Guitar > microphone > audience
That is one of the things I most love about Cropper. His sense of melody is just perfect. He knows how to use very simple melodies that complement what the band is playing rather than drawing all the attention to him. When you combine that sense of melody with that mastery of tone, well, you get Steve Cropper.Originally Posted by markb
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Yesterday I went to the library to check out some CD's to load on my I-pod,I like Joe Lewis Walker,so there was one there and as I was reading the cover,I went wow! check it out Producer Steve Cropper,It was the Preacher and the President.Sumi
Guitars,Warmoth Tele,90's Fender Strat Plus/Fender CV 50's Tele/Parker p-36/Fretlight/Custom Strat(Fender body/warmoth Clapton neck,tonerider pups)Larrivee L03 mahogany acoustic
Amphs/66 Super Reverb/60's Bandmaster head and 2/12 cab/Blues jr//epi valve jr/supro super/ ZT lunchbox/Mahaffay Little Laneilei 3350/Pignose g40v
Pedals/Voods Rodent/MXR carbon copy/Duncan Pickup booster/Ts9/Rat/ts10/Line 6 tone port uk2
Line 6 M13