Martin
749 posts
Dec 15, 2014
8:35 AM
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A while back there was a spirited debate here whether the tremolo/vibrato on Horton´s "Easy" was an effect from the amplifier or if BWH produced it naturally.
I personally tend to believe in the latter (I can do something rather similar myself) but my world wouldn´t rock if I was proved wrong.
Sun studios, so I´ve been told, were not rich in equiment and one source told me that in 1953 they had all in all one (1) amplifier. (Supposedly equipped with tremolo ...?)
I wonder if anybody can point to another Sun disc from this same time period where -- undoubtedly -- tremolo is involved? On guitar, say.
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barbequebob
2789 posts
Dec 15, 2014
11:11 AM
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Sun recorded not just blues, but also country as well as a hybrid called rockabilly and compared to modern recording studios, they were super bare boned, even when compared with major studios of the day.
The slap back sound you hear on some of their rockabilly recordings was due to whatever amps were being used that were recorded in a men's room that was heavily tiled.
As far as with Big Walter, I know personally for a fact that he NEVER used effects of any kind so if anyone has the nerve to tell you that he did, they're totally BS'ing you, and that's from seeing him numerous times over the years.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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WinslowYerxa
737 posts
Dec 15, 2014
11:32 AM
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It sounds to me like fast throat vibrato and not an amp effect.
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chopsy
40 posts
Dec 15, 2014
12:09 PM
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I can't imagine there's any way it could be tremelo unless someone else was turning the effect up and down for him while he played, because there are plenty of clear, non-tremelo notes as well.
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barbequebob
2790 posts
Dec 15, 2014
12:14 PM
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Having seen Big Walter play it within 6 feet in front of me, I can tell you that it is a throat vibrato, but played at an incredibly soft breath level, about some 80% softer than the average player does at their softest and it had absolutely ZERO to do with the amp. The constant thing about it's a tremolo from an amp too often a classic gear head answer and I stand by that 100%.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Martin
750 posts
Dec 15, 2014
2:43 PM
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Well, as I said, I´m personally not inclined to believe it´s an effect (that was another list member and he can speak for himself), though there are obvious differences in the way BWH treated "Easy" and its family resemblant tunes, e.g. "Easy" on "An offer you can´t refuse".
I was just interested if there were other Sun tunes were a tremolo effect was doubtlessly used.
Here´s the thread:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5273402.htm?page=1
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5F6H
1846 posts
Dec 16, 2014
6:29 AM
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"Sun studios, so I´ve been told, were not rich in equiment and one source told me that in 1953 they had all in all one (1) amplifier. (Supposedly equipped with tremolo ...?)"
Amps with tremolo were available from 1949, typically lower budget amps, like Danelectro/Silvertone/Wards that were cheaper than Fenders (who were late to the party with respect to tremolo).
Sun would have been unlikely to have had any influence in what gear the players used, beyond being happy with the sound it made, they were working musicians and one could assume that they carried their gear with them?
The Sun slapback was documented as being provided by a second, single track, tape recorder (Ampex M350?) specifically purchased for that purpose.
Phillips also had a 6 channel portable desk for on location recording, he may not have been rich, but this wasn't a game for poor people either.
Whether or not the tremolo on Easy was provided by an amp's function (like Bob & the rest of us, I wasn't there in 53 so I'd be wary of definite answers), BW recorded the month previously with Muddy Waters ("Flood") which clearly has tremolo on the guitar, so it was around & in use.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
Last Edited by 5F6H on Dec 16, 2014 6:31 AM
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tmf714
2713 posts
Dec 16, 2014
9:27 AM
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From David Barrett:
(This song is famous for multiple reasons. The song is an instrumental version of Ivory Joe Hunter’s popular 1949 tune “When I Lost My Baby I Almost Lost My Mind.” This is a great example of Horton’s use of a popular song of the day for writing an instrumental (an idea to be repeated throughout his career). Note the great use of repetition within the song. The first three choruses are the same, with slight variation. He deviates in the fourth chorus and returns back to the melody for the fifth chorus. This is a very melodic song and Big Walter’s great use of textures makes it a blues masterpiece. ((His throat tremolo plays a very important role in the intense presentation of the song. The throat tremolo is where you use the vocal chords in a light coughing fashion to create rhythmic variations in volume. (A vibrato is where the pitch fluctuates—he’s not using a vibrato.) Most players (including myself) use a slower throat tremolo than Horton is using here. Work on speeding up your tremolo to match his intense sound (it will take time) if that's what you're looking for.
Notation can be found at:
http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/easy_walter_horton.pdf
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