Big Star used a Ric

byu · Post by **byu** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:20 am

The new issue of Sound On Sound magazine has an interview with Big Star engineer and Ardent Studio owner, John Fry (Volume 21, Issue 6). He’s quoted as saying,
“…I don’t know what the main electric guitar was, but Alex had a Rickenbacker 12-string, and you can hear that pretty clearly,…”, referring to the track September Gurls.

It’s always been hard to find info on what equipment Big Star used and this is the first confirmation I’ve seen that they used a Ric, especially on such a major track. Bass player Andy Hummel used a P-bass into a HiWatt amp.

Interesting Article.
Cheers,
Bill

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:03 pm

Love some Big Star!!!!

There's a fairly new book called simply "Big Star" that's pretty exhaustively researched & well written. There's a shot of Chris Bell & Jody Stephens (& someone who looks a hell of a lot like Chilton) playing a mid-70s show with a bass player named (something) Van Duren who's wielding a mapleglo 4001. Great book.

The Posies enhanced Big Star lineup is plying here in Atlanta in May. I can't wait!!!

byu · Post by **byu** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:07 pm

I was fortunate to see that lineup in Chicago in '94 & '99. Hope they come around again this year.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:35 pm

I oft wondered if 12s are on Big Star recordings. There's so much compression on some of the cuts I can't say for sure. Most of the shots I've seen of Chilton back in the day are of him with a strat, and he doesn't use a 12 string for any of the cuts live.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:48 pm

I saw them in Memphis in '99 - it was great. Lovably loose!

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:42 am

I saw them in Memphis in '94. Can't believe it's been that long. When there, I couldn't help thinking how many of the 50-something people in the audience saw them around town back in the old days, if not knew them back then.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:35 am

My old band opened for Alex in Atlanta - Poteat, were you there? - and it was a wacky experience.

When I think of the classic Big Star sound, I think of a Stratocaster on the middle-and-bridge-out-of-phase setting. But that's cool that a Ric 12 is part of the mix.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:02 am

Chilton was playing, I think, an ES-125, when I saw them...thru the whole set.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:00 pm

Yeah - was that the "Man Called Destruction" tour Kenny?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:06 pm

I've seen a bunch of pictures of Big Star-era Alex Chilton with a Gibson Firebird that has those bright sounding mini-humbuckers.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:59 am

It was the "Loose Shoes, Tight P***y" tour, actually. At the Star Bar.