GE talking about his new Telecaster

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:46 am

For twenty minutes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQYoRYedF0

That's just the way he talks in person too. Only thing missing is a cigar.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:35 pm

I wish I could play with his easy. I play bass because of the stubs I have for fingers, but sure would like to pick a song like he can.

brianeharmonjr · Post by **brianeharmonjr** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:25 pm

Now I want one of those teles.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:40 pm

I watched the whole thing...didn't mean to, but he was fun to watch, and I do want a Telecaster. I play a Strat, but I've been visiting stores lately and find myself playing Telecasters... Still, if I ever get one, I will probably pass on G.E.'s and go for a nice Thinline. Rossmeisl rules.

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:12 pm

I play a Tele. I can vouch for the fact that they are very versatile guitars.

I have never been big on GE Smith before but I have to admit that I was guilty of judging a book by its cover. He is actually a very cool guy and not at all like his onstage persona.

I watched the video all the way through so in my mind, that's a testament to how his cool factor influenced me in my decision to keep on watching.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:45 am

I can vouch for a couple of things. GE does not use any pedals (except one which might be the reverb he refers to in the video) and does get an incredible range of sounds out of a Tele. He does play through one little amp and it might have been a Champ.

Yeah, Brian, the views on GE out there seem to be at both extremes of the spectrum – people either love him or hate him. But I don’t know the source of that. Before I met him, I only knew him as the pony-tailed guitar player on Saturday Night Live.

But in person, he is engaging, considerate, knowledgeable and clearly loves gear and most of all – music. And is free to talk about both.

His talent is outstanding and I have witnessed first-hand him doing some amazing things.

He might be a bit of a task master as a bandleader and instructor. Which I am about to find out very shortly. I am signed up to take a class with him in November. Wish me luck!

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:49 am

You are one lucky dog Mark. As you know he is a very good guitarist. I hope he can impart some of his skill to his students and to you in particular.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:08 am

He sure impressed me when I saw him playing with Dylan. I think this was on the Dylan-Dead tour with Tom Petty.

Yeah, his stage presence on SNL sort of creeped me out, but it's obvious he is both very good and very genuine. He's played with just about everyone, and that speaks volumes. You already have luck, Mark! Enjoy.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:42 am

Neat viddi.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:05 am

GE is a great player (minus some of those distorted sounds on this clip - read: ratty!). He is a true guitar lover and has even expounded on the merits of his Rickenbacker Frying Pan, stating 'the Frying Pan is magical' in a Guitar Player article.

I like my Teles with rosewood boards.

robbo63 · Post by **robbo63** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:54 am

That was good, thanks for the link. Until recently, I didn't know anything about GE except I remembered him as the guitarist on SNL that I couldn't stand because he seemed such a show-off. So maybe that was an act that was called for in that setting, because I've later found out my impression was wrong. Funny, I seem to recall he always played Gibsons whenever I saw him on SNL (I didn't watch much in those seasons).

The Tele he's demo'ing is really nice. Clean, it was to die for, but I didn't think it sounded so "fat" when distorted. At one point in the video, he plays a Fender lapsteel, then picks up the Tele to play the same song, and I thought the lapsteel sounded enormously better!

jimbunch · Post by **jimbunch** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:50 am

I bought a Tele in 2006 and I find myself playing it quite a bit these days. Much more than my Stratocaster. I agree that it is a very versatile guitar.