Bebop or modern players using floating pickups

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 02:45 PM

Outside of Johnny Smith, I couldn't think of any other bebop, post bop, or relatively modern player who uses a floating pickup. The only other name I could think of was George Benson, but his case is unusual in that he plays a small bodied instrument.

Who else plays a floater?

**Para** · 01-07-2015, 03:04 PM

What about Doug Raney I'm pretty sure He used a floater.

**coolvinny** · 01-07-2015, 03:17 PM

Chuck Wayne, a 20-something guy from the US whose name escapes me but can seriously play (he plays an Andersen Streamline), and I guess Peter Bernstein.

**disco~juice** · 01-07-2015, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by coolvinny

Chuck Wayne, a 20-something guy from the US whose name escapes me but can seriously play (he plays an Andersen Streamline), and I guess Peter Bernstein.

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=graham%20dechter&sm=1

I though the same guy. Graham Dechter. Beast.

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Para

What about Doug Raney I'm pretty sure He used a floater.

I think Doug plays his father's old L7 with a built in humbucker.

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by coolvinny

Chuck Wayne, a 20-something guy from the US whose name escapes me but can seriously play (he plays an Andersen Streamline), and I guess Peter Bernstein.

How could I forget Bernstein? That cat has legendary tone.

**David B** · 01-07-2015, 04:32 PM

Roni Ben-Hur (Gibson Johnny Smith)
Peter Bernstein (Zeidler)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Moffa Maryan)
Rotem Sivan (Gibson Howard Roberts)

**Para** · 01-07-2015, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

I think Doug plays his father's old L7 with a built in humbucker.

I have some videos of him playing a floater, tone and volume are on the pickguard.

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by David B

Roni Ben-Hur (Gibson Johnny Smith)
Peter Bernstein (Zeidler)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Moffa Maryan)
Rotem Sivan (Gibson Howard Roberts)

Nice call. Now that I think about it, before switching to Victor Baker guitars, Gilad Hekselman also played a Howard Roberts.

**jasonc** · 01-07-2015, 04:50 PM

Jimmy Raney played an instrument (can't remember what kind) with a floating Zoller pickup at some point.

**Groyniad** · 01-07-2015, 04:56 PM

the crucial example is - as has been pointed out - peter bernstein

i'm very middle of the road in my jazz guitar tastes (my heroes are most peoples' heroes)

but every time i hear pb play i just can't get over his sound. the distance between his sound and everyone elses' makes our obsession with sound seem rational.

**David B** · 01-07-2015, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by jasonc

Jimmy Raney played an instrument (can't remember what kind) with a floating Zoller pickup at some point.

Good call. It was a Hofner Attila Zoller. The great Peter Leitch has played one for years.

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by disco~juice

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=graham%20dechter&sm=1

I though the same guy. Graham Dechter. Beast.

Thanks for turning my on to Graham, what a player! I like how he separates himself from the younger jazz guitar generation by playing in the Kessel/Montgomery/Burrell mold rather than the newer Rosenwinkel school. Not that Rosenwinkel isn't wonderful, but it's good to see players who aren't necessarily following the leader.

**fusionman** · 01-07-2015, 06:02 PM

Jesse van Ruller?
I wonder whether traditional, floating pickup sound comes from type of mounting or its construction (magnets, wire etc)?
In other words how big difference will be between for example Gibson PAF set-in and floating version in the same guitar?
I presume that floating pickups has its own structure, different from standard humbuckers

**pingu** · 01-07-2015, 06:27 PM

Jim Mullen

**jorgemg1984** · 01-07-2015, 06:51 PM

Anthony Wilson more recent suff.

Bernstein's Zeidler has a full humbucker I believe.

Kurt Roseninkel on "Reflections".

**Klatu** · 01-07-2015, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by fusionman

Jesse van Ruller?
I wonder whether traditional, floating pickup sound comes from type of mounting or its construction (magnets, wire etc)?
In other words how big difference will be between for example Gibson PAF set-in and floating version in the same guitar?
I presume that floating pickups has its own structure, different from standard humbuckers

Jesse seems to favor built in pickups in his current favorite Gibson ES150 and a previous guitar, the Levin.

**Danny W.** · 01-07-2015, 07:55 PM

Danny W.

**coolvinny** · 01-07-2015, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by disco~juice

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=graham%20dechter&sm=1

I though the same guy. Graham Dechter. Beast.

Yup, that's him. And he seems to plug in to whatever amp is around.

**bmw2002** · 01-07-2015, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Bernstein's Zeidler has a full humbucker I believe.

I thought I read somewhere (probably on this Forum), that Peter Bernstein's Zeidler had a Gibson Classic 57 mounted on it (and that it had somehow been cut down to fit). Whatever, I love PB's tone.

Gratuitous Peter Bernstein content: Here are a couple of shots I took with my iPhone last Saturday night at Dizzy's jazz club in NYC. Had stage-side seats to see the Peter Bernstein Quarter (with Christian McBride (B), Brad Meldau (P) and Greg Hutchinson (D)). What a Christmas present from my wife!

Bebop or modern players using floating pickups-img_0253-jpg

Bebop or modern players using floating pickups-img_0253-jpg

Bebop or modern players using floating pickups-img_0248-jpg

**Danno1985** · 01-07-2015, 08:43 PM

Pat Martino played a Johnny Smith briefly; in fact, it's pictured on the cover of El Hombre. Apparently he had to stuff it tight with cotton and tape up the f-holes to counteract the feedback, not surprising considering how hot the Twin Reverb he's playing through on that record is cookin'!

**jorgemg1984** · 01-07-2015, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by bmw2002

I thought I read somewhere (probably on this Forum), that Peter Bernstein's Zeidler had a Gibson Classic 57 mounted on it (and that it had somehow been cut down to fit). Whatever, I love PB's tone.

Gratuitous Peter Bernstein content: Here are a couple of shots I took with my iPhone last Saturday night at Dizzy's jazz club in NYC. Had stage-side seats to see the Peter Bernstein Quarter (with Christian McBride (B), Brad Meldau (P) and Greg Hutchinson (D)). What a Christmas present from my wife!

Bebop or modern players using floating pickups-img_0253-jpg

Peter told me that on a e-mail, just a regular Classic 57. But I've heard it's an humbucker taken from a Gibson Howard Roberts, which is not exactly a full PAF? Not really sure.

Wow I wish I had seen that gig. "Signs of Life" is still my favorite record of his.

**John A.** · 01-07-2015, 09:06 PM

Ron Afif, Mark Whitfield, Mark Elf, to name 3 more.

John

**skykomishone** · 01-07-2015, 09:25 PM

Martin Taylor : Kent Armstrong floating mini-humbucker on his Maestro and Virtuoso both made by Peerless:
Maestro guitar by Peerless | Martin Taylor

Oh, and I forgot, Me, on my Campellone, Trenier, and Hofner Jazzica

**fumblefingers** · 01-07-2015, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

Outside of Johnny Smith, I couldn't think of any other bebop, post bop, or relatively modern player who uses a floating pickup. The only other name I could think of was George Benson, but his case is unusual in that he plays a small bodied instrument.

Who else plays a floater?

Benson used a Johnny Smith for years. Some would say his best years.

Also played a Buscarino Virtuoso, now sold.