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I've been experimenting with my setup to get close to the sound of Oscar Moore's guitar on the King Cole Trio records. Obviously, having the right gear helps. The amp is somewhat new. I got it earlier this year from retrofret when I sold the Elektra (which is an incredible amp and the best EH 185 clone on the market).
Another thing that I've been playing with is the blend of acoustic and electric signals in the recording. Somehow I think the recordings of the KCT are some of the most pleasant electric archtop sounds on record. I know a lot of people prefer the "thunk" of laminate guitars but the ideal tone in my mind has always been the sound Oscar Moore got from his L5 (solid top with a blade pickup). There are a lot of "contemporary" guitarists that blend isolated acoustic signal in with the close-miced cab signal and I've always thought that this produced a pretty sterile and unnatural sound. I am not 100% of the techniques that were used at Capitol Records, but I heard from a friend about recording with a ribbon mic between the amp and the cab. Since I heard that I've been messing with different mic settings and, well, here's a configuration that I think gets close to that sound. There's a softness to this recording that I really like that reminds me of the records I love. The big piece of gear that's missing is a tape reel, but I don't think I'm ready to go that deep.
If you're into instagram, you can watch the video here.
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08-26-2021 12:07 PM
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oh, that's his sound alright. prewar CC equipped guitars like 150's and 250's [and his custom L-5] have an inherent acoustic quality to them, like your getting a blend between the electric and acoustic sound. as for Moore himself, just a criminally overlooked player that was a real innovator, he was no Christian imitator.
very modern ideas for an early electric guitarist.
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Sounds great, Juan. And very nice playing!
Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
I've been experimenting with my setup to get close to the sound of Oscar Moore's guitar on the King Cole Trio records. Obviously, having the right gear helps. The amp is somewhat new. I got it earlier this year from retrofret when I sold the Elektra (which is an incredible amp and the best EH 185 clone on the market).
Another thing that I've been playing with is the blend of acoustic and electric signals in the recording. Somehow I think the recordings of the KCT are some of the most pleasant electric archtop sounds on record. I know a lot of people prefer the "thunk" of laminate guitars but the ideal tone in my mind has always been the sound Oscar Moore got from his L5 (solid top with a blade pickup). There are a lot of "contemporary" guitarists that blend isolated acoustic signal in with the close-miced cab signal and I've always thought that this produced a pretty sterile and unnatural sound. I am not 100% of the techniques that were used at Capitol Records, but I heard from a friend about recording with a ribbon mic between the amp and the cab. Since I heard that I've been messing with different mic settings and, well, here's a configuration that I think gets close to that sound. There's a softness to this recording that I really like that reminds me of the records I love. The big piece of gear that's missing is a tape reel, but I don't think I'm ready to go that deep.
If you're into instagram, you can watch the video here.
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What do you been been the cab and amp?
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My parents were big fans of the Cole Trio and I grew up listening to those records. I suspect Oscar Moore, in particular, is one of the reasons I play jazz guitar.
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I think a lot of his sound was in his left hand techniques and you've got that going on really nicely.
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Dang that's a beautiful setup you've got there. A dream.
Nice work transcribing, I am impressed with players who have the patience to do that. I hear Lester Young in both Oscar Moore and Charlie Christian yet they are markedly different players and find that interesting. I guess it speaks to the depth of Lester's influence .
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I have high respect for Oscar Moore. To me, he fills the gap between Django and Charlie Christian. And, contrary to Freddie Green, he was comping in the high register, i.e. the same airspace as the piano's right hand. No clash there.
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Love the playing, love the gear! Sounds like you got it to me!
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Does anyone recognize what guitar Oscar Moore is playing in this photo with the Nat King Cole trio? It's not the usual Gibson L-5 he played in so many other shots with Nat's trio.
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Prewar Epiphone Emperor Originally Posted by The Milkman
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Nat looks like he's 8 years old in that photo.
Oscar played many, many different guitars although the blonde L5 CC is the one he's most commonly associated with. Some people mistakenly think it was an ES-250, but no, it is WAY cooler than Charlie's ES-250.
Among guitars that Oscar played and/or recorded with:
- Late 20s Gibson L5
- 30s D'Angelico Snakehead
- Prewar Epiphone Emperor
- Prewar Gibson ES 150
- Prewar Gibson L5 CC (his brother had one too)
- Prewar Gibson L5 acoustic
- Gibson ES 5
- Fender Telecaster
- Gibson ES 300
- Late 20s Gibson L5
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I never could figure out what was going on w the treble side of that 150, doesn't exactly look like pickwear (but if it is its the worst case I've seen) Or did he just chip chunks of finish off w his fingernail.on breaks? Regardless, that guitar couldn't be more than a few yrs old at the time so if he wasn't the original owner someone worked fast relicing it.
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All of you will be able to answer this. I have seen photos of this old Gibson amp before. Being new here, I have to ask the model number and time era.
Thanks!
Tom
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Eh 185. Late 1930s.
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Thanks!
In your comments in the OP about EH 185, I thought that was about a non Gibson, sorry.
Does this amp have a tone control? I have an L-5C with a single Pete Biltoft CC replica pickup with only a volume control on the guitar. I’m guessing I would need an amp with a tone control.
Do they come up for sale occasionally?
Thanks!
Tom
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What makes the Gibson EH185 different. Are the tubes octal? Is it a class A amp?
Thank you for any information.
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Octal preamp tubes, yes. And the originals also had field coil speakers, I believe. Very simple circuit (not alot of parts). A volume control (one for each input) and either 1 or 2 tone controls... if it's only 1 tone control, it's a bass boost. If it's 2 tone controls it's bass & treble. Originally Posted by st.bede
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All of the above. They’re also super noisy at low volumes.
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Thanks
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Epiphone prewar Master built Emperors are amazing archtops. I own a 1936, and it has more volume than any guitar that I've experienced.
And also the plate carve gives the 'arch' in archtop a distinction from which it earns from all others of the same name a sense of respect.
I spend not a small amount of the time that my Emperor is out of it's case in awe of it's beauty and craftsmanship. It was named Emperor for a reason and earned the moniker 'horn killer' due to its dominating voice in the rhythm section. Incredible guitars.
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