David Gilmour Guitar Sound

[cyclecamper]

Equipment changed a LOT over the years too; remember they've been at it a while. When 'tape echo' was the cool thing they didn't use an echoplex, they used the Binson EchoRec (and more than one) which was essential to some sounds, and of course several species of small creatures in a cave grooving together with a pict. So we all wanted one, and got sold a "space Echo" instead. Some ring moudulator sounds are indeed skill, particular harmonics of multiple distorted particular notes. Analog and digital flangers, perhaps an aural exciter on recordings, and a Leslie off an organ did distinguish the pros from the riff-raff. And of course monster tone talent and skill. It seems later to have distilled to fundamentals and...emotive fingers.

[firechief]

My good friend and top notch gitar player likes to say that his playing is "digitaly enhanced" while holding up his fingers.

[pinkmouse]

Well apart from being a really nice bloke, it's all down to technique I'm afraid. I worked on the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour rehearsals at London Docklands, and one day he brought in a load of different guitars in from his lock up, and frankly, whether it was a Strat, a SG, or a Gretsch White Falcon, it sounded just like him.

Oh, and case you were wondering, my gig was polishing all the mirrors on the rotating front panels of the stage, they used so much smoke that they needed cleaning twice a day or the lasers lost all coherence.

[tmblack]

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

I thought the gig they (Floyd) did the other year was great, not played together for decades (or even talked) and the performance was outstanding.

Their Live 8 performance was the best I ever heard and seen. I believe that happened in 2005 and the 4 song set was short but sweet. Unfortunately that will never happen again.

The Binson Echorec unit has been replaced but digital units. Probably still has the Big Muff and Phasor 90 flangers and rotating speakers.

Quite an art just hooking that up.

Really interesting post, pinkmouse.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by tmblack

No doubt Gilmour uses his fingers to do tremolo and bends but the effect boxes have to be there and getting the same pickups is important too....

I'm reading on gillmourish.com where they list every bit of gear the guy ever played. Also the setting on the amps. He changes it every night It seems that he is able to get the same sound using a wide range of different equipment. When he plays a concert he'll play much of his older works but using whatever is his current rig. He keeps using the same kind of gear but not exactly. I think in general what you need is a rig with tons of clean headroom and an echo delay and the Big Muff pedal seems to be a near constant. Anything after that is "details"

The think what makes his style so hard to emulate is that he plays music like a slow motion instant reply on a football game. In other words he plays in a way that if there where the tinniest mistake it would be obvious. I think the sound is more in the gaps between the notes than in the gear.

[jjman]

I don't think anyone is going to be able to sound like him. Trying is cool.

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by jjman

I don't think anyone is going to be able to sound like him. Trying is cool.

hmm, I dont know about that
but he composed the songs and tunes
and that noone else can do better

but still, the sound 'design' and technology involved might still be worth something

hell, JimiHendrix wasnt such a great guitarist either, but he created a fantastic sound
getting there first is the real achievement
and you could say the same about BB King
not technically the best, but noone will ever sound exactly like him

[Gooch]

Originally Posted by tmblack

I'm looking to get to the Pink Floyd's David Gilmour's sound.
He uses a Fender Strat and Big Muff (Ram's Head) in the 70's, anyone been able to get the sound of his solos on Comfortably Numb?

At the time of Comfortably Numb David Gilmour was using two custom Bob Bradshaw peddle boards. Also probably early Eventide harmonizer and AMS delay's and reverb's in the studio.

[jjman]

I was seated behind and above the stage for a show and could see a table of pedals lined up in rows and columns. The strange thing was it looked like there were about 5 pedals of each type. Maybe 25 all together. My guess was that he was switching not only thru various pedals but various pedal settings by having 5 of each. I couldn't see the settings thru my binos.

[escopunk]

Check this out, 100K in gear!!!! Pete cornish rig info
David Gilmour's Pink Floyd 1994 Rig