Soul/Afrobeat Guitar Sound

Marty07 · 07-21-2014, 10:07 PM

Hi, I play guitar and I was wondering how soul and afrobeat guitarists get that really thick "twang" sound from their guitars, especially from Daptone bands (The Budos Band, Antibalas, etc.). I think they use hollowbody guitars, but I don't know what effects they put on it to get that amazing sound. I've only heard it in soul, funk and afrobeat, and in absolutely NO other genres. Would anyone know how they get that sound?

Rexx Shredd · 07-22-2014, 06:07 AM

Yes, they use semi-hollow guitars but thats only part of the equation: they use former "cheap" semi-hollow body guitars, and there is where the difference is --- 60s/early 70s Teisco del Reys, Silvertones, etc were all poorly constructed and many used microphonic DeArmond style pickups. The combination of the cheap pickup and poor construction is the secret.....Guys like David Lindley discovered "sweet spots" in these type of guitars a long time ago.....You may be able to take a decent quality Gibson hollow-body with P-90s or P-100s (like a 330) and get something similar but thats just trying to dumb-it-down which isnt the same thing

Not sure what kind of amp and processing is used: my guess is something like a Fender Twin or a vintage Ampeg Reverb-O-Rocket

07-21-2014, 10:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Marty07 Groupie Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1	Soul/Afrobeat Guitar Sound Hi, I play guitar and I was wondering how soul and afrobeat guitarists get that really thick "twang" sound from their guitars, especially from Daptone bands (The Budos Band, Antibalas, etc.). I think they use hollowbody guitars, but I don't know what effects they put on it to get that amazing sound. I've only heard it in soul, funk and afrobeat, and in absolutely NO other genres. Would anyone know how they get that sound?

07-22-2014, 06:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rexx Shredd Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 158	Yes, they use semi-hollow guitars but thats only part of the equation: they use former "cheap" semi-hollow body guitars, and there is where the difference is --- 60s/early 70s Teisco del Reys, Silvertones, etc were all poorly constructed and many used microphonic DeArmond style pickups. The combination of the cheap pickup and poor construction is the secret.....Guys like David Lindley discovered "sweet spots" in these type of guitars a long time ago.....You may be able to take a decent quality Gibson hollow-body with P-90s or P-100s (like a 330) and get something similar but thats just trying to dumb-it-down which isnt the same thing Not sure what kind of amp and processing is used: my guess is something like a Fender Twin or a vintage Ampeg Reverb-O-Rocket __________________ OK :) URBAN SHOKKER -- Old School P-Funk Style FUNK -- out NOW on Carbon 12 Records