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Post subject: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:35 pm
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I read somewhere that Jimmy Page played the solo from Stairway to Heaven on a Telecaster. I can agree, the solo didn't sound sound very Gibson like, and it sounded more twangy then a Gibson with humbuckers. It sounded very singlecoil like. I have seen pictures with one but I don't know if he used on the solo. If anyone knows, please tell me.



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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:50 pm
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That's the story I heard, too. It's got the piercing tone thing going for sure.

I also remember hearing he did the solo in "one take". I don't know if it meant he did it all without pausing..and finishing the rest later, or if he played it entirely once for the studio take.


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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:12 pm
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WildintheStreets wrote:
I also remember hearing he did the solo in "one take". I don't know if it meant he did it all without pausing..and finishing the rest later, or if he played it entirely once for the studio take.

There were multiple takes it seems. I remember reading that in an interview. Here's a quote that Wikipedia credits to Andy Johns:

Sound engineer Andy Johns recalls the circumstances surrounding the recording of Page's famous solo:

I remember Jimmy had a little bit of trouble with the solo on "Stairway to Heaven"... He hadn't completely figured it out. Nowadays you sometimes spend a whole day doing one thing. Back then, we never did that. We never spent a very long time recording anything. I remember sitting in the control room with Jimmy, he's standing there next to me and he'd done quite a few passes and it wasn't going anywhere. I could see he was getting a bit paranoid and so I was getting paranoid. I turned around and said "You're making me paranoid!" And he said, "No, you're making me paranoid!" It was a silly circle of paranoia. Then bang! On the next take or two he ripped it out.

Also regarding the Telecaster:

The extended Jimmy Page guitar solo in the song's final section was played for the recording on a 1959 Fender Telecaster given to him by Jeff Beck (an instrument he used extensively with the Yardbirds) plugged into a Supro amplifier, although in an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine, Page also claimed, "It could have been a Marshall, but I can't remember".

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:52 pm
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Page played most of Led Zepp's first two albums on a Telecaster.

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:55 pm
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When I saw him do it live, he used a double neck Gibson SG.

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:20 am
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strings10927 wrote:
WildintheStreets wrote:
I also remember hearing he did the solo in "one take". I don't know if it meant he did it all without pausing..and finishing the rest later, or if he played it entirely once for the studio take.

There were multiple takes it seems. I remember reading that in an interview. Here's a quote that Wikipedia credits to Andy Johns:

Sound engineer Andy Johns recalls the circumstances surrounding the recording of Page's famous solo:

I remember Jimmy had a little bit of trouble with the solo on "Stairway to Heaven"... He hadn't completely figured it out. Nowadays you sometimes spend a whole day doing one thing. Back then, we never did that. We never spent a very long time recording anything. I remember sitting in the control room with Jimmy, he's standing there next to me and he'd done quite a few passes and it wasn't going anywhere. I could see he was getting a bit paranoid and so I was getting paranoid. I turned around and said "You're making me paranoid!" And he said, "No, you're making me paranoid!" It was a silly circle of paranoia. Then bang! On the next take or two he ripped it out.

Also regarding the Telecaster:

The extended Jimmy Page guitar solo in the song's final section was played for the recording on a 1959 Fender Telecaster given to him by Jeff Beck (an instrument he used extensively with the Yardbirds) plugged into a Supro amplifier, although in an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine, Page also claimed, "It could have been a Marshall, but I can't remember".


Good info!

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:03 am
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not playing stairway , but he is playing the tele ,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu6FTAVRCMI
cheers
Alan

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:45 am
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Mr. Nylon wrote:
When I saw him do it live, he used a double neck Gibson SG.

So he doesn't have to switch guitars mid song...

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:13 am
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I read from numerous sources that LZ I&II were all Tele. III & IV had a bit of Tele and LP. Probably used the LP live to try and cover for the overreaching sloppiness that is part of his legend...

You can't expect Jimmy to remember these things himself, he was toasted 95% of the time.


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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:54 am
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Personally I prefer the more rockin' ARMS version of that song played on an EDS1275 double-neck.


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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:00 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
I read from numerous sources that LZ I&II were all Tele. III & IV had a bit of Tele and LP. Probably used the LP live to try and cover for the overreaching sloppiness that is part of his legend...

You can't expect Jimmy to remember these things himself, he was toasted 95% of the time.

LZ II had a fair bit of LP on it, as well as some Tele.
And some Dano too.

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:00 pm
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From what I've read with him in interviews, he never used the Gibson double-neck in the studio, just live. He also used a Fender 12-string electric for the 12-string parts.

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:14 pm
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Not only did Jimmy Page use a Tele for their first 2 albums but he also used an old Supro amp for both albums.For "Stairway" he used his '59 Tele and a '66 Fender XII,in fact the only reason he went to the Gibson 1275 6/12 double neck was because at the time there wasn't a production Fender with a 6/12 configuration even though some country stars had been using special order single coil Fender 6/12 guitars,in a Strat format usually. I remember there was a popular brother/sister act in the early 60s-who are still performing- that used Fender guitars and he used a 6/12 Fender double neck which he had incredible command over,utilizing both necks in an amazing manner during a song.I forget their names but there was an article on them in Vintage Guitar magazine last year and they have videos of their playing on Youtube and even as what looks to be about 11 or 12 years of age the little guy is blindingly fast.

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:25 pm
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I imagine it must be rather unwieldy, too. I actually picked up an Ovation double neck like the one he used in the "Unledded" concert with Robert Plant and that thing was ridiculous (I'm also a bassist, use to heavy instruments.) I could imagine that the Gibson, although thinner, must be hefty, too.

By the way, have you seen that they are bringing back Supro amps? http://suprousa.com

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Post subject: Re: Stairway to Heaven solo played on a Telecaster?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:26 pm
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Is this solo stolen from Berth Jansch as well? :mrgreen:


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