What is known about Jimmy Bryant's gear?

SteveBSteveB
edited June 2014 in Root
I just saw two pics of Jimmy in action (with Speedy) and noticed that he was using the middle position on his tele in both. That surprised me a bit. Anyone have thoughts as to what positions he favored. Maybe just limit the discussion to the songs the Jim has lessons for: Bryant's Bounce, Low Man on the Totem Pole, Nightrider, and TBone Rag.

Not even sure if Brant's Bounce was recorded using a tele..sounds like a hollowbody to me?

And what about strings...I guess thick flatwounds would be the most obvious guess, but they sure don't sound flat to me. I have several guitars strung with flats, though have no experience with flats on a tele.

I read somewhere that he often recorded straight to the console...not sure if that would have been the case for his work with Speedy?

Hoping someone here as some information...sort of amazes me that so little is written about this guy (and his guitar). He deserves a tab/playalong book (as does Jimmie Rivers)....the world would be a better place! At least Jim has a few great songs covered here.

Comments

  • ruger9ruger9
    I've done a bit of research on flatwounds, with regards to jazzier players back then, and while the information is very hard to come by, I haven't found any evidence that ANY player (any famous player, anyway) back then played flats. Flats were realtively new to the guitar world, being invented around 1940, I believe.

    I see alot of modern jazz players using flats, but all the people I have tried to research- Oscar Moore (Nat King Cole Trio), Johnny Smith, Carl Hogan (Louis Jordan), and others.... all the info I've found (which isn't much) says the played roundwounds.

    I tried flats on my 2 hollowbodies, and they lost too much snap for my tastes. I never tried them on a tele, but I have heard them on solidbody guitars, and they do have an old-school sound.... the guy who plays for Big Sandy and his Fly-Right boys uses flats on a Bigsby guitar, and his tone is straight out of the 30s/40s/50s. But the amplification probably has alot to do with that as well....
  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    edited June 2014
    My understanding Jimmy used flatwounds. I put a set on one of my Teles and really liked the change. It was a great departure from business as usual in positive ways. Thicker sounds, more string mass to pick, a retro jazz box sound, a bouncier feel.

    But... kiss string bending goodbye folks!

  • campinoutcampinout
    I am clearly the novice of this group but will add I recently acquired a guitar and it had flatwound strings on it. until that day I never even realized there was such a thing for guitars (although was familiar with the principle for bass guitar). Aside from the obvious difference in the flat vs round, I felt the strings to be extremely high tension. On several levels, I could barely even play the guitar. forget barre chords...in short time I changed them to regular D'addarios. much better! It did seem like the flat strings might be good for slide and/or steel guitar with a slide, but it is said they are popular for jazz. I think it is mostly the player's preference. I certainty have no interest in trying them again, for any type of music.
  • ruger9ruger9
    "But... kiss string bending goodbye folks!"

    OH I FORGOT ABOUT THAT!!!! Yeah man, that was awful... even on my jazz boxes, I can't NOT bend strings; it's just not who I am. That was a deal-breaker for me.
  • SteveBSteveB
    I have flats on two Fenders..a Jaguar and a Jazzmaster. Pretty common to use flats with those guitars - at least in the surf guitar crowd. They are very bright due to the 1Meg pots and flats give them a really authentic early 60s surf tone. As in jazz, not much bending of strings in the surf genre. I can imagine that a tele would sound great with flats.....something that I need to try.

    Any thoughts on Jimmy's use of the selection switch?

  • clydeclyde
    Jimmy's tone sounds fantastic to me. It sounds like he uses the middle position on the tele quite often. I find his tone to be pretty darn consistent throughout on the cd's that I own. The stuff with Speedy sounds like it was recorded live in the studio with the full band, so I can't imagine he went direct. Don't know what amp he used but it sounds nice and full. I read that the action on his tele was as low and fast as he could get it. I'd like to know when he got the white tele with the leather pick guard and his name on it? And did he use that a lot on the recordings?
  • RogerioFerrazRogerioFerraz
    I remember reading somewhere that Jimmy's main recording amp was a 2x10 Tweed Pro that Fender made especially for him.
  • stevefrostevefro
    I think his tele would of had the original wiring in it,so that middle position is actually the neck pick up with the bright circuit!
    And position number three would be the neck pickup and the dark circuit"tone rolled off"
    Maybe someone could clarify that!
  • SteveBSteveB
    This is getting interesting...I wasn't even aware of such wiring.

    Brings up another point...I believe his reissue telecaster has a 9.5 radius fretboard, rather than vintage. Wonder what that story is??
  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    edited June 2014
    I had a long conversation with Speedy and if memory serves me correct- I believe Speedy and Jimmy played through two Fender twins? placed in a "V" with a single mic placed in the middle of the "V".

    And according to Speedy, they both shared the Steel Pedal case as a seat during the sessions.

    Does it get better then this?



  • ruger9ruger9
    No, it doesn't!! I love this musical history stuff.

    I have always wondered if the guys back then were as "gear obsessed" as we are... they didn't have the variety of gear to choose from of course, but I have always wondered if they were constantly trying new gear or if they simply bought the best guitar and amp they could afford, and were done with it, and played the hell out of them?
  • SteveBSteveB
    >Does it get better then this?

    Seriously Jim! Please do tell more about your conversation with Speedy!! Another guy who just doesn't get the full treatment that he deserves. Seem like there is next to nothing written about him. I am not aware of a biography - at least Jimmy has the one written by his sister.

    So you think Jimmy and Speedy recorded with the single twin? As I understand it, those early twins were way, way less wattage than the modern beasts.

    Ruger...I am guessing the internet turned curiosity into obsession. But I think its pretty natural to want some insight into how a particular player got the job done...really nothing more that getting good advice. But yeah, pretty sure Jimmy could play the hell out the worst of guitars.

    I have sometimes wondered what it must be like to be a famous rock star with so many gear options to choose from..that could get a little overwhelming!
  • AndyrehfeldtAndyrehfeldt
    What about his guitar pick? What did he use? Sorry if this has been addressed-I'm new here.
  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    I have no idea, but when I find out- I'm buying a gross! ha ha!

    Welcome to the forum Andy- and thanks for the post.
  • clavanclavan
    edited August 2014
    Jimmy Bryant, seriously what a sound, listen to:

    HillBilly Boogie Classics Vol.1. - Bryant's Bounce

    a realy great nice jazzy sound, superb
    Regards
    Clavan
    Netherlands (oversea Europ ;)
  • clavanclavan
    And what about this beautifull one.

    Deep Water by Jimmy Bryant, performed by Alex Far…:

    Regards
    Clavan
  • ruger9ruger9
    That was absolutely gorgeous! Fantastic playing. Probably my favorite Bryant tune I've ever heard. Makes me want to learn it!

    Now to go see if I can find a copy somewhere....
  • RogerioFerrazRogerioFerraz
    I have subscribed to Farran's youtube channel some time ago - very interesting and well filmed videos and great playing all around! Highly recommended to fans of Jimmy Bryant, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes and Bill Jennings, among other great stuff!
  • ruger9ruger9
    I've just been on Farran's channel.... how I missed JIMMY RIVERS I'll never know.... going to buy that one right now...
  • SteveBSteveB
    edited August 2014
    I think I discovered Alex the day after I discovered Jimmy..if you contact him, you might be able to talk him out of a transcription or two : )

    Which reminds me, I was turned on to Jimmy Rivers through the Western Swing course on Truefire by Ray Nijenhuis. Thank you Ray! And that in turn led me to this site and Jim's lessons.
  • ruger9ruger9
    IDK how much of the "hillbilly jazz" stuff Jim plays live anymore (except with the Willies, of course), but I love love love his 10-Gallon Cats stuff (and the stuff with the Willies, of course:) )

    Anyone have any other specific (album) recommendations to get more of the Jimmy Rivers/Deep Water type stuff? I could listen to that for days...

    I think I will contact Alex, to see if maybe he did transcribe that tune...
  • OfMythicWorldsOfMythicWorlds
    ... and I challenge anybody to find a cooler version of "Swedish Pastry" than Jimmie & the Cherokees live in Brisbane.
  • ruger9ruger9
    I just downloaded Bisbane Bop (album)

    I also managed to find the long-out-of-print Charlie Christian Live at Minton's Playhouse 1941.

    Jimmy Bryant is very hard to find, with the exception of the album w/Speedy West.
  • weelieweelie
    Flats and string bending I think could possibly be possible with TI swings. I had them on some guitar, and they felt quite loose to me. (but hey I am a real heavy weight: I play my tele with 011s! ...but I chuck the G string and put a 009 on top. :D )
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