Rig Rundown - G.E. Smith
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2018
- Article & photos: bit.ly/GESmithRR
Few guitarists have had a more illustrious career then G.E. Smith. From his run with Hall & Oates to his decade of leading the Saturday Night Live band, Smith has played with nearly everyone including Mick Jagger, Tina Tuner, Eddie Van Halen, Buddy Guy, Al Green, and Bob Dylan. Smith hung out with Premier Guitar’s John Bohlinger after soundcheck before a recent show at Nashville’s City Winery and gave an up-close look at his killer, old-school rig.
G.E. Smith’s lifelong No. 1 remains his 1952 Fender Esquire. Although the guitar is labeled an Esquire, it has had two pickups in it since Smith got it. It has been re-fretted twice, but other than that, nothing has changed during their half a century together.
Next up is G.E. Smith’s signature Fender Telecaster. This guitar takes design ideas from Smith’s old lap steel. The bridge pickup is screwed right into the wood and the inlays mimic a vintage Fender lap steel. G.E. wanted the store models to be finished in dakota red, but Fender put the guitar into production with candy apple red. This prototype is the only one with the original dakota red finish.
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Article & photos: bit.ly/GESmithRR
Flot-A-Tone Master
I saw GE for the first time in a video registration concert with H&O. I was blown away by his killer sound. Do you know what his set-up was in those days? The video didn’t reveal much of his secrets. Would be great! Concert was Liberty Concert 1985!
We tried, but they politely declined because they didn't have time. Thanks for the suggestion!
We need an updated Lukather Rundown..... just sayin
Premier Guitar hey. You did an interview with someone when they said “I don’t even plug the things in anymore. I just pluck the string and feel the body” who was that? And can you post. A link. I can’t find it anywhere
My favorite thing about hearing G.E. Talk, is that he doesn’t have to embellish. It’s all real, he’s been there for all he’s talking about. He doesn’t name drop for the sake of it, and he is just an absolute wealth of knowledge. He’s somebody we want to hold onto.
He probably is a great dude to know.
Absolutely!
G.E. Smith is a sage. I cannot listen to him without feeling he resides in some mystical space where guitar wisdom known to only a few resides.
I saw GE and T-Bone Wolk backing Dylan back in...'89 I think. At Kings Dominion amusement park in Virginia. GE did a solo during "All Along The Watchtower" that made my jaw drop. Absolutely the best solo I've ever heard. And even better? The evening fireworks were going off at the same time! Glorious. Steve Earl opened. The next night we went back to the park. Jeff Healey opening for Little Feat. Hell of a weekend.
man i could listen to G.E.'s stories all day long.
Right?!?!.....Dude could read me the phone book and have me hanging on every word.
A master story teller....
Im willing to bet Bonamassa watched this and started making plans to acquire those teles from GE lol
@@mragunathan1627 haha yea spoiled lil rich boy buys whatever he wants.
Kewl Beans have you seen the series of interviews here on YT
@@TmcIIIvideo hey dude idk. i mean i've seen a bunch of videos of him just telling stories and such. probably most of them were interviews but this was like 2 years ago and i can't really remember what i've seen or haven't seen of him on youtube lol. good chance i did tho cuz like i said, i could listen to his stories all day. :D
Love the way he hugs the old Esquire that his mom bought him. I mean he holds em all way up high, but you can tell he's really holding that one close to his heart.
It's one of the sweetest I've seen in a while.
I love G E Smith. What a fine musician who is just about the music. No arrogance or fakery here. Thanks for a great video!
👏👍👊
He’s for real for sure
Man, growing up without cable TV in the late 80s/early 90s meant the ONLY real guitar player I ever saw was G.E. Smith on SNL. This is the guy that gave me the guitar bug.
I walked up behind GE at The New York Guitar Show (in the basement of a Church on the Lower East Side) as he was holding an old Telecaster. This was about 1990 or so.
He looked at me and said "so whattya think?". I answered "Hmmmm...slotted screws, serial number on the bridge, original paint...nice 51". He looked in my eyes and said "I like a man who knows his Teles".
@The Cowboy Um, yes I did.
One of my good friends since 1978 plays Bass for Nugent. Yes he did.
@@IPLAYLOUD so cool
@@IPLAYLOUD what's the bass players name?
@@andrewkramer4021 Who knows. Ask the fish he is always holding.
I really like it when the guitar player does the rig rundown instead of the tech. Nothing against techs, it is just more interesting when the player does it. GE Smith is totally cool and an incredible player. He is also totally humble.
It's only appropriate if the musicians are "really" busy... everything else is snobbery...you play your instrument, you should break it down for the people that make you relevant
I like it better when the musicians talk about the music, and the techs talk about the gear. Most of the time the musicians have no idea about techie stuff
@@Ottophil I think GE Smith knows about everything. I doubt he was using a tech on this tour.
@Ottophil yes I agree … love it when both tech and guitarist explain both of their areas!
The best part of SNL was coming back from commercial and the SNL band was always jamming out.
Todd Glosser that’s true
Probably GE is my my first true “guitar hero” for this reason.
G.E. with a big ass smile on his face, loving it. This guy is so cool. He's a legend, but he's as down to earth as they come.
Todd Glosser yup
I loved that too about SNL when he was on there. I couldn't wait to see what guitar he was playing and that shit eating grin he had on. You could tell he loved his job. It was always great to see that and even inspirational in it's own way.
G.E. has a ton of class and is the real deal.
“I’ve worked with legends, I am not one” GE is SUCH a legend!
Absolutely!
GE Smith is a national treasure. Such a cool dude!
Not just a professional guitarist, an absolute legend.
Tears thanks 🙏 GESmith remember that name super Star 😢 ol'school
Honestly GE Smith smile an Onify
I could listen to G.E. tell stories all day. Please write a book G.E.
I got to meet G.E a few years ago and he is one of the most gracious and humble big time musicians I have ever met. It was great to see that the guy that I grew up watching on SNL was even cooler than I thought he was when I got to meet him.
This guy says he's not a legend, my my wut a humble guitar slinger! Love me some GE Smith!
Anthony W without question....a legend.
John's enthusiasm and respect is contagious. When the video was over, my face was sore because I had been smiling the whole time and didn't realize it. The same thing happened when he interviewed Doyle. The only thing that was missing here is I wish he could have arrived a bit earlier and had been able to start the video with them both jamming a bit.
O'Doyle Rules.
GE's work on Hall and Oates H20 and Big Bam Boom are for me his best ones. AT times the guitar didn't sound like a guitar. But the sound was so cool. For someone so traditional in terms of background it was amazing how he came up with such modern cutting edge sounds. Those were landmark records. Anyway you put it. Stand out song would be Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid. Yes there was some great guitar in there.
the thing about legends is that they don't decide if they are legends... we do..... and you are a legend!
John is the world’s oldest awkward teenager
@The Doobie Sisters & Sack Blabbath -- Aw come on. He's no Dan Rather, but geeky respectable.
He is the spitting image of Freddy Jones from Scooby Doo! Sounds just like him too
He's awesome. Love the positive vibes.
@thedoobiesisterssackblabba7181 he seems like that dude who thinks he the best or all that or a douche back in his teens and 20s like a motley crue type of savage
I love John. He’s a great player and a good guy.
"It's sideways 'cause I don't have a cord that's long enough." There's a big lesson there for all us gear hounds who spend thousands on all kinds of stuff and can't hold a candle to guys like him.
This is bar far my favorite rundown. GE Smith is an awesome musician and I love his very down to earth personality. I am an even bigger fan of his now. Thank you for covering him.
Well that was the best half hour I've spent today...What a great guy GE is !
Its so cool G E is doing the interviews and stuff now. He communicates so well with such knowledge and his background but with a natural humerus he shares with us fellow lovers of the guitar.
I met GE ar Oak Int airport having a smoke & he was the coolest, down to earth, genuinely nice person.
I wish him all the best.
I couldn't wait to listen to G E Smith. His ease of living is an example to us all.
That’s a fact, he loves life man✌️
I saw Chuck Berry live at BB Kings in NYC back in 2002 and G.E. Smith opened the show. For that show he played a Gibson ES-335 and I think his amp was a Fender Super Reverb (I could be wrong about that but to my best recollection it looked like a black-face Fender 4X10 combo). That was some of the best sounding live electric guitar I ever heard....both tone-wise and just his playing. G.E. is such an awesome player.
He just radiates humility...Very cool and informative...I'd love to be able to pick his brain...
Cesar was a good friend during his DC days.Before he made pedals.Still use the Deluxe Reverb he built for me in ‘81.He always told GE stories.
G.E. never added the rest of the letter in his first name G.E.N.I.U.S, what a player and such a nice humble guy with no bulls**t, I see why everyone who plays with him speaks so highly of him, As always JB does a stellar job.
Thanks for this rundown.. G.E. Smith is a maestro, legend, refined tone man, well mannered, and always filled with joy when he is playing. Hats off to the man!!!
You may think you are cool. And, truth be told, you may actually be quite cool. However, you are not as cool as G.E. Smith.
Mister Tee 👍
Nobody's cooler than him!
I concur.
I assembled a pine body tele and I can tell you, they are just cool!
nobody's as cool as G.E. man
This is so great. Love his approach, simple and just gets down to playing. A legend
Nick Granville yes he is nick
...well said
Like Waddy Wachtel, G.E. is a legend that guitarists and those who love guitars know, and respect.
"Man, that's a really good hammer, I think I'll leave it at home" - G.E. always has something funky and logical to bring to the table.
is it strange, i dont even PLAY guitar, but i love to hear any artist talk about the details of their craft, i learn theres so much more there than meets the eye, neck & body design, certain pick-ups, strings , pedals...but few have the talent of THIS guy to know how to put it all together, AND speak about it in a clear, easy way, the joy of it shows in his speech and performance, long may you run, G.E. !
One of the funniest things the Simpsons did in their golden age was to immortalize G.E. Smith playing his SNL bumper licks. They did such a hilariously-good job. And I can actually still to this day perfectly hear the generic blues riff they had him playing in my memory.
GE is a great guy, known him for years, he love to hang out in music stores and talk guitars and amps all day long
The look of bliss and happiness on his face when he is playing that Tremolo pedal is priceless! Just having good ole fun! And the pedal sounds great!
Yes G.E...you are a legend. A very unassuming one which somehow makes you shine even brighter. Saw you with Dylan in Ottaw in 89 or 90.
What an absolute gentleman. So pleasant, generous and knowledgeable.
G.E. is one of the most laid back guys who has a really vast knowledge of these old guitars, wouldn’t ya love to sit and spend a few hours talking to him about old gear. Man, the stories he could tell !
great rundown with a true legend. I met G.E. in the vintage guitar store on 48st. 25 or 30 years ago. what a nice and humble guy. he helped make S.N.L. great back in the day.
Whenever G.E. Even just strums his guitar he always has a huge smile on his face! A true musician!!!!
Love GE, he's such an incredible player, cool dude and man I could listen to his stories all day long.
G.E, you sir are a class act. Humble, talented, cool, friendly and everything we should all aspire to be. Thanks for doing this rundown!
Love the story of his first guitar and the fact that he still uses it!
My parents gave me a mu-tron phase shifter just like that one in 1973. Still have it and the original box. It’s built like a tank..
One of the most enjoyable rig run downs with Mr. Cool himself. G E has always had a beautiful sound
I thoroughly enjoyed these 2 gentlemen talk. I mean very respectful and so freaking talented. He names these legends that he's met and played with like good friends, because they are. Wow!
Yes GE, you are a legend.
BFahz he’s so humble, but yep, totally a legend
So glad you asked G.E. to demo his pedal board. I like to HEAR this stuff not just look at it. What a great interview. Thanks, John and G.E. Such a nice humble player.
I never heard of this guy until youtube. Man, is there any rock legend he has not performed with in the sixties to eighties? or beyond. He seems like a nice guy that could be in a band and not cause trouble - the perfect sideman. I would love to try all his guitars and pedals and amps. I have a 65 Fender Jaguar and Twin Reverb bought new. I played it in an open stadium once and the lead singer cranked it to 10. Now, the only change I made was to swap out the original pickups for hot Seymour Duncans (saved the originals) The setup sounded like heaven. No distortion, no breakups, just clean Fender tone the way Leo Fender designed it. Fender had an ad campaign called "you won't part with yours (Fender)" and he's right. I've been offered crazy money for my setup and I say, "I don't have a time machine to go back to 1965 and buy another one". Hell, I'd put it in my coffin but I know someone would dig the guitar up. I guess if Bill Gates made an offer I couldn't refuse, I'd think about it lol.
Anyway, I'd love to show my rig to G E Smith and watch him smile as my Jag playing through 100 watts of pure Fender heaven come pouring out.
G.E. Smith was leading the SNL band when I was just getting going with guitars, and he definitely set a good example for me (not that I've lived up to it :D) in terms of tasteful playing and great tone.
100 dollars in 1963 was a small fortune. Lucky kid. Nice of his mom.
In 1994 i was 14 and ready for my first good electric guitar after playing a pos for 2 years. I really wanted a Gibson Les Paul, but we were poor but mom managed to get me a new Epiphone Les Paul standard in a beautiful burst from Sam Ash in Queens for around 550. I still have it. Sweet guitar.
This is one of those people who you just want to sit and listen to stories from them endlessly
Man, I loved seeing those brass pedal connectors - I had those when I first started playing in the 80's...
G.E. Reminds me of the days when I was about 12/13 years old back it 61/62.I would be trying to make a little money with my shoe shine box and walk around down town shining shoes in the pubs and stuff.There was a couple music stores around and I would look in the store windows and see Fender strats and Telies.Yellow Black.They were so beautiful.Then 1964 came and everything changes.The Beatles had arrived..WOW..What a time man.Amazing..
Yes, Maestro Echoplex. Amazing interview, thanks G.E. - love your stuff man.
I have one and it ran all the time; the tape gets hissy and you replace them.
Modified my plex's so that they ran recordable 8-track tapes. On all set. Worked 5 nights a week and only had to replace the cartridge every 6mo or so. :)
The man’s love for all things guitar is contagious.
G.E. is one of my favorites. Dream gig. You're a great, switched on interviewer John. Really enjoyed this, and I'm a drummer! :) Thanks.
For anyone interested, go to youtube and type in guitar brilliance 10 seconds at a time , some of his best of his ten year stint as the snl bandleader, flying v's, tele, strat ,les pauls, oh my
This is SO awesome! Love G.E. Smith. His face and soul light up when he plays. :D Saw him with Hall and Oates a million years ago and always loved tuning in when he headed the SNL band! Such a great player and such a kind and generous interview subject.
My god, the genuine humility. What a conversation!
This is my favorite rig rundown! G.E. is the greatest. Thanks guys.
This tele, holly shit, beautiful
Who thumbs downed this? This is the best one yet! Thanks for the video PG!!!
Guits And Gats there’s ALWAYS a “tool” in the shed.
@@Jeffsafe How could your parents have possibly raised you so poorly that you believe that everybody is required to like the same arts and entertainment that YOU like, and that insulting those who don't is the appropriate course of action???
Dave Carsley I think you’ve misinterpreted my comment. I was replying to a statement made by the previous commenter who questioned people who gave this video a thumbs down no to the video itself
GE Smith, great guitarist and nice person.
I just saw him and Jim Weider last night. Masters of the Telecaster show. It was awesome!
This man convinced me to play a tele. I had that same dilemma when I was choosing an electric that I wanted to own (back then I just rented a jobby no-brand strat) and after I saw that Fender video from WAAY back where he had his first sig model (it's still on youtube btw) he mentioned Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield Blues Band record. I knew nothing of the blues nor was into blues-rock at that point but I got a copy anyway and listened to that record and from there, I knew I just had to get a Telecaster! Thank you G.E Smith. Thank you.
I saw G.E. at the Slippery Noodle in Indy back in the 90's, right after he left SNL. What a humble guy: to go from the NBC gig, to touring blues clubs being his own roadie. And what a player. I was mesmerized by his tone/skill back then, and still am. He should be recognized more fully.
One of the most real down to earth people I ever had the good fortune to interact with. A wealth of knowledge and talent and the most extensive guitar and amp collection I’ve ever seen. G.E. Is a national treasure.
At 12:20 G.E. says low E and immediately sings a perfect low E with no reference. I wonder if he was even conscious of it.
11:36 he bends to a E note, although not completely in tune, which could be considered a reference tone. But just like you said, he probably sang the low E not consciously thinking about it and just having a good tonal memory.
What a great Rig Rundown. GE Smith is one interesting guitar player with a ton of history. I never knew why the GE Smith Telecaster was built that way. Another great job by John who loves guitars (as much as we do) and knows what all of us want to know about the gear and the artist. Keep the Rig Rundowns coming John.
BTW: an Esquire with both pick ups in it, is the Born to Run guitar
GE Smith is the coolest and most humble musician out there. Excellent RR Interview.
I am a 17 year-old brazilian, never watched SNL in my life, but i couldn't have more respect for GE. He's so experienced and overall nice and wise guy. Thanks, PG, for presenting me to such a great player through his Roger Waters Rig Rundown, and various other incredible bands and players!
Link Sayajin You are missing so much - SNL has been a true reflection of American culture since the mid-70s. Go back and watch all the episodes online - and take the time to google all the references - you’ll love it.
Link Sayajin PS I was 15 when SNL was born ,and can count the episodes I missed on one hand.
Norm Macdonalds weekend update was the only funny thing about SNL to have been aired, in my opinion
I love how John probably already knows so many of these details, but plays it neutral and allows the featured artist or their gear to speak for themselves in service of narrative and good connection.
Had the pleasure of visiting Rick Kelly at Carmine St many times, the guy who built the pine tele. A really friendly and humble person, very much like GE
Thank you so much Mr. Bohlinger. I was waiting this rig rundown and finally you guys made it. G.E Smith is a true legend :)
That was a great episode, thanks to you both, and GE is so right about EVH and what set him apart from the other guitar pyrotechnic-players.
This is my favorite rig rundown so far ! Great stuff.
G.E is such a great musician and the stories. A long and very storied career. And such a nice guy.
I grew up watching GE Smith with Hall and Oats, Bob Dylan, and then on SNL when I started learning to play. I love seeing that not only has he collected all these amazing pieces of musical history but also that he tours with them and uses them. It would be a shame to lock them all up in storage and only see them as financial investments that rarely see the light of day. He’s a cool little dude with the big sound
What I have always liked about G.E. is that he has the old vintage guitars and he "plays" them. You can tell he really likes his equipment. I'm not GE Smith but I have some old Fender equipment and I play it.
G.E. Smith is THE COOLEST, no doubt about it. :)
I love these rig rundowns so much. Always something to learn and this guy is a legend! Got to dig his beautiful Telecasters, too.
I love how he constantly smiles when he plays. Dude, you're an inspiration to us lowly gig musicians...
Thanks GE Smith. I know a lot about antique Lumber, worked with it all my life and now you convinced me that the next piece of antique pine will be set aside to make a guitar , and I also have 200 year old cherry with good sound resonance. It will take a couple months to build these but they will never be for sale.
really enjoyed this session. GE is both humble and charming as he loveingly shares his jewels with us. Tools in the hands of a Master. JB really enjoying the shoot as well.
GE Smith has forgotten more than I will ever know about gear. Love watching his videos and listening to his stories about playing with the legends of music.
11 years old
“I needed a guitar to WORK. “
Which direction do you go with that historic statement.
Very few people are this cool and accessible. G. E. Smith followed a mold set by Mike Bloomfield. Just an amazing guy that because of his talent he gets to play for a living, but even more gets to share what he has learned and passes it on. Love that guy, thanks Mr. Bollinger.
Met G E last night. A true gentleman, and he IS a living legend
What a great interview. GE has done everything, yet he's so down to earth. I like this guy!
Thank you Mr. Smith for taking your time & sharing your thoughts & some of your experiences with us. You have put smiles on more faces over the years than almost anyone else I can think of. I just wanted to thank you for your time. I would love to see someone like you doing a show on guitars, amps & effects. There may only be a handful of people left on Earth with the knowledge & experience that you have & from what I can tell. No-one is sharing that knowledge & spreading it out and around with the younger generations. You would be great for something like that.
I'd love to hang out with GE if just for a day. Most laid back, humble and cool guy.
GE is 1 year older than me but I have learned a lifetime of knowledge from just this one interview. Thank you.
GE is a national treasure. I'd watch more of these if someone else hosted them.