When I moved to San Francisco I was recording a song with this cat in Palo Alto BBQ Bob, I said in the lyric old Hubert Sumlin never got enough credit. A badass blind guitarist from Ukraine had gotten me a gig at Vino Locale 2 weeks after...I was wrapping up my gear after and two ladies came out. One, Janice, was talking to me and said you play blues do you know Hubert Sumlin? I was like crazy no one ever said his name. Her cousin was his mgr and I got to see him w James Cotton and meet him and talk to him in his room for 2 hours. You got that snappy sound dialed in
I'm pretty haphazard with strings... I change them when they break, and I'll use whatever's the closest in my gig bag, BUT I generally prefer 11s, so most likely that's mostly what's on this. If i had a dedicated 'hubert sound' guitar, i would probably go for 10s or even lighter. Someone asked me about the amp too, I was gonna lie and say like a 1958 210 Super, but it's actually going direct into my mac with Digidesign's Eleven Amp Sim plug in. Fender Bassman setting most likely.
Thanks, Kid! You GET Hubert. Great vibe on your tone and playing. Over the years, Hubert played all kinds of guitars and amps, but as you explain, his sound didn't come from the hardware - it came from the soul of his playing and his innate ability to tweak any gear to resonate on his own frequency. Give that man a few minutes with any piece of wood, some strings and an amp and he would make it sound like Hubert Sumlin.
Great video thank you very much, I am going to flip the magnet on the P90 on my Tokai Goldtop after seeing this and experiment. Lovely playing as well mate!
Hey Kid Thanks for sharing brother ! I have been obsessed with Hubert and have been doing exactly what obsessed guitarists do... listen, read everything on Hubert I can possibly get my hands on. Been covering Smokestack doing his exact riff for Tribute. Killing Floor & you are right ! Spoonful dos sound like Freddie King ~ another great one man... my old friend Boom Boom Johnson was a Freddie fan and could phrase with the same dynamics and flair -- God rest their souls. SO, I really picked up what you were kindly layin' down.
well done Kid! have a celibatory smoke! Hubert was magic, he showed up late for a festival, I played at in Niagara Falls, strolled up on stage while we were mid tune, with a nice new tele, plugged in to my super fx, ch, and said (now you gunna hear some mr.harmonica man)still got that amp, I saw him play in Bethesda md, just before he passed, anything he put his fingers to sounded like Hubert! G.R.H.SOUL
... Though, something you said really made me think: My own style. I wonder, how much do I 'borrow' subconsciously in my playing. Great influences shape us... drive us to create and aspire to greatness. I truly appreciate you taking the time to help fellow Guitarists with that quest. =]]
Love the attitude - Love the Playing - Love the cig hagnin' (of course you should quit for your health!) Your demos are so cool and interesting - And those TONES - THANK YOU Kid!
"The Kid must be heard", thanks for sharing, you have some great playing skills, love the Throbaks, PG 102's, If I could afford another set I would have them, as there is no end to the sounds you can get out of them in the middle position, by just changing the neck to higher volume than the bridge, or reverse. Using a RedPlate Blackverb amp, between the two I think you can get just about any sound you want. Do enjoy your passion for playing,and insite to the great masters of the blues guitar.
One of the most original guitar player of his time a huge part of Howlin Wolf's great songs. Dear Kid don't worry about the haters they are everywhere but they are unable to do anything.
Kid you are AEWSOME! I don't normally watch long vidoes cause I don't have the time but a guitar pickin' friend sent this link to me and I owe him a SERIOUS beer now. God bless! Great job!
Very cool, dude. You are the real deal. Thanks for giving insight into Mr. Sumlin and your own teaching. Lot of guys would rather take their secrets to the grave. So please, keep playiin' and postin'.
i'd say most definitely. i have played several old gibson that had the out of phase sound. it might not have been that big a deal to them at the factoy,
And as far as that Spoonful goes... I'm so glad you finally showed Hubert's real part, which was a rhythm/chord I just could not figure out, partially because it's so low in the mix. However, Hubert said in an interview that it was Freddy Robinson playing lead, not King. Sure, he may just be remembering incorrectly, but I'm inclined to believe him since Robinson has played on other Wolf sessions.
This is great stuff, been said before, you're dedication to the Blues, is totally obvious.I have Hubert's "Wake Up Call", every song is a classic, after that I became aware that he was with Hollin' Wolf from an early age, talk about living the blues.......the blues reveals itself to those who sit down and listen.....I agree with John Vassos, keep playin'that Geetah, its real as it gets. Thanks for sharing your insight......
Excellent! Please make this a regular series. You have star potential, sir. Enjoy your playing with the Nightcats. Keep up the good work and don't let that cigarette go out.
I'm hoping to become viral the kid must be Hurd!!!! Never put it together it was Freddie King on Spoonful -- one of my favorite Wolf song next to "Goin down slow"
Hey Kid, You are a treasure young man. I thought I was the only white dude to figure Hubert's tone out. You are a terrific person. Thanks for the priceless info. Good health and a Great New Year.
Great stuff! I've found this works better on some out-of-phase guitars than others. Some just don't seem to have enough zip to get a really good Sumlin sound. But this approach (bridge on 3, tone rolled right off, neck on 7 etc.) also gives some good tones when the humbuckers aren't out of phase. Not the Sumlin tone, but interesting all the same. It's even better if you've got three humbuckers and a 6-way selector, so you can bring in the middle PU with bridge and/or neck. You can get sort of a quacky stratty sound crossed with a bit of the honk Kid's got going here. A quack and a honk at the same time...two birds with one stone huh.
Interesting... thanks for the response, I think I can work on My Mind Is Ramblin all my life and not get anywhere with that tone and touch, which just makes me appreciate it that much more. Anyway, great video, it's helped me lots.
Wow.. I love the style. The only negative I can hear is a personal distaste for so much reverb. No matter. With you, I listen beyond that. Awesome playing, man.
Huberet's tone reminds me of the metalic sound of old resophonic guitars with the metal cone resonator. Maybe an electrified cousin of that old blues tone.
that has even MORE of the Hubert sound, and more easily accesible too. They are incredible P90s/ I might make a video with those too. At the time, this LP had the most Hubert-like sound. I also had a 3 P90 LP, but only 1 tone knob on that, so that don't work.
"There's a lot of buttholes on the internet...hey I'm one of them..." :) lol Love your sense of humor. And yes, the internet is indeed riddled with pathetic folk. You sir, however, are NOT one of them. Thank you for sharing this. I've come stylistically a long way from those early Hubert tracks but that stuff set my world upside down back in the 80's and I'll forever be grateful. Hubert is a giant who's shoulders we get to stand upon if we are fortunate enough. Thanks again, Kid.
"Nobody notices that stuff, you know. That's why the world's in the shape it's in". I subscribed because that's the truth
When I moved to San Francisco I was recording a song with this cat in Palo Alto BBQ Bob, I said in the lyric old Hubert Sumlin never got enough credit. A badass blind guitarist from Ukraine had gotten me a gig at Vino Locale 2 weeks after...I was wrapping up my gear after and two ladies came out. One, Janice, was talking to me and said you play blues do you know Hubert Sumlin? I was like crazy no one ever said his name. Her cousin was his mgr and I got to see him w James Cotton and meet him and talk to him in his room for 2 hours. You got that snappy sound dialed in
11 years later - thank you! This is so great.
Can't believe you are generous enough to give this away for free. These are things that keep people (me) up at night. Thanks!
the market is narrower than one might think...
Bro you are incredible
Thank you VERY much for this lesson. Wishing you MUCH popularity from this video !
V nice playing, by the way ! Love the humour too.
I just want to say THANK YOU for taking the time to explain the details and nuances of your tone quest. This video was freaking awesome!
I'm pretty haphazard with strings... I change them when they break, and I'll use whatever's the closest in my gig bag, BUT I generally prefer 11s, so most likely that's mostly what's on this. If i had a dedicated 'hubert sound' guitar, i would probably go for 10s or even lighter. Someone asked me about the amp too, I was gonna lie and say like a 1958 210 Super, but it's actually going direct into my mac with Digidesign's Eleven Amp Sim plug in. Fender Bassman setting most likely.
Thanks, Kid! You GET Hubert. Great vibe on your tone and playing.
Over the years, Hubert played all kinds of guitars and amps, but as you explain, his sound didn't come from the hardware - it came from the soul of his playing and his innate ability to tweak any gear to resonate on his own frequency. Give that man a few minutes with any piece of wood, some strings and an amp and he would make it sound like Hubert Sumlin.
Thx sir its good to know there is a connoisseur to carry on with the real sound of Reed and Sumlin rethx again a mucho
Just found you! Thank God! RIP Hubert! You’re very lucky to have met him.
THANK YOU for the hours of work that went into this. We get the result, and you got VAST experience experimenting..........
Hey Kid this is great, thanks.I saw you this summer in Humboldt County, Blue Lake casino. WHAT A GREAT SHOW .
Nice 8 years later and this video pops up on my feed. The tone is sick 👍
Excellent Excellent kid! Some of Blues guitar I have heard in long time other then the Blues legends them selves! You have those licks dialed in!!
I love your style man, a whole world of blues experience hidden under a dead pan delivery, fantastic.
Great video man, Hubert was great.
Great job at finding & Sharing this almost impossible to get info Kid -- Rock On in blues land bro you are doing great !!!
Great video thank you very much, I am going to flip the magnet on the P90 on my Tokai Goldtop after seeing this and experiment. Lovely playing as well mate!
Thank you for posting this! The first time I heard Mr. Sumlin with Howlin' Wolf, I thought wow, what a tone! He was bitin' and spittin'....
Love everything you said there. Thanks Chris!
Hey Kid Thanks for sharing brother !
I have been obsessed with Hubert and have been doing exactly what obsessed guitarists do... listen, read everything on Hubert I can possibly get my hands on.
Been covering Smokestack doing his exact riff for Tribute. Killing Floor & you are right ! Spoonful dos sound like Freddie King ~ another great one man... my old friend Boom Boom Johnson was a Freddie fan and could phrase with the same dynamics and flair -- God rest their souls. SO, I really picked up what you were kindly layin' down.
Excellent Vid plenty of food for thought......Great playing.
Cheers Mate
Amazing playing and tone insights! Thank you for sharing!
That's like a little Albert King in there but whatever man.. I'm dyin lol!
You fuckin rock!
Reminds me of lester bangs from almost famous! Great info and great guy
Meant to say the Best Blues guitar playing I have heard in a long time! Man I hate typing!
well done Kid! have a celibatory smoke! Hubert was magic, he showed up late for a festival, I played at in Niagara Falls, strolled up on stage while we were mid tune, with a nice new tele, plugged in to my super fx, ch, and said (now you gunna hear some mr.harmonica man)still got that amp, I saw him play in Bethesda md, just before he passed, anything he put his fingers to sounded like Hubert! G.R.H.SOUL
... Though, something you said really made me think: My own style. I wonder, how much do I 'borrow' subconsciously in my playing. Great influences shape us... drive us to create and aspire to greatness. I truly appreciate you taking the time to help fellow Guitarists with that quest. =]]
Ha! You are awesome! I love your style and sense of humour!
Without a doubt the best video I have ever seen on youtube! Thanks Kid.
Great vid Kid.I love Hubert and the tone you have found is killer.Nice.
Great video
Love the attitude - Love the Playing - Love the cig hagnin' (of course you should quit for your health!) Your demos are so cool and interesting - And those TONES - THANK YOU Kid!
I been a fan of you for along time ,you rock it!
" The Kid must be heard . " I totally agree !
Thankyou you legend, lots of hoursxtgere much appreciated sir thankyou
You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman of the highest order!
"That's why the world is in the shape it's in..." Amen....can I get an amen? Thank you Kid for your dedication, humor and love of all things blues.
"The Kid must be heard", thanks for sharing, you have some great playing skills, love the Throbaks, PG 102's, If I could afford another set I would have them, as there is no end to the sounds you can get out of them in the middle position, by just changing the neck to higher volume than the bridge, or reverse. Using a RedPlate Blackverb amp, between the two I think you can get just about any sound you want. Do enjoy your passion for playing,and insite to the great masters of the blues guitar.
This may be the greatest RUclips video on any subject, ever. Thanks!
Keep talking...were listening. Great stuff! Luv your playing. Big big fan. TY!!!!
Great vid, I love playing electric guitar with fingers only. NICE TONE!
Very cool. Got to get myself a goldtop on of these days.
man man man , i REALLY like your playing and tone. great vid
One of the most original guitar player of his time a huge part of Howlin Wolf's great songs. Dear Kid don't worry about the haters they are everywhere but they are unable to do anything.
Sounds great!
Kid you are AEWSOME! I don't normally watch long vidoes cause I don't have the time but a guitar pickin' friend sent this link to me and I owe him a SERIOUS beer now. God bless! Great job!
Very cool, dude. You are the real deal. Thanks for giving insight into Mr. Sumlin and your own teaching. Lot of guys would rather take their secrets to the grave. So please, keep playiin' and postin'.
tremendous mate........looking forward to giving this a bash in the morning
keep em coming man :)
Awesome video!
Hubert's Les Paul was a 55. That means P90. He was using a Danelectro amp as well from the same period. nice video!
Earned my sub for killer playing, great humor and attitude.
Thank you so much for this video and the time it took to figure it all out!
I don't mind all ur talkin' bro you have passion for the sound , great video !
This is just the best thing I've seen on RUclips ever!
Thanks for sharing your discoveries, kid! Very cool, and much appreciated. I've often wondered how Hubert got those weird tones out of a Les Paul.
Nice job! Thanks for doing all the work!
I've often wondered whether Hubert's Les Paul was, "broken" like Peter Green's. Great video man. Thanks for sharing.
i'd say most definitely. i have played several old gibson that had the out of phase sound. it might not have been that big a deal to them at the factoy,
Cute cat by the way!
And as far as that Spoonful goes... I'm so glad you finally showed Hubert's real part, which was a rhythm/chord I just could not figure out, partially because it's so low in the mix. However, Hubert said in an interview that it was Freddy Robinson playing lead, not King. Sure, he may just be remembering incorrectly, but I'm inclined to believe him since Robinson has played on other Wolf sessions.
very good tone and playing. Thanks MM
Miami FL
thx for the vid bro!! great of the use of the tone knobs.. gotta strat n def will mess around!
I agree 100%... that is why the world's in the state it's in! awesome tip, thanks
you nailed it...thanks for sharing....
Lot's of fun and honestly very helpful. Thanks man!
This is great stuff, been said before, you're dedication to the Blues, is totally obvious.I have Hubert's "Wake Up Call", every song is a classic, after that I became aware that he was with Hollin' Wolf from an early age, talk about living the blues.......the blues reveals itself to those who sit down and listen.....I agree with John Vassos, keep playin'that Geetah, its real as it gets. Thanks for sharing your insight......
Excellent! Please make this a regular series. You have star potential, sir. Enjoy your playing with the Nightcats. Keep up the good work and don't let that cigarette go out.
I'm hoping to become viral the kid must be Hurd!!!! Never put it together it was Freddie King on Spoonful -- one of my favorite Wolf song next to "Goin down slow"
Great playing and tone, thank you for uploading!
Irmão você toca muito, simplesmente fantástico, a forma que consegue tocar apenas com os dedos....posso dizer que virei seu fã, meu parabéns....!
Hey Kid,
You are a treasure young man. I thought I was the only white dude to figure Hubert's
tone out. You are a terrific person. Thanks for the priceless info. Good health
and a Great New Year.
Cool video !!!! Pleeeeease more of this ! Have you ever thought about a Instructional DVD ......I would be the first byer :-)
Great stuff! I've found this works better on some out-of-phase guitars than others. Some just don't seem to have enough zip to get a really good Sumlin sound. But this approach (bridge on 3, tone rolled right off, neck on 7 etc.) also gives some good tones when the humbuckers aren't out of phase. Not the Sumlin tone, but interesting all the same. It's even better if you've got three humbuckers and a 6-way selector, so you can bring in the middle PU with bridge and/or neck. You can get sort of a quacky stratty sound crossed with a bit of the honk Kid's got going here. A quack and a honk at the same time...two birds with one stone huh.
Awesome tones man!!!
Interesting... thanks for the response, I think I can work on My Mind Is Ramblin all my life and not get anywhere with that tone and touch, which just makes me appreciate it that much more. Anyway, great video, it's helped me lots.
An earnest review and that was very informative!
This guy is a legend, very badass video.
Wow.. I love the style. The only negative I can hear is a personal distaste for so much reverb. No matter. With you, I listen beyond that. Awesome playing, man.
don;t diss reverb. it's the neosporin of music!
Kid you are the best!!
Huberet's tone reminds me of the metalic sound of old resophonic guitars with the metal cone resonator. Maybe an electrified cousin of that old blues tone.
Thanks for doing this. Much appreciated! Maybe do a lesson on Hubert's finger style and how to play Killing Floor?
that has even MORE of the Hubert sound, and more easily accesible too. They are incredible P90s/ I might make a video with those too.
At the time, this LP had the most Hubert-like sound. I also had a 3 P90 LP, but only 1 tone knob on that, so that don't work.
"The kid must be heard!" Hahah Great video and great playing man!
Great Cat. The other stuff will be useful too. thx.
Messin with the kid!
More videos like this please. :) What about one with the sound of the Kid?
Well done! thanks
Great! I enjoyed it...
Kid! Such a character!
"There's a lot of buttholes on the internet...hey I'm one of them..." :) lol Love your sense of humor. And yes, the internet is indeed riddled with pathetic folk. You sir, however, are NOT one of them. Thank you for sharing this. I've come stylistically a long way from those early Hubert tracks but that stuff set my world upside down back in the 80's and I'll forever be grateful. Hubert is a giant who's shoulders we get to stand upon if we are fortunate enough. Thanks again, Kid.
This is dope. Respect!
dude, that was awesome....................
LMAO !!!! Great Video .... Love Your Videos and Playing Style . Rock On Brother .
Thanks Kid! Whickid lesson, man!
Great job! Thank you. Part of the sound is also a 15" speaker
Amazing ty
Thanks Kid - keep talkin'!
Kid's in the "zone" right here, Haha!
lol.. I didn't notice the cat untill 8:00
Great video btw