I just wanted everyone’s opinion as to what they think of this guitar he's been using since the Licks tour. What do you think of it's sound? Does it work well with the Stones songs it's used on and do you think it SUITES Keith himself?

It seems to me that, any excuse he has, he brings it out. It seems that it's only on the open tuning numbers that he plays the Telecaster.

Anyway, I think it's called a Gibson E-... well I’m not sure how the rest goes!

Gibson E-335.

And, I like it!! It has a sweet tone.

Reptile Wrote:
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> Gibson E-335.


That's the one!

I don't like it. Sounds a little feeble to me.

Listen to his tone on Nearness Of You on Forty Flicks!! Kind of like BB King.

Reptile Wrote:
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> Listen to his tone on Nearness Of You on Forty
> Flicks!! Kind of like BB King.


Okay, I'll give ya that one. It sounded wonderful on The Nearness Of you, but on nearly EVERY song?

Yeah sometimes it sounds a little cheesy. But that's because Keith isn't the tightest player around. But there's many songs it sounds great on.

I still wonder why he doesn't use the red one anymore. Probably because of his fight with Chuck.

Reptile Wrote:
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> Yeah sometimes it sounds a little cheesy. But
> that's because Keith isn't the tightest player
> around. But there's many songs it sounds great
> on.


Yes, "cheesy" is actually quite a good term to describe it. Some of the numbers he uses on sound as if the guitar needs a little more drive to it. You know, a little more aggression and nastiness. At times, that Gibson sounds a little too clean and weak for a particular song.

Yeah you're right there. Like on Satisfaction for example.

Reptile Wrote:
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> Yeah you're right there. Like on Satisfaction for
> example.


Agreed. Satisfaction was best in 94-95 when he used a Les Paul.

On the subject of songs it does'nt fit. Is he still using it on Bitch? Wrong choice of guitar there.

it's a 355, not a 335.

with sssoul Wrote:
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> it's a 355, not a 335.

Sorry, you're right!! Ofcourse, Keith has block inlays.

>> Keith has block inlays. <<

well, his guitar does, anyway. :E
the diamond-shaped peghead inlays are pretty distinctive too.
you can compare 335s and 355s (and 345s too, while we're at it) on this page: [www.provide.net]

He has played that black 355 in my face on the main stage and B-stage several times this tour and it sounded great, best of all his guitars. He may be looking for something lighter though.

He could play that 355 and Ronnie could play his Zemaitis all night long and I would be happy.

I would love to see Keith bring back that stunning Black L5 solid body he used w/ the winos. Those things are heavy as fuk, but have an amazing tone. I believe Gibson only made 10 or so in Black. I know Paul Simon has one and Keith has 2..

Steven Wrote:
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He may
> be looking for something lighter though.


Do you think he has a problem with the weight of it? In my opinion, he should at least, try and vary the guitars he's using a little more. No wonder i'm thinking that so many of the songs have the same sound. He's using the same guitar! At least the Stratocaster is a little more versitile in the sense that you can get different sounds on it. Though, I DID start a thread bitching about this model as to me, it sounds too clean.

>> I would love to see Keith bring back that stunning Black L5 solid body he used w/ the Winos.
Those things are heavy as fuk, but have an amazing tone. I believe Gibson only made 10 or so in Black. I know Paul Simon has one and Keith has 2. <<

apparently Ronnie has one of those single-PU L5s as well, identical to Keith's, but i've never seen him with it.
smile: maybe that's where Keith got his second one? :E


- 1988, by Ross Halfin

Much better than the Musicman guitars he used during the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour.

i like that guitar...looks like a jewel and keith wear it well!

Big Al Wrote:
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> Steven Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> He may
> > be looking for something lighter though.
>
>
> Do you think he has a problem with the weight of
> it? In my opinion, he should at least, try and
> vary the guitars he's using a little more. No
> wonder i'm thinking that so many of the songs have
> the same sound. He's using the same guitar! At
> least the Stratocaster is a little more versitile
> in the sense that you can get different sounds on
> it. Though, I DID start a thread bitching about
> this model as to me, it sounds too clean.
>
>
>

Hey hey, listen up here, it's a semi-hollowbody, that's really light compared to solidbody's like a stratocaster!!

>> it's a semi-hollowbody, that's really light compared to solidbody's like a stratocaster!! <<

actually the good Mathijs was just recently talking about the relative weight of the ES-355 and ...
ahh here it is: [iorr.org]
"Well, the semi-acoustic do have a quite large solid block of wood in the middle, and they are bigger than standard solid body guitars.
Most vintage ES-335 to 355s that I have held were as heavy as a standard Les Paul"

isn't that interesting! have some popcorn. :E


"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

Waaah I've heard ES-335's are about 7 lbs and Les Paul's about 9 lbs!!

I must be getting everything wrong today.

>> I must be getting everything wrong today. <<

nah, you're just checking to see if anyone's paying attention. somebody has to do it!
and it's a tough job, but you're doing well, Reptile honey. have some popcorn. :E

getting back to the original question, though (just for a minute): i like the ES-355, and yeah i reckon it suits Keith - that's why he's using it.
but *has* he been playing Bitch on it regularly, on this tour? i don't seem to have Bitch on any of my ABB dvds,
but i thought he was mainly using the black custom Tele for Bitch, except for that one (?) time he had that Dan Armstrong.


"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

The Music Man silhouettes keith and ron used in early 90s are great guitars. You can get great Fender and Gibson sounds out of them. I'm surprised these never really caught on.

with sssoul Wrote:
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i thought he was mainly using the black custom
> Tele for Bitch, except for that one (?) time he
> had that Dan Armstrong.

He was using the Gibson on the Licks renditions of Bitch and I just presumed that was stil the case.

Yeah and it wouldn't be logical because Bitch is in standard tuning, and the black Tele is in open G!!

well, the tuning can be changed! but yes, i see i was misremembering:
indeed Keith has been using the black custom Tele in open G this tour.
he did use the Dan Armstrong on Bitch at MSG in september, though;
and maybe more regularly he's been using the ES-355 for it.
anyway Bjornulf reported that at Tokyo and Sapporo Keith used some new off-white instrument for several numbers, including Bitch -
not the Supro Ozark, but something else: [iorr.org]



"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

Yeah but it's a 5 string anyway so they wouldn't tune it to standard anyway.

And I've got the feeling Keith's been using all the guitars he's lost(so new ones)! Like the Dan Armstrong and the Zemaitis.

Anyway I'm off to bed!! See y'all!!

>> Yeah but it's a 5 string <<

yeah but ... that's not immutable either.
but you're right. good night, sleep well.


- Charlotte, oct 21st 05 (don't know who took it, sorry!)

Anybodys back would hurt with carrying all those guitars around.....



but remember, Keith's only got two hands and one gut (with feeling)

I own 2 Silhouettes and think they're great guitars.
Small, lightweight, and get great tones.
I don't think MusicMan promoted them very well.
Some guitars catch on and some don't.
Take the Gibson L6-S. I thouoght that was a terrific guitar,
but that never caught on. However people still buy the horrific Explorer.
It doesn't matter as 50 years from now, you're still gonna
have to compete with the Tele, Strat and Les Paul.