How Hardware Affects Tone & Tele-Great Bill Hullett - Ask Zac 44
April 17, 2020
How does changing bridges, saddles, and perhaps even tuners affect your guitar's tone? Today I take that on, looking at vintage style 3-saddle bridges vs heavy brass 6-saddle bridges, what to expect going from steel to brass saddles, and what happens when you install die-cast tuners. I also shine a spotlight on one of the great Telecaster players in Nashville, Bill Hullett, and take a look at his work on Radney Foster's "Just Call Me Lonesome."
Gear used in Video:
2019 Danocaster Blackguard (1953 Telecaster Style) with Ron Ellis 52T (Bridge) and Julian Lage (Neck)
Strings: Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42
Pick: Blue Chip TPR 35 RB
Amp: 1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker
Effects used:
TC Polytune
Mirage compressor pedal
Boss DM-3
9v power via Truetone CS6
I also spotlight Bill Hullett, and talk about both his musical contributions, and how he taught Joe Glaser enough that he refers to him as "Mr. Telecaster." I also show his stellar intro to Radney Foster's "Just Call Me Lonesome." Bill was kind enough to share: "The entire Radney record was done with all guitars plugged straight into the amp.... no pedals or rack gear, with one exception on "Nobody Wins" it was a Fender 12 string straight into a Mesa Boogie Studio pre amp. On "Lonesome, "it was my original 1952 Nocaster into a stock reissue Fender tweed Bassman, #9 Ernie Ball strings. And a Fender heavy pick."
Here are shots of his 1951 Nocaster, serial number 0514
Dirk Wacker's 2009 interview with Hullett for Premier Guitar