Grateful Dead Music Forum

Greetings,

After searching the forum for info on Bobby's tone, I am wishing for one thing: a few recordings that show a typical Bobby tone from each of his commonly referenced eras (mid-70s, for example). I am pretty good at using my gear (Line 6 HD500, Variax, and DT25 Tube amp) to emulate a tone, but I could use guidance for places where he is heard clearly and with a "best" example to follow. Specifically, I want to get the guitar and amp right, then work on pedals, so the core tone is most important to me.

I realize I'm asking for a lot - and that opinions will vary greatly. I'd appreciate a starting point, which is hard to achieve when you're first delving in, like I am.

Thank you!

This, to me, is the quintessential "phased" Weir tone from, say, 78-80. Great version of Bertha, too, Donna's harmonies are nice,too, which was not always the case.

http://leftyguitarsonly.com/vic/102178bertha.mp3

playingdead wrote:This, to me, is the quintessential "phased" Weir tone from, say, 78-80. Great version of Bertha, too, Donna's harmonies are nice,too, which was not always the case.

http://leftyguitarsonly.com/vic/102178bertha.mp3

Thanks! Very helpful!

playingdead wrote:This, to me, is the quintessential "phased" Weir tone from, say, 78-80. Great version of Bertha, too, Donna's harmonies are nice,too, which was not always the case.

http://leftyguitarsonly.com/vic/102178bertha.mp3

What show?

10-21-78 Winterland

Mesa - UE-700 -Ad-230

Dozin wrote:10-21-78 Winterland

I'll check it out. Any particular tune that sticks out for you?

Yup, Bertha

Got My Mojo Workin' was pretty cool too that night at Winterland. High energy show, back from Egypt. Probably the best of the last ones with Keith and Donna.

https://archive.org/details/gd78-10-21. ... 1d2t03.shn

If you want to hear how that guitar sounded from the audience, the first set of Shea's Theater in Buffalo 1-20-79 has some killer rhythm guitar work -- for Weir, check out Promised Land, Used to Love Her, Jack-a-roe ... and the killer Jack Straw to close the set. There was (allegedly) a backstage punchout, they came on late, without Donna, and Donna left the tour. That was really the end of the end for Keith and Donna. Just Weir singing and Jerry croaking with the remnants of the late November bronchitis that postponed most of that tour.

https://archive.org/details/gd1979-01-2 ... d1t05.flac

Interesting to think what might have happened had Garcia not collapsed backstage in New Haven the show after the Capitol Theater broadcast ... the tour would have continued as scheduled, 12-31-78 would have closed the year and Keith and Donna might have remained in the band. Who knows?

I personally find myself listening to Dicks Picks Vol. 25 5/10/78 whenever I'm cruising down the road and letting myself imagine that it is my band thats playing the show...absolutely love Bobby's tone and playing...everyone for that matter. The mix is fantastic, and the Ramble on Rose, TLEO, and Peggy-O are particularly tasty, especially when he slips in a little slide.

My favorite Weir Tone is early 70s. The fat jazzy chords he plays on Bird Song with the Cherry Red Gibson 335 does it for me. This is from Stanley Theatre on 1972-09-27

https://archive.org/details/gd72-09-27. ... 7d1t07.shn

If you want the phaser effect loud and clear there is no better (for that era) than Novemeber 73– Bobby is panned hard left throughout. Almost every show that month saw official release or at least a Charlie Miller transfer.