2010 Crossroads- Oteil and Weeks strings!

Bibby · #1 08-21-2011, 07:41 PM

I just watched this entire concert on Netflix - wow!!!

My favorite bass tones - by far - were Oteil Burbridge with Tedeschi/Trucks and Willie Weeks with Clapton. Their playing and tone absolutely sang and sat in the mix so nicely!!

One thing they had in common - they were both P basses. Oteil's was a Road Worn and I think Willies was an actual vintage, both maple boards. Willie had an Aguilar rig, not sure about Oteil.

Does anyone know what strings these guys use? If I had to guess I would say flats, but I'm just not sure. I just know the tone was perfect and I need details! I know the eagle eyes on this board know the scoop....

Blues Bass Man · #2 08-21-2011, 07:54 PM

Flats for sure.
I seem to remember reading Willie Weeks uses La Bella
Burbridge has his Road Worn is strung up with Flats....Not sure what brand though.

**ShoeManiac** · #3 08-21-2011, 08:13 PM

I was at this gig. Pretty sure that Oteil was playing through an SWR rig.

Don't forget about Pino, either. I sat out for the John Mayer set, but Pino was rocking a P-Bass for that set, too. He was using an SVT, IIRC.

JTE · #4 08-22-2011, 12:14 PM

Otiel at least used to use D'Addario strings. In one BP interview he talked about how he used to buy D'Addarios even though other companies were giving him strings for free, so a friend helped him set up the endorsement.

Last time I read Willie talking about his strings, he said he was using flats. That was for the John Scofield tribute to Ray Charles and he said the music just sort of called for flats. Don't know about what he's using with the Clapton gig, and I wouldn't just assume they're the same.

John

MF_Maher · #5 08-22-2011, 12:27 PM

Oteil often plays through Epifani amps and cabs, but I haven't seen this Crossroads yet.

I'm not sure if his P-basses are road-worns; he got into buying older Fenders a few years ago...including his gorgeous '64 Jazz (the year of his birth)--that I wish he'd play more often on the few ABB gigs they do anymore. A Jazz cuts through more than the P-bass in that setting, in my opinion.

It was more than a little intimidating playing with him in the room at a party in NYC a few years ago, but he's such a good guy and I got over it pretty quickly. I love him on any model bass and through any amp!

Blues Bass Man · #6 08-22-2011, 01:33 PM

JTE, I know Burbridge was using D'Addario XL Nickel Wounds,but I didn't want to assume he was using D'Addario Flats just because of that.
On Weeks...I'm a HUGE Willie Weeks fan, and been front row for a number of the shows he's done with Clapton, and there is no doubt in my mind he was using Flats at those shows.