Looking for a guitar for FUNK

rojo412 · #1 01-20-2011, 11:02 AM

I have recently started conversing with a friend of mine who produces stuff and he and I want to make a funk album. Needless to say, I've got the bass covered.

He's going to handle drums, we will both tackle synth/keys/sound effects, and I'm going to do guitar. I don't really have one, so I'm on the lookout...

Any recommendations on what I should look for in a guitar that would be oriented towards funk? I know some guys here pull double duty or are solo guys, so what can you recommend? What makes for a good funk guitar?

Guitars I have access to without buying:

1982 Gibson Firebird II with active EQ (Dad's)
Epi Les Paul Dlx
2 different Mexi Strats
Crappy Squier Strat
Crappy Ibanez copy (I'd need to rebuild it)

If this recording turns out to be a big project, I have no problem splurging for a guitar, but I don't even know where to begin.

MakiSupaStar · #2 01-20-2011, 11:07 AM

Any guitar will do. It's how you play them that defines the sound. Personally, I have a soft spot for Gibson Les Pauls though.

Jimbob Jones · #3 01-20-2011, 11:08 AM

I love the sound of a strat for funk.

electracoyote · #4 01-20-2011, 11:10 AM

It's more the approach than the guitar. I have seen just about every type of guitar on the planet used by bonafide funk masters.

If I had to choose one, I think it would be a Strat. That bridge pickup solo'd is pretty high and tight with a little mid honk.

anyonefortennis · #5 01-20-2011, 11:16 AM

Dude. Strat.

LawDaddy · #6 01-20-2011, 11:20 AM

I just started playing guitar in a '70s funk casino show band, horns etc. The guitar parts are mainly rhythm chicka-chicka parts. A strat in the 2 and 4 positions will do, but my fave is a tele with both pups on, i.e., the middle position of the 3-way switch.

And don't forget the MXR Dyna Comp and a good envelope filter

.

hover · #7 01-20-2011, 11:20 AM

I'm inclined to say strat for the "tone" but the approach, as has been said, is paramount.

Linas · #8 01-20-2011, 11:21 AM

Strat=funk

rojo412 · #9 01-20-2011, 11:23 AM

I kind of figured that it was a "whatever!" kind of thing. Any funk bands I've seen have no similarities in the guitars. I guess because the guitar is more of an accent piece to the rhythm and horn sections.

That said, I'm bored today. A bass I've been waiting for in the mail is not getting here in a timely fashion. So I'm going to build up the Ibby copy.

Anyone have experience with these crappy switches? I've got 2 and no idea how to wire it for standard stuff.

electracoyote · #10 01-20-2011, 11:27 AM

With all due respect rojo, new topic, start a new thread...

Jim Nazium · #11 01-20-2011, 11:31 AM

Strat + wah pedal = funk

warwick.hoy · #12 01-20-2011, 11:35 AM

335 with Tapes.

Nah, j/k

Strat or Tele.

MIJ-VI · #13 01-20-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojo412

I kind of figured that it was a "whatever!" kind of thing. Any funk bands I've seen have no similarities in the guitars. I guess because the guitar is more of an accent piece to the rhythm and horn sections.

That said, I'm bored today. A bass I've been waiting for in the mail is not getting here in a timely fashion. So I'm going to build up the Ibby copy.

Anyone have experience with these crappy switches? I've got 2 and no idea how to wire it for standard stuff.

How to wire a Strat
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&so...=Google+Search

Re approach: only play the top half of a chord IIRC.

EricF · #14 01-20-2011, 11:54 AM

Strat + neck and middle pups together (classic Strat spank) + wah/envelope filter = funktacular

rojo412 · #15 01-20-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

With all due respect rojo, new topic, start a new thread...

Sorry, I did just that.

Anywho, I do recall the 2 or 4 position on a strat as being quite tasty.

L-A · #16 01-20-2011, 12:46 PM

All has been said. Go forth, and staccato plenty.

Hoover · #17 01-20-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojo412

What makes for a good funk guitar?

I haven't read any of the replies in this thread yet, but I'm sure someone's already mentioned this:

What makes for a good funk guitar? A good funk guitarist. Period.

If you're funky you can play any guitar and it will work. Just look at all the classic funk tracks over the years & the disparate variety of guitars that were used on those tracks: Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson L-5s, Gibson ES-335s, Fender Strats, Fender Telecasters, Danelectros, I'm sure someone can name an old standby funk classic that was played on a Rickenbacker or a Vox (although off the top of my head I can't, so maybe avoid those two?)

cdef · #18 01-20-2011, 02:08 PM

I used to be the guitarist in a soul/funk band before switching to bass. For the Jimmy Nolan / Nile Rodgers choppy comping style, I found a Fender Strat ideal. A Telecaster will get the vibe, too, but kinda makes you work a little harder. Guitars built for long sustain don't seem to lend themselves particularly well to this style, IME. Still, it's mostly up to playing technique: being able to do precise accents and syncopation on both up- and downstrokes while syncing these with left-hand damping.

**colcifer** · #19 01-20-2011, 02:18 PM

Strat middle pup, compression, sus chords. That's all there is to funk guitar! Most of it anyway.

**Pacman** · #20 01-20-2011, 02:28 PM

This is music related. Therefore, it's moved to Miscellaneous.