Telecaster?

[Gandolf]

Hello. It has often been stated by historians and fans alike that Mr. Page only used his famous "Dragon"

1959 Rosewood Neck Telecaster, aided along with Sola Sound MKII Tonebender (modified with three OC81Ds by the legendary Roger Mayer) and a 1690T Surpo Corando Amplifier (modded from a 2x12 to a 1x12 by a roadie) for the FIRST 2 LED ZEPPELIN STUDIO ALBUMS. My ears do not agree with such statements. Page acquired a 1958 Gibson Les Paul from Joe Walsh during late April of 1969, since his "Dragon" Telecaster supposedly malfunctioned. So naturally, we would assume here that: "Case closed: Page never owned or used a Telecaster after April of 1969, since he was always seen around this period with that 1958 Les Paul he bought from Joe Walsh." But then, again, many of those same sources state that Page recorded the famous "Stairway To Heaven" guitar solo with his "Dragon" Telecaster. The same one which was supposedly not in use after late April of 1969. So, maybe Page did use the Telecaster longer than we would all assume. Yes, that is very much so. At least my ears say so. When I hear: Immigrant Song, Celebration Day (In breif sections, like the lead guitar solo), Out On The Tiles (again, in brief sections, like on the closing riff), Rock and Roll (the lead guitar solo), Stairway to Heaven (The six string part and lead solo), When The Levee Breaks (the six string overdubs, and the regularly tuned slide parts), The Song Remains The Same (the six string lead guitar solos), The Rain Song (in breif sections, like the "heavy" section), Over The Hills and Far Away (the six string electric rhythm guitar, because the solo sounds awfully like a Les Paul), Dancing Days (most of it), D'yer M'aker, No Quarter (the rhythm part sounds like a fuzzed-up Tele, and the solo sounds like a Fender Stratocaster, but CAN be a potential Telecaster), The Ocean, Houses of The Holy, In The Light (Lead part), Down by The Seaside, Achilles Last Stand (in brief sections), Royal Orleans (in brief sections), Nobody's Fault But Mine (In brief lead parts), Candy Store Rock (in a lot of brief moments), Hots on Nowhere (in brief sections), Tea For One (in brief moments), and most of In Through The Outdoor, I tend to feel that the 1959 Telecaster>Surpo>Tonebender combo was being in use, instead of the much talked about Les Paul. Could anybody confrim these to be true?

[MCAN]

Nobody can officially confirm except Jimmy, and I would guess even he is a little fuzzy on things recorded in later years.

You have to take into consideration that Jimmy used different amps and mic techniques for different tracks, and that the Les Paul is an extremely versatile guitar. By simply turning down the volume on the LP and distance micing, the fat sounds of a LP can sound a lot thinner. Also, while his Number One LP was used for the majority of recording, Page had other guitars at his disposal and I'm sure he wasn't afraid to use the one he felt worked best.

Also consider that Page did have a 1964 Strat and a brown Tele that he used in later years (both acquired in 1975, and Page swapped out the neck of the brown Tele for the one from the Dragon Tele). The Strat was used on Presence, and the Page can be seen playing the Tele on the 1977 and at Knebworth. It's reasonable to assume he used these guitars on Presence and ITTOD (if only for solos and overdubs), in addition to his LP, along with different amps, mic techniques, and board effects.

[The Rover 75]

All I can say is that I have played both instruments, not of that vintage of course, but to me there's no contest. The Les Paul has a better tonal range as well as a thickness. Hard to say what was used, just my .02 cents.

[Stairway is NOT stolen]

Then you have the fans who say Jimmy never used a Les Paul in the studio...

[Guy Newlan]

The lead on Black Dog sounds like a Tele to me as well as those mentioned by Gandolf.

[IpMan]

Jimmy used the 59' Dragon Tele live until May 69', the last date he used it live was May 3rd 1969. Regarding studio work, I believe he retired the Dragon Tele in late / early 71', the Stairway solo being the last recording of the instrument. However, shortly after that Jimmy acquired a cream colored tele which he used for studio work so in the studio he always had a tele of some sort up until the end of Zep. Then, beginning in 83' his brown tele b-bender became his #1 guitar until the Outrider tour when he started using all kinds of guitars live including PRS Customs.

[Maaike Roeleveld]

Don't really know for sure, what guitar was used on which songs, but I do think it's safe to say that Jimmy used different guitars on different songs and certainly not just a Les Paul. I'd say a Les Paul is what he would play live, while in the studio he'd also use plenty of other guitars.

As for the dragon Tele, didn't the story go that a friend wanted to surprise JImmy by giving that Tele a new paint job and messing up the electronics in the process? Or is that story also just a myth.....? Apperently the neck of the dragon Tele is now part of his brown B-bender Tele.......

 

 

[IpMan]

^ Yep, that is the story, but as another poster said, I don't buy it. No matter how screwed up the electronics may have become he was Jimmy Page for crying out loud, I am sure he could have had a guitar tech fix the damn thing, a 59' tele is pretty basic insofar as electronics go. However I did hear that even before the supposed paint job screwed up the wiring that he was having issues with it and constantly having to jerry rig the thing.

Most likely Page retired it because he preferred the LP as a stage instrument, simple as that. But, hey, it's rock & roll so there always has to be a "story."

 

[sixpense]

Hello. It has often been stated by historians and fans alike that Mr. Page only used his famous "Dragon"

1959 Rosewood Neck Telecaster, aided along with Sola Sound MKII Tonebender (modified with three OC81Ds by the legendary Roger Mayer) and a 1690T Surpo Corando Amplifier (modded from a 2x12 to a 1x12 by a roadie) for the FIRST 2 LED ZEPPELIN STUDIO ALBUMS. My ears do not agree with such statements. Page acquired a 1958 Gibson Les Paul from Joe Walsh during late April of 1969, since his "Dragon" Telecaster supposedly malfunctioned. So naturally, we would assume here that: "Case closed: Page never owned or used a Telecaster after April of 1969, since he was always seen around this period with that 1958 Les Paul he bought from Joe Walsh." But then, again, many of those same sources state that Page recorded the famous "Stairway To Heaven" guitar solo with his "Dragon" Telecaster. The same one which was supposedly not in use after late April of 1969. So, maybe Page did use the Telecaster longer than we would all assume. Yes, that is very much so. At least my ears say so. When I hear: Immigrant Song, Celebration Day (In breif sections, like the lead guitar solo), Out On The Tiles (again, in brief sections, like on the closing riff), Rock and Roll (the lead guitar solo), Stairway to Heaven (The six string part and lead solo), When The Levee Breaks (the six string overdubs, and the regularly tuned slide parts), The Song Remains The Same (the six string lead guitar solos), The Rain Song (in breif sections, like the "heavy" section), Over The Hills and Far Away (the six string electric rhythm guitar, because the solo sounds awfully like a Les Paul), Dancing Days (most of it), D'yer M'aker, No Quarter (the rhythm part sounds like a fuzzed-up Tele, and the solo sounds like a Fender Stratocaster, but CAN be a potential Telecaster), The Ocean, Houses of The Holy, In The Light (Lead part), Down by The Seaside, Achilles Last Stand (in brief sections), Royal Orleans (in brief sections), Nobody's Fault But Mine (In brief lead parts), Candy Store Rock (in a lot of brief moments), Hots on Nowhere (in brief sections), Tea For One (in brief moments), and most of In Through The Outdoor, I tend to feel that the 1959 Telecaster>Surpo>Tonebender combo was being in use, instead of the much talked about Les Paul. Could anybody confrim these to be true?

1. Page used the Dragon Tele on the entire first lp. He recently also stated that for the You Shook Me solo he used a borrowed Gibson Flying V for the solo.

2. No telecaster on the second lp. It was the Les Paul he purchased from Joe Walsh. (Still no confirmation/proof as to what year it is given the fact that the serial no. is missing and the neck has been shaved. (pickup bobbins may provide a clue but no confirmation)

3. Photos exist of Page playing both the Les Paul and the Telecaster at an early May 1969 show in California.

4. The Stairway solo is the Telecaster. Telecaster was used sporadically on future Zeppelin recordings especially ITTOD. (Rock and Roll Solo is the tele.)

5. The Immigrant song is the Les Paul. The main riff is the rear pickup with use of only one coil. (coil tapping switch was used) The other part of the riff (with the tremolo) is the rear pickup with both coils.

6.  The Song Remains the Same (solo) is the Les Paul. Confirmed by Page from "On This Day" website. The sound is much thinner so there is some either coil tapped pickups or Phase/Series/Parallel pickup switching.

7. The Rain Song is the Danelectro, Over The Hills is the Les Paul (standard pickups), D'yer Maker is the Les Paul with the pickups switched to the Peter Green Out of Phase sound. Royal Orleans is also the Peter Green setup. Nobody's Fault But Mine is the Les Paul with the Supro amp and rear pickup full. Achilles is the Les Paul, Candy Store Rock is the Strat along with For Your Life. Hots on For Nowhere is the Les Paul with the Peter Green mods. No Quarter is the Les Paul (solo is front pickup) The fuzzed parts could be any guitar but it is recorded directly from the guitar to the board with no amp. (similar to Dazed and Confused high pitched guitar.) Listen to Revolution by the Beatles: That is a Les Paul and Epiphone Casino plugged directly into the board and overdriven) When the Levee Breaks is a 12 string (Probably Fender) (with low E string omitted) The Crunge is a strat.

8. ITTOD Jimmy used a variety of guitars. In The Evening (Strat), South Bound Suarez (Tele), Fool In The Rain (Tele and Les Paul) Hot Dog (Tele) Carouselembra (Double Neck) All My Love (Tele) and I'm Gonna Crawl (Les Paul - small amp with Tremolo probably Fender with rear pickup, Solo is Les Paul - different amp with both pickups) 

Most of this info is confirmed by Page in interviews. (search the web) One of Jimmy comments regarding the Stratocaster was that he mainly would use that guitar when he needed the pitch shifting effect from the tremolo arm.

Some of the other info is based on my years (and ears) of playing the same guitars and amps. (Page Les Paul, Strats, Teles, Marshall and Fender amps.

[sixpense]

The lead on Black Dog sounds like a Tele to me as well as those mentioned by Gandolf.

Les Paul through a Leslie speaker.

[IpMan]

Can't say for the main riff but the solo on Hot's is without a doubt the strat.

[Stairway is NOT stolen]

Can't say for the main riff but the solo on Hot's is without a doubt the strat.

I think that almost all of Presence was a strat.

[Tazz3]

Jimmy used his tele on the frist 2 led Zeppelin albums, and his famous solo on dazed and confused  was frist done on the tele hope this helps

[MCAN]

Forgot to mention in my earlier post (must have been confused with another thread) that Page did not have any push-pulls in his Les Pauls until the 80s i.e. Post-Zeppelin. So he did not use any of the following mods in Zep records: Coil tapping, coil splitting, out of phase (through his LP), or Series/Parallel switching.

Any claim that he used these settings to get Zep sounds is incorrect. In fact, Jimmy has admitted to barely even using the push-pulls since their installation. He just played with his knobs (hehe) and used in-studio techniques. Many people confuse his use of a wah-wah with out of phase. Page knew all the tricks and he used them.