Ricky Skaggs' 80's Tone

[Butch Snyder]

I recently dug out my Ricky Skaggs album "Love's Gonna Get Ya". Fantastic album by a true master player. I love his tone on the title track. I'm wondering what gear he used. I bet he used his Joe Glaser purple Tele.

Around this era....

More recent...

Here's the tune.


Now, I know that in the 80's Peavey pretty much ruled and he has a very 80's sound, even in his Tele tone. I love the tone though. I know that Steve Wariner also used Peavey Special 130 amps in stereo. Can anyone confirmed what amps Ricky was using to record and play though live back then?

 

[Butch Snyder]

Hmmmm, didn't think this would be so difficult. Anyone??

 

[brobar]

I don’t know what he has used and when, but I remember an interview with him from a decade back or so, and he mentioned in the mid-80s he went straight from his Glaser Tele into a Lab Series L9 and just cranked the compression on the L9.

 

[srvbluezz]

I watched this video the other night. Towards the end of the video steve talks about the red and purple Tele.

 

[SPUDCASTER]

I don’t know what he has used and when, but I remember an interview with him from a decade back or so, and he mentioned in the mid-80s he went straight from his Glaser Tele into a Lab Series L9 and just cranked the compression on the L9.

That sounds pretty plausible. I think Ray Flacke, around that time, was using Lab Series amps too.

Ray wasn't listed on that particular project. But, had played with Ricky on previous ones.

 

[Middleman]

Those non matching short delays out left and right add to the charm. The main guitar is definitely sent into a nice compressor maybe an 1176 because of the midrange bump.

 

[slinger]

I have read he got an L9 to match Rays tone..the L9 has compressor built in..but..who knows what they used in the studio..I wish Skaggs would get Flacke and do another honky tonk album..both are great tele pickers

 

[golfnut]

I was big Ray Flacke fan back in the 80's. I found an L9 for a $150 back then that I played for about a year. I couldn't really get the same satisfaction out of it as Ray, mainly I think because of the single 15" speaker. I much prefer 2x12 or 1X12. I ended up going back to tubes.

 

[slinger]

 

[slinger]

 

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[slinger]

 

[Whoa Tele]

Are we sure that's not Albert lee on that record?

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Are we sure that's not Albert lee on that record?

He's not listed in the line up for that album.

Ricky and John Hall are the only electric players credited.

 

[slinger]

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

RS can more than hold up his end on a Tele. Just listen
to Live In London. That's Ricky playing the lead breaks.
The story is, he needed a lead player right before the
tour. He wanted Vince Gill (before he became a house-
hold name) but he wasn't available. His wife convinced
him he could do handle the chore. Sometimes it takes
a good woman to build her man up.