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THE BLUE HOUR LOUNGE

Pete exchanges information and gear talk for the advanced and the novice musician.

The Blue Hour Lounge was a forum in which Pete answered questions from fans on guitar playing and the music business. Although some of these questions were from the late 1990s, the answers are still helpful and insightful. There are also links to exclusive interviews.

PAGE ONE

QUESTION: Do you have any guitar instruction CD with TAB or Video with TAB that provides instruction lines, phased, licks for country? If you don't, what does your rock video cover and does it have tab. I bought a tape where you and Dwight were playing live in San Francisco, I believe. You're guitar playing was absolutely fantastic, but I guess you know that already :) I noticed you also went off on some rock pentatonic type stuff.

ANSWER: Thanx...the Roots Rock video covers my right hand picking tech., very well. Then the rest is concept and a few licks ...no tab. good luck/Pete

QUESTION: Pete,
Want to thank you; your music has gotten me through some tough times.
I'm a very big fan of Paul Burlison, and Brian Setzer, along with them it's you, that's it for me! Your playing is a source of constant inspiration for me, and I am soon to get your instructional videos, it is time. I sing some Dwight tunes, but it is so essential for the great integrity of the music to do best to remotely try to get close to the you conjure, everything about your tone and phrasing is pure art! I play a gorgeous American tele a 63 Reverberocket, with my guitar strung with nickel rockers 11's, something is not right though, and if you could please offer any suggestions on string gauges and effects, (or lack of) to help me get an accurate sound, I'd be so grateful! I use a Danelecto echo (the purple one not the Danecho.., the later being too cheesy for my sound...

Perhaps my strings are too heavy, regardless, I want to nail it right!
There are some great teachers up here in Buffalo, NY, but it is only by listening to your incredible playing, every day, every night and morning, that I can really learn and listen, work it out on my own.
Thanks so much for the gift of your music.
Sincerely, Al
p.s.
I also teach guitar, and all the neo hippie punk rock teen kids don't get past he 4 month stage without a heavy dose of "hey listen to this guy Pete" thrown in.
We all owe you big time.

ANSWER: Thanx.. That makes me feel good when I know someone gets it ...my stings are Daddario's 9/11/15/28/39/49...I like the old boss purple analog delay pedal (dm2). I set the slap on a 16th note, very quick. I like fender-sounding amps..treble on 5/middle 10/bass3.5/spring reverb 2.5. I use the hybrid picking technique which I explain in my Roots Rock Workshop video...Thanx/good luck/Pete

QUESTION: Hey Pete,
Caught your show in Vegas on 9/8 and was blown away! I brought a friend who is an accomplished metal player but knows diddly about roots music (I mention Don Rich, James Burton and Scottie Moore he's lost) and he loved it! You even inspired me, a drummer and fledgling producer, to buy a James Burton Tele and steal, er ah learn your licks, amongst the other previously mentioned legends.

My question to you is, we were wondering what gauge strings your using. It sounds like you've got real heavy lower note stuff 5&6, and normal high strings 1-4. Also would your instruction video deal with real basic stuff for someone like me or is it more for an intermediate.
Can't wait to see you guys next time you come to NYC.
Thanks,
Michael

ANSWER: Thanx...my string gauge.. high e 2 low e is .09 .11 .15 .30 .42 .52 they are D'Addario's. The guitar is a Tom Anderson "tele style" w/middle p.u. and a wammy bar. My video is pretty basic to intermediate...I discuss concepts etc. More than hot licks...good luck/pete

QUESTION: I am playing through a line 6 ax2 with a Fender Strat. I cannot get a decent clean sound out of the thing. It all sounds a little too digital. I play country, blues and a little rock. The Line6 has some awesome distortion channels on it but not much for a clean sound. Do you have any suggestions? Should I go to a tube amp and a good processor?

ANSWER: I am playing thru a Line 6 Vetta... it is awesome. It has everything I need...and my complaint w/amp co. has been "no good" clean sounds...they deliver w/this amp...Thanx/pete

QUESTION: Hi Pete,

Been a fan of you and Dwight for years. You guys always put on a great show!
My question is that I want your suggestions for an overdrive pedal that will compliment my setup, which is a ' 65 Reissue Twin Reverb w/groove tubes, US Standard Tele.

(I also run a delay, chorus, tuner & compressor). I have yet to find a pedal that will give me overdriven sound, before it actually starts to breaks up. I was told that the Fulltone Full Drive and possibly an Ibanez Tube Screamer are good choices for my particular setup. What are your thoughts?

Dean

ANSWER: Fulltone...the best I have heard...laaaater/pete

QUESTION: Greetings from the caribbean Pete... How are you? I have just installed a pair of DiMarzio virtual vintage blues pickups a neck and middle that is. I remove my 250k controls and installed a 500k controls. I also used a 560pf Capasitor and a resistor Accros the volume control and the sound is awesome. I have been hearing about the pots or push pull controls lately, but I don¹t know how effective they are. Will the pots give me a brighter sound? Will it be much different than the ones I am using? Thanks in advance Pete.

ANSWER: I only use them to switch pick-ups I can't get at using the switch...like the lead and neck on a 3 p.u. guitar ...but you can have them do other things. ....good luck/pete

QUESTION: Hi Pete. I got a couple questions. I use a Fender Deluxe Reverb RI and a Hot Rod Deluxe. The HRD uses 6L6's & I plan to mod the DR with 6L6' too. You say you use 6L6 Groove Tubes with hardness 9. What about the bias setting? There are many types or GT 6L6's like 6L6 GC's, 6L6 B's, etc. Which exact type 6L6 do you use? You've got the greatest tone not to mention the licks.

Thanks,
Doug

ANSWER: You should have a pro set your bias.
Good luck, Pete

QUESTION: Hi Pete
I am a semi professional guitar player here in Australia (Week End Warrior) and use A Tele with 1952 reissue pick ups through a M80 Fender Amp put into a Fender Twin Combo box using Sunn speaker it sounds weird but gives a fantastic clean sound.

My question how do you get such great sustain through your guitar? Is it your type of amp or maybe an effect. I use compression to help me sustain but doesn't seem to have as much air as the sustain you get.
Hope you can help me here

Keep on pickin'
Jason (from down under)

ANSWER: I never use a compressor. I would always hit the front end of a two tube amp/like a deluxe reverb fairly hot...I use Seymour Duncan antiquity pick-ups...and I use EVM12L speakers...single 12's seem to work the best for guitar...good luck/pete

QUESTION: Hi Pete this is Sweden calling.

I'm a big fan of your playing and the great tones you're getting from your guitars.
Thinking of putting Duncan Antiquity singles in my Strat I wonder how you handle single coil noise as the Duncans are not stacked Humbuckers.
I'm using Fender Noiseless at the moment but they feel like a compromise when it comes to tone.
Any secret tips? :-)

Best regards
L-G Pekkari (Sweden)

ANSWER: I have been using DeMarrzio vintage noiseless...they are the best ...but for recording I still think the s.d.antq., is still the best replacement p.u. in the biz.....good luck/pete

QUESTION: : Hi I was wondering what is inspiring you when you are playing? Like what are you thinking about? I think you are a great guitarist and I have been a fan of yours for several years now. Thanks for your time. Lindsay

ANSWER: The tone of my guitar that I have chosen for the song...the lyrics, or mood of the song...maybe the key lends itself to some interesting open strings...then I will just listen to the area where the solo is going to be and sometimes music will come into my head...if you really concentrate and shut off your inner voice you can hear some music in the air that compliments the track. After all that is said try to be spontaneous...good luck/pete

QUESTION: Hey Pete. Haven't surfed your way in awhile. (Nice site!)
Just wondering what amps & pedals you were using on the current Yoakam tour.

Also, will you be doing any solo tours in the future? My buddies and I still rave about your '97 gig at the Black Sheep in Wakefield Quebec, Canada. (Thanks for signing my guitar).
Hope to see you in Ottawa (Oct. 2)
Ciao! Corey.

ANSWER: I am using a Line 6 Vette amp head...old Korg midi digital delay... an original ce1 boss chorus...and a Bob Bradshaw tremolo box ...w/wet /dry cabs on stage ...hope to see you soon laaaater/pete

QUESTION: Greetings! What's the "best" delay(s) to use in a guitar rack? Thanks, Derek ANSWER: I would use one I could change the delay time with the bpm of the songs ...this would probably have to be midi controlled... I use an old Korg rack mount digital delay model w/midi. If you don't use it on every song there are some analog ones and also hi watt is making a tape delay model.... good luck/pete