Jimmy Page: A Tale of Two Tones

Part 2 is now live! Check it out here - • Jimmy Page: A Tale of ...
In terms of players, and tone, they don't come much more iconic than Jimmy Page. Best known, of course, for his work with Led Zeppelin, as well as The Yardbirds, The Firm and The Black Crowes, Jimmy Page has paved the way for an enormous range of players and genres that have followed in his wake.
Because of this, it would be safe to assume that everyone who picks up a guitar at some point has tried to replicate his tone and his style, and it's easy to understand why. From the raucous Telecaster tones in The Yardbirds and early Led Zeppelin, to his now synonymous Les Paul tones covering later Led Zeppelin albums, the elements of his tone and playing have always been sought after.
In this video, Jack breaks down how each of these two guitars impact Page's tone and what they bring individually to the famous 'Zeppelin' sound. We have chosen the Fender Custom Shop Jimmy Page Signature Telecaster, for obvious reasons, as well as a Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary '60 Les Paul V3 Washed Bourbon Burst - it's widely believed that Page used a '59, but be sure to watch throughout the video where Jack will explain our reasoning for choosing the '60...
We're covering Jimmy Page in two parts, the second part will be on Jacks own channel shortly so make sure to keep an eye out for that! (We will update this description with a link soon!)
Please do let us know how you think we did in capturing some of Jimmy Page's tones and make sure to write in the comments who else you would like to see in the series of A Tale of Two Tones!
Check it out here:
Fender Custom Shop Jimmy Page Signature Telecaster - bit.ly/2JlL2F1
Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary '60 Les Paul V3 Washed Bourbon Burst - bit.ly/2GaxxGP
Dr Z Maz amplifiers - bit.ly/362fkEz
Jim Dunlop Echoplex Preamp - bit.ly/2HRu4gL
Wampler EQuator Equalization Pedal - bit.ly/3mxvxIn
Catalinbread Belle Epoch EP3 Tape Echo Emulation - bit.ly/2TC5yTB
Jack’s KZbin channel: / jackgriffithsmusic
Jack’s Instagram: @jackgriffithsmusic
IMPORTANT: We're back!: bit.ly/38YRLNH
IMPORTANT: COVID-19 UPDATE: bit.ly/2Y3j8SZ
Website: www.peachguitars.com
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Instagram: @peachguitars
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[@azstanp]

The more guitarists I hear, the more certain I am that Jimmy Page was and is the master. His brilliance, not only as a guitarist, but also as a musical producer, is unparalleled in my opinion. Combined with the phenomenal and multi-talented John Paul Jones, the raw, thunderous, galloping force of John Bonham, and the searing and soulful voice of Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin created the greatest rock and roll music every recorded.

[@jamesbrady8535]

And he was extremely VERSATILE.

[@jamesbrady8535]

@Second Amendment Until they're pried from our cold dead ears !{know what I'm sayin'?}

[@jonp3890]

@@jamesbrady8535 And not afraid to take chances, especially live, at least in his heyday. That’s what always stood out to me. For such a physical shrimp, the guy had/has some major balls.

[@jamesbrady8535]

@@jonp3890 Shrimp ? he was 5'11"

[@jakestumm4101]

Guy could play anything, if he would have stayed clean I think his live playing during the later days of Zeppelin would have been just as amazing as he was 68-73’

[@justinpaquette224]

A lot of bedroom guitarist don't understand that when playing with a band you gotta cut bass and boost treble more than one would think. A sound that works best for a guitar by its self, is not always the best sound for a guitar with a band at stage volume

[@paulcowart3174]

You figure that out in time and gigs/jams

[@largecoke4087]

Nice. This is really valuable information coming from an arena guitarist.

[@tr3ndkiller]

100% this! And no, it's not always obvious during rehearsal because a lot of drummers tend to play softer at lower volume levels or even during soundcheck ("sandbagging"). So as a rule of thumb, mix in more treble from your amp than you'd think, the overall mix will benefit from it.

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

That’s why a midboost switch or a tubescreamer with low gain and volume, letting the amp do the work sounds so good in a full band environment.

[@musicplaylists59]

yep, also less gain and more mids helps

[@vegashdrider]

50 years later, with all our amps, pedals, videos and technology we’re still trying to figure out what JP did with a guitar, amp, fuzz and whah pedal, that’s pretty astonishing. Personally I think there’s only one way that to get Jimmy Page tones, hand a guitar to Jimmy Page.

[@warshipsatin8764]

tone is in the gear

[@Giballi24]

Comments like these are so enlightening…wow dude, thanks so much.

[@scottashe984]

@@warshipsatin8764 Yesssss. Too many people think the tone is magically unique to each person's hands.

[@danabiondo9243]

Yes ! 😎

[@Josh-hn5gx]

@@warshipsatin8764 tone is 85% in the fingers 15% in the gear

[@alexdonchak6386]

I firmly believe Royal Albert Hall with his custom Hiwatt rig was one of the best guitar tones to ever come from an amp speaker

[@zosomoso]

I agree. Everyone always talks about MSG. I preferred the Hiwatt rig from RAH. I prefer that concert in its entirety as well.

[@mattgilbert7347]

That RAH tone hits you full in the face. It's awesome.

[@jr13227]

Easily

[@bb-li7bv]

@@zosomoso With Jimmy Page in those Zeppelin years every concert had his own aproach, but that Albert Hall show, well, that was really something else. Not only the whole band was ON FIRE that amazing night, it also was superbly recorded. You just play that DVD and it sounds so real. And it was recorded in fuckin' 1970!!

[@johnsample5628]

OMG Yes!

[@mpactdesignmedia]

14:47 - Me standing by myself - in my home office - clapping at the computer screen. Enjoyed every second of that. THANK YOU!!

[@FistPie]

JACK IS SUCH A MONSTER PLAYER. MY LORD.

[@johncrace911]

I saw page on last Yardbirds tour. Univ of Tampa. My God what he did with that Tele blew my mind that night

[@terryshrk]

This video was produced and uploaded almost 9 months ago yet I continue to watch it about once a month because its such a fantastic breakdown and display of Pages style. EPIC and fantastic in every way!

[@StealthBeeKid]

This Les Paul is such a majesty, if you look at an angle it looks darker, if you shine more light on it, it looks like tea and more washed down. Just amazing

[@VIDSTORAGE]

Fender for studio and Gibson for the stage was Jimmy's operation in most cases from what I heard about him. ....

[@blairdrummond5043]

Somewhat true. He had the tele for the first album, but after that it was pretty much all les paul. He did play a strat every now and then on tracks like Ten Years Gone, In the Evening and most of the Presence album. The tele for the stairway solo, and some other bits here an there, but mostly the Lester.

[@RK_peace]

@@blairdrummond5043 and Tele was used in whole lotta Love solo

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@RK_peace Is that confirmed? I love him on a Tele the most but just was curious if he for sure used the Tele on that particular part.

[@RK_peace]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 I also love him on the Tele...the sounds cut through more. And I guess as confirmed can be without Page saying it himself. It sounds like a Tele to me and when I hear other guitarists play it with a Tele it sounds pretty close.

[@nimrodsson4029]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 you can hear the twang. Tele’s have a snap from that metal plate interfering with the magnet in the bridge and you can hear it in the recording.

[@jwilder2251]

Your Tele Page tone and style is unbelievably dead on. You hit on so many of the nuances, it’s very convincing.

[@antisocialist907]

Presence is my favorite Led Zeppelin album. it's often over-looked but it has some great songs, and it was really well produced, despite the short amount of time it was recorded in.

[@alanhowell3646]

Agree, it’s so much better than ZepIV that most rave about

[@jeffreylorien6687]

My fave too

[@lynyrddeville]

I think the first solo in Achilles Last Stand featurers arguably Jimmy's best guitar solo, thouigh Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven are the more popular top choices, and it also is propelled by what I think is John Bonham's finest, most relentless drum performance. Man oh man, gives me chills to listen to it! Of course these are only my opinions, but therer is a soft spot in my heart for this album as it was the first Zep I ever bought and I listened to it a lot, and it was quite a while before I bought another. I also think its almost criminal that an album with Achilles Last Stand on it languishes in near obscurity. That is a cut that just rips and it shoulkd be a classic. I'm a wierdo though, the only ZZ Top album I eveer bought was Tejas. Ten Dollar Man, man! It,s another unknown killer cut,

[@JohnnySnappleseed]

I think mine will always be Physical Graffiti, but I agree that Presence is way underrated!

[@alanhowell3646]

@@JohnnySnappleseed also a good shout.

[@darrenc8776]

This series just gets better and better. My favourite you tube series.

[@richardc1129]

Did I just hear a Tom Sawyer riff at the beginning?

[@123ClassicRock]

What I was thinking too!

[@lynyrddeville]

Well, if you listen to the early Rush albums, it is pretty obvious that vJimmy Page may have been Alex Lifeson's number 1 influewnce, at least I think so.

[@richardc1129]

@@lynyrddeville True! And I also hear a lot of Clapton in Alex's playing.

[@fongy200]

@@lynyrddeville He gave that ES some stick when they played that pink pop festival in the 70's. It's on youtube, Rush at pink pop doing Villa Strangiato, he shreds the so and so out of it.

[@alexmurphy5289]

@@lynyrddeville 150% and Rush’s debut album was very zeppelin sounding. Alex freaked out when he first met Jimmy

[@User58747]

That's the closest tone to Page's Les Paul I have yet heard on KZbin - sounds clear, ballsy, raw and alive! Glad you concentrated on his live sound which was far more exciting than his studio sounds (apart from the magnificent Presence!)

[@shinjial]

This is the second video I see of you doing a Jimmy Page impression - playing and tone, and it's amazing. I can't think of anyone on YT pulling it off like you do. Super cool.

[@fongy200]

I prefered his sound coming through his Tele. The Danish radio show they filmed, he used his Dragon Telecaster for virtualy all the performance and he was on it, flawless. A guitar Grandmaster to be sure.

[@iagobroxado]

Great video Jack and Peach Guitars crew. The playing was superb as always.

[@emmallica]

That must be the most beautiful Les Paul I’ve ever set my eyes upon

[@PageCrowes]

awesome playing and that tone, wow, subbed.. can't wait fro watch part 2

[@richardallen1961]

Nice job Jack! That was taste fully well done. Excellent work on Black Dog, Heartbreaker and other actual Page licks Ive never seen him play them the same as the recording. I think even Jimmy would give this video the nod of approval. You Rock !

[@cpost1558]

Wow, I really liked this, as a fan of Jimmy Page and Led Zepplin, you nailed it. The tones between the Les Paul and the Telecaster are so perfect. I have a nice Les Paul and I have wanted a new Telecaster and you make it look and sound very good Jack. I now also want a Dr Z maz 18 amp. Well done.

[@tmitz73]

Dude, this video is awesome!!! Great tones and playing!

[@marclove1159]

I saw Led Zep play at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago in around 1967, or there abouts. One thing that stuck with me was his Tele cutting in and out. Jimmy hammered on it with his fist, but it didn’t help. He put down the guitar mid-song and picked up a Les Paul. I remember an immediate improvement in his tone. He played the LP for the remainder of the show. I saw them again in 1970 and buy that time, Page was pretty firmly attached to the LP.

[@whotendsthefire7234]

Yep, I bet the Les Paul sounded great with p.a.f's compared to that single coil on the tele!

[@rnarizona9686]

Wow, Jack is a great guitar player, and his rock knowledge is encyclopoedic.

[@johncarter4131]

Jack I think you absolutely nailed it (again) without trying to slavishly reproduce the sound you accurately captured the overall tone(s) perfectly.

[@Jacobcfuller]

The eq pedal lead bit really did nail the "almost too trebly" tone. Great job

[@marcushogan6613]

No fuzz pedal for Page's tele tones??

[@surfrby8876]

Great video as usual Jack,stellar playing and I love your insights on everything

[@elraymundo6994]

Fantastic vid! GREAT playing, awesome tone analysis, just a whole lotta fun. Groovy studio, too. Love the Finnish sauna walls. :-)

[@Raff654]

I paused part two as I stumbled on that first . Excellent insight into Jimmy’s playing / sound 👍

[@ronmorey3475]

Man, I thoroughly enjoyed this. You did a great job with all of it. Thanks!

[@nicoladolby2154]

Really good video, totally nailed the tele sound! When you add in the parametric Eq on the Les Paul it brings everything to life, so Jimmy!

[@gevowavemagnet]

13:07, Takes me back to 'Song Remains The Same' 14:28, Jimmy finishes by hoisting the LP above his head like a Shamon. those were the days.

[@IronSausage]

That Communication Breakdown jam was glorious. Made my day, thank you!

[@raspberryjuiceentertainmen719]

A Tale of Two Tones is Truly Terrific, Thanks!

[@landerm.6929]

been waiting for this one

[@mjkisiday5736]

This is far and away the best video I’ve seen on this. I think too many people lay into one tone or the other, or go too pedal heavy/use too much gain. Not only do you have a sharp understanding of the nuance of the page sound, but you are one monster of a player! Excellent video, keep it up ✌🏽 (Im curious though as to why you didn’t use the echoplex digital tape delay seeing as you were using the preamp!)

[@andreaferrero6533]

Nailed it with the Wampler Equator and the touch (especially in the lead - high pitch parts). Kudos!

[@flatsix666]

You definitely won the internet with this one, Jack!

[@AndyDemos]

Nicely done! I always scratch my head when people focus so much on the Tele, Jimmy and an LP is quintessential Zep. ✌️❤️

[@firemarshal2629]

Probably because his Tele work sold more Les Paul’s than his Les Paul work did.

[@kishoresengupta857]

Incredible video, incredible playing - one of my two favourite Two Tones episodes along with the one about John Mayer. I plan to visit Peach Guitars after the lockdown is over to see if the Suhrs can reproduce these sounds.

[@TheYMCA1980]

Very similar! Good! Another reason is because his '59 Les Paul was equipped with pickup paf humbuckers, and not the Alnico, which sounded more "buzzy", and yes. he used to

[@Hentarded]

Can you clarify the paf pickups comment? I thought paf pickups used alnico regardless?

[@bluessumlin...7067]

Excellent video! Well played Mr G!☺. Keep watching and wanting most of the gear on show... Which gives me seriously bad case of GAS!😮. Looking forward to part 2 so pleased to see that players like Jack can be bothered to play instrument and research the great guitarists, obviously Peach videos are to encourage sales.. on Jack's own channel he still passionate about everything six strings.. simply brilliant!😃

[@brentlineberry4098]

The smile on your face at around 15:00 is the same smile I had. That was amazing bro!

[@josephrizza5486]

That was awesome bro, great playing and sound.

[@Anonymous-is2qb]

These tones are amazing and your playing kicks arse man.

[@stevendavid5370]

Jack nice opening guitar salvo to this video. Gorgeous guitar playing. Would really like to see Jack play with other band members and jam using different tones and lead/rhythm licks. Your in depth study and practice of Jimmy Page's guitar prose is impressive. It is important that you and others like you keep the musical magic of great guitarist like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Lukather, Ritchie Blackmore and others alive for eternity. We still have Jimmy, Eric, Steve, and Ritche, but they are getting older as we are too, and they won't be around forever (unfortunately). This video is magnificent, as it is a very good example of keeping their legacy alive!! Keep up the tunes!!

[@jonathankrieger9121]

This series is pure gold!

[@dobster5819]

Thank you Jack , great sounds, you played that Tele like a master. Jimmy Page was a icon.

[@paddy5059]

absolutely love ten years gone thankyou for playing it. and you really got his tone nd playing loved this video.

[@johnrobie9694]

IMO, the key to Paige Les Paul middle position "quack" sounds are low output pickups; specifically a PAF in the neck, and a T-Top (Alnico 5) in the bridge. Keep the gain low on a plexi style amp. Add the Catalinbread Belle Epoch, and you're good to go.

[@paulkontz]

Ace job! Love these vids and your playing is superb.

[@kevinvandenberg5548]

Great video! His sound has so much to do with that ''honkey-ness'', which can be achieved with the middle position on a Les Paul. Also, the swagger he has in his playing, his looseness, adds a lot! I'm a massive Page fan and have a Epi Les Paul Custom and Fender Telecaster. I play through a Vox AC15 twin, which has more bass than the 1x12'' but still retains a lot of midrange and treble. That way, you don't need to add a lot of mids through pedals. Just push it over the edge with a hard right hand and perhaps a boost and you're ready!

[@RicardoLopez-ce9cj]

Great playing. I felt in the Madison Square Garden at 12:50 with Black Dog... Page is an absolute guitar master. Greetings from Mexico.

[@davidg4726]

Great video! Jack is amazing with his Jimmy Page style! I love that '60 LP! I understand why to use the middle position, and that Herco pick is my favorite! Also, yes... Stairway to Heaven Live is All on his Gibson SG Double Neck, and he uses both 6 and 12 string on it. 🤘

[@danielakerman8241]

Only live. The studio recording used acoustic six string, fender 12-string electric, and the Tele for the solo.

[@mrdj07]

Stellar tones man !! Love the idea behind knowing how to craft a tone vs having the exact same gear.

[@colhutchins]

Really interesting and unique content. Great for someone learning about guitar, so thanks!

[@Stereostupid]

Love your playing and this series

[@patrickfinley6229]

That supro Coronado on zeppelin one, jesus what a tone.!!

[@rogerbranton1752]

The Man of Many Tones is what I always like about Jimmy Page. He literally seemed to dial up a new tone for every song! Always worked too....

[@ejm922]

fantastic video and presentation! thank you!!!!!!!

[@clayteasouth]

I live the clean tele tone as well as that bridge bite.

[@jamiethomson8494]

I saw LZ at least three times in Vancouver and his main axe was the Silvertone ,then the Tele was used a couple of times. The LP was only used a couple of times mainly with a bow.

[@danielgrubb9496]

That amp is incredible... Well played. Holy cow Jack. I have a thing w my Dr Z. I use it at church but even when I'm doing my best to keep it respectable, she loves to rock haha.

[@nigelallen9933]

FANTASTIC (playing, tones and explanations)!

[@jamesmarciniec4787]

Great video, your tone is spot on. It sounded like you were playing RUSH Tom Sawyer in the beginning. Cool.

[@kevinb.3244]

Great stuff, as usual !

[@_RLP]

Great one, Jack! How about a TTT on Gary Moore and his strat and LP sounds? He's certainly worthy of such a tribute... Cheers

[@TheHungryHorace]

Stunning video!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Great video!

[@potatopeelerfairy12]

Hey Jack, thanks for the awesome video! One question. What speakers were being used in that Dr Z cabinet?

[@danielroumen760]

Very nice playing and the sheer passion is just contacious !! Just brilliant !!!Cheers

[@michaelheller8841]

Page has that grit sound from a Tele that made a lot of the studio Zeppelin. The Tele and The Les Paul were both gifts two different times. Jeff Beck gave Jimmy his Tele minus some of the original parts Beck kept for himself lol. Later on, Joe Walsh handed Jimmy a 59' Les Paul and said you have to play this. I think in the heart of hearts Jimmy was always a Tele player. Big Live shows with amps, pa's getting introduced Jimmy needed a guitar live that had more output. We all got fooled thinking I need a Les Paul man lol. Meanwhile, it's the Tele we should have started with lol. If you notice Jimmy live had almost always kept the Les Paul playing both pickups in the middle toggle position to get almost that Tele throaty sound he always loved. I love Les Pauls and have a few, that Tele though? yeah getting that mirror Jimmy one in a few days delivered, love that tone!! great playing man and you captured what makes both of the guitars so great.

[@trevortwigg1384]

Nice job. I wasn’t expecting to pick up anything from this really 😂😂. Thanks Sidenote: if you change the Belle Epoch to trails mode from an inside switch the preamp stays on when in bypass so you wouldn’t need the Dunlop preamp.

[@silentweapon338]

Great video. If 73" is your year this was the transition year. This was the first year with the Plexi, you are correct in the KT88's being in there. He had just switched from a HiWatt. It was only a HiWatt in name only. He had 2 50's and 2 100's. 1 of the 100's was stolen and he swapped over to the Plexi. Think Rock n Roll for the HiWatt from TSRTS. They were heavily modified & do not sound like a HiWatt at all, but they do sound like the early aggressive Zep. The PLexi would be more of the Over the Hills & Far away from Earl's Court tone.

[@larryb7585]

Killing it again, Jack...so good!!!

[@andrewbettis4247]

That was fun excellent job with the tones the attack in the playing in the style of Jimmy Page well done... by the way I have that Wampler pedal and now I have a new idea with how to use it thanks...

[@elevatorisland]

Good analysis of Page's sound, and awesome playing and tone!

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

This might be the greatest Tele bridge pickup I’ve ever heard...

[@ARRITDOR]

I don't comment often but have to say these vids are awesome!

[@RayBecker]

I believe the brightness comes from when Page was with Jeff Beck in the Yardbirds. There are sessions prior to Yardbirds where Jimmy sounds more contemporaneous of that time in the UK. Jeff Beck didn't use a pick and sounded a lot less brighter than other guys at that time. Page is about texture and he always understood the frequencies like where the bass occupied because Jimmy played bass. He knew where the vocals should be and with his Tele, I think he chose a brighter tone than Beck in order to have that contrast. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[@rolandlemus203]

I have had a chance to play the Tele signature, and that neck custom pup is HUGE, in tone and you can't the feel for it on YT but if you get a chance, TRY IT! I was floored on how it sounded, being a huge Jimmy Page Led Zep fan. The bridge pup is good too, but the star of that tele is the neck pup. If you were standing in the room with him jamming here, I think you would be going wow:) Awesome playing, thanks for sharing!

[@gwbfrench]

I really enjoyed your playing and insight on Page tones.

[@jaricklosey4607]

Nailed it, extremely well done.

[@mikes2270]

Well done. Thanks for the insights.

[@hnwnpk6855]

Please do a Nile Rodgers one! Awesome playing Jack. Really nailed the middle position tone!

[@tomlaskeyguitar]

Amazing playing 🤘🏻

[@druwk]

Samurai Jack! Nice to see you grow through the awkward phase! 😉 another great breakdown. Dig it!

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Incredibly well done! Thank you!

[@oggi3]

Sounds amazing, what a great player!

[@jackperry2670]

I can never go past the Hiwatt through marshal cab sound on the Royal Albert Hall performance. Super cool sound.

[@markedwards7721]

Is the EP Booster similar to the Echoplex Premp? Have you compared them?

[@AudreyDurden]

What amp is that in the corner below the white custom?

[@tristanpankratz500]

Awesome video, you should do Eddie Van Halen next.

[@stevedgolfer]

Why he was terrible.. Tap tap tappy

[@randy0210]

@@stevedgolfer as said by someone who hasn’t heard a single vh record in their life.

[@noname.___]

@@stevedgolfer ok play something better🤦‍♂️

[@Wulvves]

Eh...

[@stevedgolfer]

@@noname.___ still shit

[@congamike1]

Good stuff. Thanks!

[@Tonysmithmusic]

73, jimmy was on fire. peak zeppelin imo.

[@ajlsrv5490]

Great as usual, Jack. What speakers in the cab?

[@larrykashevarof7751]

Nailed it Amazing!

[@OniDasAlagoas]

Loved the video. But no Tone Bender?