Pete Townshend: A Tale of Two Tones

Now, we all know that windmills are a cornerstone of true rock guitar stardom - however, it's not entirely necessary to dislocate your shoulder in order to cop some of the best guitar tones of all time, as those produced by Mr. Pete Townshend!
In today's Tale of Two Tones, Jack attempts to break down the development of the spirited rocker's guitar setups through the ages; first focusing on the legendary '69/'70, 'Live at Leeds' era, which saw Townshend upping the force in the fight for on-stage volume, utilising his famous cherry red Gibson SG Specials through a bevy of HiWatt stacks. That rich, unique tone is particularly difficult to untangle, as Townshend's huge live tone came courtesy, at least in part, of the large, ambient venues the band was playing. However, with a trusty '63 Custom Shop SG Special in tow, and a similarly-voiced British amplifier staple in the form of the Orange Rockerverb 100, we felt we had to at least try!
Moving to present day, Pete has been known to utilise a highly-modified Clapton-spec Fender Stratocaster, through matching Fender amplifiers, with an assortment of simple but effective pedals. Jack uses this platform to discuss the development and variety of Townshend's 'latter day' tones, spanning from the early 70s to the discovery of this magic combo, some two decades ago. We did our best to approximate this highly-versatile rig, using a stunning Fender Custom Shop Master Design 50s Strat, a Dr. Z Z Master and a Suhr Koko Boost Reloaded pedal.
As always, this video series is not intended to try and recreate any live or recorded tones to a tee, but rather use the inspiration the artist felt from their equipment to get as close a vibe and a feel as possible. With this instalment however, we feel we got pretty close! Let us know what you think of the two rigs in the comments below, and naturally, choose your favourite.
If you want to find out any more information about any of the products featured in today's video, check out the links below.
Thanks for watching!
Check out the gear used here:
Gibson Custom 1963 SG Special Reissue Lightning Bar VOS Cherry Red - bit.ly/3hAZTaV
Fender Custom Shop Masterdesign 56 Strat Relic - bit.ly/34GUXxm
DR Z Z-Master 3x10" Joe Walsh Signature Combo Amp - bit.ly/2EyoiQ2
Suhr Koko Reloaded - bit.ly/32xljiL
Jack’s KZbin channel: / jackgriffithsmusic
Jack’s Instagram: @jackgriffithsmusic
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[@vayabroder729]

To me The Who’s Golden Era coincides with Pete’s use of the SG Special and Hiwatts.

[@dylandenney3980]

Agree 100%. Blew me away at 13 when I played Young Man Blues from my dad's 30 years of maximum r&b box set. 12 years later and I'm sure for the rest of my life, Live at Leeds means the world to me.

[@vayabroder729]

Dylan Denney check the Isle of Wight DVD and play it loud; you’ll love it

[@snabors4164]

This is true!

[@andreasosterlund]

Agree

[@mariuscradock4323]

Yes

[@profjohnfrinks]

Pete plays with passion that "better guitarists" can only dream of. Music is more than notes on a piece of paper.

[@gravl1]

Finally, someone who knows how to demonstrate Pete’s use of toggle and volume controls. That’s what that SG tone is all about.

[@yodhanhunter]

The SG tone gave me goosebumps. It’s SO DAMN GOOD!

[@phenixreturns]

very far from his tone

[@brucefreifeld4763]

@@phenixreturnsHe specifically mentioned he wasn't going for dead-on tone. Also, he's not Pete. Add bass guitar playing along and this tone is plenty close enough.

[@Rainyman63]

Wow. Very impressive. You didn't only nail the sound, but also Pete's explosive right hand technique and his unmistakeble voicings. Great work!

[@phenixreturns]

very far from his tone

[@DrZAmplification]

" Pleasing Circularity " both your oral and guitar phrasing is exceptional Jack. Thanks for another superb video.

[@gertjanhensens2978]

How about A Tale of Two Tones on Mark Knopfler: his early days strat tones and his later Les Paul tones?

[@icdean4699]

Terrific sounds with both rigs, but for me the SG with that Orange was a rock & roll purists wet dream!

[@4518691]

Seen The Who many times through the years. The first time with a Schecter with humbuckers, then he switched to Strats(Boo !) My opinion is that he got his(and IMO The Who's) best sound with the SG ! (John Enwistle also thought the SG was his best sound) Never saw them live with the SG or the LP, but I've heard plenty of recordings and my Gawd, the powerful sounds coming out of those Hi Watts was F#@$%^$# amazing ! Match that up with John's incredible bass playing, Moonie's maniacal skins bashing, and Daltrey's high-octane vocals....and you have yourself one of if not The worlds greatest live rock and roll band !

[@brucefreifeld4763]

KZbin 'The Who Live at Tanglewood' Ferocious Leeds era gig-

[@johncarter4131]

Townshend has used (and abused) almost every kind of guitar, Rickenbackers, Telecasters, Stratocasters, SG Specials, Les Paul Deluxes, the Schecter Telecasters before returning to the Stratocaster. As noted he has also used a wide variety of amplifiers but the thing that makes Townshend's playing so unique is his incredible sense of rhythm, his aggression, so really the tone is all in the fingers, Townshend would sound like Townshend whatever he is playing. This video does successfully nail both tones, for me the SG Special and Orange (Hiwatt substitute) is the quintessential Townshend tone.

[@sonhouseisking]

So glad you did him. My parents are guitar players so that’s where my name comes from!

[@michaelbugby1630]

Heard live at leeds many times. You have done it justice. Not easy to get that tone well done

[@mrshiney2]

Yeah...so glad someone hit the record button back at Leeds

[@ekartpa]

I had one of those P90 SGs. Sold it years ago, still kicking myself.

[@TheseusTitan]

The Gibson SG sounds great! So much more full than the strat in my opinion.

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

Im glad u spoke on him. Most ppl think of with silly chords and such but nobody can attack the strings like he can and there is an art to it. He was an incredibly innovative musician. He lead and rhythm overlapped. Fantastically aggressive. He also had great lead playing on the records. I was not a fan of his live playing. On records, he played what he felt was necessary. Whether live or studio, he was lightning in a bottle.

[@warshipsatin8764]

what does "silly chords" even mean?

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

@@warshipsatin8764 It means God put the idea in my mind to create a username that makes no sense called "warship satin". Hey look. Don't get so sensitive. You're not a prince where I have to care about your feelings. I'm not gonna kiss your ass. Anyhow, lead players commonly look down at people with great rhythm and innovations like the great chords he put out in display. Lead players see it as less of an effort when it comes to guitar. Townshend had a great mind.

[@moonshot1999]

@@NoOne-kr4jc No one saying nothing

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

@@moonshot1999 M stands for Measles. When my parents named me, they called me Measles Marshall because it was supposed to represent what I would become irl. There's a deep meaning to things. That's why some ppl are called Faith, Hope, Grace, etc. Thank you for your contribution to this conversation. After being ill, this is all you could think of. The town doctor at the door says he has a vaccine for the measles but my favorite television show is on. Maybe we'll let him in some years later.

[@msromike123]

Nailed it. Props. Plus, pretty much demo'd the full range of tone in every song on the live album.

[@balke7935]

So nice to hear someone today saying that Live at Leeds was the best live tone ever. I’ve always thought this, it’s such a beautiful clean, sweet sound. He was such a well balanced guitarist and an unwilling guitar hero, he was all about the song, the melody and the lyrics. Genius.

[@wrsawy]

Playing like Pete Townshend can't be easy. That was impressive.! 😃

[@BostonWhoFan515]

I feel it necessary to mention that Pete's brother Simon plays with The Who as a second guitarist. He's been in the lineup for 20+ yrs or so and he plays an SG/Hiwatt identical to Pete's in the late 60's. More than likely it's probably one of Pete's SG's that somehow survived those ferociously hostile yrs of The Who's live act. At any rate, it's fair to say the SG/Hiwatt sound is still with The Who, albeit in the back, at lower volume, as opposed to left, right, front and center like the old days. Cheers!

[@gibsonvos5120]

It is close to Petes setup, although Simon uses an SG Junior as apose to the SG special’s that Pete originally played.

[@BostonWhoFan515]

@gibsonvos5120 oh its s Jr! Well I was speculating regarding the guitar, but he most certainly runs that Jr through a Hiwatt. Regardless, I'm a massive fan of Pete and the band and I think you did an awesome job with this video. Great playing. He's tough to nail down.

[@johnthecreative]

he also recorded with a ric way back in the day. IMO one of their best tones. if I had that ric I wouldn't trade it for 10 of his strats.

[@phenixreturns]

very far from his tone

[@paulvernet7324]

It's great to see this demonstration of what many non-musicians take for granted. Tone is everything, and what the mind can perceive, the body can achieve! Awesome, thanks.

[@Tomtoms-tomtoms]

Jeez, your playing and tone with that SG was superb!!!!!

[@awild100]

Thanks for a fun rundown of Pete's sound!

[@mcnasty3303]

Absolutely loving this series! Pete was a huge influence on me . Well done Jack!

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

Likewise 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@joannievolpe8272]

I'm blown away. I'm not a gearhead but I was curious since Pete is an all time favorite. I closed my eyes, and it was like hearing Pete. I'm afraid I may fall down the rabbit hole of gear now because of you. Fascinating and well done. Would love to hear you take on Mick Jones of The Clash. My choice of tone for Pete is A.

[@Teddysounds]

That was pretty impressive, especially the Live at Leeds approximation. I do think that the lace sensors on Pete's strats have more midrange than the strat your chose for his later sound.

[@edwardgonczy3170]

I saw The Who 7 times. Lucky me! First time Fillmore East 1969. So I was fully groomed on the SG/HiWatt sound as that is what he was playing. 3 times 1969, once 1970 (Tanglewood) and then in 1971, Who's Next tour. I honestly don't remember what he was playing at that particular show, not because I was zonked, I wasn't. I don't remember because I was not a guitar player at that point. I did not see them again until the tragic concert in Cincinnati. I had just begun to play at that point and Pete had gone to Schecter's (I owned one just like he played). Last show Orlando 1982. When people ask me why I picked up the guitar I state the man who smashed hundreds of guitars was the reason. Let me state very clearly, I think he is a great guitarist and he never smashed one guitar at any of the shows I attended. I think I have heard Pete state he only smashes his guitars if has given what he considers a sub standard show so I guess all the times I saw The Who they were superb. Anyway, I'm OK - pretty much an advanced beginner and truly have many players who have had a major impact on my playing; Mick Abrahams, Gary Duncan, Danny Weiss, Buzzy Feiton. OK, I have digressed. I prefer to listen to Pete's playing whatever rig he has chosen at the moment. I play a PRS and a really nice Les Paul. Again, I am OK but I can play "Pinball Wizard" pretty well.

[@tonebender69]

I'll always remeber that 80's video with the 2 Schecter black teles. Him and Roger Daltrey doing a live sound check playing eminence front. Pete killed it on that guitar. And God those Hiwatts sound AMAZING! Just the baddest, biggest, just at the point of breakup tone! What a sound.

[@bazzer124]

Now THAT was informative. I admit to being too buzzed to notice the gear the times I saw them live (RIP Keith and John). Too busy rockin' out! Cheers....

[@BreauxBobby]

That was amazing, Jack. The picking was so quick and precise. Excellent.

[@grantmurrell3296]

Absolutely love it. Great session! Thank you.

[@vox1962]

Actually pretty damn close with the Orange amp, I didn’t think it would get there but surprisingly it did. Perhaps a little “squishier” than a HiWatt but well done!

[@ronschwolsky1626]

Ah, that SG sound. So good!!

[@jerryhorton5708]

As always, nicely done, Jack and Peach Guitars! I’ve really enjoyed this series so far, especially since you’ve covered Billy Gibbons and now Pete Townshend, my two greatest influences. In both cases, I really think you’ve captured the essence of their rigs. What I find most amazing is that Jack is so versatile that he has captured the heart and hands part of each rig (by far the most important piece).

[@suta007]

Been playing guitar a long long time and been a fan of Pete for even longer so I found this really interesting and you did a good job with those tones.

[@Pstaines439]

Really enjoyed this Jack. Great playing and tones.

[@jeffholliday8304]

Great job on coming up with the tones. Great video, bro Jeff from Tennessee.

[@ASHSRV]

Oh my goodness you nailed the live at Leeds sound!

[@christophersmalley6900]

Love it! Great video! Great guitar legend to cover. Nice

[@therealisation5500]

Love the stones love Floyd the Beatles but the who meant so much to me when I was a kid and to see you pick apart Townshend's playing was just brilliant kid well done

[@nealambre7505]

I'm very impressed by your playing and knowledge of a great player that seems to be neglected by younger guitarists. Listening to live at leeds or live at the isle of wight changed me forever - twenty some years after they were recorded. Well done.

[@InspiretoVictory]

No windmills? C'mon Jack. I could see you really wanted to, especially when that Octafuzz kicked in. lol Great job, as always. I watched an interview with Joe Walsh about the making of that amp. I couldn't believe how much technical knowledge Joe has. I'm also really impressed by Dr. Z. Everytime time I hear one of his amps in your videos, I think "There's that sound I have in my head."

[@mjb0183]

I love the simple clean chords at the beginning of Amazing Journey.

[@wagesofsin623]

Wow! Incredible job. Dialed in. 👏

[@scottlovette5207]

Shouldn't Steve Harrington be battling demogorgons? Seriously though, great channel and his demos are excellent.

[@brianmason9803]

Very fine mastery of the man, the instrument, the tone of the instrument and the song. Thank you.

[@darrenc8776]

Without a doubt the best series on the Tube

[@tonebender69]

Awesome job! Great way to advertise and sell gear. Enjoying these clips very much. And you execute them very well. Don't listen to all the critics about the talking. You say what needs to be said. Especially with the demo. Great playing as well.

[@simonmastromatteo5692]

Those P90 SG are the absolute bomb. Great content as always, Jack is such an accomplished player..!

[@straightpipec6099]

Nicely done. Both are very cool but the SG is the best. It will never get old.

[@jessej.guevara7086]

This guy is good. Always a pleasure to watch.

[@mbalash3755]

Live at Leeds SG tone is perfect! Most consider that record as the best live album ever. He used a Gretsch for Who’s Next and Quadrophenia which is also iconic. The story of Joe Walsh giving it along with a 1959 Fender Bandmaster is epic!😊

[@pdbordelon]

Wow that guy is a fantastic player - huge and fast right hand drive, wow!

[@frantisca]

Both tones are great. I have a little preference for the Strat-> Dr. Z: more articulate, ringing, musical notes. Jack: you're the chameleon of Rock. You should be joining The Classic Rock Show !

[@twootters7433]

Townsend...Rickenbacker...seems to be missing. His early days were Ricks.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Often 12-strings too.

[@tonebender69]

Dam, he played everything! Strats, teles, Rics. Then he would turn them into fire wood and splinters.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

@@tonebender69 He said that Rickenbackers were like light bulbs, they were that easy to break. Les Pauls, not so easy to smash.

[@Bflo94]

Absolutely NAILED the Live at Leeds tone!

[@NLBassist]

Great vid! Love it! Two small details: The reverb at Leeds was added later and Pete did play a lot of the small guard SGs. His sigs were small guards too, if I remember correctly.

[@dennisgunn468]

Nice! The power the rumble and the dynamics of the Orange rig are really impressively spot on.

[@jdemarco]

I have a vintage, beat up, 76 SG and I'll never part with it. That bad boy has a savage tone and bite that can't be matched. I personally thought that was Townshend's ultimate weapon...

[@Cluless02]

Well done mate! The Fane speakers also factored into the tone. Pete Townshend was terribly underrated.

[@phenixreturns]

very far from his tone

[@tnd04]

Nice job. Keep up the good work.

[@esmoran]

F*#% YES!!! This was SO GOOD! Rig A for sure! This dude playing is AWSOME!

[@peteranthonyofthefamilybir18]

Very WELL DONE,,! 👌 . . . Thx

[@inept_tones]

Well done sir! Pretty darn close if not spot on!

[@jakethomas3205]

Great stuff.I used to own a 1972 Gibson SG Special with P 90's and did it growl!!!

[@robertkrause85]

Excellent job and well researched as always. Love how you are able to get deeply into the players musical vocabulary especially a player like Townsend who is so rhythmically and melodically clever. Would be cool to compare early 80s rock gary moore w strat marshall and distortion pedal vs 90s blues gary with les paul soldano and tube screamer

[@mcmSEA]

Very nicely done! Would love to hear the Z-Master with a Gretsch ala Who's Next...

[@NewFalconerRecords]

At first I thought the SG stuff here was a bit too trebly and fizzy for the Live at Leeds sound, but I've seen the film 'The Kids Are Alright' countless times and there's an alternative live version of 'Young Man Blues' on that which is EXACTLY the sound you've got here, also the Woodstock set, so yep, you've nailed it. There's a certain fullness on Live at Leeds that is possibly unobtainable under any circumstances, so you've done brilliantly. Great playing too.

[@dylandenney3980]

I really think there was a magic to that room at Leeds. Everything about that show is head and shoulders above any other live rock album I've ever heard. The way Pete plays with the natural room reverb is spectacular

[@TheNottheface]

really well done!

[@matthewbarton6274]

fantastic control and tonal variation

[@nilsx3020]

Amazing series, really cool. I think this one has to be my favorite where you nailed the tone super closely especially for rig A. The Orange is a good substitute, pun intended. 🤣 And Live at Leeds has to be one of my favorite albums ever. Probably among the best recorded live guitar tones.

[@GregDaviesguitarist]

Absolutely brilliant, I can hear you are big fan. Heaven & Hell 👍😎👌

[@sweethands4328]

Pete is all right hand...good job 👏

[@locutusmdv]

You got it right! The tone in "Live at Leeds" was epochal... Created a new landscape for guitar sounds. I was astounded when I heard it that time, even on the radio. And then the second tone appears, it seems to me, in Quadrophenia... I really liked your insights. I just heard the sounds... You dug them... Yes PT imprinted dynamics intensely, mainly live. Thanks for this excellent video.

[@golf4ubacknine768]

Great insight, thank you 🎸

[@mickjagger8904]

Great playing Jack!

[@joeer6817]

Sweet sweet sounds from both...bring back that sound of A though eh.... Brings back the good old days of 🎸.

[@mariocroisetiere4900]

Well done my boy,,,and,,what a tone.......

[@listenwatchandwait]

Hi Jack - immensely enjoyable video - I have been a follower of PT since listening to Quadrophenia in a record booth each lunchtime whilst in town on my school lunch period in 1974 which was from 12:20 until 14:10 so you could get a double album in !! - I digress, you are a fabulous player who understands the player you emulate - although I love Pete's strat phase and I understand the weight of the gibsons was also a factor for change ? for me its A - thank you.

[@kevbob]

Rig A really nailed it. 🎯

[@MojoRicky]

Really appreciate your time and consideration

[@jackiedaytona9625]

A Tale of Two Tones for Keith Richards with the early Gibson/Dan Armstrong days vs the Telecaster days and an Eric Clapton Gibson vs Fender episode would be cool too!

[@analogalien]

Nice job. Well done. :)

[@samstainer6322]

Apparently Towshend recorded a lot in the the studio with a Gretsch 6120 and a Blonde bassman from Whos Next onwards

[@Noseheros]

Sum Hiwatt too

[@donnysarian]

SG Special and Hiwatt amp without a question !!! I saw them in 1971 when Pete was using this rig.

[@YesYesYessYes]

Great playing that mate👍You can tell you love The Who

[@_RLP]

Nailed it, man. That Z sounds killer. Cheers

[@richardelson3261]

Great vid, tones and playing really very close to Mr.T with SG especially - closer than I expected.

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

Pretty good impersonation of the legend, And you are spot on about the live at leeds tone especially the soloing through the near 15 minute version on my generation.

[@tpmbe]

I liked when he used a Les Paul as well.....I thought it sounded fuller when he used these ....The HI Watt with LP was my favourite ....The OX said 'Pete's best stage sound was with Gibson SG'. you captured this nicely

[@jackoo666]

that SG tone is incredible. sounds so good

[@JammyGit]

I just loved the sound of that SG mate. You can't beat that juicy squelchy sound of the P90s. Makes me glad that I bought an older Yamaha Revstar with P90s......that guitar sounds great too and is the first guitar I've ever owned in my 50 years. I've had a guitar with the humbucker sized P90s but they're not quite the same as good old soapbars 😎🎸👍

[@mrsoul4231]

You've done a great job with that SG rig.I've got the guitar but as you say,it's finding an amp that sounds like a flat out Hiwatt.Great playing as well btw.

[@mickcorbett6724]

Found this fascinating. Non musician. But ❤ Townsend’s music, guitar playing, creativity, pretentiousness, prowess on stage & zillions more. He even answers your questions on Instagram🙌

[@freddymatthewsmusic]

Great Pete-style playing. Holy smokes! :)

[@chriscampbell9191]

SG with P90s, best of all worlds, in a way. Fat sounding single coils that rip. Some of my favorite guitar players played them -- Townshend, Zal Cleminson (in the Sensational Alex Harvey Band), Tony Iommi (although I think his P90s were actually custom wound at a British shop -- JayDee? not sure). You matched the tone really well. Live At Leeds was hard to beat. Incredible recording overall.

[@dennisgunn468]

When I was 17 I lusted after a HiWatt to be like Pete. I finally got my hands one one somehow. It was big, heavy, and just unbelievably loud and clean. My tele could not even get it to break a tiny sweat. If you turned it up enough to get any distortion at all it felt like it was going to blow up the house. You kids will never know what it was like trying to get the big boy tones back in the days when no one had figured out how to make amps with decent sounding master volume circuits.

[@mlasch1478]

I totally agree with you, Jack especially according to your demos. It is tricky to replicate Pete's tones. Also tricky or skillful to evoke the myriad of tones you managed with the 2 amp, pedal setups, guitar models. I could see how in order to produce as close a mirror to Pete's sounds, you would also have to vary your approaches to each guitar in order for us to hear the full effects. I would say you accomplished the intended results. Song choices also help. It would be nice to see identical songs done with each setup as well. Enjoyed the clip.

[@druwk]

Great nailing his playing style (...without getting a Copy right strike)! As well, both tones come off 👍 Even though the “Live at Leeds” tone is historic, amazing, epic, the ‘modern’ Fender on Fender tone is undeniable. Who’s Next is a desert island record, and those tones are Rock! Got to go with rig two.