Earl Slick
Earl Slick's Gear
I’ve also got an Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen model which has a Bigsby, too. It’s got a great neck, with a 335-style body. It sounds good acoustically, but it didn’t have the type of electric tone I wanted. So I gutted it and put in a pair of DiMarzio PAFs.
In an interview with Premier Guitar, Earl Slick discusses using the Framus Mayfield Custom Electric Guitar during his work with David Bowie on the "Next Day" album.
In this video Earl plays a couple of his guitars through an Ampeg GVT52-112. Confirmation of his use of the GVT52-112 can be found on the official Ampeg site.
arl Slick was just 22 years old when David Bowie recruited him to replace Mick Ronson in the wake of the breakup of The Spiders from Mars. Slick’s searing six-string work, played primarily on one of several go-to Les Pauls, adorned such classic Bowie discs as Station to Station and Young Americans. Later, John Lennon chose Slick to be one of the main guitarists on his and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album. This terrific solo disc, graced by a cover shot of Slick with one of his beloved Les Pauls, shows why he’s always been in such demand.
At 0:18 minute mark, Slick starts telling the story of his 1968 Gibson J-45.
"I have an old Ampeg VT-40 that I just love" - Slick says in this article.
"Great for long David Gilmour type lines. The reverse delay kicks ass too. I used that for "I'm afraid of Americans" - says Slick in this article.
Slick says in this article that this pedal in "unbelievably cool"
“Okay, this is an overdrive, but it throws around a lot of really fat bottom end—it doesn’t have the honking, thin mids I hear in some overdrive pedals—and it definitely gets into the fuzz area of interesting tonal colors.” - says Slick in this article.
Then I’ve got a double-cutaway goldtop Les Paul Classic. They are so cool. It’s got a thinner ’60 neck, and that’s what I have on the other ones, too. I don’t like the old ’50s neck as much. It’s an interesting guitar and it definitely sounds different from the others because it’s chambered. It’s a very warm-sounding guitar. Those guitars are all stock. It’s the first time in years that I haven’t had to modify my guitars.
"One of the settings has a subtly weird effect where the delay reverses itself as it trails off—that’s what you hear at the end of ‘Sunday.’” - says Slick in this article.
“The Wack’d setting is amazing—it really bends your pitch out. I’d always use this instead of conventional chorus—it’s way more twisted.” - says Slick in this article.
Ibanez DE7 Tone Lok Delay/Echo. “A real analog-sounding delay that I used for slapbacks.” - says Slick in this article.
"I like how fuzz gets people’s attention. I find most overdrives are boring, and I get most of my overdrive from the amp, anyway. A good example of the Octafuzz is on ‘Battle for Britain.’” - says Slick in this article.
Earl Slick is featured in an advertisement for the Bedrock 1200 Series Amp Head, as seen in a user-uploaded photo on Aguitarforum.
I’ve got my Ampeg Dan Armstrong on the road with me, too. It’s a reissue. It’s actually as good, if not better, than the originals. They’re way cool. I pull that one out on the encores. I’ve also got a Tacoma dreadnaught 12-string.
I’ve got a great ’69 Gibson J-45, a ’65 SG Junior, an old Strat and an old Tele. I couldn’t tell you the years, but they’re both ’60s.
Then I’ve got an Ibanez CF7 Stereo Chorus/Flanger that does some very cool stuff, and a Voodoo Labs Micro Vibe.
On 1:34 minute mark, Slick starts to talk about his Gibson J-200M 75th Anniversary acoustic guitar.
Earl used this guitar with Bowie according to this article.
I’ve got an ESP that’s highly modified, with DiMarzio Fast Track pickups, and a modified tone control with capacitors that change how the tone control works. When I roll it off, it doesn’t get muffly. It actually sounds like a wah wah in a half-cocked position.
It’s very honky and midrangy, and very sustainy. I also had a Fernandes Sustainer installed. I use that guitar on “Heroes” so I don’t have to use the E-Bow.
Listed for sale on Spindrift Guitars' website.
Earl Slick’s Ampeg VT-22 100-Watt 2×12″ Guitar Combo 1970s – Black
Want it LOUD and HEAVY? Slick’s got it for you. What can we say about 70s Ampeg guitar amps that you don’t already know? This is a particularly fine VT-22, made all the more so by being played by legendary side-man, Earl Slick.
This particular amp is fitted with a pair of Celestion G12-56 speakers.
Local pickup only (you wouldn’t want to pay for the shipping for this behemoth), and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Listed for sale on Spindrift Guitars' website.
Earl Slick’s Supro 1799 Statesman 2×12″ Extension Cab (2 of 2) – Custom Calzone Road Case
Hearing Earl Slick live and on record, you know he’s a master of rock tones – and the Supro Statesman 50W head has been his go to for the past number of years. This 2×12 Statesman Cab is 2 of 2 that we’re offering within the Earl Slick collection.
Live, uses this cab either as a half-stack, or paired with the second cab that we have listed – either way it sounds killer!
As part of his state-side working rig, this cab comes with a custom Calzone road case, with the requisite spray-paint SLICK!
Will be accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.
HEAR SLICK PLAYING THIS CAB ON THIS VIDEO…
Two were listed for sale on Spindrift Guitars' website.
"Earl Slick’s Custom Supro Statesman 50-Watt Guitar Head (1 of 2) – Custom Calzone Road Case" & "Earl Slick’s Supro Statesman 50W Half-Stack"
For the last several years, Slick’s go-to live rig has been a pair of Supro Statesman 50W half-stacks. We currently have 2 heads, and 2 speakers cabs available separately or, courtesy of this listing as a half-stack.
Slick had this head modded by the Supro Custom Shop to replace the Channel 1 tone control with a straight up Presence control, enabling even more of the guitar’s natural tone to shine through – sounds killer!
As one of his state-side working amps, this head comes with a custom Calzone road case, with the requisite spray-paint SLICK!
Will be accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.
SEE SLICK PLAYING HIS SUPROS AT THE VIDEO BELOW!
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Discography