Elliott Randall

This one really blew my mind. I am a huge fan of Albert’s. His personal model sports 3 Seymour Duncan Strat-type pickups. This one, with 2 DiMarzio humbuckers has quite a different set of sound properties. And the all-rosewood neck is heavenly!

I’ve been playing with an ensemble in which the two other guitarists are using axes that also sport humbuckers. This can prove problematic, with all those very similar sounding pickups, the overall sound can become a bit muddy at times. This guitar solves the problem beautifully. The designers have, in their wisdom, designed a circuit which, with the help of a 5 position switch, gives the user the choices of one coil from each pickup (two separate configurations), which does a most amazing job of “clarifying” the tones of this wonderful instrument.

Listed on Randall's official JHS artist page.

Listed on Randall's official JHS artist page.

According to the following sources, Randall’s “number one” guitar since 1965 is a 1963 Fender Stratocaster with a humbucker in the neck and a Zexcoil Strat pickup in the middle (previously a DiMarzio stacked humbucker and another single coil). It was notably used for the solo on Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years”.

The Mix Vol. 4, No. 6 (May 1980), “New York Session Kings” by Bobby Bank, pg. 38

What about the guitars that you use?

For the acoustic guitar I use a Fylde and for electric, the same Fender Stratocaster since 1965.

Guitar World, Guitar World Presents the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time!: From the Pages of Guitar World Magazine (2002) edited by Jeff Kitts & Brad Tolinski, pgs. 154-155 (posted online as “100 Greatest Guitar Solos: No. 40 "Reelin' in the Years" (Elliott Randall)” on October 28, 2008)

“They were having trouble finding the right ‘flavor’ solo for ‘Reelin,’ and asked me to give it a go,” recalls Randall. “Most of the song was already complete, so I had the good fortune of having a very clear picture of what the solo was laying on top of. They played it for me without much dialogue about what I should play. It just wasn’t necessary because we did it in one take and nothing was written. Jeff Baxter played the harmony parts, but my entire lead—intro/answers/solo/end solo—was one continuous take played through a very simple setup: my old Strat, the same one I’ve been using since 1965, plugged directly into an Ampeg SVT amp, and miked with a single AKG 414. The whole solo just came to me, and I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to play it.”

The Guitar Player Book: 40 Years of Interviews, Gear, and Lessons from the World's Most Celebrated Guitar Magazine (2007) edited by Michael Molenda, pg. 194 (excerpted from an interview with Darrin Fox)

"I used my 1963 Fender Stratocaster set on the front—which was a 1960s PAF humbucker,” says Randall. “I didn’t use any pedals at all, I just turned the volume on my Ampeg SVT all the way up. That was the sound and it was very, very loud. There was only one mic used—an AKG C414—and we recorded the whole performance in once take. The moment was just so right. Now and again, you just hook into the musical cosmos.”

Guitar Player, July 2007 (excerpted on Telecaster Discussion Page Reissue by Eric W)

That was my '63 Fender Stratocaster with a PAF humbucker in the neck position, straight into an Ampeg SVT bass amp. The SVT wouldn't have been my first choice for an amp—or even my fifth choice—but it worked a storm on that recording!

Guitarist, June 2012, “40 years of Rocking on Reelin’” by Jamie Dickson

“A piece of the tone I got has to be attributed to the Gibson humbucking pickup,” he says, referring to the retro-fitted neck pickup on his ’63 Stratocaster. “The reason I wound up with that pickup is that in 1969 I played the Whisky A Go Go opposite a Canadian group led by a fellow called Domenic Troiano; I’m not sure that many people know who he is but he was an absolutely beautiful player [Dominic, who died in 2005, played with The Guess Who and other bands – Ed].

“He had a Tele with two humbuckers in it,” Elliott continues. “I just went nuts over the guitar, and he and I became instant friends. I said, Where can I get a mod like that? And he said, Come with me. He took me to the Barney Kessel guitar shop in Los Angeles and we had them route out my Strat, put a humbucker in and I’ve never looked back. I’ve just been so pleased with it. It’s a beautiful sound.”

The Gear Page, September 6, 2019 reply by JoePerkinsMusic

Met Elliott once - very nice chap - and he was playing his old Strat, think it has a humbucker in the neck if memory serves. I can't remember exactly how he was playing RITY, but to me a Strat middle pickup into a small Tweed amp has always sounded closest....has that woody, boxy, quacky sound.

YouTube, Produce Like a Pro, “Iconic Session Guitarist: Elliott Randall Interview (Steely Dan, John Lennon, Peter Frampton)” (July 26, 2021) (@ 26:38)

Elliott Randall: It was my number one Fender Strat, which by that time I had already put the humbucking pickup in the front. Gibson humbucker.

Warren Huart: Do you still have it?

[fadecut to Randall holding the Strat]

Huart: Wow!

Randall: Still number one. Still number one.

Huart: So, so what pickup is that, what— is that a Gibson humbucker?

Randall: Okay, so, this is an old— This was put in in 1969 by the Barney Kessel guitar shop in L.A.

Huart: Wow.

Randall: So, I thought it was a PAF, but I did my research and it was slightly that, so they had the patent already. This [points to the middle pickup] is a Zexcoil. [fadecut] The guy who invents these things is a gentleman called Scott Lawing. He’s got something very, very happening. He just makes these beauty-ful, beautiful pickups. Before that pickup I had a DiMarzio stacked humbucker, which was interesting ‘cause it was… It didn’t have a lot of personality. It was sort of perfect for those parts that wanted the guitar not to have a lot of personality. So it was actually quite utilitarian.

Featured in this June 11, 2021 Facebook post.

Look what arrived this morning! Sounds and plays as sweet as it looks. Go Vintage !!