How to sound like the cure in the early days
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- This is my tiesco top twenty Mij made in the 70s in Japan which was made famous by Robert smith for being his first guitar. He later put the bridge pickup in his 1965 fender jazzmaster.
Gear used
Teisco top twenty
Roland JC 120
Boss bf2
Boss re20
Robert smiths jazzmaster wiring diagram
farm8.staticfl...
I was in a local music shop back in 95 and was asking them about my Jazzmaster and an old guy in the shop mentioned he'd installed a middle pickup for someone years back. When I questioned further, it turned out he'd installed Robert's. Now, I can't say whether he was 100% truthful but I was in the same neck of the woods where Chris Parry apparently lived so it's a possibility.
I should add that he was a genuine guitar tech.
I didn’t know that actually
that’s cool as hell
"How to sound like The Cure...." own the guitar tone they enjoyed and hope to christ you have the right model. Got it.
How to sound like The Cure in the early days
Constant chill deep inside
You deserve an award 🥇
I knew someone in Canada that had a guitar that looked just like that, it was a Sears brand, which is a Canadian supermarket kind of store.
Sears is an American store with locations in Canada
Ok forgive me I'm Australian
yes ..Teisco , Audition ( what I have), Top Twenty ... all the same Japanese made with those pick ups..mine are black with the chrome .. also used by CRASS's rhythm attack guitarist, Andy N A Palmer ( Phil Free used a Burns Split Sonic guitar )
Well I'm a canuck and I wish I had that guitar!
Sears is/was a department store not a supermarket. The brand they are best known for carrying is Silvertone who are best remembered for their Mosrite copy (1445) which was apparently made in Japan by Teisco. The brand is also recognized as Jack White used a Silvertone amp in the White Stripes.
Well, that was a good recommendation from youtube's algorithm. My like to you Sir.
Went all the way back to how the cure sounded in 6th grade thanks!
I have that guitar!
Is it worth anything?
Yeah a good £60 - £100 it just depends on the condition
My sub to you Sir.
This is great, always loved Robert Smith's sound.
Yeah same great sound
This was a completely random recommendation in my feed but considering I've been a lifelong Cure fan, I loved it. Well done!
Thank you
"It's just a completely hunk of shite basically" ahaha, you legend.
“ Hunk of shite. plenty of mojo. “
don’t think Robert really gave that much attention to his guitars in the early days.
Nice video and obviously a real fan.
He did well with it though. He would have had no money as a kid and focused on using what he had, which is a good lesson for those spending big on the latest pedal etc. He was musically adept though, his sister was a piano prodigy, and it's those sorts of people who can create something from very little, where others have much more and don't come up with anything.
A top twenty was my first guitar, amazing to see one again.
Wow that was your first guitar. great guitar my one plays great
Great video, thank you. The early songs of the The Cure are very beautiful. Stark and stripped down, kinda like a more upbeat Joy Division.
Yeah I get what you mean the cure as a 3 piece were the best thanks for commenting.
Early cure is the best
"it's just a complete hunk of shite basically" lmao
@@MrGoose777 depends on the context back in 1978 a spoiled friend had a drum kit , and a Satellite electric guitar similar to these Top Twentys and a 15 watt practice amp AND a Sola Sound Fuzz Box ..punk was happening and making a noise in his garage with these was a priceless experience.. that I carried forth into bands etc... and he didnt ... the point is .. to a kid these electric guitars were like something from outta space or outta the TV.. (Top of the Pops etc..) no internet then ... if you wanted to see an electric guitar youd find a guitar shop ..or Woolworths ! I got mine used for £15 and ive nearly sold it but I wont now ,, I got it in 1980 and on same day in a different( arts and crafts shop)! in window was a CSL Super Fuzz ( Blue .. collectable now) for £9 .. yes .. the playability on these things is bad ...but the sound i got was same as CRASS with fuzz box which I would plug into a radio cassette recorder ( no amp yet) DI .. ive only recently discovered Andy Palmer used these guitars because back then all their equipment was painted matt black , anarcho punk right!? ... and I saw the Robert Smith pickup in his jazz master years ago but only just heard why with this great video ..... nice one !
Amazing story thanks :)
I know what you mean
I’m sorry about how much I used that phrase it’s a bad habit of mine
@@Indiecovers1985 no worries dude. At least we know 😀
@@lukenicholsonoriginalmusic5475 Liam and Noel Gallagher say it a lot in interviews haha, I actually think it’s a pretty cool saying
@@Indiecovers1985 the guitar tone sounds amazing
i wish i didn't read this, now i cant not hear it ahah
That looks like the old soviet era russian guitars
Made in Japan but I can see what your saying with those guitars from Russia
@@Indiecovers1985 Looks like so known "Ural" guitars made in the 1970's in USSR, but trust me it's like million times better... Soviet guitars were a very big pain in the ass... Fucked up truss rods, buzzy and shitty frets, HUGE action... And the saddest part - you couldn't get anything better, than this...
Named 'ural'
tim sway moment
how is ur comment 9 years old
That’s a great guitar the Japanese really brought out some affordable guitars. I got a Silvertone 14109 and 14609 and man do the pickups sound great
Yeah man I’ve heard some very good things about silvertone pickups. the Japanese made good pickups when they worked out how to make them less microphonic it’s funny when you use a fuzz pedal you can speak into the pickup thanks for commenting
how to sound like the cure early days : just flex your guitar a tell how beautiful you think it is
Mate it’s a £40 guitar I’m not flexing the people with 3k Gibsons flex
@@Indiecovers1985 haha i am just joking man, i actually think is a really beautiful guitar, i wish i had a guitar like that, but instead, a have a 150$ yamaha squier. Well, i can't wish for miracles like yours, i live in third world, thus, i am lucky to have a guitar
Well done, you are absolutely amazing how you " capture" the early sound of the " easy cure" later on calling themselves just " the cure". 👍
jazz chorus is perfect ♥
Heard about these guitars but had never seen one, thanks for sharing, it’s a sweet sound 👍
Ive also done the Robert smith mod to my olympic white JM. I made my own buzzstop, I found a brass supplier and bought section of solid box bar , then cut into one inch sections then drilled a hole in the centre of each halfway then bought a brass rod, piece and fitted into the drilled holes, this is the closest way I could see from pics as to how the French luthier made his original one, it changes the feel of the guitar dramatcily its quite a clever change as the strings become less loose and floppy. Love the video,
Hey Bud Thanks for showing us Mr.Smith's guitar-the '80's was a great decade for music
Was wondering where your other upload went, glad you redid the video. This shit was bookmarked straight away, super useful.
Thanks mate hope it helps
I got a squier jazzmaster late October. I was honestly very surprised with how well it played and sounded. Very close to Roberts smith’s sound in my opinion. And I barely have any experience with fenders or anything close because I’m usually playing death metal or something haha. But have always been in love with gothic music especially the cure. But great video man! I look forward to future videos!
Thanks man death metal music is great I am planning to make a video on how to get the sound very close too his 70s sound I will explain about amps and pedals I used to get the sound thanks for watching 🎸
Cameron great video. I love the things you mention about the guitar and the pick-up. Yes it is that sound eh? Great. I think a big part of the sound is the Boss Flanger. I see you also have a video about Nashville Tuning. Great!! Cheers, Eddie
Yeah I love all the technical stuff people miss when trying to recreate there sounds
thats a crazy looking pickup, i love it
Neat! I should learn to play "A Forest." I love cheap electric guitars that just have that certain "mojo" to them.
bought that exact guitar at goodwill for $8 a few years ago.
Still have it?
@@5ive20wenty Yes and I have used it in some of my recordings its a bit awkward to hold and play and I did take the tremolo bar off. it's in very good shape my guess is that it was bought for someone's son and he tired of it very quickly and it been sitting in someone's basement or closet for all these decades.
Great! my first electric guitar was one of these, purchased from Freeman’s catalogue in early 70s.😀
Awesome vid, I'm a Cure fan for the last 30 yrs and most fans don't know the technical side of the instruments (me included) so it's very interesting and you play very good!
Always loved guitar sound in 17 sec, the crunchy sound of m and play for today
Nice tone. Looks like a Sakai-made Top Twenty. Sakai pickups. I have a similar model, made by Sakai, early 70s probably, mine is 6.5 pounds. No Top Twentys here in the US. The guitars had different badges on the headstock, or -- more usually -- none.
Bought one of these second hand + 10w amp in 1978 for £30. First guitar. Sold it to a mate a couple of years later. It was well used/loved.
The tone is exactly the same so cool !!!
I bought one of those guitars a few months ago! I modded the shit out of it and ended up giving it to a friend, but it was super fun to play. If you haven't been able to date yours, check under the pickguard. Mine had an exact date there. february 2 1970 if I remember correctly.
I had a top twenty a few years ago. That neck is so thick and neck dives.
I have the same guitar, stripped down to wood, but with three pickups, such a surprise seeing it
so happy this got recommended to me, need to watch more of ur videos!!! :)
In the 90's I had the American version of that guitar made by Sears and Roebuck, I really liked the pickups.
Just bought a mint condition Teisco ..it had been in storage forover 50 years.. model T -200
Cool vid. Great guitar and sound. You play very well. Hey, anyone with good taste is already alright in my books.
Thanks for commenting
That was excellent, sounds exactly like Robert Smith.
beautiful musical intro, wow - love it.
Thanks it’s the cure play for today I played there
First song you play is Play for Today - revisiting the video as its been in my head all day and I've only just realised what song it was
i love that cure 80s guitar sound
My first guitar came from my mum's mail order catalogue in 1977 on my 15th birthday. It was unbranded and pretty shonky, but it got me started. I moved it on to a mate for a fiver after getting something decent when I left school. A couple of years ago I spotted a picture of that same catalogue guitar and it was identified as a Teisco Del Rey Spectrum 2. Like you said, they really are not great players, and the hardware is as basic as it gets. Ironically how I made mine playable was by removing the thumbwheels that supposedly adjusted the action and then screwing the bridge saddle directly to the bridge plate, as this was the only way the strings were gonna be anywhere near the fretboard. I saw one on eBay recently for about £300 and thought "F*ck off, it's a piece of sh*te!". I'd like to have one for the sake of nostalgia, but not for that money :-D
You can sand the heel of the neck down a little and lower the action that way. Got to know what you're doing, though. Even a millimeter can help.
Great video ❤
Good taste in planes btw. The Vulcan is my favourite. :)
Well done for a simple explanation of the RS sound. Nice video.
That looks familiar! I almost bought a Teisco just like that once. They're unique for sure, but they're mostly junkers that would cost more to get playing than they're worth.
The pickups are basically Jaguar pickups: a narrow, extra-wound single coil. This gives a huge boost in mid-high frequency, around 2k-4kHz. That gives it extra "jangle", almost a quack sound. Grab a bridge pickup for a Bass VI if you want a modern equivalent. If you prefer to go with pedals, get a 10-band EQ, bump the 1k, 2k, and 4K bands to taste, and slightly dip the 500 to give it a more dramatic bite. I use humbuckers now, but I use a pedal this way to get a more single coil tone without the hum.
Great video, wasn’t expecting a shout out 👌
Thanks lord fuzzman your Robert smith jazzmaster is stunning :)
@@Indiecovers1985 thanks buddy, yeah I’m really pleased with how it came out. I’m really after his Peavey amp from the 80s next. Such an amazing live sound he used to get with it.
@@LordFuzzman yeah he used a peavey mkiii head through the matching cab with 2x12 or 15 I can’t remember
A buzzstop is pretty simple to make. You need a metal bracket and a metal tube, and a rod (like a lag bolt (although that's not terribly elegant)) around which the tube can rotate to allow the strings to move forward and back with the tremolo.
The bottom of the bracket needs enough clearance below the tube for the strings not to bind.
The bracket bottom needs to be wide and long enough to span the tremolo such that you can make two holes where the front two mounting screws of the tremolo are (and they don't interfere with the tube rotation nor force the string clearance too high).
Sure, making it yourself is a pain, but it's not a mechanically complex apparatus.
I need that guitar, thanks for sharing!
No bother they are rare but keep an eye out you never know what’s out there thanks :)
my first electric guitar bought in 1966 under the Kingston label ... almost exactly like yours and from same manufacturer
Also kinda reminds me of late 70's Rush, to some extent.
I can hear that too I must admit I really like rush it’s the same sound as the cure lots of open chords and nice chord changes I will say Alex lifeson is a better guitarist tho
I know this isn’t specifically about the tone or guitar itself but the lil song u played in the beginning was so prettyyyyy
Play for today! that Is the final part
Looks like a Yamaha Pacifica neck has been installed on that guitar - notice the black plug in the truss channel. Whereas the original has a truss adjusted at the heel, hence the cutout in the pickguard.
Works remarkably well, esp. since the stock necks are trash. Great vid!
It is a Yamaha neck on it I didn’t get the original neck when I bought the guitar probably a good thing
@@Indiecovers1985 My eye for the mundane hasn't failed me. 😅 Oh for sure... That is unless you want a shredded hand and every note just off.
Wow. I’ve got the same guitar! I found it in a private collection of a man who was about to sell me another one six strings. But when I heard its tone I really fell in love although it looks really ugly. I thought I was the only fool on Earth willing to buy something like that, now I know I’m not alone ❤️
Found your channel today, you are doing great stuff brother. Keep it up
Thanks mate
Sounds amazing!!
Really cool to see and hear your passion for tone.
Subbed.👊
this is awesome. i have a jazz master from the 80s so i’m gonna put one of those pick ups. quick question though what pedals do you use to get the sound?
I used a 80s bf2 and and a ce2w and a re20 that’s it thanks
I would choose one of these over a Jazzmaster any day, even if it is trashy and harder to play. I just love the vibe and character, I have a similar guitar not this exact one and it just does a thing. Sadly no original pickups but nonetheless it's a fun little guitar. I might need to go buy one of these now haha
I got two of those guitars, fixer uppers but damn they are crushing it for my surf playing
Yeah I have just done the modification for my jazzmaster and is works a treat I can really see what you are saying about playing surf on them they do that 60s sound perfectly
I had that exact guitar when I was 10 in 1971. Dad bought it second hand with a Bird Golden Eagle valve amp from early 60’s. He paid 20 quid for them both. At the time, I couldn’t find it in the store, so I would put it late 60s 70 latest. It had terrible action and was harder to play than an acoustic. My 2 guitar playing mates had an epiphone Les Paul and a Guild , so you can imagine how much I hated this thing. Kind of wish I still had it now though 😂
Wow that’s an amazing story I bought mine with a replacement Yamaha neck so it plays like a better guitar that pickup is now in my jazzmaster and I will be making a video very shortly about it thanks for commenting
I have a Teisco (Silvertone) almost identical. The pickups on mine have date stamped on the back. When you next have the guitar apart, have a peek! Those pickups really rip!
I’ve actually just put it in my jazzmaster like Robert smith’s one now it sounds cool
Well in pal! I just subbed 😎🎙🎸✅
Great!
Yes. Yes, I do know "what you mean". Thanks for asking!
Also, i have a Kawai S70 from 1964 that has those exact pickups (only one in the neck tho)!
Sorry man for the use of you know what I mean it’s a bad habit of mine that’s a cool guitar btw
I have almost the same one, Rhythmline guitar bought in 1979.
Sounds great👍👍
Hi,check out my covers,Andy Jefford,see what you think,many thanks👍
Thankyou👍
Qué hermosa viola... nice video...
Sounds a lot like the damned’s cover of “alone again or”
Or maybe I’m just thinking of the Original. Either way, definitely reminds me of that song. Nice video too, I love the cure ❤️
I love that song the damned are amazing
The Cure tunes came first. Just saying.
Need these square single coils in a Strat , just like on Animal Crossing would look sweet
My Christmas present in 1973. Got it mail order from Bells my mum kindly signed HP for 12 payments of £1.50. My mate also got one and he’s still got it, virtually not touched with original set of strings.
That was a hell of a lot of money back then that’s so cool thanks for commenting
There are a lot of rumours that the middle pick up on Smith's Jazzmaster was installed but not wired up. A lot of forum posters agree primarily due to the sound of the early Cure stuff sounding ... exactly like a Jazzmaster and not a Tiesco pickup.
Fair enough I can actually see Robert smith flick the switch up at the start of play for today it gives him a brighter sound when he does the harmonics
I love early Cure.
Wondering if you could get really close to that original sound with a Squier Jaguar instead of going with a Jazzmaster. I also noticed the Cure uses a ton of Telecasters eventually, as well. At the life show “in orange” Robert uses a tele more than his signature modified JM.
I saw in another post that Smith had anticipated getting a Jaguar but the store only had the JM
Subscribed! Great video.
The guitar parts on the first Cure album were not recorded using a Woolies Top 20 guitar, he might have tried it first but was very quickly persuaded to get a better guitar. There's stories out there that someone from the record label with little or no guitar knowledge was sent out to get a guitar and came back with a Jazzmaster just cos he liked the look of it or maybe just grabbed the first guitar that caught his eye or looked slightly different, even by the late 70's offset bodies were still thought of as a bit unusual, but it is possible that Robert chose it. The Top 20 is not heard on the record, although you're probably right about that pick-up being in the Jazzmaster pretty much straight away.
There are a number of "stories out there" that tell it quite differently.
@@ExternalInputs What's your take it then?
Robert chose the jazzmaster because Elvis Costello played one and he was a fan. Well documented.
And the Top Twenty pickup was never wired up as far as I know…
I think these are the same pickups McGeoch had on his Aria Diamond when he was in Magazine.
Nice video, I think Chris Parry bought him some expensive kit for the recording but he used this guitar anyway.
I subscribed your channel once I saw the channel name even before I watched any of your videos! Looking forward to seeing more covers :)
Thank you :)
I have the same guitar (except it has "Dana" as a label)...used to be my Dads and mean a hell of a lot to me :)
Nice vid man, decent sound for a cheap beat up guitar. Should add a 'knowwhatimean' counter for future vids :D
Definitely mate, I’ve learned to stop saying “knowwhatamean” it gets annoying at the pub hahaha. Thanks again Cameron:)
So you're planning to install this on your Squier to make an early Cure replica? If you do, please record a demo of the wiring and sound combinations! Robert's Jazzmasters were iconic, it was such a great surprise to see him play his original recently (which was beautifully restored by a French guy a couple of years ago)
I am in the middle of recording a video on this I just finished the guitar it sounds amazing thanks for commenting the video will be out in a few days
Fine information great sound spot on
Boy do I miss my JC-120 and Top Twenty :( Still got my Jazzmaster and UltraCure though never part with them ;)
What do you think of the ultracure ?
@@Indiecovers1985 Well it's 2008 model so it's absolutely massive LOL but surprisingly comfortable.
I think borrows design elements from Firebird and Telecaster it's forearm and tummy contours give it Fendery feel.
It's really nice very comfortable neck profile. Sounds lovely I was able to nail the 4:13 dream sounds haha I know it's unpopular but I like all the differen't eras of The Cure. I think the Duncan 59 pickups also lend themselves well to the Wish era sound too.
Over all a pretty nice guitar so I never understood the hate it gets sometimes I think it's just some Cure fans are used to them sounding a certain way
@@kraftiekhunt251 I like them I do prefer the jazzmaster I would like fender too make a signature model for him
@@Indiecovers1985 Yeah Jazzmaster is definitely king. One can only dream although he does like to take them for a spin every once in a while who knows.
just recently bought a complete and original Teisco Top Twenty, just to realise that Robert Smith had one in the 70s
EDIT: i'm pretty sure that your guitar is a later model, as the headstock design changed in the late 60s, so I'd possibly say that yours is a 70 or 71 model
oh ! I have this kind of guitar, with black foil PUs, in better conditions and an slightly better tone. This kind of guitar lack the middle punch and has a very wide warm tone. It can be trebly too, because his general scoopiness. It works good with tubescreamers pedals, fuzz and vox amps.
the modern equivalent of Woolworths would be Wilko. Mad to think any musical instrument that was playable was ever sold there
I wouldn’t any bad things about teisco guitars they are great my one plays really good
@@Indiecovers1985 I have a short scale Japanese 1970s guitar awaiting restringing right now. looking forward to trying it out
I found a guitar years ago in the trash that looked just like that. I still have it. I don’t know if it’s a tiesco but I think it probably is. Maybe I’ll re-string it and see how it sounds.
Okay, who would throw a guitar away? Lucky you tho
People do some stupid things I found a guitar at the dump once it honestly just needed new strings it’s a shame
This was my first guitar. I paid £15 for it from a lad at school whose grandad bought him it from Woolworths. I've racked my brains but I can't for the life of me remember what happened to it. Did I sell it ? Did I throw it out for the bin men ? Just can't remember.
this "hunk of shit" costs 600$ now😐😯. I say you have a good piece of underrated history in your hands👍🏾👍🏾.
Honestly it’s a great guitar I regret saying it now I’ve really grown to love it.
i think the middle position on the telecaster is similar
soda stereo was really inspired by the cure
The Police flaco, escucha el primer disco de Soda y te vas dar cuenta las influencias de The Police
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
. I AM REALLY SORRY AFTER WATCHING THIS VIDEO, I KNOW I SAID IT A LOT
SORRY Everyone, I WAS JUST REALLY EXCITED TO GET HIS TONE :)
Like always, i lived everything, but mostly how the spider didn't eat the frog and was actually polite and how it forgets on which leg it has its watch
wtf I commented this on the video "THROAT NOTES" how did it get here I didn't even watch this video I saved it for later
So…it is clean sound w chorus (Roland Jazz Chorus) + Echo + Flanger….
I heard they used 7 different Flangers on one of those early albums…and recommendations for flanger or echo sounds? Gonna try with my Axe III
It's all in the amp. Guitars yeah to an extent but amps are more important when playing the cure sound
oh no! reALLY? dAMN shucks... Kirk from Metallica paid $X millions for Peter Green's Les Paul ... and he didnt have to ? its all in the amps? lmao
Sorry, I didn't understand. Did you install new bridge or? I have the same guitar. You said it great. Sounds beautiful, plays like crap.
a question friend, what pedals do you use to have that incredible sound?