The Beast is the guitar that Malcolm Young played for over 40 years. I don't know other guitarists who have been playing the one guitar for such a long time.
He never actually removed paint... Gretsch was first and foremost a drum company, so a lot of their guitars were finished in same way as drums. The whole top of the guitar had a red plastic cover glued on, so when it chipped, rather than trying to fix the chip, Mal chiseled off the rest of the cover and sanded off the glue.
Have recently been mourning the loss of the great Leslie West formerly of the group Mountain. Different sound but he also preferred a single pick up guitar which was, in his case, a Les Paul Junior which only has one bridge pickup. Until I learned more about Leslie's technique, I used to wonder why Malcolm did that to his guitar (i.e. rip out all the pickups but one) but having seen how much sound Leslie West can get out of just one pickup it now makes perfect sense.
Adding to the argument, wood of guitar or pups make the sound? I say both. There really isn’t any reason for a hollowed out ( remove pups) guitar to sound better? Maybe a bit more room in chamber to breath so to speak but seems unlikely? Interesting debate though
@@dennisperin2989as someone who recently did what malcolm did on my own double jet....it does effect the sound. The best way I can describe it is that it "acoustic" ups rhe sound. Cause the guitar when picked unamplified got louder. Translates to a more open sound when put through a amp.
If Malcolm never used a Gretsch, I would probably never consider buying one. Even then I would only buy something that looks like his signature guitar.
Angus says Malcolm was better than him on playing solos. Check out the different but still super cool first album. The australian only High Voltage. Mal plays a few solos on that record. Solo marathon with Angus. Like on Soul Striper :)
I had a knock off Paul Reed Smith and I removed the neck pickup to try and get closer to his sound but I dont think it worked lol. I also don't like to think I ruined it, that it was a tribute also i guess.
It's also the pickup. You need a Filtertron pickup to sound closer to Malcolm. Filtertron are a tighter wounded pickup compared to a Gibson humbucker. You need that with a little gain (very little).
The only other guitarist who has been rocking just THAT one guitar is Brian may, who's Red Special never leaves his hands for long, in fact the only times during Queen performances where he's NOT playing it is during "Crazy little thing" (where he uses an Ovation acoustic and a Telecaster) and "Fat bottomed girls" (where he uses a red Special copy tuned to drop D) and most recently for "Under pressure" (where he now uses a double neck Red Special) So yeah, Brian May has been rocking just that one guitar for actually longer than Malcolm rocked his Gretsch.
I'm a big fan of Brian May, and mean no disrespect, but he has a couple of Red Special copies for backups, and like you said he played a few other guitars over the years. So yeah, he's had that one guitar for a long time, but Malcolm used only one guitar his whole career for every studio recording and every live show, with no backup guitar, with the exception of a Gretsch White Falcon which he only played for the Back In Black album promo videos. Had he lived longer, he would still be playing that one guitar.
@@livewire2759 Errr, no back up, you say? www.seymourduncan.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=66680&d=1441870625 Malcolm using a Gibson L-6S which also was Angus' back up. i.pinimg.com/originals/48/7a/a5/487aa5136112605f28c295fbcae54161.jpg One of three custom guitars that John Diggins of JayDee guitars made Malcolm which were his back ups during the "Back in Black" tour. fd.img.v4.skyrock.net/4125/51024125/pics/2058804234_5.jpg Malcolm's main Gretsch and his back ups during the early 2000's all of them are vintage sixties Gretsch Firebirds and Duo Jets with their neck pickups removed and their bridges replaced. And about that White Falcon, he actually used that one all the way from the "back in black" to the "For those about to rock" tours as his MAIN guitar. Not just as a prop in the videos. ua-cam.com/video/OC02hR6WGAY/v-deo.html
@@livewire2759 The back in black album was recorded with a different gretch and on one of the early albums, he used a telecaster on one of the songs i believe plus he had one back up guitar for live shows too
@@L1FEL1KE02 Angus and Malcolm had a Telecaster in the early days of the band but it was only used as a backup. They each had their signature guitars already so the Tele was only used when they had a live emergency. To my knowledge, it was never used to record with. Malcolm used a Gretsch White Falcon in the Back In Black promo videos, but it's still "The Beast" on the album recordings. He bought the White Falcon because it's the pinnacle of Gretsch guitars, intending to use it on the album, but as I understand it, after recording with it a bit he decided he still preferred the sound of his Firebird so he used it instead. It was also around this time that Mal obtained another Firebird (finished in black) to use as a backup and replace the old Tele. Angus also acquired a few more SGs to use for live show backups. By the late 80s/early 90s, Mal had 2 or 3 backup firebirds, but always used the original "Beast" for studio recording and live shows. Brian May also had several "Red Special" replicas made (I know of at least one in red, one in green or blue, and one in white or yellow that can be seen in the We Will Rock You Video) that he used for live backups and promo videos.
The Beast 3 pickup Gretsch version the bottom lower Toggle switch, what does it do? because the reissue model the toggle switch doesn't do anything it seems
naritube1 Actually it’s just a plastic plate that covers up the 4 screw holes from the Burns Vibrato. Malcolm jokingly called it the penis cover because of the shape of it.
the best rhythm guitarists are allan holdsworth paco de lucia jimi hendrix srv yjm evh blind willie johnson and malcolm young if you know what i mean. trust me. try to play like them and you will understand the reason why.
@@simonlavelle5572 no idiot mate.The chords he battered out are the chords u get stuck on when first learning the guitar and the ones u end up frustrated with&unhappy playing before u step up ur game and learn the real stuff and are able to go anywhere on the fretboard.This guy impresses only them who know Jack shit about guitar playing.Crappy guitarists either settle playing rythmn or bass... That Old Chestnut of "He only played a G D a C for forty years BUT it was the way he played them and the feel he put into playing them is what made him a genius" isn't really true that's just people being polite
We are each allowed our own opinions. I just can’t agree with yours. To be fair, I think I know where you’re coming from. However, meat and potatoes rock is deceptively easy thanks to guys exactly like Malcolm Young.
The sort of Guitar that has an incredible history in rock music. Basically priceless
The vintage look gives it beauty ❤
That gretsch is the pinnacle of Australian rock guitar. The easy beats and AC/DC is basically the definition of Australian royalty.
Malcolm put so much work into it. And had it all his life. Honorary man. Rock in peace! We will miss you, you little rhythm guitar god!
He never actually removed paint... Gretsch was first and foremost a drum company, so a lot of their guitars were finished in same way as drums. The whole top of the guitar had a red plastic cover glued on, so when it chipped, rather than trying to fix the chip, Mal chiseled off the rest of the cover and sanded off the glue.
You’re exactly correct 👍
And suddenly it looked ten times cooler.
Malcolm Young: One Genre, One Guitar, One Hairstyle
Malcolm you live in my heart 💖💖💖 with 💖 love
I love this band
What a legend (Malcom or the Guitar, as you want...😊)!!!
Listen to that kick ass Easybeats intro with Steve Wright just surfing on the tip of the wave with his vocals...
Have recently been mourning the loss of the great Leslie West formerly of the group Mountain. Different sound but he also preferred a single pick up guitar which was, in his case, a Les Paul Junior which only has one bridge pickup. Until I learned more about Leslie's technique, I used to wonder why Malcolm did that to his guitar (i.e. rip out all the pickups but one) but having seen how much sound Leslie West can get out of just one pickup it now makes perfect sense.
Adding to the argument, wood of guitar or pups make the sound? I say both. There really isn’t any reason for a hollowed out ( remove pups) guitar to sound better? Maybe a bit more room in chamber to breath so to speak but seems unlikely? Interesting debate though
@@dennisperin2989as someone who recently did what malcolm did on my own double jet....it does effect the sound. The best way I can describe it is that it "acoustic" ups rhe sound. Cause the guitar when picked unamplified got louder. Translates to a more open sound when put through a amp.
There are Guitarist like Slash and Joe Bonamasse who own and play more than 1000 Guitars...and then there was Malcolm young,.´´
If Malcolm never used a Gretsch, I would probably never consider buying one. Even then I would only buy something that looks like his signature guitar.
loved the video .. wow
Thanks so much for this from Christmas 2021. I just wish it was longer but thats OK. 🙏🏻
Malcolm i love you
Te amo donde quiera que te hayas ido
My version of the beast is the red with white cover over the two pick up routes
Angus says Malcolm was better than him on playing solos. Check out the different but still super cool first album. The australian only High Voltage. Mal plays a few solos on that record. Solo marathon with Angus. Like on Soul Striper :)
If you listen to Stevie Wright's 'Evie, Part 1" , that's all Malcolm. The man could do it all.
@@kcrock2932 I read that years ago. Just checked Wikipedia and it says Malcolm on part 1. And we all know wikipedia is never wrong! :)
this is so fucking cool
I had a knock off Paul Reed Smith and I removed the neck pickup to try and get closer to his sound but I dont think it worked lol. I also don't like to think I ruined it, that it was a tribute also i guess.
It's also the pickup. You need a Filtertron pickup to sound closer to Malcolm. Filtertron are a tighter wounded pickup compared to a Gibson humbucker. You need that with a little gain (very little).
you did indeed RUINED IT MAN.
The only other guitarist who has been rocking just THAT one guitar is Brian may, who's Red Special never leaves his hands for long, in fact the only times during Queen performances where he's NOT playing it is during "Crazy little thing" (where he uses an Ovation acoustic and a Telecaster) and "Fat bottomed girls" (where he uses a red Special copy tuned to drop D) and most recently for "Under pressure" (where he now uses a double neck Red Special)
So yeah, Brian May has been rocking just that one guitar for actually longer than Malcolm rocked his Gretsch.
I'm a big fan of Brian May, and mean no disrespect, but he has a couple of Red Special copies for backups, and like you said he played a few other guitars over the years. So yeah, he's had that one guitar for a long time, but Malcolm used only one guitar his whole career for every studio recording and every live show, with no backup guitar, with the exception of a Gretsch White Falcon which he only played for the Back In Black album promo videos. Had he lived longer, he would still be playing that one guitar.
@@livewire2759 Errr, no back up, you say?
www.seymourduncan.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=66680&d=1441870625
Malcolm using a Gibson L-6S which also was Angus' back up.
i.pinimg.com/originals/48/7a/a5/487aa5136112605f28c295fbcae54161.jpg
One of three custom guitars that John Diggins of JayDee guitars made Malcolm which were his back ups during the "Back in Black" tour.
fd.img.v4.skyrock.net/4125/51024125/pics/2058804234_5.jpg
Malcolm's main Gretsch and his back ups during the early 2000's all of them are vintage sixties Gretsch Firebirds and Duo Jets with their neck pickups removed and their bridges replaced.
And about that White Falcon, he actually used that one all the way from the "back in black" to the "For those about to rock" tours as his MAIN guitar. Not just as a prop in the videos.
ua-cam.com/video/OC02hR6WGAY/v-deo.html
Have you seen Willy Nelsons guitar? He may top them all
@@livewire2759 The back in black album was recorded with a different gretch and on one of the early albums, he used a telecaster on one of the songs i believe plus he had one back up guitar for live shows too
@@L1FEL1KE02 Angus and Malcolm had a Telecaster in the early days of the band but it was only used as a backup. They each had their signature guitars already so the Tele was only used when they had a live emergency. To my knowledge, it was never used to record with.
Malcolm used a Gretsch White Falcon in the Back In Black promo videos, but it's still "The Beast" on the album recordings. He bought the White Falcon because it's the pinnacle of Gretsch guitars, intending to use it on the album, but as I understand it, after recording with it a bit he decided he still preferred the sound of his Firebird so he used it instead.
It was also around this time that Mal obtained another Firebird (finished in black) to use as a backup and replace the old Tele. Angus also acquired a few more SGs to use for live show backups. By the late 80s/early 90s, Mal had 2 or 3 backup firebirds, but always used the original "Beast" for studio recording and live shows.
Brian May also had several "Red Special" replicas made (I know of at least one in red, one in green or blue, and one in white or yellow that can be seen in the We Will Rock You Video) that he used for live backups and promo videos.
0:27 What is the bridge?
0:42 What is the white plate called?
What is that white thing on the red gretsch?
That is just a plate to cover front and middle pickup cavities.
👍👍👍
The Beast 3 pickup Gretsch version the bottom lower Toggle switch, what does it do? because the reissue model the toggle switch doesn't do anything it seems
George gave him that guitar
I believe it was Vanda's guitar, he gave it to George, then George gave it Mal.
No. Harry gave him that guitar :)
And the guitar was one of the cheaper models of Gretch Guitars :) Still one of the moust beautifull sounds in the world :)
Did you know that he had a single coil in the neck position
Malcolms dead :( :( 😭
Puede haber un error con el tema de fondo ?,puede ser de los Easybeats ?,este en concreto ua-cam.com/video/8yMswt56fvQ/v-deo.html
What’s the name of the song in this video??
Good Time - The Easybeats
Derkan500 thanks 😊
What is the black tailpiece Called?
Not tailpiece.just a plate covering cavity.
If you wanted to copy it, just get a blank piece of black pick guard from stewmac somewhere and cut it out. Thats what I'm thinking of doing
naritube1 Actually it’s just a plastic plate that covers up the 4 screw holes from the Burns Vibrato. Malcolm jokingly called it the penis cover because of the shape of it.
you can make one or buy one on Ebay. $17 They are called a "Bishop Hat" cause its shaped like the Bishop chess piece
Triggers broom lol
He was a mediocre rhythm guitarist no better than anyone else who's restricted to busker cowboy chords
LOL 😂🤣😂
How much of an idiot are you?
the best rhythm guitarists are allan holdsworth paco de lucia jimi hendrix srv yjm evh blind willie johnson and malcolm young if you know what i mean. trust me. try to play like them and you will understand the reason why.
@@simonlavelle5572 no idiot mate.The chords he battered out are the chords u get stuck on when first learning the guitar and the ones u end up frustrated with&unhappy playing before u step up ur game and learn the real stuff and are able to go anywhere on the fretboard.This guy impresses only them who know Jack shit about guitar playing.Crappy guitarists either settle playing rythmn or bass... That Old Chestnut of "He only played a G D a C for forty years BUT it was the way he played them and the feel he put into playing them is what made him a genius" isn't really true that's just people being polite
We are each allowed our own opinions. I just can’t agree with yours.
To be fair, I think I know where you’re coming from. However, meat and potatoes rock is deceptively easy thanks to guys exactly like Malcolm Young.
@@BradPham as Pete Townshend says"Rock music is trash". It's not deceptively easy it's easy and as a musician it takes you nowhere