Calling the "spirit" of Randy California: what's y

[gorohon]

I've been listening to alot of Spirit lately.  Randy California has an awesome lead sound.  This fuzz sounds like a Big Muff to me.  Any of you guys that have been around a while know what he used?

[R.G.]

Jordan Bosstone.

[gorohon]

I'm not familiar with that one. I'll have to check that it out.

[troubledtom]

i've seen them 2 times and i still don't get the greatness. but, it's ALL about what's cool to you.
   - tom

[Doug B.]

I've been listening to alot of Spirit lately.  Randy California has an awesome lead sound.  This fuzz sounds like a Big Muff to me.  Any of you guys that have been around a while know what he used?

Spirit has been one of my all-time favorite bands, and Randy (especially on that first Spirit album!) was one of the big early influences on my sound and playing.  Rest in peace, buddy.  

I read in in old interview once that, as R.G. mentioned above, he used the Jordan Bosstone.  He also said he was using a Danelectro guitar, at least on the early Spirit lps.  (Geesh, did i just say "lp"?)  Some of his tracks sound to me like he is using a wah in front of a fuzz, more as a tone control than a sound animator.  But IIRC, the Bosstone plugged directly into the guitar, so maybe he used some other distortion effects too... or maybe the Bosstone was modded!  (He mentioned in that interview keeping a few "secrets" to himself.)  

- Doug B.

[aron]

I'm not familiar with that one. I'll have to check that it out.

Look at the schematics link on the top of the forum and search for Bosstone.

[gorohon]

Cool, I'll go check it out, Aron.  "Mechanical World" and "1984" are where you would find what I had in mind as far as the sound I was thinking of.  If that's a Jordon Bosstone, I'm building one pronto :!:
The reason I like Spirit is that they had the whole fusion of jazz and psychedelia on some tracks that really puts you into a space of...umm...uhh...boy, have you ever noticed how big your hands are when you really, I mean, really stare at them, man!