Cobra for country?

[jtw]

Hey all, I'd like your feedback on this one. I possibly have an opportunity to step into a really cool country gig. The guy I'd be replacing is a hardcore tele-whacker really thick on that Bakersfield twang.

The bandleader obviously still wants the twanginess, and I was wondering if you guys think my Cobra can handle this duty? I know it won't really sound like a true tele due to scale length, pickups, and wood, but the split coil sounds seem to be really good on the H2+ i have in the treble spot on that guitar. Again, I'm trying to get "in the ballpark" sonically with the Cobra. I have a Mexican Tele that could fit the bill, but the Cobra is just so dang comfortable and buttery to play :) I think my goal is to stay true to what the artist has already developed, serve the songs, and still be me and make my own impression at the same time.

For other tonal reference, I'm mostly using a Dr. Z MAZ 18 or a Matchless HC30, through a 1x12 J Design cabinet with an Eminence Wizard.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

[Rhys]

You should be fine with that. I think a lot of the country sound is in the way you play. I do some chickin pickin with my atom in the split bridge position, and in the rare moments when my playing isn't lame, you wouldn't care that it wasn't on a tele. In fact, I've had someone ask me what kind of telecaster I was playing before. (Obviously, he'd been standing far away since the Atom looks nothing like a tele.)

The Maz Jr and a compressor will only help the situation.

[tom]

i agree, the split sounds should do at least fine.

[jtw]

Thanks Tom and Rhys, I was pretty sure the split coils should cover those tones pretty well. Thanks for the feedback.

[Pietro]

I have a friend who stepped into a country band this past year and he also used a pair of cobras for it, one hollow with an H2 in the bridge, and one solid with an H3. He also had an American 52RI fender, which he figured he'd need for some stuff, so he brought it along the first few gigs... and never even plugged it in.

I bet you'll be fine.

[jtw]

Thanks Pietro, even more confirmation!

[entraind]

I recorded a solo last week on my Atom Special with the H2+ split and I got several folks asking me about my tele :)

[kurt1981]

Same here, I played a friend's cobra at a jam session, and split the H2plus for a tele tone, then hit the full bridge for some steel type swells, everyone thought I had a fat tele. Too bad I played so lame!!!!
Kurt

[olectric]

i use my les paul as much as my tele for the country stuff. the twang really comes from how you play it.

here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=5rs9EM-2eC8)'s a guy playing a brad paisley solo on his cobra

[LearnedHand]

I have a Cobra S that has M1-M1-H3 in neck, middle and bridge respectively. Originally, the H3 was split and pull knob to add bridge (thus giving bridge always on). Six to eight months later Tom and crew started to more frequently incorporating the kickback system. I sent mine back for a refit with the kickback and keep the pull to add bridge. It works better IHMO. The guitar was able to generate a tele sound with pull the knob to add the bridge when the switch was activating the neck pickup, but now with the kickback, it gets even closer. I would suggest when you have the opportunity to send the guitar back to Tom to have the kickback system replace the split coil setup.

Another thing you can do with this kickback system, which is the way I keep the guitar set, is to leave the kickback system on and get my rhythm or clean tone that I want, then when I want a lead tone or a slightly dirty tone, just flick the switch down and bam instant switch with just a little more volume and with no channel switching on the amp or doing a tap dance on a stompbox or the like, (thus no popping noise introduced into the mix because of stepping on the channel switch in the amp or stepping on a stompbox.)

[Harry]

I have a cobra and a Maz 18 NR 1x12 combo. It sounds like a broadcaster due to the meaty split coil. Actually I think it sounds better than most Fender Tele's with all the high screech as well. It is how you play it. You will not have any problems plus it will sound fuller.

Harry

[kurt1981]

Harry, what pickups are in your cobra? Also, any further info on the kickback system you guys mentioned would greatly be appreciated,
Thanks,
Kurt

[Harry]

It has the H2+ in the bridge and an H1 in the neck. Sorry for taking so long to reply I hope this helps.

Good luck

Harry