The Krew Kats - "Peak Hour"

[rogera]

It's a great pity that the Krew Kats recorded only a few instrumentals although every one of them is a gem.
My particular favourite is "Peak Hour" and I think that the title suits the number perfectly.

Big Jim Sullivan's guitar work was outstanding and I've found it pretty difficult to get the same kind of atmosphere and excitement.
I dont know what type of guitar Big Jim was playing in those days - I would guess maybe a Gibson ES335 ?
Perhaps someone can put me right on that.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my attempt at it -- any comments are welcome

Peak Hour

[noelford]

One of my favourites, too, Roger, and you certainly did it justice.

[rogera]

Thanks for your reply Noel - nice to hear that you enjoyed it.

[JimN]

I dont know what type of guitar Big Jim was playing in those days - I would guess maybe a Gibson ES335 ? Perhaps someone can put me right on that.

Close... it was a Gibson ES-355 (strictly: the Gibson ES-335TDSV).

The model was an upgraded ES345 (Gibson Stereo) with cherry finish, stereo wiring, ebony fretboard with Super 400 appointments and headstock (like a Les Paul Custom) and a Maestro long Vibrola (in gold).

Like this one:

JN

[rogera]

Ah yes, I should have remembered that photo Jim.

That's a beautiful guitar. After listening closely to the original recording there is a significant amount of distortion which I'm
guessing is down partly to the original recording technique (in mono) and the fact that the version I was listening to was probably taken from an old 45.

[cockroach]

Jim,

There's a photo of the Krew Kats with their guitars (ES355, Roger archtop and Lic's Framus bass)in '17 Watts?'...Big Jim's ES 355 had a Bigsby- don't think that Maestro Vibrola unit was used on Gibsons until a year or two after his model.

[Stratpicker]

Ah, so thats what archtops are for!
Roger, that was absolutely ACE !
what a wonderful sound and I think you got the style of the piece pretty well nailed.
Great BT too. Gallops along very nicely.
Cheers
Ian

[rogera]

Thanks for that Ian - as you said, the number does rather gallop along and I certainly found playing the lead line to be far from easy.

Although in the '60s I did have a Gibson ES335 I sold it (that's another story!) so the closest to that type of guitar that I have is a Dearmond Starfire
which has two humbuckers and that is what I used - set on bridge pickup.

[noelford]

I have a Custom Shop ES355 with a Bigsby, so all I need is a BT! Are you planning on putting the Peak Hour BT onto one of your CDs, Roger?

[rogera]

Yes Noel it'll be on the next CD which I hope to have ready in a couple of months.

You're lucky to have such a terrific Gibson - the only thing that I missed whilst recording this track with my Dearmond was the Bigsby.
There are just a couple of places where a trem would have come in handy.

I notice on the Gibson website that they seem to no longer make the ES355 model (other than the BB King)