'"Chicken Pickin", modern country tele guitar tips

[jmfproductions1]

Hey everyone, been researching chicken picken Telecaster country guitar tone. Wanted to share my insights and hear yours and your suggestions. Found that this combination of guitars and effects produces a nice chicken pickin tone.

fender telecaster> Keeley Compressor (attack and clipping all the way up!)> Keeley modded BD2 mod (very light gain setting, tone at 2 oclock)> MXR Carbon Copy delay (set to give a slapback delay, or 1 single repetition of delay)> Fender Twin Reverb 65 reissue (volume 4, treble 5, mid 5, bass 4)

this setting was inspired by Brent Mason because he uses fender amps. I think that Brad Paisley uses a little more treble and midrange in his tone (but, he also uses a different kind of amp - Dr. Z Z Wreck (I think maybe a setting more like volume - LOUD, treble 7, mid 7, bass 5 or 4)

the basic formula is the same though

telecaster> compressor> light overdrive (or boost)> slapback delay> tube amp (tuned higher on the treble side)

there are.... if you pardon the pun, many ways to skin a chicken!LOL! On that note here are some other interesting amp settings that I have heard about for country tele.

Johnny Hiland - tube amp with treble 4, mid 8.5, bass 8
Doug Seven - fender twin with treble 3, mid 8, bass 5
Danny Gatton/ Stevie Ray Vaughn/ Albert Lee - fender "Magic 6" setting volume 6, treble 6, mid 3, bass 2, bright switch ON

as with anything, some of this information may be innacurate, so I would LOVE your feedback or any information that you might have about this style because I am REALLY trying to learn how to get a great chicken pickin sound!!!

[GM Reszel]

I'm not much help in the effects category but I like the tone I get from a 3 saddle bridge - all the others just can't get that vibe.

[kingfool1]

I don't have compression, but I can still get some great affects with a slight delay and the reverb. Good Pluck!

[bluesguy]

I've found that the Keeley compressor is crucial for country sounds. No other brand seems to give that same twang. And there are a lot of good youtube videos on the topic, too. They'll help you see what other people are doing.

[Faraday]

JMF - thanks for posting the info. I'm thinking about trying a little pickin' and will try some of your stuff.