Santana enjoyers thread

[VonBonfire]

Where I grew up my first introduction to a real pro level guitarist was a guy who lived about a block down the street. He had a Mesa Mk 1 he had special ordered before they were widely distributed and a USA BC Rich mockingbird. The guy was a Santana nut and had all the records even the one with McLaughlin. If I played the Oye Como Va chords he would unleash an inner Carlos for 30 minutes solid without even repeating himself and then bust out laughing when it was over, lol.

Anyways, I have been a Santana fan ever since and even like his commercial stuff. I been on a listening kick lately so I figured I'd toss this thread up. I still debate which era of tone is his best but truthfully, they are all pretty great. Hopefully I'm not alone here. I'll kick it off with this beauty:

 

[griff10672]

 

[4406cuda]

 

[VonBonfire]

Carlos has always had amazing musicians. Michael Shrieve is a monster.

Wish the audio on that one was a little higher quality. Les Paul plus what? Twin? Mesa? I do love his Yamaha era tone but seems like the Yamaha was pretty close overall to the LP.

 

[Geo]

Wasn't this fugly fucking guitar a Santana model?

 

[VonBonfire]

Wasn't this fugly fucking guitar a Santana model?

View attachment 437156

Is that an L6S or something? Doesn't look bad to me. I believe he did use one for a short time on a couple recordings. They are definitely an affordable Gibson!

 

[Geo]

Is that an L6S or something? Doesn't look bad to me. I believe he did use one for a short time on a couple recordings. They are definitely an affordable Gibson!

Exactly, don't stick it in my eye please.

 

[Geo]

1978 evidently

 

[Geo]

 

[VonBonfire]

1978 evidently

View attachment 437159

That's a nice axe! Have you had it for a long time?

 

[Geo]

That's a nice axe! Have you had it for a long time?

Bought it from a Neurosurgeon friend of mine about 12 years ago.

Cleaned it, played it and haven't looked at it since.

 

[VonBonfire]

Bought it from a Neurosurgeon friend of mine about 12 years ago.

Cleaned it, played it and haven't looked at it since.

That's actually a pretty nice looking one vs the natural ones but I suppose that's just my opinion. Maybe it's time to plug it into a cranked Twin or Mesa!

 

[Geo]

That's actually a pretty nice looking one vs the natural ones but I suppose that's just my opinion. Maybe it's time to plug it into a cranked Twin or Mesa!

From what I remember those are Bill Lawrence pups, and they sounded real nice but I am a Les Paul man now.

 

[VonBonfire]

From what I remember those are Bill Lawrence pups, and they sounded real nice but I am a Les Paul man now.

A good portion of the Santana tone is an LP so I think you more than got the basics covered now Geo! The Yamaha SG-175 and SG-800/1000/1500/2000/3000 seem basically like a Les Paul in thickness/weight with dual cutaways for better fret access. I think member @JackBootedThug still has one and he seems to love it. Santana always sounds like Santana regardless but his chosen setups always sound good.

Check out that Yamaha. "Let the Children Play" is a killer tune.

 

[Geo]

A good portion of the Santana tone is an LP so I think you more than got the basics covered now Geo! The Yamaha SG-175 and SG-800/1000/1500/2000/3000 seem basically like a Les Paul in thickness/weight with dual cutaways for better fret access. I think member @JackBootedThug still has one and he seems to love it. Santana always sounds like Santana regardless but his chosen setups always sound good.

Check out that Yamaha. "Let the Children Play" is a killer tune.

Yeah no doubt, would love to have one. My go to dealer has a nice one for sale.

https://www.larkstreetmusic.com/justinwbar.html

 

[VonBonfire]

Yeah no doubt, would love to have one. My go to dealer has a nice one for sale.

Man, his markup on that model is a bit steep just cause MICK JONES used it? Any relation to JAMES TYLER? LOL, get real. Those are running 1100-1500 on reverb. You could just about get the SG-3000 with the fancier binding and inlays for his price.

 

[stephen sawall]

I had a half hour conversation with Randall Smith about Carlos about ten years ago. His sense of melody and phrasing, obviously the gear.

 

[VonBonfire]

I had a half hour conversation with Randall Smith about Carlos about ten years ago. His sense of melody and phrasing, obviously the gear.

Always thought it was cool he started out as the "Santana Blues Band". Was reading the other day about how they were trying to be different than Paul Butterfield's band by letting the drums do their thing. It made for a unique sound. I'd like to go see him at the Moody in August. Nosebleeds are $50 each but decent seats would cost me a couple hundred bucks for two. Ain't really got that kinda cash right now. Haven't been to a "concert" in years though.

 

[stephen sawall]

Last time I saw him play was about 15 years ago. He rarely looked at the crowd. He is locked into the band. I go see live music often. But not concerts anymore. 1 or 2 a year.

 

[romanianreaper]

I gotta be honest, when I used to read guitar magazines back in the day and Carlos would talk about the spirit of the guitar flowing, etc., I didn't really give him a listen or find out more about him.

Several years ago my Mom got me Santana's autobiography and I loved it and found out he is that authentic guy. I need to listen to more of his stuff but obviously love the old hits and I thought that album he did with famous singers was amazing.