On two major-label albums within the ’90s, Nashville traditionalist George Ducas projected a honky-tonk sound with assist from producer (and ace guitarist) Richard Bennett. Ducas’ new album, Lengthy Approach From Dwelling, continues that path, this time with assist from Pete Anderson.

Closely influenced by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Wynn Stewart, Ducas – a longtime Dwight Yoakam/Anderson admirer – was enthused when a former sideman (former VG columnist Zac Childs) advised Anderson is perhaps match to supply his new music.“Working with Pete was an honor and a pleasure,” Ducas says. “I used to be a follower and fan of his work for a very long time. He’s a chapter in American music historical past all on his personal.”

Ducas had loads of materials.

“Nearly all of the songs had been new, however there’s one I grabbed from 10 or 15 years in the past and all the time cherished – ‘Hiya, Idiot.’”

“He’s bought the products,” Anderson explains. “He’s a honky-tonker and [the ambience is] mainly gravel parking tons, hillbilly joints, a shot and a beer, two-stepping and swing dancing.”

The Covid shutdown gave them time to plan, Anderson says. “In entrance of a pc, with two guitars, we did all of the pre-production on Zoom. It took eight or 9 months, and when he got here out, we had been prepared to trace in my studio with my guys, (pedal-steel participant) Gary Morse, (fiddler) Donnie Reed, (keyboardist) Skip Edwards, who performed on periods via my profession as a producer with Dwight and different folks.”

Anderson dealt with all electric-guitar elements – lead, baritone, and bass.

Ducas, who makes use of a 2017 Rickenbacker 360 and a Vox AC30 onstage as homage to hero Tom Petty, took his writing guitar, a ’69 D-28, to California to show licks he wished Anderson to include.

Anderson wished a stripped-down atmosphere.

“I wished it to sound like a five-piece band, nearly as good as they probably may play. You don’t have to double- and triple-track or add extra. You want air between the devices. They’ve extra impression that means.

“I believed, ‘If Dwight was makin’ a report with me now, that is what it might sound like.’”
Whereas he used his Reverend Eastsider baritone, he additionally tried two newer guitars, however they “…didn’t sound correct.” The Fenders from his Yoakam days had been lengthy retired – till that second.

“I stated, ‘Let’s get the ’59 sunburst Tele and tune it up.’ And it sat precisely within the monitor the place it wanted to be. That was signal. It was like being dwelling once more after 20 years.”

“On the periods, Pete performed a fairly fundamental, stripped-down model of what his amps finally do,” Ducas defined. “He gained’t settle ’til the tune is true. That’s what I actually love about him.”

“I direct one line into an previous Pod that has a clone of the blackface Deluxe I performed with Dwight,” Anderson added. “My engineer, Tony Rambo, places the road out to the ground and sends it to a guitar sign. After which we re-amp utilizing completely different amplifiers. For George’s report, the vast majority of the Fender stuff is a pre-CBS Twin with two EVs. You don’t carry that round (laughs). You get it out and also you get it miked up.”

As for different results, he says, “No drivers, no compression. The engineer has discretion to make use of limiting, however no pedals.”

The expertise strengthened Ducas’ resolve to carry agency to his conventional fashion.

“I do know my model and the place my passions stand,” he says. “The favored-arts model of nation music has shifted a lot away from the sound I really like, I actually need to plant a flag for it from right here out, and Pete and I’ve already tracked two songs for one more report. I’m all the time writing in some vogue, whether or not it’s placing pen to paper or simply banking concepts… letting the pot boil.”

“I had such a good time working with George, and I’d like to make one other report with him,” Anderson says. “We’ve talked about actually going laborious honky tonk. The songs had been there, however now we’re speaking about customizing a report to be severe honky tonk.”

This text initially appeared in VG’s July 2024 subject. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.