Song Rig
Whipping Post
Derek Trucks · Live at the Beacon Theatre · 2011
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The Allman Brothers' signature slow-build epic, with Derek's slide guitar taking Duane's original parts and extending them into extended improvisation. The tone is warmer and more sustained than the 1971 original, reflecting decades of refinement in Derek's setup — the same SG/Fender combination but with greater control over dynamics.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson SG (open E, neck pickup for slow sections)
- 2Fender Super Reverb (four 10-inch speakers, pushed)
- 3Corning glass slide
Amp Settings
Slightly warmer than Already Free — the Super Reverb's four 10-inch speakers produce a wider, slightly darker sound than a single 12-inch Deluxe Reverb. The neck pickup provides maximum warmth for the slow, meditative sections.
Technique
How to Play It
Extended improvisation over the 11/8 time signature — Derek internalises the complex meter well enough to improvise freely over it, placing slide phrases that span bar lines and create tension against the rhythm section's strict pulse.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
SG in open E → Fender Super Reverb or Blues Deluxe → glass slide on ring finger. The three-pickup SG neck position is key for the softer, more introspective slide passages.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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