Kind of a douchey comment by the interviewer to make right off the bat with, "so you had no choice but to play the guitar growing up" Seemed to throw Duane back a bit but he handled it with class.

I noticed that Duane didn't get very technical in his descriptions of his gear. Spoke in more general terms. Most of the other Rig Rundown's I've seen, the musicians reveal an in-depth knowledge of the design, function, and mechanical nuances of their equipment and here Duane stays very topical. Maybe that's a function of only getting 10 min or so....

Well, also....his rig is very basic w/ Dawes.....which works out well too. I just saw them in Chicago a few weeks back and they were absolutely fantastic. Duane played his ass off too.

"I mess with the volume" Wow. Never heard of a guitar player doing that! 😛
Interesting how Derek pulled the tubes for one channel, and took out the vibrato on the remaining one to get more drive.
Thanks for the link.

I think it's cool how Duane tells the story of taking the coricidin bottle from Dickey's house and about the sunburst being a real guitar because his dad used it. I wonder if his hat was his fathers from the Atlanta pop festival 😀

[Edited on 5/18/2016 by steadyhorse]

Never understood the fascination with him at all, he's not a compelling player. He's just a guy with a guitar and two well known names.

Never understood the fascination with him at all, he's not a compelling player. He's just a guy with a guitar and two well known names.

Yeah, thanks for that worthwhile comment. Duane is a pretty good guitar player. And, yes, the son of Dickey Betts. He may not reach the heights of his dad, but that would be a pretty unrealistic mountain to climb. I think it's cool that he is playing well and continuing the tradition.

OK, for those who want to click right into Duane's part, it is at about the 28 minute mark.

Never understood the fascination with him at all, he's not a compelling player. He's just a guy with a guitar and two well known names.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion.

I agree with RPMcMurphy. Duane Betts is a pretty good guitarist and expecting him to play just as well as his dad Richard Betts did in his prime is completely unrealistic.

I have been on other sites like Phil Lesh's site and other jamband forums where people argue what you said about Duane Betts, about Derek Trucks and Duane Trucks, Devon Allman, Jimmy Herring, and Warren Haynes.

If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?

Putting Duane in the company of the others you mention is a touch misleading. Not the same type of player and not even close to the same league as the others mentioned.

Duane without the ABB connection would never be mentioned. He rolls back on his volume so much with Dickey that he is barely there in the mix. If he got sick and missed a show, it would be business as usual for Dickey and Andy.

If you lost any of the others mentioned for a night, not like Duane could fill those shoes. Not a knock on him as very few others could either. But without Dad, we wouldn't even know who he is unless we lived near a bar he was playing and our other buddy was in the band.

I laughed when I saw he was on Rig Rundown. I said he will show a guitar, a pedal and an amp. He shows a few pedals and said I never really hit that one. LOL Rig Rundown for some guitarists is stupid. I remember someone doing it with Derek. He said here's my guitar and I plug straight into my amp. Some crazy insight there.

[Edited on 5/20/2016 by CanadianMule]

When was the last time you guys saw Duane play? Just curious.....cause I caught him 2 weeks ago and it sounds like your opinions are quite dated. I say that, because I shared your opinions to some extent until a couple weeks ago and I know my way around a guitar as well. He's come a long way, and he's out there doing it. Respect.

[Edited on 5/20/2016 by jparadise]

When was the last time you guys saw Duane play? Just curious.....cause I caught him 2 weeks ago and it sounds like your opinions are quite dated. I say that, because I shared your opinions to some extent until a couple weeks ago and I know my way around a guitar as well. He's come a long way, and he's out there doing it. Respect.

[Edited on 5/20/2016 by jparadise]

More power to him. Have watched him for years now and always felt the same. He did not become some guitar beast in the last couple of months. He is not that type of player and is obsessed with lowering his volume till he is out of the mix. Shy? Not confident? Has a Dad who is a legendary guitar player and is intimidated by that? All of the above maybe?

If it wasn't his son would Dickey have picked him? If he was good enough would Dickey have added a 3rd guitarists and salary? Not a chance.

Wish him well and those that dig it too. But trying to sell his skills as a lead player is like calling a burger a T-Bone steak. Regardless of how hard you wish, it will never be reality.

If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?

Because it's a forum? It's okay to disagree. Just sayin'.

Personally, I don't see what any kind of a big deal there is about him. If there is one. But I only saw him a few times, all with Dickey so you really couldn't hear the kid.

Actually Dawes is a good band for the kind of music they play and Duane Betts is a great fit for that band. Duane's playing is cool and confident in that band. The band is very creative and has some great original material and Duane has been all over the world with them. It's not a jam band or ABB kind of band or Gov't Mule but a very good band.

Here is the Strat is was taking about but it's another Betts playing it.

"If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?"

because people are 'allowed' to post their opinions in every other thread on this board LoL -
Is this thread ... speshul?

For the record, I did not post a single thing about expecting DuBe to sound or play like his his dad, DiBe.
I simply said I don't find him to be a compelling player. There are local musicians in town that rock my world on a Saturday night. DuBe isn't one of them.

"If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?"

because people are 'allowed' to post their opinions in every other thread on this board LoL -
Is this thread ... speshul?

For the record, I did not post a single thing about expecting DuBe to sound or play like his his dad, DiBe.
I simply said I don't find him to be a compelling player. There are local musicians in town that rock my world on a Saturday night. DuBe isn't one of them.

No this thread is not special. Duane Betts good in Dawes but I agree that he's not good in Great Southern.

I've known and met more than a few people who have the same opinion you do about Duane Betts, and say that Derek and Warren are boring, not compelling players, and that local blues guitarists are far better than they are.

"If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?"

because people are 'allowed' to post their opinions in every other thread on this board LoL -
Is this thread ... speshul?

For the record, I did not post a single thing about expecting DuBe to sound or play like his his dad, DiBe.
I simply said I don't find him to be a compelling player. There are local musicians in town that rock my world on a Saturday night. DuBe isn't one of them.

No this thread is not special. Duane Betts good in Dawes but I agree that he's not good in Great Southern.

I've known and met more than a few people who have the same opinion you do about Duane Betts, and say that Derek and Warren are boring, not compelling players, and that local blues guitarists are far better than they are.

But those people are clearly high and have a faulty opinion. Both Derek and Warren are hugely respected amongst their peers and many jump at the chance to be involved with them in any way. While there are amazing local players everywhere, Clapton isn't asking them to tour. Nor is he asking Duane Betts.

The whole angle is silly as Derek and Warren are

1) Lead guitarists while Duane is not.
2) their musical theory knowledge far exceeds Duane.
3) Duane would agree completely.

"If you don't like Duane Betts why did you click on this topic, read it, watch the video, and reply?"

because people are 'allowed' to post their opinions in every other thread on this board LoL -
Is this thread ... speshul?

For the record, I did not post a single thing about expecting DuBe to sound or play like his his dad, DiBe.
I simply said I don't find him to be a compelling player. There are local musicians in town that rock my world on a Saturday night. DuBe isn't one of them.

No this thread is not special. Duane Betts good in Dawes but I agree that he's not good in Great Southern.

I've known and met more than a few people who have the same opinion you do about Duane Betts, and say that Derek and Warren are boring, not compelling players, and that local blues guitarists are far better than they are.

But those people are clearly high and have a faulty opinion. Both Derek and Warren are hugely respected amongst their peers and many jump at the chance to be involved with them in any way. While there are amazing local players everywhere, Clapton isn't asking them to tour. Nor is he asking Duane Betts.

The whole angle is silly as Derek and Warren are

1) Lead guitarists while Duane is not.
2) their musical theory knowledge far exceeds Duane.
3) Duane would agree completely.

No they're not high, but maybe the people on Phil Lesh's message board are. 😉

I happen to like both Derek and Warren but people just have varying opinions when it comes to what they like and dislike when it comes to music and who they believe is a good player.

While there are obviously opinions and we won't all like something, there is undeniable skill set and music knowledge that no opinion can deny. You may not like them but the talent is obvious. To say that either Derek or Warren are not skilled is simply wrong and an example of a person's lack of knowledge. The entire industry and their peers is aware of that and it is why they are sought after.

The player in your local bar and Duane are not.

Apples and oranges.

While there are obviously opinions and we won't all like something, there is undeniable skill set and music knowledge that no opinion can deny. You may not like them but the talent is obvious. To say that either Derek or Warren are not skilled is simply wrong and an example of a person's lack of knowledge. The entire industry and their peers is aware of that and it is why they are sought after.

The player in your local bar and Duane are not.

Apples and oranges.

Where and when did I say that I don't like Derek and Warren? Or were you replying to the original poster?

I actually enjoy them both, have seen their bands, have seen the Allmans with Derek and Warren live more than any other band, and I do recognize the talent they have; but everyone likes different types of music.

I know people who are a lot more into WSP and phish who say that both Jimmy Herring, and Trey are better guitarists to them than Warren and Derek are. Deadheads I know say the same thing about Jerry Garcia and did not like Warren covering dead songs. All of these people have tried to like Warren and Derek but they say that Warren and Derek's playing to them is just boring and not that good.

But again these are people's opinions. I personally could care less what people in the industry say, do, or claim about musicians.

[Edited on 5/22/2016 by The_Newt]

Didn't mean you. Just anyone in general.

Sure some may like Jimmy or Trey more than Derek. Some may not like Warren with the Dead.

But they are all in the major leagues. Duane is not even AA ball.

Derek and Warren may bore some. Personally I always thought that the Grateful Dead were properly named as they bore me to death with endless noodling and out of tune vocals. But I can acknowledge the talent. To say that Derek and Warren are not good is just a silly statement.

You may not care what their peers in the industry think but it is the reason that they play with so many people including the Dead and Clapton. It is why people are lined up dying to jam with them. Why because their talent is undeniable.

Again many Phishheads and Deadheads also twirl in circles and some continue after the song stops.

Like what you like. If Duane Betts is your new guitar god then enjoy. I think he needs to actually be heard in a mix first.