FBI-pickup selections

[TOMMOLITTLELEVER]

Hi ,
Can someone please tell me at what stages in the recording did Hank change from the Middle Pup to the Bridge Pup--,specifically the last two "sections"

Thanks Ian

[RUSSET]

I believe the Bridge pickup is used for the verses played in the lower octave, as opposed to the first verse played in the higher octave with the Middle pickup.
There is a video on Youtube where, if I recall correctly, the Shads are playing FBI on 'Crackerjack' TV show (Black & White, obviously) in the early '60s. The close-ups show Hanks pickup changes.

Tony.

[TOMMOLITTLELEVER]

Thanks Tony

Cheers

Ian

[Martyn]

After all these years I'd not spotted that there was any pickup changing involved but the Crackerjack video clearly demonstrates both audibly and visually the opening bars played using the middle pickup, thence switching to the bridge for the other parts you mentioned.
This got me thinking so I just played the original record and I'm really not sure even now which pickup was used for those opening bars - sounds slightly more like the bridge to me but then if that were the case why would Hank switch pickups in the Crackerjack piece if he hadn't recorded it that way in the first place and make it harder for himself to play live? Later concert appearances suggest he used the bridge throughout but then he was using it for most tunes anyway by then. Hmmm - got me intrigued now . . .

Interesting how a casual enquiry by Ian could upset my memory's applecart but with the passage of time, the old memory isn't what it once was . . .

[abstamaria]

Good to know. Also, Hank wasn't holding the bar in those days. Such a quick right hand.

Andy