Tear Drop - YouTube - look ------>

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Apr 2012 6:57 am

Here's my take on Santo & Johnny's "Tear Drop". This was their follow up to their #1 pop hit "Sleep Walk", 1959. I'm playing a '56 Stringmaster, short scale, C6 tuning. 6 strings only for this arrangement. Thanks for listening...

CLICK on the PICTURE to Hear the song!

To hear the original Tear Drop by Santo & Johnny Click This

Larry Rafferty · Post by **Larry Rafferty** » 19 Apr 2012 9:55 am

Doug,
That's about as close to perfect as anyone has ever played that song. Great Tone!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Apr 2012 10:04 am

Thanks Larry! I tried to copy Santo's sound as closely as possible... a lot of thin highs and reverb. Thanks again.

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 19 Apr 2012 2:35 pm

Very nice work Doug.Great tone from that Fender.I really enjoyed.Thanks for posting.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Apr 2012 4:56 pm

Thanks Tim, I'm glad you like it!

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 19 Apr 2012 9:09 pm

Oh oh so Moving!!!...Love that timber!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Apr 2012 9:24 pm

Thanks Mickey! Much appreciated. Yes, there's nothing like that Fender tone. It really cuts.

Tonu Timm · Post by **Tonu Timm** » 19 Apr 2012 10:30 pm

Just lovely:)

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Apr 2012 8:10 am

Thanks Tonu!

Spencer Scott · Post by **Spencer Scott** » 25 Apr 2012 5:36 am

This is fantastic playing, tone to the bone.
It does not get better than this.
Just keep them comming.
Spence.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 25 Apr 2012 4:23 pm

Thanks Spence, I'm glad you like it!

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 26 Apr 2012 2:43 am

Doug, you really make your Stringmaster sing your song. So expressive. So beautiful.

Are you mixing in some extra reverb on some of the phrases, or is there some other processing you add to them?

Anyway, thank you...string master!

Andrew Roblin
International sho-Bud Brotherhood & Sisterhood
Member #79, Janitor

Dave Alfstad · Post by **Dave Alfstad** » 26 Apr 2012 3:06 am

What can I say that hasn't been said? I loved your rendition! Perfect!

Terry Niendorf · Post by **Terry Niendorf** » 26 Apr 2012 7:02 am

I had forgot what a great song this was. I remember when it first was played on the radio. It did get quite a lot of air play. Not to take anything away from Santo and Johnney, but Doug sounds better imho. And Doug your Stringmaster looks like my first Steel. Wish I still had it. Thanks for showing us.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Apr 2012 7:56 am

Thanks guys, I appreciate your kind replies. Andrew, I used a Holy Grail reverb on this tune, a very shallow setting... either "spring" or "room" setting, as I remember. Yes, I added more reverb for the harmonic slide fills.

The original Tear Drop is drenched in reverb, unlike Sleep Walk, where Santo's steel guitar sounds dry, no reverb. In the late 1950s recording studios starting using "plate reverb"... a large plate of sheet metal, up to 600 pounds, that would vibrate and create the reverb effect. I think that's what they used on the original Tear Drop.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Apr 2012 3:12 am

Brilliant Doug.

When I was a kid at school I loved this recording, along with the B-side "Long Walk Home" and played it to death.

The reverb on the original does get used to accent certain passages, and makes those passages almost sound orchestral as a result. You really get close to Santo's playing on everything you do af his. Great stuff.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Apr 2012 9:56 pm

Thanks, Ken. I remember hearing Sleep Walk on the radio when I was a kid, but I didn't know Tear Drop until someone mentioned it here on the Forum a few years ago. As soon as I heard the opening two bars of the melody I was hooked! There's something about Santo and Johnny's sound that transports me back to 1960. Kinda like a time machine.