Singers who play solo with electric guitar?

[rwmct]

Originally Posted by Mr. Paul

I saw John Hiatt do an entire show solo with a strat and it sounded fantastic.

Same, but substitute Patty Larkin.

[Steel and wood]

I'm a fan. (In fact I like the change up from acoustic guitar).

[rbachman]

Richard Thompson and Bruce Cockburn can pull it off nicely

[TNO]

Check out Jeff Buckley 'Live at Sin-E', the expanded version.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

In my humble opinion, a solo electric guitar backing vocals sound thin and harsh.

It depends on how good you are and what you're going for. Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is anything but thin and harsh. Although in general, I also prefer the acoustic in solo performances.

[andare]

Blake Mills:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPDFofXqsM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DfJn9_RtmI

[j3ffr0]

I think not as many people do it, because the playing needs to be quite a bit more interesting than strumming chords for it to work well. An acoustic guitar can sound great with just three chord strummed.... a bit less so for an electric.

[Laughingboy68]

It can be done, but it takes a sensitive approach. I agree that simply strumming chords works better on an acoustic guitar.

If you can play like Tuck Andress or Joe Pass and sing like Patti Cathcart or Ella Fitzgerald, you know that the sonics of the combination is not the limiting factor, but rather the skill of the artist.

[FrankHudson]

Originally Posted by TNO

Check out Jeff Buckley 'Live at Sin-E', the expanded version.

Ditto, that Jeff Buckley album and John Lee Hooker were the two things that came to mind when I saw the OP. Some of my favorite JLH is solo electric.

Neil Young has done every kind of album it seems like, and did the La Noise album. Sounds like overdubs at times, though I'm not sure what's different delays and sound processing on a stereo Gretsch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU5B53b9ntQ

What's kind of neat about this less-used format is that you can really use a lot of low end that you'd take out the mix in a typical electric band recording.

[MiG50]

I've always wondered how to pull this exact move off. There aren't many people who do it, but it's pretty amazing when it works. The first time I saw someone pull it off, was Cat Power. Just a Danelectro/Silvertone guitar straight into a Fender Twin, and her voice.

Jeff Buckley, +1.

And I've been super into Julien Baker, who does a lot with just a Tele and a looper.

[The Old Gaffer]

Roger McGuinn plays solo with his Ric electric 12 string.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

In my humble opinion, a solo electric guitar backing vocals sound thin and harsh.

That actually wasn't the question in the OP, but if you're hearing thin and harsh, you're doing something wrong. Some guys just play with the same tone they would with a band and it has to be played in a different manner when there's no one else there.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by KevWind

While it is true that solo electric is the exception for solo work, it is not because of some sound deficiency, but more from simple tradition and the logistics of having to have almost double the equipment and possibly double the cost of both a good PA system and good guitar amp.
As an electric guitar through a PA does not flatter the electric, and a vocal through a good electric amp does not flatter the vocal.

However when done well with the right equipment and knowledge of how to play an electric for solo/vocal work, can be very good, interesting, and quite entertaining with the added bonus of an increased tonal palette.

+1

Good points all.

[loco gringo]

OK, there is a little bowed string in here as well.

[Steel and wood]

Clean, low volume with a touch of reverb to accompany the voice, what's not to like?