Albatross

The recording

On “Albatross” Peter Green plays a clean lead line on his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard with the neck pickup’s magnet reversed. He selects the middle pickup position, which makes the reversed neck and bridge humbuckers partially out‑of‑phase, producing a hollow, nasal timbre. His light‑touch picking and generous sustain let each note ring, while the Fender Twin Reverb’s pristine clean channel and natural reverb add a spacious, ethereal ambience.

Reported gear

1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (serial #9 0537)

Guitar

Peter Green’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard featured a reversed neck pickup magnet, giving the middle position a hollow, nasal, out‑of‑phase tone that defines the opening of “Albatross”.

Fender Twin Reverb (1968)

Amp

The clean, bright tone was captured by running Green’s Les Paul through a 1968 Fender Twin Reverb set to a modest gain and full‑volume clean channel with the built‑in reverb left open.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Modern equivalent · for the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (serial #9 0537)

$500 to $800

Fender ’65 Twin Reverb Reissue

Reissue · for the Fender Twin Reverb (1968)

$1,500 to $2,200

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Select the middle pickup position to engage the reversed neck pickup’s out‑of‑phase character.
2. 2.Play with a light, gentle touch to let the notes sustain and sing.
3. 3.Use subtle string bends and vibrato for expressive phrasing.
4. 4.Let the amp’s built‑in reverb add spacious ambience; keep the gain low for clean tone.
5. 5.Avoid any overdrive or distortion; keep the volume moderate to preserve clarity.