Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

The recording

Buddy Guy recorded the title track at Battery Recording Studios in New York City in 1991 with producer John Porter and engineer Tony Platt. Fender supplied two Stratocasters for the session—a blonde‑finish Strat with a tortoiseshell pickguard and an Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster—which he used for lead and rhythm parts, employing aggressive picking and dynamic bends that sit front‑and‑center in the mix.

Original gear

Late 1980s Fender Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster

Guitar

Fender sent Buddy Guy an Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster with a blonde finish and tortoiseshell pickguard for the 1991 Damn Right, I've Got the Blues sessions, which he used for the lead parts on the title track.

Fender Stratocaster (blonde finish, tortoiseshell pickguard)

Guitar

Another Fender Stratocaster with a blonde finish and tortoiseshell pickguard was supplied for the session and contributed to the rhythm and lead tones on the album’s title track.

Alternatives

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Play with a strong attack using a medium‑weight pick to drive the Strat’s single‑coil pickups.
2. 2.Blend the neck and bridge pickups to achieve a warm, slightly overdriven blues tone.
3. 3.Use expressive string bends and quick vibrato to accentuate each phrase.
4. 4.Let the notes ring and dynamically vary your picking intensity for a vocal‑like feel.