Hoochie Coochie Man

The recording

Recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago in January 1954, the track features Muddy Waters on electric guitar playing the signature stop‑time riff with a biting, single‑coil tone. He used a bridge pickup on his Gibson ES‑150, routed through a Fender Bassman 15‑watt combo amp, which gave a warm, natural tube overdrive. The guitar sits prominently in the mix, cutting through the rhythm section's piano, harmonica and drums.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1936 Gibson ES-150

Guitar

Muddy Waters used a 1936 Gibson ES-150 on the 1954 recording of "Hoochie Coochie Man", delivering the bright, single‑coil tone that cuts through the mix.

Fender Bassman 15‑watt Combo

Amplifier

The guitar part was captured through a Fender Bassman 15‑watt tube combo, providing the warm, natural overdrive heard on the recording.

Alternatives

Epiphone ES-150

Modern equivalent · for the 1936 Gibson ES-150

$400 to $600

Fender Bassman Reissue (2020)

Reissue · for the Fender Bassman 15‑watt Combo

$1,200 to $1,500

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Attack the stop‑time riff with a strong, percussive pick attack.
2. 2.Use the bridge pickup for a brighter, cutting tone.
3. 3.Set the amp’s volume high enough to let the tube break up naturally; avoid distortion pedals.
4. 4.Add a light palm‑mute on the low strings to tighten the groove.
5. 5.Maintain a steady rhythm; let the guitar punctuate the pauses in the vocal line.