--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Young has a personal relationship with…" description: "\"“Young has a personal relationship with electricity. In Europe, where the electrical current is sixty cycles, not fifty, he can pinpoint the fluctuatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/jimmy-mcdonough-70293_neil-young_young-has-a-personal-relationship-with-e_1281862.jpg" --- # Young has a personal relationship with electricity. In… ![“Young has a personal relationship with electricity. In Europe, where the electrical current is sixty cycles, not fifty, he can pinpoint the fluctuation --- by degrees. It dumbfounded Cragg. "He'll say, 'Larry, there's a hundred volts coming out of the wall, isn't there?' I'll go measure it, and…” quote by Jimmy McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/jimmy-mcdonough-70293_neil-young_young-has-a-personal-relationship-with-e_1281862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/jimmy-mcdonough-70293_neil-young_young-has-a-personal-relationship-with-e_1281862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/jimmy-mcdonough-70293_neil-young_young-has-a-personal-relationship-with-e_1281862.jpg) > ““Young has a personal relationship with electricity. In Europe, where the electrical current is sixty cycles, not fifty, he can pinpoint the fluctuation --- by degrees. It dumbfounded Cragg. "He'll say, 'Larry, there's a hundred volts coming out of the wall, isn't there?' I'll go measure it, and yeah, sure --- he can hear the difference." Shakey's innovations are everywhere. Intent on controlling amp volume from his guitar instead of the amp, Young had a remote device designed called the Whizzer. Guitarists marvel at the stomp box that lies onstage at Young's feet: a byzantine gang of effects that can be utilized without any degradation to the original signal. Just constructing the box's angular red wooden housing to Young's extreme specifications had craftsmen pulling their hair out. Cradled in a stand in front of the amps is the fuse for the dynamite, Young's trademark ax--Old Black, a '53 Gold Top Les Paul some knot-head daubed with black paint eons ago. Old Black's features include a Bigsby wang bar, which pulls strings and bends notes, and Firebird picking so sensitive you can talk through it. It's a demonic instrument. "Old black doesn't sound like any other guitar," said Cragg, shaking his head. For Cragg, Old Black is a nightmare. Young won't permit the ancient frets to be changed, likes his strings old and used, and the Bigsby causes the guitar to go out of tune constantly. "At Sound check, everything will work great. Neil picks up the guitar, and for some reason that's when things go wrong.”” Jimmy McDonough ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neil Young’s deep connection to electricity and his custom guitar tech reflect his relentless pursuit of unique sound, despite technical challenges. **In simple terms:** Young obsessively tweaks his guitar for perfect tone. Key Takeaway Embrace innovation while respecting limits. Themes creativity technology music obsession craftsmanship Mood admiring analytical Type artistic technical When to use this quote - Live performance setup - studio recording - gear troubleshooting Key Concepts Signal fidelity instrument customization artist identity Questions to Reflect On - What balances perfection and practicality? - How does technology shape artistic expression? A Different Perspective Fixation on perfection can hinder collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Personal relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-relationship/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [“People keep telling me that my music has helped them through periods of their life, and I've never understood how that happens, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-mcdonough/people-keep-telling-me-that-my-music-has-helped-them-through-periods/) Jimmy McDonough > [I'm not like other guitar players. In fact, I'm not even like most acoustic players because I use the nylon-string acoustic. I do play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-m-not-like-other-guitar-players-in-fact-i-m-not-even-like-most/) [Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/) > [One of the things that was crucial for me I got from Rory Gallagher, which was the idea of, like, being a guitar player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/one-of-the-things-that-was-crucial-for-me-i-got-from-rory-gallagher/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [I made an instrument which I'm really happy about, because I always wanted to have a machine that did this so once I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-made-an-instrument-which-i-m-really-happy-about-because-i-always/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [My sunglasses are like my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/my-sunglasses-are-like-my-guitar/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I feel like guitar explains a lot. You can just listen to a guitar without any lyrics over it; you can just feel what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayvadius-cash/i-feel-like-guitar-explains-a-lot-you-can-just-listen-to-a-guitar/) [Nayvadius Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayvadius-cash/) > [But you make me sing like a guitar humming . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/but-you-make-me-sing-like-a-guitar-humming/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [At a young age I thought, 'Wow, that fiddle thing, that's pretty cool. That mandolin is great. These drums, I like these drums... '…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/at-a-young-age-i-thought-wow-that-fiddle-thing-that-s-pretty-cool/) [Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/) > [Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/enthusiasm-is-everything-it-must-be-taut-and-vibrating-like-a-guitar/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [The most obvious thing you can't do with a guitar synthesizer is to really sound like a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/the-most-obvious-thing-you-can-t-do-with-a-guitar-synthesizer-is-to/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [“Life is like a guitar, Strums it until your fingers bleed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumit-upadhyay/life-is-like-a-guitar-strums-it-until-your-fingers-bleed/) Sumit Upadhyay > [Directing is like guitar playing. That's a unique mind-set and talent, unto itself. I like the idea of putting everything together to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/directing-is-like-guitar-playing-that-s-a-unique-mind-set-and-talent/) [Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/) > [Obviously, a bass sounds like a bass and a guitar sounds like a guitar, but the way you play the guitar reflects your personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simonon/obviously-a-bass-sounds-like-a-bass-and-a-guitar-sounds-like-a-guitar/) [Paul Simonon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simonon/) > [My family was always playing music; I always enjoyed it. My cousin, who is a little older than me, he started playing music, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/my-family-was-always-playing-music-i-always-enjoyed-it-my-cousin-who/) [Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) ## More by Jimmy McDonough > [“-You don't like confrontation? Sometimes I'm really down for confrontation. It's kind of like a changing thing. I don't know why. Must be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-mcdonough/you-don-t-like-confrontation-sometimes-i-m-really-down-for/) Jimmy McDonough > [“You really can't go through life wanting to be liked. It's the hardest lesson to learn. Once you say, "Fuck it, I don't care,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-mcdonough/you-really-can-t-go-through-life-wanting-to-be-liked-it-s-the-hardest/) Jimmy McDonough > [“People keep telling me that my music has helped them through periods of their life, and I've never understood how that happens, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-mcdonough/people-keep-telling-me-that-my-music-has-helped-them-through-periods/) Jimmy McDonough Explore all 4 Jimmy McDonough quotes ## More Neil young quotes > [My songs are like cheap Neil Young copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/my-songs-are-like-cheap-neil-young-copies/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [How do I explain Neil Young? Great question! I explain Neil Young as, I would kill to see his acoustic shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/how-do-i-explain-neil-young-great-question-i-explain-neil-young-as-i/) [Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/) > [Neil Young is my hero. You know what that guy has been doing for the past 40 years? Making music. That's what that guy does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/neil-young-is-my-hero-you-know-what-that-guy-has-been-doing-for-the/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [I'm too young to have experienced firsthand the '70s rock, but when I was in high school, me and my friends were super into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-m-too-young-to-have-experienced-firsthand-the-70s-rock-but-when-i/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [Neil Young, who isn't really evident when you listen to my music, is probably my favorite of the legends, besides Dylan. They're all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/neil-young-who-isn-t-really-evident-when-you-listen-to-my-music-is/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [There was a note on my dressing room table that said, Call Neil Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-snodgress/there-was-a-note-on-my-dressing-room-table-that-said-call-neil-young/) [Carrie Snodgress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-snodgress/) > [I'm of Neil Young's generation. Neil Young's songs have spoken to what it's like to be at least a white male of his generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/i-m-of-neil-young-s-generation-neil-young-s-songs-have-spoken-to-what/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [I wasn't a rock 'n' roll girl. I said, Neil Young, Neil Young, where do I know that name from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-snodgress/i-wasn-t-a-rock-n-roll-girl-i-said-neil-young-neil-young-where-do-i/) [Carrie Snodgress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-snodgress/) > [I do own CDs by Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell, but I don't think of them as being major influences on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-do-own-cds-by-neil-young-leonard-cohen-and-joni-mitchell-but-i-don/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [I don't have a role model, but I certainly have always enjoyed Neil Young. I had the great pleasure and opportunity to watch him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-shields/i-don-t-have-a-role-model-but-i-certainly-have-always-enjoyed-neil/) [Kevin Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-shields/) > [My whole life, I have listened to people like Neil Young, or Crosby, Stills & Nash, and artists that have made a career out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-whole-life-i-have-listened-to-people-like-neil-young-or-crosby/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [Whether it's Neil Young or Johnny Rotten, a band has to have someone like that: someone who you listen to and know that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/whether-it-s-neil-young-or-johnny-rotten-a-band-has-to-have-someone/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [We loved Neil Young and all the music he's given the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/we-loved-neil-young-and-all-the-music-he-s-given-the-world/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [I hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don't need him around anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynyrd-skynyrd/i-hope-neil-young-will-remember-a-southern-man-don-t-need-him-around/) [Lynyrd Skynyrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynyrd-skynyrd/) > [But when I was 12 or 13, I found the acoustic guitar and got into guitar music ultimately, like Black Motorcycle Club, obviously Neil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/but-when-i-was-12-or-13-i-found-the-acoustic-guitar-and-got-into/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) Browse all 54 Neil young quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Young has a personal relationship with electricity. In Europe, where the electrical current is sixty cycles, not fifty, he can pinpoint the fluctuation --- by degrees. It dumbfounded Cragg. \"He'll say, 'Larry, there's a hundred volts coming out of the wall, isn't there?' I'll go measure it, and yeah, sure --- he can hear the difference.\" Shakey's innovations are everywhere. Intent on controlling amp volume from his guitar instead of the amp, Young had a remote device designed called the Whizzer. Guitarists marvel at the stomp box that lies onstage at Young's feet: a byzantine gang of effects that can be utilized without any degradation to the original signal. Just constructing the box's angular red wooden housing to Young's extreme specifications had craftsmen pulling their hair out. Cradled in a stand in front of the amps is the fuse for the dynamite, Young's trademark ax--Old Black, a '53 Gold Top Les Paul some knot-head daubed with black paint eons ago. Old Black's features include a Bigsby wang bar, which pulls strings and bends notes, and Firebird picking so sensitive you can talk through it. It's a demonic instrument. \"Old black doesn't sound like any other guitar,\" said Cragg, shaking his head. For Cragg, Old Black is a nightmare. Young won't permit the ancient frets to be changed, likes his strings old and used, and the Bigsby causes the guitar to go out of tune constantly. \"At Sound check, everything will work great. 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