Stevie Ray Vaughan
Being a Brit my influences have mainly been the slightly dirty Gibson tone of players like Jimmy Page and Paul Kossoff but lately I'm getting into the American blues tone and am particularly impressed by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Only ever tinkered occasionally with guitar in the last twnety years but have decided to get more serious (thus I've subscribed to this site) - apart from a Fender Strat how does he get that bright glassy tone (I've owned a Strat and the tone I got might have been bright but it wasn't glassy) - anyone have any info on amps,settings, pedals etc?
# 1
Use the search function, and do a search on SRV or Stevie Ray Vaughan. There have been several threads in the past about his tone.
All I can tell you is, he used a lot of gear to get his tone. But, typically, you can get fairly close with a good tube amp, overdrive pedal (such as a tubescreamer), and a strat. A lot has to do with how you play the instrument though.
All I can tell you is, he used a lot of gear to get his tone. But, typically, you can get fairly close with a good tube amp, overdrive pedal (such as a tubescreamer), and a strat. A lot has to do with how you play the instrument though.
# 2
here's a book by an author I have a lot of respect for (I haven't read this particular book though)
http://www.wolfmarshall.com/hl_srv2.htm.
http://www.wolfmarshall.com/hl_srv2.htm.
# 3
Stevie Didnt use a lot of gear at all, what he did use were vintage fender super reverb amps and an Ibanez tube screamer, That makes all the difference in the world. Also remember that part of his tonal make up includes heavy guage strings, 11 or 12. Anything less than that will result in sacrificing the clarity and brilliance that the combinations make. It will take time to build the strength in you fingers to actually get used to heavy strings but the pain is well worth it. Be
plenty agressive when you play dont be afraid to play hard. You might be amazed at what a strat can do when you hit the strings with the proper technique. On the Super Reverb amp make sure you have the midrange maxed out as it actually acts as a sensitivity setting and releives some of the work your fingers have to do.
plenty agressive when you play dont be afraid to play hard. You might be amazed at what a strat can do when you hit the strings with the proper technique. On the Super Reverb amp make sure you have the midrange maxed out as it actually acts as a sensitivity setting and releives some of the work your fingers have to do.
# 4
He also replaced the preamp tubes in his fender from 12ax7's to lower gain 5751's. You can also try 12at7's, or 12au7's. This will give you less gain and more headroom (more on the dial before you get tube saturation (tube distortion). These are direct replacement tubes. No damage to your amp. In any case Fender's clean channel is hard to beat. (This is from a guy who also took a 25 year guitar break.
# 5
Like the afore mentioned Stevie had a real agressive picking still, which is one of the reason why he used heavy gauge strings. On your strat I find that the middle pickup along with some good overdrive replicate his sound the best.
# 6
Can't forget the eccentric hat and clothes. :rolleyes:
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]"Bust a nut!" - Dimebag
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Einstein[/FONT]
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Einstein[/FONT]
# 7
His gauage was .13 but dropped down on nights where his fingers where taking a beating. In terms of amps, he used fender super reverb, and fender vibroverb. He had them modded by a dude named ceaser. He used a ts-808 that was on at all times and then a ts 9 for leads. His sound comes mostly from this picking dynamics as most of his strats with different settings still sounded similar. He also used the round edge of the pick. He would pull alot of strings to get slappin noises out of most of his bass strings. His pickups where over wound intentially which gave him a hotter sound and more midrange. At times he used a chorus but not very often.
WWSD? What would stevie do?
# 8
He also used Dumble and Marshall amps at times.
# 9
He also liked to use a Mtchless DC30....in fact he was know to use several amps of different makes at the same time. This is something that a lot of guys use to great effect. Eric Johnson comes to mind.
Keith Richards is another example of a guy that used multi amp setups. One dirty and one clean.
That's why some of their tones are almost impossible to recreate on a single amp.
More than anything it comes from the heart and out through the hands.
Keith Richards is another example of a guy that used multi amp setups. One dirty and one clean.
That's why some of their tones are almost impossible to recreate on a single amp.
More than anything it comes from the heart and out through the hands.
# 10
Originally Posted by: PoleraIn terms of amps, he used fender super reverb, and fender vibroverb. He had them modded by a dude named ceaser.
Cesar Diaz. http://www.diazmusicalproducts.com
# 11
Good info about the heavier gauge strings. Does anyone know what gauge Stevie Ray used? Back in the 70's I used earnie ball skinny top heavy bottoms but then I played a les paul copy and manly rock barre chords and have always had a rather heavy handed strum. I'm now using 10's and have been thinking of trying a set of 11's or 12's.
# 12
# 13
