How to get xxxx's Tone from xxxx Song, through your OTS Settings/Pedals Thread

[bigwebb83]

I'm new to the forum but I figured this might be a good place to compile information into one thread.  I often see questions on forums that say "how do I get so and so's Tone on such and such song or record through my amp?".  So I'm creating what will hopefully be one thread where we can ask these questions and as a community come to some consensus answers. 

For me I'm interested in a couple of tones.  I love John Mayer's tones.  Specifically the cleans on his version of the wind cries marry and wait till tomorrow.  I also like his overdrive on his solo's (i.e. belief solo, just sounds WET).  I reallize he uses clean sounding amps with OD in front but I'd like to have some input from people who have nailed this tone on what settings and effects they used.

I've also been obsessed since I was a teenager about SRV's tone on the Texas Flood record.  I understand he used Jackson Brown's Dumbleland amp for most of that record.  A particular reference would be the instrumental Testify.  Again settings would be great (if this tone is even achievable through the OTS).

I'll throw one more out in the interest of getting things started - Little wing by SRV.  Great tone with the smallest bit of OD in there.  Sounds different than any other song he recorded IMHO.

I'm sure other people want to know specifics about Larry Carlton and Robben Ford Tones as well, so lets get this party started.  If I make any breakthrough's I'll post clips!

[Kevster]

The way to nail anyone's tone is to "possess" them and use their fingers and gear.  Even THAT might not work.

Find YOUR tone and flavor it with stuff you learn about how your favorite players get their tone.

The tone all starts in the fingers, the rest of it is just tools.  Learn the components/tools used for the tones you love through research.  A quick Google search on a player's name with "guitar rig" will usually get you there.

All that being said, answers in a thread like this could really unlock opportunities to get insight you've never had.

[plasticvonaband]

I agree. You could have all of XXXX's gear and still not sound like XXXX It's all in the fingers.

[bigwebb83]

Ok let me start by saying that I understand that I'm not going to sound like SRV or JM just by having there gear.  That being said, can we please refrain from any more of these comments throughout this thread?  They're tiring.  When I hear John Mayers recording of "city love" from the crossroads guitar festival there are several points where he just picks an open E drop D tuned and I love that tone.  I KNOW I can sound just like John Mayer plucking an open string.  So lets start there.

[T Wilcox]

http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=486.0

This old thread is kinda along the lines of your questioning. I do recall someone on a youtube vid nailing the tone of that JM song with their HRM I believe. Its been a while so dont remember who that was.

EDIT : I actually posted a link to that at the end of thread and its at around 6min in, also its a bluesmaster


Todd

[bigwebb83]

http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=486.0

This old thread is kinda along the lines of your questioning. I do recall someone on a youtube vid nailing the tone of that JM song with their HRM I believe. Its been a while so dont remember who that was.

EDIT : I actually posted a link to that at the end of thread and its at around 6min in, also its a bluesmaster


Todd

sounds to me like he got pretty close.  That's a HRM Bluesmaster though.  How much difference is there between that and the original OTS?  Also sucks that we can't see his settings.

[bigwebb83]

here is a link to the album recording of testify.  It's not through a fender amp, at least not completely its through a dumbleland amp.  And please give the tone through the fingers thing.  I respectfully asked for that not to be included in this thread.  I have my own style of playing and I'm a good layer.  I don't want to SOUND like SRV or JM, I just like the tone they get.



excuse the guitar hero BS, it was the only youtube i could find with the album version

[bigwebb83]

. I just think a lot of younger folks who had been raised on hair bands and "New Metal" stuff like Mark Tremonti and Creed all of sudden heard Mayer's subtle O/D sound and thought is was something totally unique.

This is offensive whether you intended it that way or not.  I grew up listening to great music and great guitarists.

[bigwebb83]

I can get SRV's El Macambo sound through my BM, or I could before I sold my strat. Use the clean channel, set the pre to around 6-7, set the master at around 8-9. Set your treble to about 9, the mids to around 2-3 and the bass around 4-6. No mid boost, no bright, rock mode, and deep on. Throw an eq pedal on and boost the mid highs and highs a bit, this helps when playing thru the neck and neck/middle pickup. That should give you a bold sparkly barely overdriven sound, and you can back your volume off to clean it up. For overdriven leads, use a tube screamer, with the tone knob a hair over the midpoint, the level at unity gain, and the drive about 40 %. that should be a good starting point for typical SRV tones. The Dumbleland sounds are tougher, and the SSS or maybe a Twin Reverb or a Dual Showman, a big high powered clean amp would be necessary.

Yeah i can nail el mocambo tone with bf fenders and a tubescreamer all day.  It's that texas flood sound that i love so much and he actually never really completely went back to that tone.  Had a twin reissue that was treating me right but i sold it to get the ots.  will get another one once i find some one else hard up for money though.

[bigwebb83]

I don't want to SOUND like SRV or JM, I just like the tone they get.

I'm sorry, but this made me laugh. Please don't get upset with me, but seriously read this statment out loud to yourself.

I'm not trying to piss you off, but I'm just sitting here getting the JM sound that I think you're talking about. I can't record it right now, because my wife just went to bed and is about to club me over the head if I keep playing. It's not that elusive. Although I do think for as much as the HRM is much maligned, it's the amp to have to get in that territory.

Concering SRV, from what I understand much of what is considered is signature tone doesn't have a lot to do with regular D-style amps or D amps at all. The Dumbleland and Steel String Stringer from what I understand are serious and powerful clean machines. But most of all he used many amps.

Also, I don't think I meant to suggest you grew up listening to anything but good music or attack your playing. Hell, I never heard you. So calm down.

I'm not going to start a pissing match with you man.   What I'm saying is I can play Jammin by bob marley while getting SRV's TONE and not SOUND like SRV.  I am after the tone.  I don't care if I sound just like them when I'm playing.  I mainly made this statement so you would lay off the "the tone is in the fingers man"

[plasticvonaband]

Some posts disappeared. Hmmm

[bigwebb83]

back on track.  i think this could be a good thread.  especially with the steep learning curve associated with this amp

[SoundPerf]

Some posts disappeared. Hmmm

I decided to remove my posts as to not clutter the OP's thread and digress from the mission at hand . No conspiracy or anything. 

[bigwebb83]

Some posts disappeared. Hmmm

I decided to remove my posts as to not clutter the OP's thread and digress from the mission at hand . No conspiracy or anything. 

Thanks!  How bout some clips of those tones you were getting last night?

[SoundPerf]

Thanks!  How bout some clips of those tones you were getting last night?

Here's a clip I did quickly. It's just some noodling. The strings on my gutar are dead and no eq on the recording. See what you think. I probably should have added a little more drive on the channel. But normally, I'll use the PAB and/or my BB preamp pedal for added drive.

HRM 50W w/Clator (TC2290 & Reverb pedal)
OD channel with no PAB
OD trim @ 10:30
Volume: 6
Drive: 4
Level: 3
Treble: 6
Mid: 4.5
Bass: 3
Presence: 8

http://home.comcast.net/~soundperf/myfilelocker/Music/JMSS.mp3