Ed's tone/setup changed to accommodate Strat

[Tone Slinger]

He liked the 24 3/4 glued in neck tone (Gibson, Ibanez (Destroyer) ), obviously this type guitar takes a little of the 'tooth' and inherent brightness away from a Super Lead. The inherent design, scale, wood, etc, get that great lower midrange Chunk/Crunch. Listening to '76 boots you hear Ed in great form with his Destroyer.By the end of 1976, you first start hearing the Bar. This is OBVIOUSLY when Ed started using a Strat. My theory is that Ed started using a strat, BUT, really didnt care for the sound,hb'er or not. He was EARNESTLY trying to get a Strat to sound like his Destroyer (He said as much himself). It is easy to hear the difference between plugging a Strat (ESPECIALLY a dense ASH bodied/maple neck one !) with a hb'er, and then a Gibson style into a 1959 style amp.

I think Ed's tone all of a sudden 'Changed' by early '77 because he started using the MXR 6 band in an attempt to get his Strat to sound as he wanted it (more like his Destroyer). Ed had really 'Bonded' with that Destroyer and it matched his amps/cabs very well. When he went complete APE SHIT over a Fender Tremolo, he HAD to get a STRAT to sound to his likeing. A Plexi OBVIOUSLY doesnt have the tone Stack to accommodate EVERY guitar you throw at it. Gibsons match well, but Strats need help to get there.

The iso's and 'bleeds'of some of Ed's VH1 tracks show that the Destroyer tracked BIG, BOLD assed tracks, seemingly STRAIGHT through the amp. All the iso's/Bleeds of the Franky pretty much sound hairier/gainier (6 band).

I think Ed used the EQ with both guitars in the studio AND Live, BUT, had it not been for Eddie trying to get a BRIGHT strat to sound more like his Destroyer (or Gibson/s) maybe his tone would have NEVER gotten past his '76 tone ?

[fivecoyote]

Interesting. Possible.

[Rich_D]

An eq would be an obvious logical choice to attempt to tone shape a guitar. I think you're right - VH1 would have sounded like club days if he hadn't wanted to use a bar so bad.