FW Tone

[kiddangerous]

I was working on another software release and based on the year decided to check out FW since it was close, circa '82. Like all of the albums, it's a slightly different take on the previous tones. I love that about VH. From interviews, it seems like this was purely Donn? I wish he would write a book! Sticking with blending speakers, I used the blackback from previous recordings mixed with a G12-65. Same amp. In the stems you can hear more bass and a harmonizer but I was just going for raw tone.

If you've got the real thing I'd be curious to hear how it sounds with your rig!

https://soundcloud.com/themusicologygro ... comparison

[johnnybgoood]

it seems like this was purely Donn

Fully agree. The recorded sounds were the results of Donn working on the mixing board. I think he added phased parallel EQ'ing to help cancel some of the Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) from a dimed Plexi. The results that came out were pure guitar tone magic. The key for me was listening to those isolated EVH guitar tracks on the internet and noticing the lack of noise from a Variac'd Superlead on 10.

Oddly that EchoPlex preamp circuit seems to get rid of some EMI but adds it's own type of hiss. I' guessing the difference in tone from album to album is Donn & Ed moving the mic placement probably by 1/16th of an inch left or right.

Below is a clip to confirm this conclusion with a high percent of certainty. First clip is a dry D120f followed by a dry G12M Pre Rola. The third clip are both mic'd speakers combined with phase cancelling parallel EQ'ing. The final short clip is Eddie's isolated guitar.
https://vocaroo.com/embed/1dy5EbDcpfba

[SQUAREHEAD]

it seems like this was purely Donn

Fully agree. The recorded sounds were the results of Donn working on the mixing board. I think he added phased parallel EQ'ing to help cancel some of the Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) from a dimed Plexi. The results that came out were pure guitar tone magic. The key for me was listening to those isolated EVH guitar tracks on the internet and noticing the lack of noise from a Variac'd Superlead on 10.

Oddly that EchoPlex preamp circuit seems to get rid of some EMI but adds it's own type of hiss. I' guessing the difference in tone from album to album is Donn & Ed moving the mic placement probably by 1/16th of an inch left or right.

Below is a clip to confirm this conclusion with a high percent of certainty. First clip is a dry D120f followed by a dry G12M Pre Rola. The third clip are both mic'd speakers combined with phase cancelling parallel EQ'ing. The final short clip is Eddie's isolated guitar.
https://vocaroo.com/embed/1dy5EbDcpfba

Very very cool brother! Well done!

[kiddangerous]

It's an interesting note. Do you have any links describing the technique? I can't say that I hear the evidence listening to the clips you provided, but maybe I can look at the spectrum and check if I can see the evidence.

That being said, I'm sure Donn and Ed were bouncing off of each other in the studio. The only hope is that some of the knowledge they built up over the years gets preserved.

[MrBeasty]

it seems like this was purely Donn

Fully agree. The recorded sounds were the results of Donn working on the mixing board. I think he added phased parallel EQ'ing to help cancel some of the Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) from a dimed Plexi. The results that came out were pure guitar tone magic. The key for me was listening to those isolated EVH guitar tracks on the internet and noticing the lack of noise from a Variac'd Superlead on 10.

Oddly that EchoPlex preamp circuit seems to get rid of some EMI but adds it's own type of hiss. I' guessing the difference in tone from album to album is Donn & Ed moving the mic placement probably by 1/16th of an inch left or right.

Below is a clip to confirm this conclusion with a high percent of certainty. First clip is a dry D120f followed by a dry G12M Pre Rola. The third clip are both mic'd speakers combined with phase cancelling parallel EQ'ing. The final short clip is Eddie's isolated guitar.
https://vocaroo.com/embed/1dy5EbDcpfba

A "Variac-ed" Super Lead is no longer a 100w beast. If you lower it enough it gets to 25 or 30w. That is still plenty loud, but not "dimmed Plexi" bananas! That would reduce hiss too, so with limited mic pre-amp gain, you probably could get a good signal to noise ratio. IMHO.

[SQUAREHEAD]

I was working on another software release and based on the year decided to check out FW since it was close, circa '82. Like all of the albums, it's a slightly different take on the previous tones. I love that about VH. From interviews, it seems like this was purely Donn? I wish he would write a book! Sticking with blending speakers, I used the blackback from previous recordings mixed with a G12-65. Same amp. In the stems you can hear more bass and a harmonizer but I was just going for raw tone.

If you've got the real thing I'd be curious to hear how it sounds with your rig!

https://soundcloud.com/themusicologygro ... comparison

In my opinion, This tone is actually better than the original…