who was on a Tone Quest for SRV tone.
He wanted to know what guitar to get,
and it took me back to my experience trying to
get this tone.
In the past I bought a mid 90's 62 RI MIJ Strat, put a set of Lindy Fralin Blues specials, and bought a 67 Super Reverb and tube Screamer. I had the clean sound down, and the Drive was pure Vintage Super Revrb Sound, which was close ,but not in your face enough for SRV lead tone, there was something lacking. I was stuck.
Then later I started building plexis, and went on a EVH Tone Quest (One of many in the past 25 years)
I already had Swamp Ash/ AAAAA Koa Top guitar that has HSS
with APS2 single coils, and a JB in the Bridge. Similiar wood, similiar pickup
I figured it should be close enough to use for that.
Now it's been pretty well documented how many people like the 68/69 spec for EVH, but what suprised me is how that setup can get
a better SRV lead tone better than anything else I had tried before, even with all that so called accurate stuff.
Then one day I played both amp side by side, simultaneously, and it hit me like a tone of bricks. "The wall of tone" How did I forget that. The Fender gave it back some silky authenticity on the clean, the authority and dynamics was all Marshall even on clean. Oh Man the added reverb was sweet too.
I still didn't like the Tubescreamer through it though. I felt like it wasn't very transparent, and robbed dynamics. I even got one of those Keeleyed ones with the special chips, and switches. It sits in my closet, like new in box. Later on I got a TMB, and now I can get (of all things) a mean Zep Heartbreaker Tone through the 67 SR, and it doesn't seem to rob anythng with the 67 SR in dynamics. It only robs a cunt hair on a Marshall. I like it better than my Klon (That sits in my closet with the tube screamer, and the loaded pickguard out of the 62 RI.)
I think it's funny how we can stumble on to things
things by accident, with stuff that people wouldn't normally associate with a certain tone. I guess it shows that's there's many paths to finding your tone. My experince isn't unique I'm sure.
Share yours too. I'd love to compare notes.
Things I'll eventually try next:
Vanzandt Blues in the Neck and mid, with a Darburst in the bridge
(Darbusts enroute already.)
Multiface 2 - once I get my mounting hardware (can't believe it's not here yet, I want to record!
)Neve - I can dream can't I ?
Maybe I'll trade a Plexi for one
I've never touched the SR, I'm just too repectfull of the Vinatge gear to do it. but I can't help but wonder what doing something like the equivelent of going Split Cathode and adding a 330uf on V2 on a Marshall, would be like.
