Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

[chillytouch]

Hi guys, nice to meet you all. Just FYI I wasn't sure if this would go under guitars or amplifiers so feel free to move it if need be.

First thing, here is the current gear that I have:
EVH 50W 5150 III EL34 amp
Wolfgang special guitar
evh 1x12 cab

I have been playing for a little less than a year. I am very green though when it comes to doing EQ manipulation or trying to match tones by ear, and I've been trying to get something similar to the below vid for a long time (I just got the 50W amp yesterday though, I had a lunchbox before that).

So, I know that the video is their recorded version, so maybe it has a lot do with post-amp EQ manipulation I have no idea, but I really like that tone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYXqb6x50lA

I guess my question is, #1 Do you think that tone is possible to come in the ballpark of? To me, it doesn't sound super gainy correct? Any guesses on ballpark EQ settings? It just sounds so warm. I have tried a bunch of different settings on my amp and I haven't been able to come close to replicating it. All the high up stuff I play just starts to sound thin and shrill. Maybe that's my playing because I'm newer? Would using the neck pickup instead of the bridge make it thicker/warmer? Would a tubescreamer possibly help?

Or is it just a kind of out of reach, that's all professional EQ/Recording effects type of thing?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you very much,

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

Neck pup, reverb, possibly an OD like a TS.

 

[chillytouch]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

Neck pup, reverb, possibly an OD like a TS.

Thanks GuitarDoc I appreciate it man.

I'll try putting my TS in front of the amp again and see what happens. I'll also use the neck pickup for that song. When I tried it, I switched it back to lead at the end because my neck pickup doesn't vocalize the harmonic taps I do. Is that pretty standard? If I pinch them it's kind of hit or miss but tapping the fret it basically just doesn't sound off. with the lead one though it's loud and clear.

 

[LLL]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

With just guitar, stomps and amp, best you can usually get (unless they recorded the tone dry) is in the ballpark.

But without studio polish (you are attempting to tone clone a record, after all), you'll never get really close.

The good news is, there are rig setup techniques and gear that allow you to "studio-ize" your live rig, such as iR loaders, virtual mics, slaving, load boxes, post EQ, etc... but that's a whole 'nother world and topic unto itself.

 

[LLL]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

As well, Ed's not a neck pickup user, and the solo doesn't sound anything like a neck pickup.

Ed, 99 times out of 100 on distorted tone, is using a bridge pickup (Mighty Mite 1300, SH-5, SH-11, etc)

 

[chillytouch]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

As well, Ed's not a neck pickup user, and the solo doesn't sound anything like a neck pickup.

Ed, 99 times out of 100 on distorted tone, is using a bridge pickup (Mighty Mite 1300, SH-5, SH-11, etc)

I gotcha. Yeah I appreciate the info. I guess I'll just keep playing around with the knobs on my amp. If you had to guess, is that tone a lot of gain, or more of a lower gain sound? I might try going to the medium gain channel (my amp has green (low), blue (medium) and red (ridiculously high)), lowering the gain, and then putting the TS in front of it.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

on that album i think it was still marshalls so id try the blue channel, bridge pup for sure. his technique has a lot to do with how he sounds. he doesnt play very hard which helps with the soft edge on the notes but there is plenty of studio polish on that (and every) record so i wouldnt kill yourself. work on your chops

 

[chillytouch]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

on that album i think it was still marshalls so id try the blue channel, bridge pup for sure. his technique has a lot to do with how he sounds. he doesnt play very hard which helps with the soft edge on the notes but there is plenty of studio polish on that (and every) record so i wouldnt kill yourself. work on your chops

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it , will do!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

And as far as gain goes, it's usually less than you think.
Unless you are playing Swedish Death Metal.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[LLL]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

I gotcha. Yeah I appreciate the info. I guess I'll just keep playing around with the knobs on my amp. If you had to guess, is that tone a lot of gain, or more of a lower gain sound? I might try going to the medium gain channel (my amp has green (low), blue (medium) and red (ridiculously high)), lowering the gain, and then putting the TS in front of it.

Back then (1986) it was higher gain, but in today's world with crushing chunky distortion, etc - I'd say it's medium gain.

This is all subjective, mind you.

Like Jeremy says, Marshalls. Most likely his main Marshall, which was a 1968 Plexi with the .68 cap on V2, which gives a little more gain.

And probably greenbacks for speakers.

The amp "dimed" (cranked) of course as well.

The thing with that album (5150), Ed really went overboard with the Eventide (that unique chorus-y effect), although this tune it seems the solo doesn't have the effect on it and it sounds mostly mono with perhaps a little plate reverb piped to the right channel.

 

[chillytouch]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

Back then (1986) it was higher gain, but in today's world with crushing chunky distortion, etc - I'd say it's medium gain.

This is all subjective, mind you.

Like Jeremy says, Marshalls. Most likely his main Marshall, which was a 1968 Plexi with the .68 cap on V2, which gives a little more gain.

And probably greenbacks for speakers.

The amp "dimed" (cranked) of course as well.

The thing with that album (5150), Ed really went overboard with the Eventide (that unique chorus-y effect), although this tune it seems the solo doesn't have the effect on it and it sounds mostly mono with perhaps a little plate reverb piped to the right channel.

Thanks for the replies all!

yeah i may or may not have dropped some money I shouldn't have on an eventide pitchfactor lol.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

As well, Ed's not a neck pickup user, and the solo doesn't sound anything like a neck pickup.

Ed, 99 times out of 100 on distorted tone, is using a bridge pickup (Mighty Mite 1300, SH-5, SH-11, etc)

OMG!

It totally depends on what pups you are using in each position and your picking technique. The OP is not using Ed's equipment. If he was, your post would be spot on.

 

[LLL]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

OMG!

It totally depends on what pups you are using in each position. The OP is not using Ed's equipment. If he was, your post would be spot on.

No offense, but you're not an Ed tone chaser (or tone chaser in general). If you were, you'd know that the neck pickup is practically "verboten" in Ed's mind.

 

[LLL]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

yeah i may or may not have dropped some money I shouldn't have on an eventide pitchfactor lol.

I like how you think. :smoker:

 

[chillytouch]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

Haha I didn't want to cause arguments!

Thanks again for the responses.

To be fair, I think a lot of it is just my playing. I am still newer, and am learning proper technique and all. I have quick fingers which has allowed me to start learning some of his more minor stuff, but I am putting the cart before the horse so to speak I suppose.

When I practiced last night I tried pressing way lighter on the frets and that actually did 2 things. #1, it sounded better. And #2, I realized that I sounded like poop because my pressing down hard on the fret board made every note I play sharp, like, at least a quarter step.

So I'm trying to adjust that. It's tough though. I am SO into his music that when I play, I wanna press down hard and "get into it" you know? It also makes me feel like I have a better grip on the guitar. It's hard just to sit there and rock out with super light grip if that makes sense lol.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can I get in the ballpark of this tone?

totally makes sense but learning to use a light touch will be good practice