Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

[vendettabass]

sup folks...
just got back from london to see aerosmith, and motley crue a week before. Mick's sound was INSANE! one of the best live sounds I ever heard. Problem is, he uses a few Soldanos, a JCM800 and Riveras. So, I thought I might aswell ask if anyone here could suggest how I might go about getting a similar sound as Micks. Under 50w is essential really.

He uses Vintage 30's.. I saw a Framus 2x12 for £200 which seems the best deal cab-wise...

what head would give me that ace ace sound he has....

check out this video from Donington too to give you an idea ... (i was on the barrier :14: )

http://www.vampyrvideo.com/video/Motley Crue - Download Festival 2007 (www.vampyrvideo.com).wmv

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

What is he using for a guitar?

 

[vendettabass]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

a HSH stratocaster, pickups are unknown, but my strat has a JB in the bridge and a Distortion in the neck.

cheers

 

[metlking]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

I've heard that a 5150 will get you in the Soldano "ballpark" due to it being somewhat based on that design. The combo version is rated at 60 watts and can be had on the cheap........your strat sounds perfect for those Crue & 80's tones in general.......

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

Try and find one of the old Early 80's Fender Rivera designed amps. I've got an 83' Fender Concert II, and with the dirty channel set right (t6, m10, bass3, presence7, gain10, vol10, master where ever and boost switch pulled) you can Nail the motley tone. Most all of the rivera designed "II series" amps can be had really cheap, and they're Amazing quality (ptp wired, tube driven fx loop, classic fender reverb, etc...).

The clean channel is basically classic blackface sorta sound (think twin reverb), and the drive channel is perfect for 80's metal (not good for much else though). So thats my suggestion.

Look for the II series amps though, cause not all the rivera designed amps are that great. I'de steer clear of all the red knob amps from that era, as they always sounded Horrid to me (some like em though). But the Deluxe II, Twin reverb II, Princeton II, and the Concert (doesn't say II actually), are all great amps.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

A line 6 modeling amp on the Soldano settings will do it

 

[vendettabass]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

thanks for the replies guys!

the fender idea's pretty interesting, as is the 5150 (love those amps!)

I'll try out a line 6 flextone XL when I pick up my strat on thursday, it'd be cool if I could get a cool sound in a relatively cheap combo!

how are those peavey classic 50's compared to the fenders (I can only really afford a Hot Rod Fender )

 

[vendettabass]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

might also be worth mentioning I have a MXR KFK 10 band EQ too! hope that helps

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

thanks for the replies guys!

the fender idea's pretty interesting, as is the 5150 (love those amps!)

I'll try out a line 6 flextone XL when I pick up my strat on thursday, it'd be cool if I could get a cool sound in a relatively cheap combo!

how are those peavey classic 50's compared to the fenders (I can only really afford a Hot Rod Fender )

FYI Most of the II series 80's fenders I was talking about, can Be had For Less than Any of the Hotrod Series amps (The Blues Jr. And Pro jr. are cheaper though). And neither a Classic 50/30/etc.. Peavey, or the Hotrod fenders will get you that close to the motley sound. (the fenders and peaveys are both still good amps, But they just sound more Classic rock, than 80's metal, to me at least.)

You could also always just rely on a pedal for that sound. Check into finding an Old Boss HM-2 "heavy metal" distortion pedal. With mine through a clean fender I can get REALLY close to that 80's metal sound (not exactly like Mick, but close to the general "hair metal" sound). They're touchy pedals though, so if ya don't set em right It'll just sound like your amps Broken, haha. (I actually barely ever use mine for 80's metal sounds, But it can do it. I actually Love the pedal simply because it can create Totally disgusting sounds, which works for the sorta stuff I record solo. And when ya back off the gain to almost zero, it works as a great boost into an already dirty amp.)

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

on the cheap a VOX modeler will get you in that ball park... but for tube fun on the cheap try a used 5150

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

You can dial in any shade of highgain with a Vox Valvetronix head on top of a 2-12 or 4-12 with Vintage 30's. Unlike most tube heads, you can also get that tone at low volume at home. I'm a tube junkie, but I love my Valvetronix AD60VTH head (blue grill).

Mick always used Distortions or JBs.....maybe Customs too.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Getting a cheap Mick Mars Sound

You can dial in any shade of highgain with a Vox Valvetronix head on top of a 2-12 or 4-12 with Vintage 30's. Unlike most tube heads, you can also get that tone at low volume at home. I'm a tube junkie, but I love my Valvetronix AD60VTH head (blue grill).

Mick always used Distortions or JBs.....maybe Customs too.

Mick has been known to use a '59 in the late 80's and a Dimarzio Super Distorion in the early 80's