unleashthejay
New member
:eek13: ANy tips?:reporter: for example on "Smooth" and "Maria Maria"?
How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
- Thread starter unleashthejay
- Start date
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
easiesty way to start geting close ...
neck humbucker pickup on 22 fret set neck guitar (i get close with both 59s and AIIPs even on bolt-necks), roll the tone knob down to 'taste' ... lean down part way on a wah wah pedal and leave it 'just so' to taste ... overdriven tone on the amp, not too much fizz ... hint of compression (ok, sometimes more than a hint) ... light touch on the strings - he uses 9's i'm pretty sure ...
harder way to get closest ...
real expensive boogies and dumbles with real expensive PRS guitar
have fun
cheers
t4d
easiesty way to start geting close ...
neck humbucker pickup on 22 fret set neck guitar (i get close with both 59s and AIIPs even on bolt-necks), roll the tone knob down to 'taste' ... lean down part way on a wah wah pedal and leave it 'just so' to taste ... overdriven tone on the amp, not too much fizz ... hint of compression (ok, sometimes more than a hint) ... light touch on the strings - he uses 9's i'm pretty sure ...
harder way to get closest ...
real expensive boogies and dumbles with real expensive PRS guitar
have fun
cheers
t4d
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:laugh2:
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
+1 and a tubescreamer dialed in to goose the front of the amp.
tone4days said:
+1 and a tubescreamer dialed in to goose the front of the amp.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
And if your last resort for getting his tone is to have his hat.....
I'll sell you a licensed 'Santana' hat to you for $25 + shipping! hahahaha
Someone gave me a Santana hat a couple years ago, and I wore it once!
And if your last resort for getting his tone is to have his hat.....
I'll sell you a licensed 'Santana' hat to you for $25 + shipping! hahahaha
Someone gave me a Santana hat a couple years ago, and I wore it once!
Re: How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
Basic Clapton "woman" tone.......neck pickup, tone knobs turned down down.......listen to Clapton during the Cream era when he played a Gibson and also Audley Freed on the Black Crowes live cd for other examples. remember....Santana used to get the same tone from a p90 equipped SG and the Yamahas that he and Johnny Mclaughlin played for a while.
Basic Clapton "woman" tone.......neck pickup, tone knobs turned down down.......listen to Clapton during the Cream era when he played a Gibson and also Audley Freed on the Black Crowes live cd for other examples. remember....Santana used to get the same tone from a p90 equipped SG and the Yamahas that he and Johnny Mclaughlin played for a while.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How do I get Carlos Santana's tone?
Don't forget the incense,cigars,and the Hendrix posters or T shirts....
Don't forget the incense,cigars,and the Hendrix posters or T shirts....
What about phrasing?
What about phrasing?
Oh, my god! Why would anyone want Carlos' "modern" tone? I grew up listening to Santana and I can tell you this much. His tone was much better in the olden days. Particularly backin 73 - 74. Just listen to some of his recordings from that period. Welcome, Caravanaserai, and Barboletta. Barboletta by far is his greatest masterpiece. Yet this album remains totally obscure and overshadowed by the so called "Grammy Award" winning "Supernatural", which was a bunch of commercial (sell out) hype devoid of artistry.
Check out his tone from that period and compare it to the garbage he's putting out today. It's like he's allergic to treble or something. The nasal tone of his PRS makes my stomach turn. The bottom end of his axes tone is barely even discernable. You must enjoy listening to mud! Better yet go rent the Sacred fire (Live) video and you'll see! Even his mediocre no-name brother has better tone on his PRS than Carlos! LOLERCOPTER!
My advice? Study his vintage tone from the old days. Maybe starting from there will lead you to understand how his current day tone evolved. The original tone was Gibson LP and Fender Reverb overdiven with the crunch slightly smoothed out with a touch of reverb.
One thing you may haved overlooked is phrasing. Santana's phrasing is essential if you are interested in the overall sound. The way he uses hammer-ons and pull-offs are just as much part of his style as are his guitar/rig settings. Also there is the occasional left hand vibrato. Learn the feel of his phrasing. To me that's his biggest secret.
But whatever you do, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go listen to Barboletta!
Good luck
Osensei
What about phrasing?
Oh, my god! Why would anyone want Carlos' "modern" tone? I grew up listening to Santana and I can tell you this much. His tone was much better in the olden days. Particularly backin 73 - 74. Just listen to some of his recordings from that period. Welcome, Caravanaserai, and Barboletta. Barboletta by far is his greatest masterpiece. Yet this album remains totally obscure and overshadowed by the so called "Grammy Award" winning "Supernatural", which was a bunch of commercial (sell out) hype devoid of artistry.
Check out his tone from that period and compare it to the garbage he's putting out today. It's like he's allergic to treble or something. The nasal tone of his PRS makes my stomach turn. The bottom end of his axes tone is barely even discernable. You must enjoy listening to mud! Better yet go rent the Sacred fire (Live) video and you'll see! Even his mediocre no-name brother has better tone on his PRS than Carlos! LOLERCOPTER!
My advice? Study his vintage tone from the old days. Maybe starting from there will lead you to understand how his current day tone evolved. The original tone was Gibson LP and Fender Reverb overdiven with the crunch slightly smoothed out with a touch of reverb.
One thing you may haved overlooked is phrasing. Santana's phrasing is essential if you are interested in the overall sound. The way he uses hammer-ons and pull-offs are just as much part of his style as are his guitar/rig settings. Also there is the occasional left hand vibrato. Learn the feel of his phrasing. To me that's his biggest secret.
But whatever you do, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go listen to Barboletta!
Good luck
Osensei
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