Steve Vai and his distortion

[Burkwieser]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

It depends on which sound of his you're going after...

The 1st G3 sound? The Alien Love Secrets sound? PAW-era madness? Or his more recent stuff?

If you're after his more recent stuff... this is it. -> http://guitargeek.com/rigview/119/

He runs the Legacy at a Medium/heavy distortion sound and sets the DS1 (which has been modded by Rob Keeley) to a light overdrive sound and a LOT of volume boost. Additionally he's been using Keeley Tube Screamers as well. If you want details on those check out www.robertkeeley.com

I've heard all the stories about his Legacies being modded by Bogner... personally I don't believe it because I a) own a Legacy and b) Have seen him play live twice with his Legacy rig and his recent tones are definitely within the amps stock capabilities . Just make sure you're running good speakers and really kickass tubes. I run GT12AX7Rs and GTEL34R's in mine and the sound is a vast improvement over the stock Sovteks and EH tubes. I'm told by the Carvin guys the amp sounds best with JJ tubes as well.

http://www.vai.com/Machines/livegear.html <- There's more info on his live gear as well.

+1

Yep, you are exactly right about the Keeley pedals. He uses the Tube screamer to boost the signal to the modded DS-1. In the new G3 Tokyo he even hints about using a Tube Screamer when he is talking to Satch. As far as the amp it is a Carvin Legacy, but I would imagine it has been modded from the standard for many reasons that aren't really worth going into.

BluesGuyJ if you get a good tube amp, that has a good clean channel, and use a DS-1 and Tube Screamer as a boost, I think you will be happy. Keeley or other modded pedals preffered, but sounds like you are strapped for loot. You can always get the pedals modded later.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

Want a quality distortion box that will get you into Vai's sonic range.... try a Diamond Fireburst! Amazing pedals and quiet!!!! very little hum from the thing even on high gain settings!

 

[B2D]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

As far as the amp it is a Carvin Legacy, but I would imagine it has been modded from the standard for many reasons that aren't really worth going into.

Even so I'd still like to hear them.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

Ya know...he might very well be a good candidate for a digital amp.

...I know...just hang on...hear me out.

By the sheer range of sounds BlueGuyJ is looking for were really between tailoring the amp or the pedals and not really getting anywhere close; the comprimses leave the original sounds short and were not really getting all that close.

No, it's not a tube amp. But then again what he's asking I just don't think one single tube amp can pull off. A digital amp would give him the range he's looking for and the comprimises can't be any worse than what were dealing with when we talk about pedals for the very different sounds.

I see he's got a PodXT....is that working out?

...just making suggestions here. I always feel like a heretic when I suggest digital over tube for the sake of convenience.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

The Atomic Reactor is definitely an option but the more I read reviews on Carvin amps the more they seem right up my alley. Does the x100B or Legacy have power switches to go from 100 watts to 50 watts? I really have no need for 100 watts of tube power. Are the x50 and x60 amps just the same as the x100 but at lower wattages?

Thanks for all the input guys. I guess I can settle for running my PODxt through some sort of PA, but I want to really make my own tone and have an amp that is more simple. I know I'd end up going back and forth from amp model to amp model.

 

[B2D]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

Skarekrough... good point. While I personally prefer tube amps for my deal it's hard to beat the raw versatility of something like a Line 6 Vetta II or a Flextone III. I hear people get good tones out of those all the time. And I've seriously considered going digital at some points.

Ultimately it'll be his decision but digital's not a bad alley to go down.

BluesGuyJ... yes the Legacy does have a 1/2 power switch as well as tube type select switches. I'm not familiar with the X50/60/100 though.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Steve Vai and his distortion

Vai is SOOOOOOOOO BOGNER ECSTASY these days it's not even funny. I kinda crack up at his Carvin deal. Carvin's are fine amps, not really my taste, but have no richness or harmonic content near the Bogners.

If you want old Vai, get a DS1 or SD1 and run it thru a JCM800. That will get you in the ballpark. NO FENDER HOT ROD will give you the big vai tone. Bogners are like the sweetest Marshalls.

Whoever mentioned the Tone Bone's might be onto something. Some peavey's are good. You might look into a 5150/6505. Not familiar with the Valve King.