What amp set up is STYX using?

[WhoFan]

I'm not a huge STYX fan but a buddy of mine took me to see them last night.... They played all their rockers and it was an extremely great show even if i'm not a huge fan... Shaw and Young had the most amazing tone!!! Nice and crunchy with lots of bottom end. Mind you that was out front of the PA, but still they sounded great!!!! I heard thru a friend that opened for them that the Marshall cabs on stage are for looks only and are empty.... They are said to be hooked up Direct to the PA somehow...

Anyone know?
WhoFan

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

also interested....

 

[WhoFan]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

All i could see on there site is a few photos of the band on stage and you could see some sort of custom pedalboards on stage.... Whatever they rae using they kick butt for sound! I heard that it's Modded Marshalls into Palmer Speaker simulators but i can't say for sure..... All i know is a guy that opened for them last summer said the guitarist go direct to the PA and the stacks of Marshalls on stage are empty, just for show.... They surprised me at just how good they can be! Amazing musicians... thank god they didn't play any balads as i'm not a fan of Babe and stuff like it... they played all rockers and it was a very cool show! The encore included I Don't Need No Doctor...

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

It's hard to see what they are using? But James Young and Tommy Shaw are consummate pro's all the way. In one pic in the video on their site I thought I saw a old NMV Marshall? But who knows what's behind the facade of Marshall's? Bummer about the Panozzo brother's.:smack: To bad Dennis De young could never get on the same page with James and Tommy. STYX was a killer Hard Rock group, But Dennis ( The primary song writer) wanted to write mushy love Ballard's and robot songs. What a D!ck ! I don't care how many records he sold... he cut the balls off his band to do so.:smash::lame:

 

[Liquid]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

STYX is the worst band the 70s puked out.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I saw them last summer and thought they had stacks of new 2203's.

Buy, I was quite far back in the crowd. So there is some room for error.

Agreed, the sound was good for Tommy Shaw and James Young.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I saw them last summer and thought they had stacks of new 2203's.

Buy, I was quite far back in the crowd. So there is some room for error.

Agreed, the sound was good for Tommy Shaw and James Young.

i've been told the stacks are just for the EYE show..... no amp cabs are used for sound on stage... The monitors do the work... The guy i heard this from opened for STYX last summer somewhere in the States..... said the huge stacks of Marshalls were empty with no speakers in them.

 

[shaka]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I have a pic of the the backstage rig on my home computer. However, I know Tommy Shaw's setup has changed.

You are right, the cabs in the back are empty. Currently they are Marshalls but they did have a wall of Mesa's on a previous tour. The Mesa's didn't have speakers either. To be honest I think the wall of cabs thing is cliche and kind of lame.'

JY was using 100 watt TSL for his heads. He also had a rackmount POD in there. I can't remember his outboard gear. In the pic I have Tommy used VHT amps but has since switched to the Marshall TSL's. I'll try to find my pic and get back to you on this.

Eric

 

[shaka]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I have a pic of the the backstage rig on my home computer. However, I know Tommy Shaw's setup has changed.

You are right, the cabs in the back are empty. Currently they are Marshalls but they did have a wall of Mesa's on a previous tour. The Mesa's didn't have speakers either. To be honest I think the wall of cabs thing is cliche and kind of lame.'

JY was using 100 watt TSL for his heads. He also had a rackmount POD in there. I can't remember his outboard gear. In the pic I have Tommy used VHT amps but has since switched to the Marshall TSL's. I'll try to find my pic and get back to you on this.

Eric

Here are a couple of dated links. I think this is Tommy Shaws setup a generation or two ago. These come from the site of Styx's guitar tech.

http://www.gorgomyte.com/images/StyxGuitarRacks.JPG

Here's a link when it used to be a wall of Mesa's.
http://www.gorgomyte.com/images/4X12s.jpg

Like I said, Tommy has switched to Marshalls now.

Eric

 

[75lespaul]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

STYX is the worst band the 70s puked out.

In YOUR opinion...:smack:

 

[Liquid]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

In YOUR opinion...:smack:

Well yes of course. Though i know quite a few who agree.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

i've been told the stacks are just for the EYE show..... no amp cabs are used for sound on stage... The monitors do the work... The guy i heard this from opened for STYX last summer somewhere in the States..... said the huge stacks of Marshalls were empty with no speakers in them.

Oh, could be true. I can tell you all the heads were on.

You gotta know there is a rack setup somewhere.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

Here are a couple of dated links. I think this is Tommy Shaws setup a generation or two ago. These come from the site of Styx's guitar tech.

http://www.gorgomyte.com/images/StyxGuitarRacks.JPG

Here's a link when it used to be a wall of Mesa's.
http://www.gorgomyte.com/images/4X12s.jpg

Like I said, Tommy has switched to Marshalls now.

Eric

Thanks a lot for these photos!!! Man that is a lot of rack gear!!!!

Styx had never been my favourite acts because of the soft wimpy balads, but i have to say they put on one killer show last weekend! All their rockers and no balads! Lots of great guitar playing and sounds for sure! I've been playing a live cd from a couple of years ago in my car and i have almost blowin my speakers.... Lorelei has been one tune they did that i always really really liked and they blow the roof off with that live these days. Their vocals are amazing on everything they do live. Many younger bands could only wish they had the vocals and musicianship these guys had that i saw last weekend...

Oneday i'd like to hear the cover they did of The Who's I Can See For Miles

 

[ErikH]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

Oh, could be true. I can tell you all the heads were on.

You gotta know there is a rack setup somewhere.

Very common for production shows like that to have dummy cabs. KISS does it. In fact, I think the cabs on the last tour were cardboard boxes with very detailed poster pics on them. From a distance and with the lighting, you'd never know the difference. Makes for quick packing up too...lol.

I can just about guarantee those heads were fake too. Probably empty boxes with a dummy panel on the front and a light. All the rack gear and amps actually used are off in their "pit" where the tech can keep an eye on things.

When productions get that big, that's just how they do it. For smaller bands, like local opening acts or those that just don't use that much gear and that big a production, sure, their stuff is onstage and you can see it all.

I saw STYX last fall. They put on a killer show. Tommy is such an incredible guitarist as is JY Young. Great band. I was happy to hear them doing stuff like they did before all the ballads starting pouring out. I think they did maybe one when we saw them.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I like the whole "stacks as a backdrop" thing. I saw Dave Roth many moons ago and they had dummy marshall 4x12's as wide as the stage and stacked up to the lights!:smokin:

In the other direction...for the last RUSH tour....Geddy played direct with no stage amps and had three front feed glass door cloths dryers where his backline would have been! (I think they had the fridge on the stage for that tour too.)

 

[marvar]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I like the whole "stacks as a backdrop" thing. I saw Dave Roth many moons ago and they had dummy marshall 4x12's as wide as the stage and stacked up to the lights!:smokin:

In the other direction...for the last RUSH tour....Geddy played direct with no stage amps and had three front feed glass door cloths dryers where his backline would have been! (I think they had the fridge on the stage for that tour too.)

Now that's COOL!

 

[ErikH]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

I like the whole "stacks as a backdrop" thing. I saw Dave Roth many moons ago and they had dummy marshall 4x12's as wide as the stage and stacked up to the lights!:smokin:

In the other direction...for the last RUSH tour....Geddy played direct with no stage amps and had three front feed glass door cloths dryers where his backline would have been! (I think they had the fridge on the stage for that tour too.)

WTF would he need dryers on stage for? Are they "fluffing" up their music? Is he endorsed by Maytag? LMFAO!!!

 

[Davey]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

a fridge on the stage.. now THAT is something i'd get LOL

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

Well when you are on tour you can either go to some dirty coin op place or you can get the laundry done while the show is going on. Which would YOU choose?

Oh yeah...back on topic. STYX rocks! I think Tommy Shaw is one of the greats and doesn't get enough credit for his tasty guitar work!

 

[ErikH]

Re: What amp set up is STYX using?

LMFAO!!! I could just hear it in between songs.

"Thank you very much. Now, please excuse me but before we do this next song I need to add the fabric softener." :laugh2: :laugh2:

And yes, Tommy is underrated and underappreciated. After seeing that show last fall, I had a new appreciation for his playing. It was the first time I had seen him play live with anybody.