Ryan Carraher, Author at Uberchord App https://www.uberchord.com/blog/author/ryan-carraher/ Learn Guitar Chords with our iPhone App Mon, 25 Apr 2022 22:05:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 Mark Knopfler | Live Sound: Fender Stratocaster, Tweed Amplifiers, Wampler Pedals https://www.uberchord.com/blog/mark-knopfler-live-sound-fender-stratocaster-tweed-amplifiers-wampler-pedals/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/mark-knopfler-live-sound-fender-stratocaster-tweed-amplifiers-wampler-pedals/#comments Tue, 23 May 2017 01:00:10 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=17488   Mark Knopfler is an iconic guitar player who is revered for his impeccable feel, finger style guitar playing and, of course, for his tone! Here we will take a look at the gear behind the tone and discuss possible combinations of gear that will lead you to his remarkable tone! Mark Knopfler’s tone is a bright, compressed, single coil tone that captures the natural warmth of...

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Mark Knopfler is an iconic guitar player who is revered for his impeccable feel, finger style guitar playing and, of course, for his tone! Here we will take a look at the gear behind the tone and discuss possible combinations of gear that will lead you to his remarkable tone!

Mark Knopfler’s tone is a bright, compressed, single coil tone that captures the natural warmth of his legendary fingerstyle picking.

The Knopfler Tone

Mark Knopfler’s tone is famously very bright, clear and compressed. He is well documented as a user of the Fender Stratocaster as well as other guitars with single coil pickups; these types of pickups are a huge part of his sound. He is also known for using the crisp clean channels of boutique amplifiers to which he would apply the all-important compressor to really optimise the extreme, desirable, dynamic ranges of the single coil pickups.

The Guitar

If you’re looking to sound like Knopfler your best bet would be the Fender Stratocaster.

Fender makes many incarnations of their iconic Stratocaster, a good place to start is the Fender American Standard Stratocaster. On this guitar, you will find an alder body, maple fretboard, “C” shaped neck, 3 single coil pickups and a 25.5″ scale. The American Standard line is typically the archetypical Stratocaster. In other words, it features everything you need to get that versatile, single coil tone that Mark Knopfler achieved from his Stratocaster.

If you’re on a budget, have no fear! Check out the Fender Standard Stratocaster. These guitars are not American made but they feature all of the familiar features of the Stratocaster and they sound great!

Here are some other great Stratocaster options from Fender!

Now Knopfler also used humbuckers on many songs as well so if you are interested in obtaining both his single coil sounds as well as his humbucker sounds I would check out the Fender Standard HSS Strat

 

If you’re not into Fender guitars plenty of other companies make “strat-like” guitars that feature the double cutaway body and the three single-coil pickup configuration. When it comes down to it, the single coil pickups add so much to the Knopfler tone and any guitar that features single coils is a possible candidate to create a successful reproduction of the Knopfler sound!

Other guitar manufacturers that produce Stratocaster reminiscent guitars include G&L and Suhr!

The Guitar Amp

Mark Knopfler used many different amps over his career but commonly he would use a tube amp, with a lot of headroom and tonal space, often an expensive boutique amp. Luckily nowadays there are many amp choices that meet these standards that won’t break the bank!

The first option I would suggest is the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. This amp gets very loud and has a pristine, versatile clean channel. It features 2 6L6 tubes and responds extremely well to pedals and picking technique. The cool thing about Fender amps is that they are essential voiced for Fender guitars, such as the Stratocaster, so these amps would go hand in hand with any Fender guitar!

Another great option would be the Fender Deluxe Reverb

Knopfler was also known to use Soldano amplifiers from time to time. He would normally set the bass around 9 and the treble and mids around 5 on these amplifiers. A great option would be the Soldano Lucky 13

The Single Coil Sound

When chasing Knopfler’s Stratocaster’s tone, the thing that really matters is the single coil pickups. They have a classic, well-known dynamic response and timbre making them indispensable. If you are looking to upgrade single coils in a guitar you already own check out these options!

 Stompboxes & Pedals

One of the most important pedals when it comes to achieving the Knopfler tone is the compressor.

A compressor helps to normalise the volume of the notes that are being played. This creates a pleasing “squished”, sustained sound that has even volume and prevents things from getting lost in the mix.

A popular, and very affordable, the compressor is the MXR Dyna Comp. This is a very simple and user-friendly compressor and is a staple of many guitarists!

There are so many compressors out there that you can choose from. The compressor really is a massive part of achieving the Knopfler tone. In combination with a cranked tweed amp, it creates a very bright, authentic tone. When the compressor is set where it doesn’t squish everything too much it will bring out the sound of the fingers on the strings.

Here are some other compressors to check out:

Another pedal to think about is an overdrive pedal. A great place to start would be the Ibanez TS808 or TS9 Tube Screamer overdrive pedal. The tube screamer series is an absolute classic. They have used the world over for their classic tube amp-like distortion that can really round out and complete your sound.

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Here are some other great, classic distortion pedals to consider!

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David Gilmour | Live Gear: Fender Stratocaster, Seymour Duncan, Marshall Amps, GHS Strings https://www.uberchord.com/blog/david-gilmour-live-gear-fender-stratocaster-seymour-duncan-marshall-amps-ghs-strings/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/david-gilmour-live-gear-fender-stratocaster-seymour-duncan-marshall-amps-ghs-strings/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2017 15:43:12 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=17032 David Gilmour has one of the most sought after guitar tones of all time. He is regarded as an absolute goliath in the world of tone. Gilmour became an icon through his work with Pink Floyd and became known for his classy, pure, single coil tone. His tone is very clear and transparent, even when distortion is used, which captures the player’s expressiveness. Gilmour’s tone...

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David Gilmour has one of the most sought after guitar tones of all time. He is regarded as an absolute goliath in the world of tone. Gilmour became an icon through his work with Pink Floyd and became known for his classy, pure, single coil tone. His tone is very clear and transparent, even when distortion is used, which captures the player’s expressiveness.

Gilmour’s tone is renowned for it’s delicacy, grace and cleanliness. It is an extremely transparent tone allowing for maximum expression

Today we are going to take a look at the guitars, amps, pedals and more that you can buy that will get you the famous Gilmour tone!

Pink Floyd Tone

Gilmour achieves a beautiful, clear tone which is just as important to his playing as his technical ability. He is also known for his use of effects such as phasers, delays and reverbs on the Pink Floyd records. These sounds have become Gilmour’s tonal calling card and allow for enhanced ambience in his guitar parts; they are absolutely crucial to achieving his tone. He often uses very complex rigs whilst on tour and in the studio so here we will take a look at ways to achieve his high-end tone without breaking the bank!

The Stratocaster

The first thing on the path to achieving the Gilmour tone is obviously the guitar. He is famous for using a black Fender Stratocaster with a maple fretboard and loaded with higher output single coil pickups (we will discuss pickups specifically later on). If you are a massive Gilmour fan and need to have his tone than the first place to start would be the replica of his guitar made by Fender it is very expensive but they do an amazing job of replicating the tonal and aesthetic features of Gilmour’s personal guitar.

Another great option, in a more manageable price range, is the Fender American Standard Stratocaster. On this guitar, you will find very similar specs to the actual strat Gilmour uses: an alder body, maple fretboard, “C” shaped neck, 3 single coil pickups and a 25.5″ scale. To top it off this one is a fraction of the cost of the custom shop guitar and is still a professional quality guitar!

If you’re on a budget, have no fear! Check out the Fender Standard Stratocaster. These guitars are not American made but they feature all of the familiar features of the iconic Stratocaster and they sound great! If you’re not into Fender guitars plenty of other companies make “strat-like” guitars that feature the double cutaway body and the three single-coil pickup configuration. When it comes down to it, the single coil pickups add so much to the Gilmour tone and any guitar that features single coils is a possible candidate to conjure up the Gilmour sound!

Other guitar manufacturers that produce Stratocaster reminiscent guitars include G&L and Suhr!

The SSS configuration

Single coil pickups provide a pleasant sonic twang and a glassy clarity inherent in the David Gilmour tone.

As mentioned before, single coil pickups are an essential part of the Gilmour tone. As a Stratocaster player, Gilmour used the “SSS” configuration; a single coil pickup in the bridge, middle and neck. The five-way selector on Stratocasters allowed him to take advantage of this combination and create many different tones. In Gilmour’s own guitar, the neck and middle pickups were the pickups that came with the guitar but the bridge pickup was a custom pickup made by Seymour Duncan which is now in production as the SSL-5 pickup. This is an overwound pickup what strikes a great middle ground between increased output and traditional Stratocaster sound. It makes chords sound fatter and gives lead lines more clarity so they cut through the mix easier.

Seymour Duncan also makes an SSL-5 set which has all 3 pickups! The main thing to look for when it comes to pickups, in this case, is increased output and clarity.

Here are some other great options to check out:


Gilmour’s Amps

Gilmour is known to use a lot of different amps both in the studio and in a live setting. The thing to keep in mind when looking for an appropriate amp capable of producing Gilmour’s sound is it needs to be able to be turned up loud while maintaining clarity. The first amp I would suggest is the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. This amp gets super loud (emphasis on super) while staying surprisingly clean making it perfect for the Gilmour tone. It features 2 6L6 tubes and responds extremely well to pedals (especially overdrive pedals which we will be talking about next!)

Another great choice would be the Marshall DSL40c . This is another great affordable amp that can be pushed into the high volume range while retaining its clarity. It features 4 ECC83 and 2 EL34 tubes which give it a different character than the Fender style amps so it really comes to down to personal preference when making an amp decision!

 Guitar Pedals

A massive part of Gilmour’s tone is his use of effects pedals. He is known for using modulation effects like a phaser, tape delay and reverbs. Let’s start with distortion pedals. Great transparent overdrives such as the Wampler Euphoria, Electro-Harmonix Soul food and the Fulltone OCD will get the job done. They are all extremely versatile and have the necessary power and clarity to achieve the Gilmour tone.

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Gilmour is constantly experimenting with new sounds and pedals but he is quite famous for using phasers, delays and reverbs. For a great phaser pedal check out the MXR Phase 90, this one is super common because it sounds amazing and is very simple to use. For delay check out the Wampler Tape Delay or MXR Carbon Copy. If you’re really looking to invest in a very versatile delay pedal look no further than the Strymon Timeline. When it comes down to reverb, the TC Electronic Hall of Fame is a great choice and will supply you with that great echoing room sound!

Accessories

When it comes to strings Gilmour uses a custom set: .010 .012 .016 .028 .038 .048 which you can purchase from GHS. He uses this slightly thinner B and G string to make it easier to bend the strings and he uses these slightly thicker strings on the lower three strings to give the chords and riffs more definition and bite.

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Eddie Van Halen | Live Gear: Kramer, Ernie Ball Music Man, Marshall Amps & More https://www.uberchord.com/blog/eddie-van-halen-live-gear-kramer-ernie-ball-music-man-marshall-amps-more/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/eddie-van-halen-live-gear-kramer-ernie-ball-music-man-marshall-amps-more/#respond Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:49:42 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=17328 Very few guitarists have had the profound influence and impact on the culture of music that Eddie Van Halen has had. For some of you reading this, he is THE guitarist that inspired you to pick up a guitar for the first time. In addition to being iconic for his inventive, other-worldly technique his tone has stood the test of time. Eddie took it upon...

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Very few guitarists have had the profound influence and impact on the culture of music that Eddie Van Halen has had. For some of you reading this, he is THE guitarist that inspired you to pick up a guitar for the first time. In addition to being iconic for his inventive, other-worldly technique his tone has stood the test of time. Eddie took it upon himself in the early days of his quest for tone. He would often perform modifications on his amps and guitars which led to his creating of the “brown sound” introduced to the world in Van Halen’s 1978 debut release. Today we will take a look at Eddie’s guitars, amps and his remarkable use of effects pedals!

Eddie’s original tone came from his famous homemade “Frankenstrat” guitar, a marshall amp and use of MXR effects pedals like the Phase 90 and Flanger.

 

The Guitar


Eddie is widely known for building his own guitar. His goal in building this instrument was to combine the sound of a Gibson guitar with the feeling, aesthetic and playability of a Fender guitar. He made it from a Northern Ash body Stratocaster body, a maple neck and a maple fretboard. He took a Gibson PAF pickup from a ES-335 and placed it in the bridge position. The guitar also features the Floyd Rose locking tremolo system. Later in his career, Eddie played Kramer and Charvel guitars until eventually the EVH guitar brand was founded and began manufacturing guitars.

The EVH company produces instruments truly endorsed by the man himself so they would be a great place to start on the quest for the brown sound. The striped series by EVH guitars features a basswood body, maple neck, floyd rose locking tremolo and the high output Wolfgang humbucking pickup, which is similar to the PAF. And it comes in the iconic red, white and black color scheme (other color options are available as well!)



Later in his career Eddie started using the Wolfgang model of guitars which are also available through the EVH line. This is the EVH Wolfgang Standard and features a double cutaway basswood body with a quilted maple top, maple neck and 2 wolfgang pickups. All these features and it goes for only $550!

 

 


If you’re not in the market to spend too much on a new guitar, there are ways to make the guitar you already have capable of the brown sound! If you have a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge you are on the right path!

Pickups: The higher the output, the better!

As mentioned before Eddie was building the Frankenstrat to put the higher output Gibson sound, associated with humbucking pickups, into the Fender stratocaster body style. Initially he used a Gibson PAF. Gibson has produced many PAF’s throughout the years but currently they produce the Burstbucker Pro which is a high output PAF style pickup endorsed by the Gibson name!

After the PAF Eddie used Seymour Duncan pickups. Great humbuckers from them are the Custom Shop ’78 and the SH-1b

Also, in addition to producing guitars, EVH also produces the Frankenstein pickup which would be a great option!


Amplifiers – What is the “Brown Sound”

 

There is much debate about the amps that Eddie used in the early days of Van Halen. Some say he used modified super lead Marshall plexis, some claim they weren’t modified at all. To achieve the “brown sound” Eddie utilized a variax which is basically a power supply that the amp plugs into and you can than control the voltage that the amp receives. By turning that down the tubes of the amp get “starved” and this gives a warmer tone that Eddie dubbed the “brown sound”.

Eddie’s tone is surprisingly clean. He relies on power amp distortion rather than pre amp distortion. This is why he would always crank his amp, to push the tubes and get a nice, natural distortion. It is a tone with quite a bit of top end and sparkle which makes the pick attack very audible. A great way to start in dialing in the brown sound is simply turning all of the knobs up and than adjusting from there! Lets take a look at some amplifier choices.

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The JCM 800 is a great choice. It is a classic amp that evolved from the Plexi era. All tube amplifier head that can be pushed to get that all tube overdrive that is characteristic of the Brown Sound

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Marshall DSL 400

If you’re not looking for a half stack, the DSL400 combo is a great choice

 

Pedals

EVH is also famous for using effects pedals to augment his guitar tone and to enhance his compositions. He is widely known for using the MXR Phase 90 and the MXR Flanger pedal (hear this one on the Van Halen song “Unchained”)

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Carlos Santana | Live Gear: PRS Guitar, Seymour Duncan Pickups, Ibanez Pedals & More https://www.uberchord.com/blog/carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-more/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-more/#respond Fri, 20 Jan 2017 11:56:06 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=16856 Carlos Santana is truly a guitar icon. He rose in the 1960’s and 1970’s catching the ears of listeners with his effortless fusion of Latin and rock music. He is known the world over for composing music with traditional Latin rhythms and percussion instruments and creamy, bluesy guitar melodies. A big part of what makes Santana a brilliant player and musician is his sound. Today...

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carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-moreCarlos Santana is truly a guitar icon. He rose in the 1960’s and 1970’s catching the ears of listeners with his effortless fusion of Latin and rock music. He is known the world over for composing music with traditional Latin rhythms and percussion instruments and creamy, bluesy guitar melodies. A big part of what makes Santana a brilliant player and musician is his sound. Today we will be taking a look at how you can achieve his classic sound by examining what guitars, amps, pedals, and accessories Santana himself would use. Let’s get started!

Carlos Santana is famous for his warm, resonant, vocal like lead tone that has inspired legions of guitar players for centuries

Carlos Santana’s Guitar

In the early days of his career, Santana would use various Gibson guitar models. On his first releases he used a Gibson Les Paul Special with P-90’s. This era of his tone was a little brighter and honkier due to the tonal qualities found in the single coil p-90 pickups. He later transitioned to a Gibson SG with humbuckers and as a result his tone became more mid-rangy and beefier with more power and bite.

In the 1970’s Santana discovered Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars, for which he is most well known. He prefers double cut away guitars with 24 frets and humbucking pickups. These are the attributes that his various PRS incarnations over the years have shared.

carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-moreThe PRS Guitar

Nowadays, Santana is well known for using his signature model he designed with Paul Reed Smith. If you are looking to get the most authentic and Santana approved gear in order to acquire his sound look no further than this guitar! Having been designed by the man himself it can’t can anymore legitimate than this. It features a double cut mahogany body for a full sounding mid range, a neck specification that Santana himself designed, which is slightly larger and provides a smooth playing experience. It also feature two humbucking pickups, in this case, that were also designed by Santana. If you’re not looking to spend upwards of five grand in your quest to sound like Santana have no fear, there are other options!

The Other PRS Guitars

Luckily PRS, makes a more affordable, but still amazing, Santana model (they actually make two!). The first one is the SE Santana Signature. This again features a mahogany, double cut away body, SE pickups that were approved and designed by Santana, 24 frets and a stunning maple top. The best part is that this is a stunningly faithful and quality instrument that you can pick up for around $800!

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PRS actually do make another Santana signature under their mass produced SE line. It is called the SE Santana Standard. It is a little less flashy than the SE signature mentioned before, most notably by the fact that it lacks a high-grade maple top. It is a very simplistic and affordable guitar but still features the mahogany body, 22 frets, humbucking pickups and approval from Santana himself!

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The Humbucker Sound

As you’ll notice in all of the PRS Santana models, and in the Gibsons and other guitars Santana played before finding PRS, he used humbucking pickups. These pickups provide you with more output, mid range and fullness of sound than a single coil pickup and they are an important part of Santana’s sound. If you already have a guitar you enjoy but are looking to upgrade the pickups to something that would be more Santana appropriate, check these options out!

 “Man, that little thing really Boogies!”

In the early days there was Marshall and there was Fender. Any guitarist, like Santana, that was in pursuit of a rich, creamy, warm tone had to find a way to make due with what they had or have their amps modified. In the beginning Santana was known for using a Fender Twin Reverb with the volume all the way up on his guitar and on the amp to give him more gain.

He later became associated with Mesa Boogie Amps. These amps were among the first custom boutique amplifiers that could acquire the tone Santana heard in his head. He had a signature amp called the King Snake with Mesa Boogie but they have gone out of production so they first amp I would recommend is the Mesa Boogie Express 5:25 Combo.

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This amp is full of the classic Mesa Boogie tone that Santana has become associated with. This is a 25 watt all tube, open back combo amplifier consisting of 2 channels. It features 5 12AX7A and 2 EL84 tubes and 4 different style modes that give you many options to craft the tone that you want to hear. This amp is extremely versatile and very capable of producing the creamy, rich Santana tone!

Another amp to check out is the Egnater Tweaker Combo Series. This is a great alternative to the Mesa Boogie amp in a cheaper price range. This is an all tub amplifier just like the Mesa. It features 2 6v6 power tubes and 3 12AX7 pre-amp tubes. When combined with some pedals you can really get a screaming tone!carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-more

 

 

Stompboxes & Pedals

Santana has a relatively simple rig in terms of effects pedals. What we are going to discuss is mainly distortion pedals that can give you that Santana tone on the amp you already have!

The first pedal to check out carlos-santana-live-gear-prs-guitar-seymour-duncan-pickups-ibanez-pedals-moreis the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five overdrive pedal. This thing is like having a Mesa amp inside a pedal and it is a perfect option when trying to emulate Santana due to his avid use of Mesa Boogie products. This pedal can create overdriven tones ranging from a more subtle, crisp boost to a heavy tone. It also features a 5-band EQ which is very commonly found on Mesa amps themselves. This pedal can be used on your amps clean tone or it can be used to supplement an already overdriven tone. Keep in mind that Santana’s tone isn’t overly saturated with tone so it is best to experiment and keep the gain knob on the low side and boost the volume. This pedal actually has 2 modes; one with less gain and one with more gain. If you are setting the equalizer slightly scoop the mid frequencies and slightly boost the high frequencies.

Another pedal option would be the Ibanez TS808 or TS9 Tube Screamer overdrive pedal. The tube screamer series is an absolute classic. They are used the world over for their classic tube amp like distortion that can really round out and complete your sound. These pedals will get you the smooth, controlled distorted sound of Santana!

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Here are some other great, classic distortion pedals to consider!

More to Consider

In terms of accessories like strings a picks, Santana has a set of strings that are commercially available through GHS strings. These are available in 4 different gauge sets and are all made of nickel. The higher strings (the E and B) are often custom gauges to make them last longer because they do get the most wear and tear.

Santana is also known to be a fan of V-Picks and you can purchase the guitar pick he enjoys right here! To learn more about he plays lead guitar and solos, then you’re in the right place. Our blog has free articles on these topics as well as what arpeggios do i learn on guitar, guitar assistant guitar tuner, and the guitar g sharp chord

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Jimmy Page | Live Gear: Gibson Les Paul, Marshall DSL, Dunlop Crybaby https://www.uberchord.com/blog/jimmy-page-live-gear-gibson-les-paul-marshall-dsl-dunlop-crybaby/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/jimmy-page-live-gear-gibson-les-paul-marshall-dsl-dunlop-crybaby/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:00:28 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=16729 Page’s iconic tone is a very clear, crisp, classic British amp tone. Volume and sustain are the keys to his tone When you think of Rock & Roll you think of Led Zeppelin. They are a truly iconic band that have reshaped the world of music as we know it. At the core of Led Zeppelin is legendary guitarist Jimmy Page and his coveted guitar...

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Page’s iconic tone is a very clear, crisp, classic British amp tone. Volume and sustain are the keys to his tone

When you think of Rock & Roll you think of Led Zeppelin. They are a truly iconic band that have reshaped the world of music as we know it. At the core of Led Zeppelin is legendary guitarist Jimmy Page and his coveted guitar tone. This is a tone that has inspired generations of guitarists over the past decades and continues to do so to this day! We will take a look at ways you can achieve this famous tone by looking at the guitars, amps, pedals and accessories used by the man himself!

The Famous Guitar

When you think of Page the image of a sunburst Gibson Les Paul immediately comes to mind. The guitar in question is the 1959 Les Paul Standard. However, Page was very experimental with his tones and was no stranger to changing things up. In his early days, in the Yardbirds and the early Led Zeppelin days, he used a 1959 blonde Fender Telecaster.

“The Gibson’s got all that very stereotyped sound, maybe, I don’t know, but it’s got a really beautiful sustain. I do like sustain. It relates to bowed instruments. Sustain speaks for itself, that’s the whole thing. It’s the whole are that everyone’s been experimenting in, once it became electric, if you think about it – it was mainly sustain. – original source needed.” -Jimmy Page

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The Famous Les Paul

Page is most known for his iconic use of the Gibson Les Paul. The 1959 features a solid, mahogany body and neck, double carved maple top, custom bucker pickups and rosewood fingerboard. Gibson actually has recreated the 1959 Les Paul exactly to the original specifications. If you are really a Jimmy Page fan and want to be as legitimate Jimmy Page himself, this would be the best thing to get! For anyone who is looking to attain that classic Page sound, but don’t want to break the bank, have no fear! There are plenty of options that will faithfully bring Jimmy Page’s tone into your world!

Gibson Les Paul Studio
Gibson Les Paul Studio ($700-$800 range)
2016 Gibson Les Paul Standard ($2000 range)
2016 Gibson Les Paul Standard ($2000 range)

 

Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Epiphone Les Paul Standard ($400 range)

All of these guitars will get the job done. They all have mahogany bodies and necks and feature a rosewood fingerboard. What will be different is the overall playability and the quality of the woods. The more expensive the guitar, the higher quality woods it is made from. The 1959 Les Paul is unique because it has a very vintage feeling neck that is quite different, and a little bit larger than the modern guitar neck.

A massive part of the Les Paul sound, in addition to the woods are the humbucking pickups. These supply a nice full, warm sound. If you have a guitar with humbuckers you should check out these pickups! All of these selections are pickups designed to create a vintage sound, meaning they model pickups that were around in Jimmy Page’s prime.

Wall of Sound

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In addition to his faithful usage of the Les Paul, Page is famous for using Marshall amps. Frequently stacking many of them! When he was playing with the Yardbirds, before joining Led Zeppelin, he used a combo amp in the studio and when he played live but when he began touring with Led Zeppelin he switched over to Marshalls to get more volume whilst performing. This makes a lot of sense because volume is a very important part of Page’s sound.

The first amp I could recommend in the pursuit of Page’s classic tone is the Marshall DSL40c. This is a 1×12 all tube combo amplifier that is in the $600-$700 range. It is small, full of the classic Marshall tone and at the same time is a great value!

Marshall DSL40c Combo

If you are looking to dish out a little more cash here are some more high end options! Page now frequently uses Orange amplifiers. He is known to use the AD30 head. According to those who use this amp “you get a frothy, vintage-style tone that purrs and growls like a big cat when you push it”. This is exactly the kind of amp you want to have when recreating Page’s tone. Orange is known for their high quality amplifiers and this is no exception. The AD30 features 9 tubes (thats right 9!) and 2 highly independent channels.

Orange AD30
Orange AD30

 

In terms of amp settings, as I mentioned before, volume is a massive part of the Page sound so be sure to crank it! Keep the gain and the bass around 7 o’clock and boost the treble and high end controls. The trick is to have a loud, pushed but not overly dirty tone with lots of high end and sustain.

Stompboxes

Page was a known experimenter when it came to sound. He is famous for experimenting with tuning and even using extended techniques like using a bow on the guitar! He was just as inquisitive when it came to pedals and sound design. The three main pedals you should have are a Wah pedal, a fuzz box and a tape delay pedal.

page-bow

Page would often utilise a Wah Wah pedal during some of his solos and some of his rhythmic parts. There are a tone of different manufacturers of Wah pedals to choose from, one of the most common is the Dunlop Crybaby. This is the classic Wah pedal and supplies you with that warm, sweeping filter that dominates the guitar playing of the 60’s and 70’s. If you want to hear Jimmy use his Wah in action check out “Dazed and Confused” as well as “No Quarter”.

Page would also often utilise a fuzz box, a box that produces an intensified distortion effect that creates a fuzz like tone. It is traditionally a little noisier and rougher than the common distortion, it is certainly a great texture to get into! A great fuzz pedal is the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff . This will supply you with some hard hitting distortion that Page used in the more heavy hitting Zeppelin tunes.

Lastly, Page often used a tape echo pedal. Tape echo is a little different from delay. It is a bit darker than traditional delay and it is meant to simulate analog tape echo. Some delays can sound a bit lifeless but tape delay is a nice warm, darker, pure sound. A great pedal to check out is the Wampler Tape Echo.

If you are going for the Page sound but don’t want to buy a new amp, an overdrive pedal is the solution for you! Simply, pick the pedal that is right for you and use it when your amp is on the clean channel. Here are some pedals to look into.

Wampler EuphoriaElectro-Harmonix SoulFood

 

More to Consider

In terms of accesories like strings a picks, Page was known to use Ernie Ball Super Slinky .009-.042 and use Herco Flex 75 picks. As mentioned previously Page was a known experimenter and was always changing things up in his rig, below is a list of some gear he has used over the span of his career,

 

super-reverb

 

That’s the end of this article and we hope you got lots of insights into Page’s iconic sound! One of the best ways to learn how to sound like Page is to learn about how his riffs and solos work musically. To do that, we recommend you look at some of our free articles here at Uberchord like easiest bar chords, guitar delay effect, and a website to recognize chords in song

 

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B.B King | Live Gear: Gibson ES-355, Fender Deluxe Amp, Wampler Pedals https://www.uberchord.com/blog/b-b-king-live-gear-gibson-es-335-fender-deluxe-amp-wampler-pedals/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/b-b-king-live-gear-gibson-es-335-fender-deluxe-amp-wampler-pedals/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:00:11 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=16384 King’s tone is a natural, pure, slightly distorted and compressed tone that serves to bring out the crucial minute details of his playing style. BB King is a true “king” of tone. He is a massively influential guitarist who has inspired generations of blues guitarists across the world. King developed a simple and expressive method of playing the guitar and his tone and technique is...

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King’s tone is a natural, pure, slightly distorted and compressed tone that serves to bring out the crucial minute details of his playing style.

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B.B. King performing in New York in the late 1980s. This photo is licensed under the CC 3.0

BB King is a true “king” of tone. He is a massively influential guitarist who has inspired generations of blues guitarists across the world. King developed a simple and expressive method of playing the guitar and his tone and technique is highly sought after within the guitar community. Today we will take a look at the guitars, amps, pedals, accessories and technique that emulate BB King’s famous tone!

The King of Blues

BB has a warm, natural guitar tone. It is overdriven but not over saturated with gain. His tone tends to also be fairly compressed, which adds to the warmth. He discovered a simplistic, pleasing tone that supplements and enhances his playing style. In other words, we are talking about a pure, natural tone that will pick up every little expressive detail (string bending, string sliding, finger tone etc.) that adds to the overall experience of “tone”.

B.B. King’s Guitars

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Almost as famous as BB King himself is his soulmate “Lucille”. Of course, Lucille is his iconic Gibson ES-355. This model is a double cut away, semi-hollowbody guitar which features 2 humbucking pickups. These humbucking pickups provide a full, warm tone (especially the neck pickup). An obvious first choice in terms of the guitar option would be a Gibson ES-335 Lucille. These guitars were designed by Gibson in collaboration with King himself, the only catch is that they are nearly $7,000!

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Another high end option is the stock Gibson ES-355. Still expensive but you get what you pay for! There are many variations on these models so let’s talk about BB King’s model and try to find one as close as possible. Lucille was made with a maple body, maple neck and ebony fretboard. Maple is a very common tone wood. It is very dense and it produces a bright, warm tone with a very tight low end. A Gibson ES-355 with get the sound you seek!

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Another option, if you are on budget, is the Epiphone ES-335 DOT  which retails for around $500. It also features a maple body and neck but it features a rosewood fretboard rather than an ebony board. It also has 2 humbuckers which is very important to the BB sound, a topic which we will be discussing a bit later on!

It is very important that the guitar be a hollowbody because this construction of guitar reverberates differently and creates a warm, full tone when amplified. If you are looking for other guitar options that are still hollowbody and have 2 humbuckers check out Ibanez and D’Angelico!

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B.B. King’s Pickups

Humbucker pickups provide the necessary warmth and darkness in the BB King tone.

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As mentioned before, the humbucking pickup is a big part of the BB king tone. In Lucille, BB had a Gibson 490R Alnico in the neck and a 490T Alnico in the bridge. The 490R provides you with vintage tones with modern mid range and warmth. It features an Alnico II magnet which gives it a “singing” quality. The 490T also supplies the vintage warmth with the increased mid range and well as an increased, crunchy high end and sustain. It also features the Alnico II magnet.

Another great option for a warmer, blues tone is the Stormy Monday by BareKnuckle Pickups which also features that Alnico II magnet which gives BB’s pickups that distinct sound.

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If you have a single coil guitar but are still after that BB sound check out this single coil humbucker from DiMarzio! The DP402 which supplies vintage, blues tone, attack and sustain in the space of a single coil pickup! Just because you have a single coil guitar doesn’t mean you can’t sound like BB King!


B.B. King’s Amps

When it comes to amp we are going to keep it simple and leave all of the dirt and overdrive sound to the pedals we will be discussing up next. We are looking for an amp that can project and handle a nice, pure clean sound preferably with some on-board reverb. A great example is the Fender Princeton Reverb. This is a very simplistic and user friendly amplifier that provides that bluesy, clear Fender tone in a small, effective package. If you are in the market for something a little more high end and versatile I would recommend the Fender 65′ Deluxe Reverb. This is essentially the princeton’s older brother, featuring a lot more control over the tone. It also features a very capable and defined overdrive channel!

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Guitar Pedals

In this case, a lot of the tone is going to come from the pedals. Because BB King’s tone is warm and not overly distorted we are looking for a mild overdrive pedal or even just a clean boost to push the amp a little more. The Wampler Euphoria is a great place to start. It is a massively celebrated pedal and it is extremely versatile. It can function as a clean boost and push the clean channel or mild distortion channel of your amp to create a more responsive sound, combined with the Wampler Ego Compressor, you can achieve that warm, natural, responsive BB King tone!

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Another option is the Electro Harmonix Soul Food pedal which is a very vintage sounding overdrive pedal which has the same response as an actual amp. If you want to check out some additional drive pedals check out the Wampler Pinnacle, Fulltone Plimsoul, or the classic TS9 TubeScreamer. For additional clean boosts check out the Xotic EP Booster or the TC Electronic Spark.

Play like B.B.King




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA-zCK0dEds

https://youtu.be/8YvuOckaLGw

Accessories

b-b-king-live-gear-gibson-es-335-fender-deluxe-amp-wampler-pedalsWhen it comes to guitar strings, BB designed his own custom set of strings with Gibson. They are a special gauge ranging from .10-.52.

He also used D’Andrea 351 Medium (.71mm) guitar picks)

 

We have a lot of great resources here on our blog if you’re looking for more ways to sound like BB King. There’s lessons on blues chord changes, pentatonic scales, and many of the most iconic chord progressions of the genre. A few of our mostly recently published articles include jimmy page effects, how to find the pentatonic scale in any key, and the ii chord

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Eric Clapton | Live Gear: Fender Strat, Fender & Marshall Amps, Seymour Duncan Pickups https://www.uberchord.com/blog/eric-clapton-fender-strat-marshall-amps-seymour-duncan-pickups/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/eric-clapton-fender-strat-marshall-amps-seymour-duncan-pickups/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:27:36 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=15950 Eric Clapton is a true guitar icon. He has been actively influencing guitarists the world over for decades and is still going strong today. Like many artists Clapton’s artistic vision and sound changed over the years. Today we will take a look at Clapton’s various sounds and what gear (amps, guitars, pedals, pickups, strings etc.) and techniques he uses to achieve his famous tone! The...

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Eric Clapton is a true guitar icon. He has been actively influencing guitarists the world over for decades and is still going strong today. Like many artists Clapton’s artistic vision and sound changed over the years. Today we will take a look at Clapton’s various sounds and what gear (amps, guitars, pedals, pickups, strings etc.) and techniques he uses to achieve his famous tone!

The Clapton sound is a dynamic sound full of mid range that captures the expressive inflections of Clapton’s slick style of playing.

The Clapton sound is chock full of mid range and depends on vintage style amps to produce a slick blues tone full of inflection and personality. This remains largely true throughout his changes in tone. With that being said, lets take a moment to listen to 2 of his different sounds from different eras of his career.

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Clapton is associated with a tone of different guitars. He is perhaps most famous for playing “Blackie” his trusty, black Fender Stratocaster but he is also very well known for playing a Gibson SG, Les Paul or 335. When he was in Cream, Eric would typically use the SG, Les Paul or perhaps the 335; guitars containing humbucking pickups. When he embarked on his solo career he switched over to the Stratocaster, which contains single coils. This change in the pickups he preferred dramatically affected the sound he achieved. Lets take a look at some options to recreate his “Cream sound” as well as his “solo sound”!

1970’s Cream Sound: Guitars

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CREAM (From left): Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton

If this is the Clapton sound you’re after then you are looking for a guitar with humbuckers! Humbuckers are double coiled pickups that produce a full sound. They sound a bit rounder, a less “honky” and “glassy” than single coil pickups (they are also less noisy!) If you’re in the market for a new guitar here are some great options that will have you sounding like the man himself in no time!


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Furthest to the left is the Epiphone Les Paul Standard featuring a nice mahogany body and humbucking pickups, great if you are working with a budget. It sells for around $500. In the center is the Gibson Les Paul Standard if you’re looking to shell out a little more cash. Higher quality woods and authentic Gibson pickups makes this guitar closer to what Clapton actually used. To the right is the Gibson SG Standard, again very close to what Clapton would have been using when he was playing in Cream.

1970’s Cream Sound: Pickups

Have no fear! You don’t need to buy a new guitar to sound like Clapton, you can pickup a pair of some trusty humbuckers! One of Eric’s favorite Gibsons was the 1960 Les Paul which featured PAF style humbuckers, here are some options:

eric-clapton-fender-strat-marshall-amps-seymour-duncan-pickups

This is the Seymour Duncan SH-1 PAF style humbucker. This pickup is a fantastic choice because it is built to model the Gibso PAF style pickups that were prevelant in the 1950’s and 60’s, the same ones that Clapton would be using. They produce a great, warm, vintage sound.


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Another option is the Porter Anthem PAF. It’s another take on the PAF humbuckers that Clapton used in the 1960’s and 70’s. Porter uses vintage spec material to create these and some aspects of them can be customizable to your specific tastes!


Other pickup options include the Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday and the DiMarzio PAF DP103.

1970’s Cream Sound: Amps

Probably the most important part of Clapton’s tone in the 70’s is his use of vintage Marshall amplifiers. Vintage Marshall amps tend to have a very clear, crisp tone with well defined mid range and a general warmness to them. Luckily Marshall makes some amps that emulate the vintage amps of the past that don’t break the bank!

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Here is the first option, a Marshall DSL40c. It is a 40 watt all tube combo amp. It features 4 12AX7 and 2 EL34 tubes. It is a very versatile and handy amplifier. It features 2 modes per channel and it faithfully echoes the vintage tones of some of the famous Marshall amps of Clapton’s era. Combined with the pedals we will be discussing later in this entry, this amp is a perfect option! If you are looking for more expensive, but higher quality, Marshall amps that will better replicate the vintage tone you should check out Marshall’s Vintage Reissue Series.


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This next option is the Vox VT20x. It is a modeling amp, definitely a cheaper option but it is very possible to obtain a realistic, high quality Clapton style sound through these amps.


1970’s Cream Sound: Pedals and Settings

Now that we talked about all the gear lets put it all together! Have the guitar with humbuckers running into the Marshall, roll the tone knob on the guitar to about 4. Turn the bass, middle and treble on the amp way up (especially the middle). Don’t put to much gain, Clapton’s tone is very clear and dynamic gain will only subtract some clarity. It’s as simple as that! Now, depending on the amp you are using you may find it necessary to use a boost pedal. A boost pedal just takes the signal and applies a boost (not a gain boost) that makes the tone more full and applies more sustain. Check some of these options out (click on the pictures for links!)

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The Fender Sound: Guitars

Clapton completely revamped his sound when he switched over to using Fender instruments. He is famous for his stratocaster names “Blackie” which is a frankenstein guitar build from components of 3 different 1950 Fender Stratocasters. With that being said, if you want to replicate Clapton’s sound a Fender Strat is the way to go, here are some nice ones!

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The guitar on the right is a Fender Special Edition Stratocaster which is made in Mexico so it is a little cheaper ($500-$600). Features and Alder body, Maple neck and single coil pickups. The guitar on the left is the Fender American Standard Stratocaster which features higher quality cuts of alder and maple, higher quality pick-ups and is American made.

The Fender Sound: Pickups

As with the Cream sound, the type of pick ups matter. The Stratocaster has 3 single coil pickups which provide a glassy, honky tone that tends to have more high end and brightness to it. If you’re looking to sound like Clapton but don’t want to get a new guitar, check out these pickups!

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These are the Fender Vintage Noiseless Pickups.They provide brilliant clarity and definition while canceling out the annoying “hum” associated with single coil pickups. These will definitely get you that Clapton tone!


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This next option is the Seymour Duncan Antiquity Texas Hot pickups. These pickups emulate the warmness of pickups that are decades old extremely well. They are designed to capture the warmth and mid range of the 1960’s and 70’s. Another option would be to check out the 1960’s pickups from Porter pickups.

The Fender Sound: Amps

When Clapton switched to the strat he also switched from using Marshalls to using Fender amps, mainly Fender tweed style amps. These amps are very clean sounding, even at high volumes, and produce dynamic, responsive tones with a well defined mid range.

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Here is the Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue. It is a 40 watt amp, all tube, 2 channel amp that captures the mid range and chime of the vintage Fender tweed amplifiers that are a crucial part of the Clapton Fender era tone. Other options include the Vox VT20 mentioned previously as well as higher end Fender amplifier’s such as the Fender ’57 Custom Twin.


The Fender Sound: Pedals and Settings

As with his Marshall set up, sometimes a pedal is used in front of the amp for a clean boost (those options are listed above), with this Fender set up, an equalizer pedal is definitely useful! In this case, this pedal would be used to boost the mid range in the sound (click on the picture for link!)

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Let’s put it all together. Have a guitar with single coils going into a Fender amp. Be on the distortion channel on the amp but make sure it is a slightly dirty sound. Little gain, boost the bass, middle and treble knobs. Flip on the TC Electronics Spark boost pedal and the Boss EQ pedal for some added volume boost and mid range!

Guitar Strings

Clapton is famous for using Ernie Ball slinky strings .10-.46 with the action on his guitar set very low.

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Guitar Technique




If you’re looking for more ways to sound like Eric Clapton, then we’ve got a plethora of free articles covering scales and music theory. You should take a look at topics like key of e chords guitar, the c# minor scale guitar, and little saint nick chords amongst others. Our website is sure to have plenty of info to sound more like Slowhand!

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Slash: Live Gear: Marshall Amps, Gibson Les Paul, Seymour Duncan Pick-ups https://www.uberchord.com/blog/slash-gear-marshall-amps-gibson-les-paul-seymour-duncan-pick-ups/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/slash-gear-marshall-amps-gibson-les-paul-seymour-duncan-pick-ups/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:00:17 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=15355 Slash has a famously clear overdriven sound with quite bit of “honky texture” due to the mahogany guitar, fullness thanks to the hum-buckers and accurate technique. Slash is the epitome of a guitar player. For many people when they think of a guitar the next thought they have is they experience is of a Les Paul, long hair and (of course) a top hat! Slash’s...

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Slash has a famously clear overdriven sound with quite bit of “honky texture” due to the mahogany guitar, fullness thanks to the hum-buckers and accurate technique.

Slash is the epitome of a guitar player. For many people when they think of a guitar the next thought they have is they experience is of a Les Paul, long hair and (of course) a top hat! Slash’s image and sound has defined and inspired generations of guitarist’s the world over. Today we will be taking a look on how to achieve Slash’s guitar tone by exploring the guitars, amps, pedals and accessories the man himself uses!

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When it comes down to it Slash’s rig is relatively simplistic. A perfect example of “less is more”. He is famous for using a Gibson Les Paul guitar into a Marshall all-tube amplifier. He uses very little effect pedals (if any). When he does use effects they are commonly delay, reverb or a Wah-Wah pedal (the latter being a huge part of the Slash sound!). So with that being said, there are two main parts to this rig: the guitar and the amp. Both are equally important and there are many possibilities on both fronts that will create the famous Slash sound! Here we will take a look at possible guitar and amp options as well as low-budget tone hacks that sound great!

The Guitar

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Slash Les Paul Standard Signature 2004

As mentioned before, Slash is famous for using a Gibson Les Paul guitar. It’s kinda his thing. He is a massive fan of the ’87 Gibson Les Paul which features a mahogany neck and body, rosewood fretboard and a 3 piece maple top. It has large frets which make it very easy to bend notes (another huge aspect of Slash’s sound which we will discuss later on) and features two Seymour Duncan Alnico II pro hum-bucking pickups.

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Slash’s signature Les Paul Appetite 2010

That is his preferred axe. The important take away here is the material the guitar is made out of and the type of pickups. In this case we are looking for a guitar that features mahogany and has hum-bucking pickups. Keep in mind, you don’t necessarily need a Les Paul to sound like Slash, a mahogany guitar (of any body shape) and hum-bucker pick ups can go a long way and get some crazy results! Let’s take a look at some plausible candidates!

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Slash Les Paul Vermillion 2013

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Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Epiphone is a company affiliated with Gibson and they are actually the only other company, besides Gibson, that is licensed to produce the original Les Paul design. With that being said, you know are getting a quality instrument, and in the case of this Epiphone, it won’t break the bank! You can pick one of these up and start rocking for around $400! They feature a mahogany neck and body and a rosewood fretboard just like Slash’s Gibson!

slash-gear-marshall-amps-gibson-les-paul-seymour-duncan-pick-upsIn terms of the guitar option the main things to keep in mind are that it is made of mahogany and that it has humbuckers. Mahogany tends to give a warm, dark, almost honky sound and Slash has a famously clear overdriven sound with quite bit of “honky texture” due to the mahogany and fullness thanks to the humbuckers.

If you want to be very authentic and true to the Slash image than maybe the Gibson Les Paul Standard will float your boat!

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Slash Signature Pick Ups

New Seymour Duncan 11104-08 APH-2s Alnico II Pro Slash Signature Hum-bucker Guitar Pickups Set of 2 Zebra Matched Set Made in USA
Price: $105.00

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Seymour Duncan APH-2b Alnico II Pro Slash

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Amplifiers

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Marshall AFD 100
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Marshall JCM 800
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Marshall JCM 2550 Silver Jubilee Reissue

If you don’t have the cash to drop on a vintage all-tube Marshall stack, the best option is to invest in a combo! When it comes down to the amp it is very important that it is an all-tube amplifier. The Marshall DSL combo series are a great choice and they won’t break the bank! In terms of amp settings, Slash keeps the grain around 2 o’clock, the bass around 9-10 o’clock, the mids around 2 o’clock and the treble at noon. One of the big mistakes people make during the quest for Slash’s tone is scoping the mids, avoid scoping the mids for they are a massive part of this tone!

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Marshall 1960 AV with JCM 800
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Marshall DSL 400

Having trouble finding an amp that isn’t expensive? Have no fear! Here is a way to successfully “hack” the Slash sound using very reliable and affordable gear.

Guitar Strings

Slash often uses Ernie Ball 2220 Power Slinky 11-48 Strings

Price: $6.05

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Hacking the Slash Sound

Here is what you will need: a guitar with humbuckers (preferably something alnico like these), a Orange Micro Terror Amp ,a 1×12 cabinet with celestion speakers and a Dunlop CryBaby Wah pedal.

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Slash is famous for his use of the Wah-Wah pedal but for this hack we are going to use the Wah more as an equalizer to effect the tone. Here is how you should set this up. Crank the Tiny Terror and plug in. Turn on the Wah pedal, pull it back all the way and then push it forward, as far as it can go without turning it off, then bring it back just a little bit and leave it engaged in that position. Use the bridge humbucker on your guitar and roll the tone back as desired. Check these videos out for ideas!

Technique

In terms of playing technique, Slash has great, precise technique. He frequently uses large, in-tune bends with elegant vibrato. Here is all you need to know about string bending!

 

In order to play like Slash, you need to understand his chord progressions and note choices too. We here at Uberchord can do that with our free lessons on various guns n roses songs, scales slash uses, as well as many theory topics that’ll help you break down his music. A few of our most recent lessons include the ii chord, three door down chords, and tom petty chords and lyrics.

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Angus Young’s Gear: Gibson SG, Marshall Amps & Plexi Drive https://www.uberchord.com/blog/angus-young-gear-gibson-sg-marshall-amps-plexi-drive/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/angus-young-gear-gibson-sg-marshall-amps-plexi-drive/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2016 13:00:27 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=13990 Angus Young is one of the most iconic guitarists of all time. In addition to being a member of an iconic rock band AC/DC and a highly respected player, his guitar tone has become famous and widely sought after. Players dream about achieving his crisp, clear tone and his guitar playing style. In this article we will look at some ways you can manipulate your...

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Angus Young is one of the most iconic guitarists of all time. In addition to being a member of an iconic rock band AC/DC and a highly respected player, his guitar tone has become famous and widely sought after. Players dream about achieving his crisp, clear tone and his guitar playing style. In this article we will look at some ways you can manipulate your rig to sound like Angus!

One of the big mistakes players make when chasing after the elusive Angus Young tone is using too much gain on their amplifier. Angus’ tone is really based on volume and fingers.

Angus Young’ guitar rig is actually the simplest!

He is known for plugging his guitar straight into his amplifier. No pedals or special tricks involved; he simply knows how to get the most out of the gear that he has and uses the knowledge to achieve the tone. One of the big mistakes players make when chasing after the elusive Angus Young tone is using too much gain on their amplifier. Angus’ tone is really based on volume and fingers. Now obviously no one can completely sound like Angus because there is only one Angus Young, but one can study his technique and get very close and realising that dialling more gain on the amp will get you further away from the tone is key.

Why volume is of utmost importance to Angus Young’s tone quest?

Angus typically uses Marshall tube amps. On most tube amps, mainly old school Marshall Plexis, when you turn up the volume you drive the tubes of the amp harder which causes them to distort. This is a “cleaner” distortion than turning the gain on the amp all the way up, in fact it will be ideal to keep the gain in the range from 1-5 (depending on your amp). Alright, let’s dive into the specific gear that will accomplish this goal and have you sounding like Angus in no time!

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Angus Young Guitars

Angus is famous for playing the SG style guitar. In this case, because the rig is so simple (literally just a guitar plugged into an amp), the type of guitar matters very much. The SG Angus uses is made of the wood mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. Mahogany gives a darker sound which serves to fatten up chords and gives some more depth to the low end. Also, Angus has 2 humbuckers on his guitar, typically they are PAF style and relatively low output.

Axe choice #1: Gibson Angus Young SG Series 

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This SG is made by Gibson, the brand that also makes Angus’ guitar. It features a mahogany body and neck as well as 2 humbucking pickups. It is a great guitar that will get you the sounds you need while not breaking the bank. If you are looking something a little more wallet friendly check out this next one!

Axe choice #2: Epiphone G-310 

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Again this is a guitar made out of mahogany and features the humbuckers just like option 1. However, cheaper guitars are cheaper because they are made out of inferior materials so if you have the cash I encourage you to do some research!

Now that we have the guitar portion decided lets talk amps, probable the most important part of the Angus Young sound!

Angus Young Signature Guitar Pick-Ups

Gibson Signature Pickup: Angus Young has teamed up with Gibson to create the ultimate pickup for the searing riffs that he is known for. Enamel coated wire, special Alnico V magnet and matching coils make this Angus Young Signature Humbucker provide a 1-2 combination of vintage style punch and ripping tone that will cut through almost anything.
Price$169.99

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Angus Young Guitar Amps

Angus is famous for using Marshall amps, typically old school Plexi style amps. Lets take a look at some potential amp options.

Amp choice #1: Marshall DSL15C
Price: $600 USD

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Here is a nice portable, great sounding Marshall that won’t break the bank. It features 2 channels and is an all tube amp, this is the most important factor. In order to get that old school sound that Angus uses the amp has to be a tube amp (unless you’re really good at programming!) If you’re looking for the next level up from this combo (maybe a full stack) check out the DSL series from Marshall!

Amp choice #2: Marshall JTM45
Price: 
$1,999.99

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This is a very very expensive amp but if your very serious about achieving an authentic Angus tone look no further than this bad boy right here!

Amp choice #3: Wampler Plexi Drive
Price: $200 USD


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This choice technically isn’t an amp, it’s a pedal, but it is a relatively cheap way to get an awesome Marhall Plexi sound through the amp you already own! If you’re on a strict budget check this one out.

When it comes to amp settings keep everything around half way, don’t crank the distortion! The sound has to remain very clear and not over powered by distortion. Keep in mind, don’t sacrifice clarity for gain!

Picks and Stings

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Angus uses very heavy gauge picks and strikes the strings very hard but he is careful that no string noise gets in the way of the tone. I would recommend experimenting with some .60mm picks and trying to see how hard you can pick riffs. You should also check out some heavier gauge guitar strings, but not too heavy they need to be easy to bend! Try anything above .10!

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Vibrato

Angus also has very rough and powerful vibrato. His vibrato is more involved than blues vibrato. Angus puts a lot of strength into his vibrato and bends by using his whole hand in a forceful up and down motion.

Video Lesson

If you’re interested in sounding more like Angus Young, we suggest you study some of the scales and chord progressions he uses to make his music. The free blog here at UberChord has several articles that can help you explore that knowledge and follow Angus’s path. You can start by studying the key of dm for guitar, passenger let her go guitar notes, and can you play guitar without a pick.

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Power Chords for Beginners: What Are They And How to Play Them on the Guitar https://www.uberchord.com/blog/power-chords-for-beginners-what-are-they-and-how-to-play-them/ https://www.uberchord.com/blog/power-chords-for-beginners-what-are-they-and-how-to-play-them/#respond Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:00:31 +0000 https://www.uberchord.com/?p=13908 So what exactly is a “Power Chord”? A power chord is a simple chord structure that consists of a “root note” and the “5th note”. It is an effective and easy way to add more power and weight to a single note riff and are usually played more often on an electric guitar with distortion or overdrive. To practice your chords, you can use the Uberchord...

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So what exactly is aPower Chord”?

A power chord is a simple chord structure that consists of a “root note” and the “5th note”. It is an effective and easy way to add more power and weight to a single note riff and are usually played more often on an electric guitar with distortion or overdrive. To practice your chords, you can use the Uberchord app (click for free download) on your mobile. The app listens to you through the microphone, provides instant feedback on your playing and even tracks your progress.

These chords are found all over music, across all genres but for classic examples of these structures you should check out the music of Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Green Day, The White Stripes and The Ramones for prime examples of power chords! Let us dive right in and take a look at a good ol’ power chord!

Exercise 1: “A” Power Chord

There it is! Your first power chord! How does it feel?

Lets take a minute and discuss various fingering options. The most common way to play this chord is with your first finger on the 5th fret on the E string (Root Note = A), 3rd finger on the 7th fret (5th Note of A major scale = E) on the A string and your pinky on the 7th fret on the D string (8th Note of A major scale = A, one octave higher).

This fingering is very sturdy and it makes it quite easy to move the chord around to other frets. The other option, which is less common, is to play the 5th fret on the low E string with your first finger and use your third finger to barre the 7th fret on the A and D string. This fingering isn’t quite as comfortable or efficient as the previous one! See the videos for examples of the efficent fingering!

Now that you know a power chord I’m sure you’re champing at the bit for more, have no fear, here are some more examples to experiment with!

Exercise 2: More Power!

Okay, okay now that we have had our fun lets get down to business and discuss what exactly a power chord is and how you can use them in your own music!

As explained above, in its basic form a power chord uses a root note and the fifth above that root note. What I mean by “fifth” is the interval of a perfect fifth (7 half steps) so for example a fifth above F is C and a fifth above C is G and so on. You can also think about it in terms of the major scale. The 5th is the 5th note played in that scale!

Exercise 3: G and D a Perfect 5th, Played Separately

When these intervals are played together instead of separately they create a partial power chord!

Exercise 4: G and D Played Together as a Chord

Now all we have to do is add one more note to the structure and we have a complete power chord! The next note is an octave above the lowest note. An octave, or 12 half steps, is the same pitch but sounding at a higher frequency. You can also think of an octave as the 8th note of the major scale! Here is an example of an octave:

Exercise 5: A low G and a Higher G. Same Pitch, Different Octave!

Now lets add this octaves with the root and fifth structure we learned above to create a full power chord.

Exercise 6: A  Complete Power Chord!

II: Muting and picking

Power chords are meant to sound huge and powerful as implied by their name therefore it is very helpful to pick them confidently and powerfully. Typically, a down stroke will sound more powerful and precise. Really focus on making sure all of the notes of the chord are sounding clearly. These power chords also sound great when palm muted and when the guitar is being played through a distorted amplifier. Experiment with placing the palm of your hand (mainly the skin in between the pinky and the wrist) on or near the bridge. This will also dampen any unwanted strings that aren’t being used in the power chord so they wont ring out!

Awesome! Now that you know all about power chords lets take a look at an example!

III: A Powerful Example

As mentioned before, power chords are commonly used to thicken up and add depth and, dare I say it, “power” to a single note riff. For example, lets say you just wrote this simple little riff using the low E string.

Exercise 7: Simple Low E Riff

The first step in applying power chords to this little riff is to first find the note that is a fifth above the note on the low E string. For Example, the 5th of G (3rd fret E string) is D (5th fret A string) and the 5th of A (5th fret E string) is E (7th Fret A string). A quick little rule of thumb (for the lower strings) is to go to the next string and go up 2 frets to find the 5th. So to find the 5th of F# (2nd fret E string) go to the 2nd fret on the A string and move up 2 frets to the 4th fret and that is the fifth!

Exercise 8: The Riff With 5ths

And finally we add the octave! Again for a quick rule of thumb (for the lower strings) the octave can be found by skipping a string and going up 2 frets. So to find the octave of G on the 3rd fret E string skip to the D string and go to the 5th fret!

Ex 9: Full Power!

Need more help? Check out this video:

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