Tone Like

How mere mortals can get Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tone

How mere mortals can get Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tone

Over the years I have collected information from other Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar playing fans about how they are trying to get Stevie's tone.  Most of Stevie's tone came from his heart and hands.  Having said that it is possible to get a close approximation to Stevie's tone by using the "right" equipment and adjusting the settings of the equipment.

These articles are an attempt by Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar playing fans about how they are trying to get Stevie's tone.

So check out the Stevie Ray Vaughan articles.

 

Geoff Caldarone approach for SRV Tone

Guitar

1998 Fender Stratocaster Roadhouse

  • Pickups: Texas Specials
  • GHS TNT Boomers or 010 .013 .016 .028 .038 .050
  • Tuned:  E or Eb
  • No mods but would like to add link to tone knob and bridge P/U.
  • Volume:    7-10
  • Tone 1&2:  8-10
  • Leads played mostly on the neck P/U
  • Rhythms on others

Amps

1997 Fender Hot Rod Deville 2-12

1998 Fender Blues Jr. 1-12

  • No mods
  • Note:  Clean channel seems better at 6-8 than the Drive channels do,  Its seems they get muddy very quickly.
  • Switches:
  • Treb:    4-6
  • Bass:    3-5
  • Mid:     1-4
  • Reverb:  3
  • Master:  3
  • Drive:   2-6
  • Volume:  6-8
  • Bright:  Off
  • No mods
  • Note:  This Amp sounds good everywhere.  The volume control and master control work together to get clean thru growl.
  • Switches:
  • Treb:    4-6
  • Bass:    3-5
  • Mid:     1-4
  • Reverb:  3 (max)
  • Bright:  Off

Pedals

Ibanez Tube Screamers TS-9

  • Switches:
  • Gain:   12 o'clock
  • Tone:   12 o'clock
  • Volume: 9-12 o'clock

Setup & Notes

  • Guitar --> TS-9 --> Amp
  • Note A: For the $ the blues Jr Amp is a great value, I even prefer its tone to the 2-12, maybe because its working harder (only 15 watts) and it starts to growl sooner at reasonable volumes than the Deville.
  • Note B: The TS9 is not used a lot , and only when that punch or something extra is needed to add to the dynamics of the song. Also have a Crybaby Wah but seldom used.
  • Note C: I have found that for a better (controlled) bend w/vibrato at the top of the bend, a lighter set of strings helps, and if the action has been raised slightly from my original setup with 5 springs and the plate flush to the body.
  • Note D: Favorite TONES from an SRV TUNE is Leave My Little Girl Alone and Tightrope from the Austin City Limits Video.

 

Steve Chatham's approach for SRV Tone

Guitar

    Guild Songbird Acoustic/Electric Slimline

  • Pickups: Fishman
  • Usually GHS
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    1993 Rickenbacker 360/12 mapleglo

  • Pickups: Factory
  • Usually GHS
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    1985 Peavey Stratocaster

  • Pickups: DiMarzio
  • Two single coils
  • One Humbucker
  • Usually GHS
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    Yamaha FG312

  • 12 string acoustic
  • Pickups: Martin
  • Thinline bridge
  • D'Addario
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    Epiphone

  • 6 string
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    1968 Fender P Bass

  • Tuned: E or Eb

    1976 Les Paul

  • Usually GHS
  • Tuned: E or Eb

    1962 Gibson SG

  • Usually GHS
  • Tuned: E or Eb

Amps

    1990 Fender Super60

Pedals

    Boss Tr-2 Tremolo

    Boss AC-2 Acoustic Simulator

    DOD Chorus

    DOD Compressor Sustainer

Setup & Notes

  • Guitar --> Effects --> Amp

Steve Chatham

 

Stace Carmon approach for SRV Tone

Guitar

1995 Ibanez Acoustic/Electric AE15MS

Amps

Crate GX-30M

  • Has Chorus settings

Pedals

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