Steve Vai Tone?

RG Scream Machine · #1 12-28-2001, 03:36 PM

Does anybody know the equilizer settings to get a steve vai tone? *I have an Ibanez RG 570 going through zoom 505 pedal into a cratre amp. *I also have a friend with a digitech rp 2000 effects pedal.

bammbamm · #2 12-28-2001, 03:47 PM

RG, its' more than just an EQ setting, its the way he plays, etc, Vai runs so much gear that the best way to come close is to know your own gear and try to emulate the sound as best you can with what you have. Sorry I can't give you his dial in settings, but thats the best info I can give you. Use your ears,
Bamm

trouble311 · #3 12-28-2001, 08:58 PM

If I had the answer to THAT question, I doubt I would have so much time to spend online....:biggrin:

chromeboy · #4 12-28-2001, 10:08 PM

I agree what Bamm and Trouble said, but a way to a get a little closer to SSV's tone is to get a JEM and a Carvin Legacy amp. That and alot of practice should get you part way there!

jem7vwh · #5 12-28-2001, 11:17 PM

now that all the usual "tone is in the fingers" responses have come in, technically, you need to be more specific about what you want to hear. *Steve's tone on "Yankee Rose" is a lot different than his tone on "Juice" which is a lot different from "Principessa"

There are three basic Vai sounds:

Early Steve: *Basswood body Guitar -> BOSS DS-1 -> Hot Rodded Marshall -> Eventide Harmonizer 969 -> Roland SDE

Middle Steve: *Alder body guitar -> BOSS DS-1 -> Bogner Ecstacy/ Soldana SLO-100 -> Eventide H3000 -> Fireworx

New Steve: *Alder body guitar -> BOSS DS-1 -> Carvin Legacy Stack -> *Eventide

There are some constants: *Steve has always made the DS-1 a part of his rig. *The Harmonizer is pretty constant too. * *What you should be aiming for is a mid-heavy sound (like an upside down arrow on the EQ) with a little extra bass and treble. *The oldest Vai stuff will sound the most scooped where the mids only get pumped up during solos. *The newest stuff will be the most mid-heavy.

For DLR era stuff, a slight slapback delay with a little modulation is very helpful.

**jemsite** · #6 12-28-2001, 11:20 PM

http://www.vai.com/Machines/livegear.html
with alot of compression

but tone IS all in the fingers ... glen

chilln2music · #7 12-29-2001, 11:41 PM

I disagree about that "tone is in the fingers" statement. I think feel, emotion, and self expression is in the fingers but portraying that to an audience really needs a tone I can work with. *To me the actual amp tone weighs a lot on how the notes affect me musically. When I play through my 1x8 Fender I notice my phrasing lacks tremendously...I just don't have that "feeling" I need for spontaneous creativity. Likewise, blistering runs coming out of my fender 1x8, no matter how accurate they are, just don't build the intensity. Maybe this is just me.

As for Vai's tone glen is right, a LOT of compression will help out. Vai's tone is far from organic sounding to me...a sound that's definately cool sometimes. I can't really help out much more than that but I can say Vai uses quite a bit of delay at times...oh yea, buy Evolutions. A guitar I used to play had them and I swear the tone was very Vai like coming out of my main amp.

Jay Satriani · #8 12-30-2001, 08:38 AM

I say as we said in another post regarding the song "Warm Regards" where Vai plays a strat and it still sounds so totally Vai... It is all in the fingers... *

(Edited by Jay Satriani at 1:41 pm on Dec. 30, 2001)

caprile · #9 12-30-2001, 01:52 PM

this is a picky detail, but sustaining notes with your middle finger in a circular way, as opposed to the usual ring finger up and down thing, will get you closer.

jem7vwh · #10 12-30-2001, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Jay Satriani on 8:38 am on Dec. 30, 2001
I say as we said in another post regarding the song "Warm Regards" where Vai plays a strat and it still sounds so totally Vai... It is all in the fingers... *

(Edited by Jay Satriani at 1:41 pm on Dec. 30, 2001)

I personally would argue the opposite. *I'd say that it proves just how much sound manipulation takes place in his rack. *I have a feeling that with the amount of effects and eq that he runs, pretty much every guitar is going to sound about the same through them. *That's why there's no notable difference between the tracks he plays his JEMs or Jacksons on the DLR albums.

Jay Satriani · #11 12-31-2001, 01:31 AM

What i meant was, i can sure hear it is a strat (especially when you listen for it), but i can also definately hear it is vai playing it, if you know what i mean... Because his playing style is rather unique.. One dude said he heard vai play a BSB through a small combo, and it still sounded pure Vai... All you need to sound like vai is a guitar and some good distortion... The rest is up to you.... *But just as i said in the other thread, a JEM wont exactly make it harder though, heeheh

ScottB · #12 12-31-2001, 01:39 PM

Just for the info, you can find SSV's amp settings on the Carvin website. Go to the manuals section and click on the Legacy. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to view the files.

Peace and Happy New Year to all. *

arty:

Scott

badwamajama · #13 01-01-2002, 12:49 PM

Where did you hear that Steve played a strat on Warm Regards? * *Boy from Seattle, yes, but Warm Regards???

New one on me....

Jeff

trouble311 · #14 01-01-2002, 02:59 PM

This was discussed here:

http://jemsiteforum.com/board/topic....amp;replies=62

shredmaster · #15 01-09-2002, 03:47 PM

i always had a problem with the TONE IS IN THE FINGERS thing. *to a point, maybe. *i think that is being mistaken for style and technique. *you can give vai a fender and an old crate 60w amp with NOTHING ELSE and he will sound like vai. *BUT..... tone wise? *not happenin'. *technique yes, but tone, no. *

flesh and bone isn't going to emulate or give you the tone of an H3000 eventide with a DS1 and dual cabs with delay in the right and high compression in the other with the wah tweak just right to get that nasal cool lead tone going through a highyl-modded marshall head. *

NOW..... get THAT tone with that 60watt crate or God forbid a Fender amp. *unless steve's oils in his fingers secrete some tone - generating chemical that transmits through the strings and is picked up by the pickups.... you get the point..... he will need his gear to achieve this! *his technique and genious approach will remain. *

why do metal bands use the amps they do and not overdriven fender tweads? *would you tell them.... dude, you're good, the tone is in your fingers. *WHAT? *you can't shred out or have a power rhythm section charging at you with a fender twead that is using the OVERDRIVE button. *maybe i took this to the extreme.

tone is in the gear..............

technique, heart, and style is in the soul and fingers and mind. *

someone also said above that they need tone to play well or something like that. *i agree. *if my tone is off, i don't wanna play, i hate it. *if i'm playing through a great amp or if my gear sounds just great one night, i really get into it! *if not, i would rather pack it away. *that's just me. *