Joe Satriani' Sustain!

Rayzor · #1 11-06-2007, 01:31 PM

Anyone got any idea how the hell Satch manages to get so much sustain without the use of a fernades?

He seems to hit a harmonic and it lasts forever....

CosmicDebris · #2 11-06-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayzor

Anyone got any idea how the hell Satch manages to get so much sustain without the use of a fernades?

He seems to hit a harmonic and it lasts forever....

Controled feedback for one, best set up possible, and technique.

Guitarmiester · #3 11-06-2007, 08:25 PM

His JS guitars scream! It's so easy to hit harmonics on those guitars, it's ridiculous. For the most part, it's his technique.

David McCarroll · #4 11-06-2007, 08:31 PM

That's pretty simple - volume and saturation.

I can get my semi-hollowbody Gretsch to sustain forever too - whether I want it to or not........

Guitarmiester · #5 11-06-2007, 08:38 PM

Except Satch is light on gain. He sets his gain very low live.

You could always use an OD pedal if you're having trouble with the harmonics ringing out.

RSVampire · #6 11-06-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitarmiester

Except Satch is light on gain. He sets his gain very low live.

You could always use an OD pedal if you're having trouble with the harmonics ringing out.

his gain is set at a moderate level... it's low if you compare it to like Metal and stuff.

His volume is pretty loud, but for the most part it's controlled feedback which is mapped out on the stage floor during rehearsals. Each spot gives a different harmonic.

Guitarmiester · #7 11-06-2007, 09:15 PM

For a while he was touring with his gain at about 10-11 o'clock. You'd be surprised at master volume levels that some guitarists use. Some of them crank them just enough to get the sound they want and then mic it.

guitarman13 · #8 11-06-2007, 10:25 PM

He uses a wah pedal a lot too. That can give you a lot of sustain also.

wallie! · #9 11-07-2007, 05:11 AM

If he sets the gain say around 5-6 and cranks the master, then the level of gain should increase?

Guitarmiester · #10 11-07-2007, 10:05 AM

The more you crank the master, the more power amp saturation you're going to get. A lot of guitarists prefer poweramp saturation rather than setting the drive high in the preamp.

With my Legacy, the more I crank the master volume on the lead channel the smoother the amp sounds. It's not exactly adding more gain, you're driving the tubes harder.

GuitarGuru · #11 11-07-2007, 10:21 AM

Compression.

jb4674 · #12 11-07-2007, 10:22 AM

Maybe mine is not setup properly but....

I have another factor to throw into the mix. What role does his tone control play when hitting harmonics and getting sustain? Obviously his tone control isn't set at 10 all the time and there really isn't a way to tell by just looking at the knob on his axe.

As far as his wah is concerned, he really doesn't have it on all the time and I'm wondering how he goes about turning it on and off without having to stomp hard on the pedal to turn it off? I'm assuming that's what the FS5's are for?

Jimmy

GuitarGuru · #13 11-07-2007, 10:32 AM

I don't think the tone control has much to do with it. He has a built in Compressor in his JSX amp. His wahwah is on and left up. If you don't move it, it doesn't do much, or it's off and he's probably using a different effect for wah like the Whammy pedal.

Guitarmiester · #14 11-07-2007, 10:35 AM

When I've seen Satch live looks like he steps on his wah to turn it on and off. He's quick though, if you watch he'll push toe down and then rocks off leaving the pedal in heel position. I've never seen him using a footswitch to turn his wah on/off, but you never know...

I've never heard anything from Satch about his tone knob, kinda curious now. If I find anything out, I'll post here. A lot of players leave their tone knob at 10. I was surprised to find out that Petrucci has his on 10 all the time.

"A different effect for wah like the whammy pedal" ??? Satch uses the WH1, which has no wah functions. Not sure what you meant by that?