The Steve Lukather sound

sveto · #1 02-10-2008, 05:46 PM

I have to admit that i didn't like Steve Lukather in the past. But now, as i'm growing older

and out of my shredding phase

i digg his playing very much. And he's got that big, airy, non-dry sound, at least on newer records i heard.

I'm wondering what amps he uses? Or is his sound that way because of the active PUs he plays (EMG)?

Any insights?
sv

Scali · #2 02-10-2008, 06:31 PM

I believe he started out on Marshalls, with his 1959 Les Paul.
Then he had an Ibanez Roadstar signature for a short while, not sure if he ever recorded with that.
Then came the Valley Arts years, when he started using EMGs and at first Mesa Boogie amps, modified by Bob Bradshaw... then eventually the CAE rack preamp, which afaik he still uses today.
At some point he traded in the Valley Arts guitars for his current Musicman Luke guitars, still with the same signature EMG set.

Mind you, at times he just records with a simple Pod. The tone does not come from his amp specifically... It's mostly about the way he lets his tone breathe with his fingers and use of delay.
Check this thing for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32g89X8M38
Nothing but the ole red kidney, and all the Luke tone you could want.

David McCarroll · #3 02-10-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sveto

Any insights?
sv

Yeah, he's simply a monster guitar player - Luke could probably generate his signature sound with a Gio and a 25watt Roland Cube.

sveto · #4 02-10-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scali

Check this thing for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32g89X8M38
Nothing but the ole red kidney, and all the Luke tone you could want.

Nah, that doesn't sound good. Icepickey sound, but good playing.

sv

Scali · #5 02-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sveto

Nah, that doesn't sound good. Icepickey sound, but good playing.

sv

The low compression rate on youtube messes it up a tad, sounds great on the CD though, if you ask me.

shogun · #6 02-10-2008, 07:23 PM

everyone always said i sound like lukather, after i listened I agree, and i love his stuff.. have his solo albums, and some dvds.. he rocks

guitvai1 · #7 02-10-2008, 08:50 PM

yep, Luk is absolutely awesome. I had the pleasure of watching him perform with Toto at Casinorama north of Toronto this summer. He can really shred it up when he wants to and pulls off some really nice bends combined with awesome vibrato.

kennydoe · #8 02-11-2008, 10:56 AM

I LOVE the msuic on the Los Lobotomys "Candyman" CD, but the guitar sound, to me, is just 'blech'.

He uses/I blame EMCHeese. I believe he splits his signal thru two amps, but i don't recall what amps. Sorry, but I get better tone thru my Black & Decker.

jb4674 · #9 02-11-2008, 11:26 AM

I thoguht he was a Tonebone user? I dig the sound he has with Toto. Simply great rock sound.

Jimmy

kotornut · #10 02-11-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennydoe

I LOVE the msuic on the Los Lobotomys "Candyman" CD, but the guitar sound, to me, is just 'blech'.

He uses/I blame EMCHeese. I believe he splits his signal thru two amps, but i don't recall what amps. Sorry, but I get better tone thru my Black & Decker.

I think it's funny how people who use magnets and wires can say that another set of magnets and wires sound sterile and dead. They're all metallic non-living substances and yeat the ones with a battery are "dead" sounding.

If you can play a Bblack & Decker than I would believe you because tone comes from your hands. Yes, there are subtle differences but come on not everyone has to have that overly muffled DiMarzio tone. Not everyone has to play a JEM, and so on. I swear people on this site ca't think outside of the box.

I don't think Steve Lukather has particularily great tone eaither, but I don't think Steve Vai's is any better, or John Petrucci's.

kennydoe · #11 02-11-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

I think it's funny how people who use magnets and wires can say that another set of magnets and wires sound sterile and dead. They're all metallic non-living substances and yeat the ones with a battery are "dead" sounding.

If you can play a Bblack & Decker than I would believe you because tone comes from your hands. Yes, there are subtle differences but come on not everyone has to have that overly muffled DiMarzio tone. Not everyone has to play a JEM, and so on. I swear people on this site ca't think outside of the box.

I don't think Steve Lukather has particularily great tone eaither, but I don't think Steve Vai's is any better, or John Petrucci's.

I don't dispute that some debateable percentage of tone comes from your hands/fingers, however, to dispute the role that pickups play in tone is just silly.

Since you don't seem to like the tones of several high profile players, please enlighten us as to what you DO like to use, and who's sound you prefer to listen to.

It can't be all negative all the time...

EL-CeeDee · #12 02-11-2008, 02:56 PM

Please, no "tone is in the fingers" debate,... one of these days I'm going to snap.

A preview:
Why do some freaks have such immense arrogance that THEY create the tone?! Indeed, it ALL (99,5) in the magnets, wires, preamps, poweramps and whatnot. I can't help that some peoples ears are so lousy they can't differentiate between vibrato's, fingertiming, attack strength and the actual tone produced.
Please, let's all believe in magic, and if you believe strong enough, you WILL fly your broom around the room!

Silly....

kennydoe · #13 02-11-2008, 02:59 PM

...gotta give the amp/preamp a little credit too

sveto · #14 02-11-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

muffled DiMarzio tone

Food for thought. Maybe that's the reason most people have such a dry distortion tone??? I like DiMarzio but since i switched to 10-46 strings, my Breeds sounded like crab

... Duncan '59 was the remedy. (Note: i'm still playing a Tech21 Tri-O.D. pedal, no valves involved...)

sv

kotornut · #15 02-11-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennydoe

I don't dispute that some debateable percentage of tone comes from your hands/fingers, however, to dispute the role that pickups play in tone is just silly.

Since you don't seem to like the tones of several high profile players, please enlighten us as to what you DO like to use, and who's sound you prefer to listen to.

It can't be all negative all the time...

I like plenty of the high profile players tones like Satch (best IMO), Gilbert, Kiko Louriero, Slash, George Lnch, Reb Beach, Michael Amott, and more. I feel that if you are a great player you will generally sound good. There are exceptions but, Steve Lukather isn't one.

My point was the "life" of a pickup sound is such a strange thing to comment on. I have played EMGs right after paying Duncans and DiMarzios and they never sounded "dead and lifeless" to me, I wouldn't describe tones that way. Sure there are some I like more than others but, I have never came across some wires and magnets that sound "alive".

I'm not trying to compare tones of players in a "my favorites better than yours," way. I am just saying thataround here generally if it ain't related to DiMarzio or Vai it's crap. I think that is very bandwaggonish.

Your intitled to your opinion and please have it, I just don't understand how people can say that EMGs sound like crap every time no matter whos playing them. It's just silly, it's like supporting DiMarzio FC or something. "I love my team and all other teams are ****e!"