Europa-Santana Cover

[wolbai]

Bought the Fractal FX8-MultiFX early 2016 and used it mainly for home recording so far, together with my Marshall JVM410 (4CM cabling), a Rivera Rockcrusher (power attenuator) and a Radial DI-box with a good cab-sim.

I started to do Live-performances early this year with a duo-partner again.

I checked out the FX8-presets of one of our program songs "Europa" from Santana with a direct recording.
I normally only use some FX8 pre-effects (e.g. compressor, OD-effects, Wah) for the recordings.

But I was wondering how good the post effects will sound (leslie/rotor-sound and reverb) when directly recorded.
What do you think ?

Tried to stay close to the original. Having that said: the Outro part is more or less improvised in the style of CS.

Love this song since many years.
Not that easy to play to get the right sustain in the lead parts and to have a good vibrato/bending intonation. It is also challenging to stay soft and smooth in the beginning and to push the dynamics and aggressiveness towards the end of the song.

I rolled back the volume & tone knob on the Warmoth for the initial part roughly by 60%.
Played it (as CS) exclusively on the Neck pickup (Suhr Doug Aldrich).
With the exception of the cleanish Bridge part, the guitar sound is more of a modern high gain type.

Any feedback is welcome 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp6zhqceHDc&feature=youtu.be

wolbai  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

Very well done! I've always liked that tune, and consider it one of Carlos' best pieces. You certainly do it justice.

 

[rgand]

Yes, good playing for sure.  :icon_thumright:

 

[wolbai]

@Cagey + @Rgand

Thank you for your feedback - I appreciate a lot :icon_thumright:

Carlos' has a few Instrumentals which are genius. Europa is one of them IMO. Moonflower and Song Of the Wind are other great instrumental tunes from him.

Compared to nowadays guitar excellence, where every one is focusing on speed, he is probably not the best technical player.

BUT: I never heard a more melodical and spiritual driven guitar player like him.
Apart of that: he is one of the greatest modern music musicians/composer of our time.

It will be exciting how many people will talk about Carlos Santana versus guitar shreeders in 100 years :icon_biggrin:

All the best - wolbai

 

[stratamania]

Good playing.

I am listening to the Santana version, which has a smoother sound to it. Probably difficult to get with a Marshall, probably needs something with 6L6s in it. With the Aldrich pickups being higher output than a PAF style that would also make a difference.

Possibly he may not be the fastest player, but I think feel, dynamics and soul count for a lot.

 

[wolbai]

@stratamania: Thx for your well meaning feedback  :icon_thumright:

Tonewise I am with pretty much with you:
CS tone is smoother, more mid range and has less highs. It seems to me that he has rolled back the tone knob quite a bit too.

Honestly, I had no intension to play that song 1:1, neither note wise nor tone wise.

And I think the structure of that songs gives the freedom to do that. The High gaimn channels of my JVM-Marshall sounds per se more modern highgain. And yes, the Doug Aldrich pups contributes to that.
That is just my "togo HighGain-sound" I like.

wolbai

 

[stratamania]

No worries.

I liked your version, and it is also a good thing to put your stamp and feel on it anyway with what you like to hear.