SRV Bluesy tone question regarding setup.

[Surf n Music]

So I am trying to get a good SRV sound but can't seem to come close. I have dual humbuckers in my guitar so I know I have that against me but I can split the coils and that does seem to get me closer. I have a Blackstar ht5th and from reading some people say use the clean channel others use overdrive. Some say tube screamer pedal or a fuzz face pedal or both but I have neither although I could get one if it would get me closer. I am using heavy gauge strings 11's. One theme I read is it is all in your hands and how you play and I believe this is true but setting do play a part. I am open to suggestions. One day I will have a strat with single coils as well but for now this is what I am working with.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

A Tube Screamer is probably the biggest step you could take from where you are (outside of getting that Strat of course). Put the amp just past the edge of breaking up, then use the TS to push it over the cliff.

 

[Surf n Music]

A Tube Screamer is probably the biggest step you could take from where you are (outside of getting that Strat of course). Put the amp just past the edge of breaking up, then use the TS to push it over the cliff.

Well that is doable and not to much $ I'll give that a go. I does sound closer to me while in the overdrive channel with a little gain.

 

[croquet hoop]

Splitting the neck humbucker will help, a split neck + middle is great too if you ever consider adding a middle pickup on your guitar.

Otherwise, I agree with Jumble Jumble, you'll want a (powerful) clean amp on the verge of breaking up, and then add a Tube Screamer or any other derivative — as long as it has the signature mid boost of the TS. Crank it up for solos, turn the gain back for rhythm work.

There are decent TS clones around 30 bucks, you don't need to buy the Maxon 808.

 

[Surf n Music]

Splitting the neck humbucker will help, a split neck + middle is great too if you ever consider adding a middle pickup on your guitar.

Otherwise, I agree with Jumble Jumble, you'll want a (powerful) clean amp on the verge of breaking up, and then add a Tube Screamer or any other derivative — as long as it has the signature mid boost of the TS. Crank it up for solos, turn the gain back for rhythm work.

There are decent TS clones around 30 bucks, you don't need to buy the Maxon 808.

 
Allright good to know. I was like dam $150! Those $30 made in china will suffice then. I will get this first and then think about a middle pickup. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Day-mun]

I hate to say this, but two TS808's with all the knobs set to 12 o'clock, one into the next, and then to a tube combo amp friggin' nails it... butcha gotta have a neck single-coil selected  in yer fiddle (or at least HB split).  :guitaristgif:

The heavy strings will help. If ya gotta fight 'er a bit, it makes ya play like ya mean it.  :icon_thumright:

 

[TroubledTreble]

I agree very much that it has a lot to do with how you play. Also tune a half step low. The tension difference helps. But they way you attack the strings is very important.
While on the subject I would like to address pickups. The SRV set that Fender puts out is overwound and this is totally incorrect. It's a response to compensate for not being SRV. He had a playing style that was aggressive and the big F thought that overwound would help us mere mortals. NOT!
For single coil selection lower wound pickups should be used. Then you get the nice woody tones and get the amp to do the heavy lifting. This puts the amp in the "sweet spot" much better. Add some larger strings tuned low and you are on a good path for great tone.
I think Fender really led people down the wrong path on those pickups and it pains me to see it.

 

[Day-mun]

Agreed!

The Texas Specials do nada for getting SRV tone. -Zip. It is nearly criminal that "they" put 'em in the signature model strat... the '62 reissue comes a helluva lot closer to being what Vaughn actually used to get that tone.

 

[croquet hoop]

I hate to say this, but two TS808's with all the knobs set to 12 o'clock, one into the next, and then to a tube combo amp friggin' nails it... butcha gotta have a neck single-coil selected  in yer fiddle (or at least HB split).  :guitaristgif:

I have not tried this particular setup, but I have to say that I friggin love my modded TS both as a clean boost (with diodes lifted & mid hump removed) and as a regular overdrive, and I was considering building another one just to try the setup you suggest.

On the other hand, I can get a satisfying SRV/heavy blues tone with a clean amp sim, an OCD clone and a compressor, so there are definitely several ways of obtaining that kind of sound. But yeah, using two TS sounds cool.

Overall, I don't think there is just one recipe... I generally agree that the sound is in the fingers, but only to a certain extent. And that the guitars/pickups/amp you use also matters, but to a certain extent too. The key is to find the good balance between your playing style, your equipment... and your own satisfaction. You can play SRV-inspired stuff without trying to mimick him.

 

[Day-mun]

The frontman for the three-piece I play (bass) in has used the TS808 with an OCD. Another one that works relatively well in tandem with the TS is the Voodoo Lab sparkle drive. His TS is on all the time, and the second one is for lead boost.

We've only had the fun of dual 808's a couple of times; he won't spend the $ on another one (-and the drummer and I don't love it so much that we'd buy it for him), so it only happens when he can talk someone into lettin' him borrow theirs.  :laughing7:

 

[Surf n Music]

Well  ordered a new Joyo overdrive pedal and patch cable for $40 buck, not bad. I listened to several youtube videos and they sound dam close to the 808 for a fraction of the cost. We will see where this gets me. Definitely not trying to be Stevie  :toothy11: but some of those songs sound so good and love that tone I just want to make it myself! I love all the talk, giving lots of good thoughts to try. Thanks

 

[Day-mun]

Sorry your thread got sorta hijacked with all the stomp-box talk. TT probably could have shared a wealth of info about pickups and tone if I'd have kept a lid on it, that is.  :-\

One cheaper pedal I will say doesn't translate is the boss blues driver. -Not the same thing. Not even in the ball-park. I dunno what "it" is, but the BD does not have "it". Save your $; try anything else but that for Stevie tone!

 

[Surf n Music]

I agree very much that it has a lot to do with how you play. Also tune a half step low. The tension difference helps. But they way you attack the strings is very important.
While on the subject I would like to address pickups. The SRV set that Fender puts out is overwound and this is totally incorrect. It's a response to compensate for not being SRV. He had a playing style that was aggressive and the big F thought that overwound would help us mere mortals. NOT!
For single coil selection lower wound pickups should be used. Then you get the nice woody tones and get the amp to do the heavy lifting. This puts the amp in the "sweet spot" much better. Add some larger strings tuned low and you are on a good path for great tone.
I think Fender really led people down the wrong path on those pickups and it pains me to see it.

Hey TT would your 65's be the ones for that vibe? It will be a couple years till I can build another guitar so for now I went with humbuckers. I thought with coil splitting I could get more versatility with a single guitar but I do want to build a classic strat one day. For now I will have to dream. I am running 11's tuned down half a step which has gotten me closer and now I am waiting for a tube screamer pedal.

 

[Surf n Music]

Sorry your thread got sorta hijacked with all the stomp-box talk. TT probably could have shared a wealth of info about pickups and tone if I'd have kept a lid on it, that is.  :-\

One cheaper pedal I will say doesn't translate is the boss blues driver. -Not the same thing. Not even in the ball-park. I dunno what "it" is, but the BD does not have "it". Save your $; try anything else but that for Stevie tone!

Awh no worries I like reading the back and forth of ideas. That is funny you mentioned that pedal. I was looking at the boss and wondered why that pedal is so much cheaper. Must be because they forgot to put "it" in it  :icon_biggrin: In the you tube clips that knock off of the 808 sounded pretty good I thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCsubmXtzWg
This one compares the TS-9 which I think is simillar :icon_scratch: to the joyo vintage overdrive.
Music starts about 1:40 if anyone listens.

 

[TroubledTreble]

Yes, the 65's are the ones for that vibe. In fact they are the direct response to this issue. I would never call them the "Texas" set or try to tie them to an artist because I don't care for type of marketing. Probably to my misfortune but that is how I feel.
I have a tube screamer but never use it. I used to have a very nice old 66' bassman blackface with a 2X12 cab that would get that great tone. I really believe in trying to keep it simple. I wish I still had it...
Another part of that great tone he had was playing loud, and by that I mean he let the amp open up. Some amps respond well to "diming" all of the tone knobs then controlling the tone strictly from the guitar. This was the way Les Paul liked his setup. So I would try that.

I think the compressor is a good idea to try too.

How many watts does your amp run?

As far as pickups go for this setup, I think having a good single coil in the neck as apposed to anywhere else, is key. It will be hard of course to get that in between sound without a middle pickup but the neck is essential IMO.

 

[Surf n Music]

Those 65's of yours look sweet! You going to post some sound clips? I bet the bassman was awesome to hear. So my amp is a 5 watt blackstar tube amp. It has digital reverb and 2 10" celestion speakers. I live in a apartment but during the day I crank it and let the amp open up. It definitely sounds better loud.  "Dimming" the knobs, does this mean setting them at neutral like 12 o clock and the as you say use the guitar for tone? There are quite a few compressor pedals out there, any particular one that you like?

 

[TroubledTreble]

By "diming" I mean all knobs at 10 (dime). I sometimes run this way depending on which guitar I'm using. It can take some getting used to.

With that amp I'm sure you can get it into the zone much easier than with a 100 watter.  I do have some clips for the 65s somewhere. Let me see if I can dig them up..

 

[Surf n Music]

I'll try the diming tomorrow. Ya I figured 5 watts would be easier to play loud then a 100. I didn't want my girlfriend or neighbors to kill me  :toothy11: 

 

[KaiserSoze]

Yes, the 65's are the ones for that vibe. In fact they are the direct response to this issue. I would never call them the "Texas" set or try to tie them to an artist because I don't care for type of marketing. Probably to my misfortune but that is how I feel.
I have a tube screamer but never use it. I used to have a very nice old 66' bassman blackface with a 2X12 cab that would get that great tone. I really believe in trying to keep it simple. I wish I still had it...
Another part of that great tone he had was playing loud, and by that I mean he let the amp open up. Some amps respond well to "diming" all of the tone knobs then controlling the tone strictly from the guitar. This was the way Les Paul liked his setup. So I would try that.

I think the compressor is a good idea to try too.

How many watts does your amp run?

As far as pickups go for this setup, I think having a good single coil in the neck as apposed to anywhere else, is key. It will be hard of course to get that in between sound without a middle pickup but the neck is essential IMO.

Concur.  I'm running a set of Roadhouse 65s in a strat with 11s and its phenomenal.  Detuned a half step is even more of the SRV sounds.  Having once swallowed the higher output myth I'm thankful I tried the under wound 65s.  They are very versatile and that SRV/Texas rhythm thing is awesome through them.  Beautiful pickup set IMO.

 

[Day-mun]

This one compares the TS-9 which I think is simillar :icon_scratch: to the joyo vintage overdrive.

The only thing I've noticed when A/B'ing different versions of the TS is that everything else seems a bit dark compared to the 808... but if they are not right there next to each other, I'm not sure that one would be able to notice.