VH1 sound with GR3: Step 4 - Finalizing, Compressor, Cabs

I finally changed the cabinets. The article said Eddie used 4 412 cabinets in the studio. The only point in this if they placed addition mic far from the stack to get the "size" of the sound. That's why I add an extra cabinet and increased the size of it to mimic the wall of sound (I placed the mic far).
For the close mic he used Sm57 mic with off axis.

I add a Tube Compressor after the cabinets to add some pump (like a real cab would)

The Chorus/Flanger after the Tape Echo is optional but it ads some harmonics, and curtain Van Halen songs requires it (Ain't talk' about love).

The Reverb was to loud so I add a volume pedal to control it (If I changed the Wet Mix it would destroy the sound, try it :)





Here is the final sound for this preset
The file is pretty big use Save as ...


levipeto.com

VH1 sound with GR3: Step 4 - Reverb, Delay

I add the Tape Echo and the Studio Reverb after amp in parallel using a splitter.
If you pan the delay to the left and the reverb to the right you get the "Panama" dimension.
I tried to add more Bright and Treble but I could never get the shininess on the top. Finally I realized that since its after the cabinet it will never sound like that.
I changed the Wet Mix to 100% for the Reverb and placed it right after the amp (skipped the cabinet, actually us it in parallel with the cabinet). Much better.



Listen to the sound sample how we are getting closer


Now, we only have to finalize it!

VH1 sound with GR3: Step 3 - EQ and Phaser

There are few reasons why Eddie used an EQ front of the amp.
- It increases the mid range making the guitar more sensitive, also more sensitive for the harmonics as well.
- The signal gets to high and boosts the distortion level in the preamp. You can this technic to get great distortion without the actual distortion pedal.

Phase 90 is the next in the chain. I used that right after the EQ but I couldn't get the right Phase amount. Eddie modified his phaser to let 50% of the orignal pass throught the pedal.
Even when I changed the WET MIX to 50% I was't satisfied so I actually add a splitter to get 50% pass the phaser.
At the final tweaking I realized I need a compressor after the phaser, as you can see it




Listen what we have so far


There is an additional EQ at the end to take off the boominess and make some room for the bass guitar.

VH1 sound with GR3: Step 2 - Amp

I created many good presets using the VARIAC in Guitar Rig 3, but later I replaced it with the Lead 800 just for fun and I felt that it had a more natural response.

How I mentioned before Eddie was after the tone he heard inside his head, so I am not so convinced that he was only using his VARIAC amp. Many guitar player were using multi amp setups already. If it would help him in the studio, I can image that he would fire up a another amp, even a JCM 800 on the side and mic it up to make it sound better. I know this is just an idea, but I just want you to realize that are no strict rules, He didn't' have rules, why would you?

The other very important about the amp and EQ-ing, that you have to hear how the amp sounds in the chain, even if it sounds bad itself, it could be really good how it reacts with the rest of the rig (pedals, mics, effects, etc.)
The bottom of this post you can hear how this amp sounds like itself with the default cabinet. Its not really good tone, but it will sound good. Don't forget those setting are for the whole chain, not for the amp itself.






This is what the marshall jcm 800 sounds like with this settings. Notice the boominess


I set to VARIAC to 90 on the amp. Left the SAG alone. Little more RESPONSE and turned the BIAS all the way up, which cleared out the tone.

The amp comes with a Matched Cabinet: Lead 800 (4x12) but I will chang it later

VH1 sound with GR3: Step 1 - Guitar and Tunning

I will be using a Gibson Les Paul Slash Custom Shop guitar with a Eb tuning.
The Slash model has a different pick up then the Les Paul what Eddie used, but the guitar has similar characteristic. I think the tuning matters too, but If you don't want to tune done you will be still fine.

For the recording I used M-Audio Project Mix I/O as a soundcard and Monster Cables.
For listing back I used Mackie 624 studio monitors and Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO headphones

Tutorial: How to create Eddie's Brown Tone in Guitar Rig 3 - vol.1

If you are reading this, you probably already know what this series will be all about.
There are many good articles about how to get Eddie Van Halen's mysteries guitar sound.
If you haven't read any, please start with EVH Brown Sound

Let's see what the steps are:

1. Double-coil bridge pickup (Peavey HP "Bumble" Custom Shop)
   
2. Graphic Equlizer with frown curve
3. Phaser Nine (MXR Phase 90)
4. Amp: PLEX (Marshall Variac)
   
5. Graphic Equlizer ('speaker eq') with smile curve
6. Split Module A: Tape Echo
7. Split Module A: Cabinets & Mics 1
8. Split Module A: Cabinets & Mics 2
9. Split Module B: Studio Reverb
   
10. Split Mix

Before I get into the details I would like to point out few things what we have to know when try to go after Eddie's Tone.
- How you play
- Eddie was always searching for the his personal ultimate sound. He already knew what he wants before he started to build his rig.
- He knew all the equipments in and out and even modified them to achieve his desired tone.
- In the studio, he and his engineers were building the sound for the Studio monitors. Usually its a big mistake, that people trying to get the tone from guitar cabinet sound like how Eddies sounds on the album. The limitation of the speakers in the guitar cabinet makes this impossible.
- Try to image what he was looking for, so even if you don't have the same rig, you can get close to his tone. Ask yourself, how would Eddie use your setup?