This is about 2 years old, but thought it'd be a good video to throw in here for all us Tonetards...If you guys have saw this already I apologize, but again, IMO this is a good video detailing how Angus/Malcolm (RIP)/Stevie get "that" sound...
Good info on gear, settings, all kinds of useful info here:
[BBvideo=560,315]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5C7GKGxICg[/BBvideo]
Here are roughly where each section starts in case you don't wanna watch the whole thing...
I thought it was interesting what he said about the p'ups, they have a lot lower output than I thought they'd have...Basically stock guitars with low output p'ups (compared to a lot of modern p'ups anyway), with wax to keep Angus' sweat from fucking the electronics up...
Ernie Ball .09-.42 string gauge, & uses a single guitar until it's out of tune before he'll swap...
I was pretty surprised that Angus uses these vintage guitars on the road...I'm sure he's got a shit-ton more, but still...
Nothing really new here, but the Schaffer is a part Angus' sound, now anyway...
There's an amp tech guy on the road with 'em, & all he does is work on amps, all day everyday...Pretty surprising, but later in the video you'll understand why...
To me, those amps are the holy grail of guitar tone, & are nothing short of badass...And yes, I'm a Marshall fanboy if you're wondering...
- 17:20 Master Volume Mods:
The amps shown are modded with a master volume, I'm assuming this basically makes those amps sort of a JCM800...Again, badass...
- 17:50 More Mods & "Museum Pieces":
Some amps are stock, some are modded, but no matter what's been done to 'em, they all have the same goal of sounding consistently...
I was truly shocked with this, they don't follow the "rules" of biasing their amps, again, it's all about the sound...The tech guy said it was not uncommon to blow an amp up, & that's the reason for the amp guy...No compromising, if they've gotta blow amps up to get there, then that's what they do...
True rock & roll, there are no rules...
They use JJ tubes, I'm assuming because they could care less if they blow...They've got the coin to do what the fuck they want...
Again, true rockers...
Another surprise that makes sense to me now, & has gave me some ideas help to dial in the Mini Jubilee...
- Presence: 1
Bass: 3
Mid: 3
Treb: 3
Vol: 6
Gain: 8
- 21:15 Angus Doesn't Do Soundchecks:
Angus is a living legend IMO...He doesn't fuck with soundchecks, just grabs his guitar & hits the stage...
- 21:30 Cabs, FOH mix ISO cab:
I've heard about the ISO cabs for years, but didn't know they have a 2x12 inside, I always assumed it was a 4x12...I'm positive these ISO cabs are nothing short of massive too...
Angus doesn't use in-ear monitoring, his stage cabs are his monitors, which I thought was interesting...I'd always assumed the cabs were just for looks & all the sound came from the ISO cab under the stage, but I was wrong...The FOH guitar sound is the ISO cab, but I'm sure all the roaring amps & cabs are part of the mix the audience hears too...Angus also has 2 of Malcom/Stevie's cabs on his side of the stage for monitors...
Angus uses Greenbacks & Malcolm/Stevie use V30's...This just confirms some ideas I've had for years to get different tones in a mix, Greenback or similar on one side & V30 or similar on the other...
- 24:00 Malcolm/Stevie's Rig:
He uses .12's
, & like Angus, he uses a single guitar until it's out of tune...Great looking (IMO) & great sounding old-school guitars...
- 29:20 Stevie/Malcolm's signal Chain & Amps:
I immediately thought of Ray, he's using basically the same amp...
Pretty interesting his #1 amp is a modded metal front Super Bass w/extra gain stage/tube through the bass channel, but without a master volume...Again, immediately though of Ray when I heard this...
His #2 amp is a 1966/early 1967 JTM 45 100 watter, & #3 is another Super Bass...
He also uses 6 cabs on stage, loaded with V30's, an ISO cab under the stage & has 4 of Angus' cabs on his side...Again, Angus has 2 of Malcom/Stevie's cabs on his side of the stage for monitors...
JTM 45:
- Presence: 3
Bass: 1
Mid: 4
Treble: 6.5
Volume 1:7
Volume 2:0
If you pause the video & use full screen you can see what the Super Bass amps are set on...
Sorry for such a long-ass post, but there's some really cool things here IMO, & thought it might help some of us Tonetards who are chasing tone...