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Mike Gordon tone

#21
On a related note, check out his synth-effect stuff on the first disc of "Phish Live in Brooklyn". Just smooth as hell.

As for his sound on Mike's Song, I've performed that song live quite frequently using my old DOD Stereo Flange and it has worked great.
 
#22
The synth effect can be seen on his solo during "Free" on that DVD. he absolutely whoops it. The band had gotten to the point where Mike started doing a big solo during that song because he had to carry the slack for Trey "i'm too good to practice on last tour" Anastasio.
 
#23
But yes, Mike's tone DEFINITELY has a lot to do with how Paul works with sound behind the board. I've seen Trey play without Paul on the board and it still sounds like trey, but not Trey's signature tone. I still miss the tone he had before hiatus...why he changed it, I'll never understand. <<<

Well, eh, what he basically did was stop using a lot of compression. He became obsessed with loose/carefree but energetic bands like the Velvet Underground, and took off the compression to get that more unbridled overdriven tone. So over are the days of "turbo" guitar solos like the absolutely mindblowing one heard in Stash on the "A Live One" record.
 
#24
mksolid said:
But yes, Mike's tone DEFINITELY has a lot to do with how Paul works with sound behind the board. I've seen Trey play without Paul on the board and it still sounds like trey, but not Trey's signature tone. I still miss the tone he had before hiatus...why he changed it, I'll never understand. <<<

Well, eh, what he basically did was stop using a lot of compression. He became obsessed with loose/carefree but energetic bands like the Velvet Underground, and took off the compression to get that more unbridled overdriven tone. So over are the days of "turbo" guitar solos like the absolutely mindblowing one heard in Stash on the "A Live One" record.
Click to expand...

Thats not entirely true. Trey stopped using the conpression after the hiatus, but it only last through the Summer '03 tour. After that, he went back to the compression. His tone on the 04 tours (and Miami NY run) was back to where it was pre-hiatus (at least his setup was back there.) He just played like ass 50% of the time it seemed like cause he was too effed up.... :rollno:
 
#25
i still found that after hiatus, shows never sounded pre-hiatus. the sound became too clean for my tastes. it used to have a very tubey colored sound (listen to island tour for perfect example) and then it became very dry and uncolored. the color of some of the vintage gear is what makes it so desirable. most of the modern hi-end gear that i've come into contact with is all about clarity and no coloration. could be a change in anything in their setup that changed the tone. surely they upgraded/changed at least some of their touring equipment before hitting the road post-hiatus.
 
#27
cosmicevan said:
i still found that after hiatus, shows never sounded pre-hiatus. the sound became too clean for my tastes. it used to have a very tubey colored sound (listen to island tour for perfect example) and then it became very dry and uncolored. the color of some of the vintage gear is what makes it so desirable. most of the modern hi-end gear that i've come into contact with is all about clarity and no coloration. could be a change in anything in their setup that changed the tone. surely they upgraded/changed at least some of their touring equipment before hitting the road post-hiatus.
Click to expand...

Absolutely - i agree 100%. I was more referring to just the compression issue.

They used to play through all of those "home made" cabinets and everything else that Paul built for them - such a raw sound. Their tones changed every few years for many reasons - upgrading, downgrading, changing their PA equipment, etc.
 
#35
MakiSupaStar said:
+1. That's his mutron.
Click to expand...

Actually that is a Meatball running into a Boss BF-2 on Down with Disease. I have a Modulus Q5 with the Meatball and the BF-2 and I can get 99% the same tone. When I play through the ADA with his settings loaded it is 100% the same tone. One key is the strings he uses. They are Ken Smith Slick Round and he uses a heavy pick. With those strings and a pick you can get the same attack. It is almost percussive.
 

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