https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:35:21 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48781 Sun, 04 Jan 2004 18:58:16 +0000 Hi

Could anyone just roughly explain to me, what kind of a sound setting guitarists like steve vai, joe satriani, steve morse and so on have? (that unbelievable solo sound...)



Look at the appendages at the end of your arms -- yup, that's right, the hands ;). That's where 75% of your tone is going to come from. The other 25% is window dressing from your amp and any pedals in your signal chain.

Experiment with where you pick on the string (closer to the neck vs. closer to the bridge).  Jeff Beck uses this to devastating effect on "Since We've Ended as Lovers"

Try different types of picks --  the thickness and matierals used can change your sound radically. Billy Gibbons has stated in a number of interviews that using a quarter is a key part of his sound

See what happens when you pick harder or softer.

Bends and vibrato are also part of a "signature" sound. Anything by BB King can demonstrate this.

There are no Magic Boxes, just magic hands.

]]> Live Sound Anonymous https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48781 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48780 Fri, 02 Jan 2004 17:20:35 +0000 Transistors, diodes, tubes, resistors, condensors can all be substituted and every change will affect the sound. There is a modded footpedal on sale here in Germany. It is a tube booster/compressor that has additional circuits. They boost the overdrive - one is called "Santana" and the other is unnamed. Both additions use the same basic circuit, with the exception of one component - the two different sounds are created by switching the circuit from one component to another one from a different manufacturer with a different composition.
]]> Live Sound greybeard https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48780 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48779 Thu, 01 Jan 2004 12:04:26 +0000 Live Sound paul donnelly https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-48779 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-198 Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:16:37 +0000
Could anyone just roughly explain to me, what kind of a sound setting guitarists like steve vai, joe satriani, steve morse and so on have? (that unbelievable solo sound...)

Since i dont have all that equipment they have and cant afford it in near future, it would be nice to gimme amp settings (marshall avt150) or pickup "use" (fender tele lipstick at the neck and seymour duncan hot rails next to the bridge)

good bye, Ario.]]> Live Sound Anonymous https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/unique-sound-of-virtuosos/#post-198