![]() ![]() ![]() If you have a guitar with humbucker pickups then you’ll likely need to increase the treble more and then decrease the bass and mids compared to if you’re using single coil pickups. However, it really does depend on the guitar and amp you’re using. You’ll also likely need a fair amount of mids to make sure the tone cuts through and then a moderate amount of bass to ensure that tone sounds smooth. With regards to the EQ settings, I find that boosting the treble is very helpful. You’re just aiming for a bluesy tone here. Most of SRV’s tones had light levels of overdrive so make sure you don’t crank the drive/ gain setting up on your amp. It’s impossible to give one-size-fits-all amp settings because it really depends on what rig you’re using, so make sure you just use these settings as a starting point and be prepared to make some adjustments. ![]() To sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, start with the following amp settings: Not only is it essential if you want to sound like SRV, but it will also be useful in pretty much every other tone you’re trying to create because it adds some life and depth which makes a huge difference to the overall sound. If your amp doesn’t have built-in reverb then I highly recommend investing in a reverb pedal. This is an important pedal to have for some specific songs such as “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and “Say What!”. The best wah-pedal to go for here is the Vox Wah pedal which was also famously used by Jimi Hendrix. It’s also worth investing in a wah-pedal if you don’t own one to get the tone just right. I recommend having the drive on around 4-5 and the tone as low as possible. SRV primarily used the tube screamer as a boost pedal. The TS10 is no longer in production but you can easily find either a TS9 or TS808, or even a Mini Tube Screamer which sounds more like the TS808. He originally started with the TS808, then the TS9 and finally the TS10. ![]() Stevie Ray Vaughan was a big fan of the Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive pedal which is well known for its boosted mid-range. SRV used quite a few different effects but I’ll be focussing on the three most important ones here: Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb (Guitar Center).I’ll be going through the best amp settings for different equipment later in this article. You don’t have to pay a fortune to get the same amp as SRV to sound similar to him though. These amps are known for their excellent sustain and mid-range punch. Stevie Ray Vaughan used Marshall and Dumble amplifiers for his clean tones, such as the Dumble Steel Stringer and a ‘1959 Marhsall Plexi. These amps have a slightly scooped mid-range and a crisp and clear tone. Good alternatives include the Fender Blues Junior V and ’65 Deluxe Reverb. SRV mainly used Fender amplifiers for his driven tones and famously used the Vibroverb which is no longer in production. However, there are many great alternatives available currently. Unfortunately, many of the specific amps he used are no longer available. Stevie Ray Vaughan used a variety of amplifiers throughout his career most notably from Marshall, Fender and Dumble. You can increase the action on your guitar if you want to, however this will affect the playability and feel of your instrument and there are other ways to increase sustain which are probably worth trying first, for example using a compressor pedal. It’s also worth mentioning that the action on SRV’s guitar was quite high meaning the strings could ring out for longer to increase sustain. I recommend using E flat tuning if you’re trying to achieve the right tone. SRV also tuned his guitar a half step down to E flat which reduced the string tension and made them a bit easier to play on. Just don’t jump up more than one size at a time. I recommend choosing a gauge that you feel comfortable with first and foremost, however it is worth experimenting with slightly heavier strings if you’ve never tried them before. Using heavier strings will help you to achieve a more similar tone, however many players will find 13-gauge strings incredibly difficult to play on. Here is a list of the thickness of each string he used: Typically, Stratocasters come with 9-gauge strings. It’s well worth noting that Stevie Ray Vaughan used 13-gauge strings which are very heavy. Maple fretboards are not ideal if we’re being really specific here because they sound a bit brighter and sharper, but it won’t make much difference at all so I wouldn’t worry too much about it! You’ll notice that the signature Strat has a pau ferro fretboard, however SRV actually used a rosewood fretboard but due to export restrictions it is very difficult to source rosewood. ![]()
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