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previous: jp Carlos Santana's tone has revolved ... -- 1/24/2000 8:32 PM

Re: What does a Mesa Mk I sound like?

1/25/2000 5:18 AM
Todd	Re: What does a Mesa Mk I sound like? Don't forget that a big part of both Duane Allman and Billy Gibbons sound is the late- 50's Les Paul sound. The amps certainly helped and I think Gil nailed the correct amps, but those Les Pauls really smoothed out the sound and blended nicely with both players' style. Regarding Billy Gibbons, he also used to chain distortion/overdrive boxes and run them through a whole assortment of odd old amps, including tweed Deluxes, Magnatones, Supros, etc. Usually, two stompboxes were used, each set to the point where distortion first starts to kick in. Running them together before the amp made it sound like cascading gainstages (similar in theory to an early Boogie, ironically). This trick was a key to his sound on mid-period albums, and variety in stompboxes and amps can't be stressed enough. One has to wonder if he ever used the same set-up/rig twice on the early stuff! TJK

1/25/2000 5:18 AM

Todd

Re: What does a Mesa Mk I sound like?

Don't forget that a big part of both Duane
Allman and Billy Gibbons sound is the late-
50's Les Paul sound. The amps certainly helped
and I think Gil nailed the correct amps, but
those Les Pauls really smoothed out the sound
and blended nicely with both players' style.

Regarding Billy Gibbons, he also used to chain
distortion/overdrive boxes and run them
through a whole assortment of odd old amps,
including tweed Deluxes, Magnatones, Supros,
etc. Usually, two stompboxes were used, each
set to the point where distortion first
starts to kick in. Running them together
before the amp made it sound like cascading
gainstages (similar in theory to an early
Boogie, ironically). This trick was a key
to his sound on mid-period albums, and
variety in stompboxes and amps can't be
stressed enough. One has to wonder if he
ever used the same set-up/rig twice on the
early stuff!
TJK