SETUP STEVE LUKATHER
dja...@xs4all.nl
Hi,
Who knows Steves' setup?
Which amps did he use, effecprocessors etc.
Steve has a great sound, his distortionsound I like the most.
Mick Jennings
Steve uses Rivera, in fact there is a signature model.
Try www.rivera.com
--
Mick Jennings
Sheffield, England
Mick.J...@dial.pipex.antispam.com
Kamchak Tuchuk
I think that's a book unto itself, no? Might come out w/ just a few
less pages than "War and Peace".
Carlginger
>Subject: Re: SETUP STEVE LUKATHER
>From: ch...@ftc-i.net (Kamchak Tuchuk)
>Date: Wed, Mar 4, 1998 11:29 EST
>Message-id: <34fd8156...@nntp.InfoAve.net>
>
>On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 06:42:36 GMT, dja...@xs4all.nl wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Who knows Steves' setup?
>>
>>Which amps did he use, effecprocessors etc.
>>
>>Steve has a great sound, his distortionsound I like the most.
A CAE 3+ preamp
Carl
Kamchak Tuchuk
That dirty bastard!! I'm setting my stuff on fire again...
al...@intrlink.com
On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 06:42:36 GMT, dja...@xs4all.nl wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Who knows Steves' setup?
>
>Which amps did he use, effecprocessors etc.
>
>Steve has a great sound, his distortionsound I like the most.
>
I couldn't tell you his current setup, but I saw Toto many years back
now after the Toto IV album. He has switched ( live anyway ) from his
old Marshalls to Mesa/Boogies. They looked like DC-5's or DC-10 heads
( two rows of controls ) and 4x12's with the "grate" grill cover.
This was a long time ago now! ( 84,85? )
Alan
===================================================
alann(removethis)@intrlink.com
spam sucks.
===================================================
Carlginger
>his
>old Marshalls to Mesa/Boogies. They looked like DC-5's or DC-10 heads
>( two rows of controls ) and 4x12's with the "grate" grill cover.
>This was a long time ago now! ( 84,85? )
>
>Alan
>
>======
The Boogie rig is long gone, that was in the '80's.
After that he used a Soldano preamp for a while, then a
CAE 3+.
I read he pared his rack down.
I got a few Los Lobotomys live tapes, and it's basically the CAE, reverb,
delay, Univibe.
He also uses a wet/dry system.
Carl
Gil Ayan
>The Boogie rig is long gone, that was in the '80's.
Yes, he even endorsed the Mark IIC+ for a while in Guitar Player Magazine.
>After that he used a Soldano preamp for a while, then a
>CAE 3+.
Not quite, Carl. I have had a change to see Luke live a couple of times a year
every year for a loooong time. After the Boogie days he used to do small gigs
with a Dumble combo, if I'm not mistaken. Then he had a SLO-100 for a while, he
was the first well-known L.A. guy who Mike Soldano got one of his amps to. Then
Mike Landau also got one, and when Eric Clapton, while recording "Behind the Sun" in
L.A., with Luke on rhythm guitar, loved the Soldano sound so much that he got himself
a custom-made one. According to Mike himself, that amp took a lot of tweaking and
would cost around $20,000 to make -- just what we all need, right?
Then Luke played with his Rivera-modded Marshall heads for a while. He even
had a JMP-1 preamp on a number of gigs during the 93-94 period of time, but he
eventually lost that in favor of the CAE preamp.
The VHT power amp and the CAE+ combination, in my opinion has been his best
sound. But, to be fair, he has also been cutting back on effects over the years,
which lets the tone fo the amp come through some me. It'd be difficult to say how
he would have sounded with his Soldano, for example, if he had used less FX. Now
that he has his Rivera endorsement, I wonder what will happen to his sound. The
only time I have seen Luke with that amp was at the Rivera factory while the cabinet
was still being designed. Never heard it live.
>He also uses a wet/dry system.
>Carl
Yes indeed. Pretty much regarles of the club, he'd use 3 4x12 cabs: wet/left, dry,
wet/right. Last time I saw him he used 1x12 Bag End (is that right?) cabs.
Gil
--
______ __ __ ______ __ __
/ __ / / /_/ / / __ / / \/ / Gil Ayan, Los Angeles, CA
/ /_/ / \__ / / /_/ / / / / / Email: ai...@lafn.org
/_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/\__/ http://home.earthlink.net/~ayan
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Dante
Gil Ayan wrote:
> The VHT power amp and the CAE+ combination,
>in my opinion has been his best sound.
Hmmm...I hear a lot about this CAE+.
How do it's lead tones compare to the IIC+'s and Soldano SLO-100's??
In what way was his sound "best" with the CAE 3+
Gil Ayan
In article <34FEDF...@NoEmail.com>, NoS...@NoEmail.com Dante says:
>
>Gil Ayan wrote:
>> The VHT power amp and the CAE+ combination,
>>in my opinion has been his best sound.
>Hmmm...I hear a lot about this CAE+.
It has been around for a long time now. Here is L.A. they have been very popular,
but probably not so elsewhere.
>How do it's lead tones compare to the IIC+'s and Soldano SLO-100's??
SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS BELOW; I can easily accept the fact that others' views may differ!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, I have a IIC+ so I can talk all day about that amp... The sound of the CAE+
is a lot more Marshall-like, but unlike some Marshalls and Marshall types, the sound
is very "even," like in the Bogner Ecstasy, for example. The IIC+ is a Boogie, and
it has that terrific compressed sound to it, with not too much tight bottom end. This
sound has appealed to a lot of people in the past, while others simply find it
somewhat "impersonal." That is a very subjective thing, of course, and given that
everybody and their mother used at some point Boogies (I mean, EVERYBODY I can think of,
even the late, Great Joe Pass), I'd say that the "impersonal" part is an overstatement.
The IIC+ has that midrange sound to it, which can be dialed out with the (otional)
graphic EQ. However, the amp loses something when you do that, so in my opinion, it
sounds best when using the graphic to only enhance the natural sound of the amp, rather
than trying to change it radically. The IIC+ has no real crunch sound to speak of;
either clean or singing overdrive. The CAE, on the contrary, has some monstrous crunch
tones out of it (3 channels vs 2, BTW). Talk about midrangey amps? The Dumbles are not
mid scooped either, you know? ;)
Carl Fiadino described the sound of the CAE+ as a great violin tone; I would agree, the
CAE can be made to sound violin-like but can be nastier as well. It has a much more
relaxed midrange that the typical Boogie sound, and a very tight low-end response. It
is, in spite of being "Marshally," a very sweet and smooth sound. Other amps, some JCM
800s for instance, do have the Marshall grind but lack the low end tightness and definition
needed to qualify as a great violin sound in MY opinion. Good example of CAE+ users are:
Scott Henderson, Luke, Michael Landau, i.e., the coolest L.A. cats.
The SLO-100 is a great amp, but it may be too trebly sounding stock. Not to worry,
there is a very simple mod that the Soldano people can tell you about which is
essentially to change a couple of componets on the feedback loop on the amp for
a warmer sound. A simple call to Soldano will solve that "problem" in no time at
all -- however, Soldano likes that sound and so he ships the amps like that unless
requested otherwise. I "think Soldano" when I hear Gary Moore's "recent" stuff; I
believe Gary Moore's SLO-100 sounds great, very thick sound with tons of gain, yet
admirably smooth, and what a dynamic range it has... Anyone who's seen his Live Blues
video surely agrees that the control Gary has on his sound by merely turning down the
volume knob on his Les Pauls is scary. Ritchie Flieger, who's probably listened to
1,000 times as many amps as I have in my life, in his book "Amps! The Other Half
Of Rock'n Roll" mentions that of all the SLO-100s he's played himself, Moore's was
the best sounding one. I have no reason to not believe Ritchie. The clean sound
of the Soldano SLO-100 is not out of this world, as I understand it -- actually, I
never payed attention to the clean sound on those amps. But, the CAE has a GREAT
clean sound, so really, I think you get an excellent package in a small 2U rack thing.
>In what way was his sound "best" with the CAE 3+
The evenness of the sound, the frequency balance. But, as I mentioned in my previous
article, there is also the fact that Luke has started to use less FX than before. By
no means has he quit using FX; his sound still has reverb, delay and chorus on almost
all the time, but now they are more subtle. Also, last time I saw Luke he used a Music
Man "Luke" guitar which had regular humbuckers (didn't ask him what type) on it, as
opposed to the stock EMGs.
Carlginger
>CAE+
>is a lot more Marshall-like, but unlike some Marshalls and Marshall types,
>the sound
>is very "even," like in the Bogner Ecstasy, for example.
Nope, the Ecstasy has this low/mid thing happening which is great but not like
the CAE 3+.
>The IIC+ has that midrange sound to it, which can be dialed out with the
>(otional)
>graphic EQ. However, the amp loses something when you do that, so in my
>opinion, it
>sounds best when using the graphic to only enhance the natural sound of the
>amp, rather
I agree Gil, Brad Gillis with Ozzy and Nightranger used
the II C+ to it's advantage (tons of mids)
>Carl Fiadino described the sound of the CAE+ as a great violin tone; I would
>agree, the
>CAE can be made to sound violin-like but can be nastier as well. It has a
>much more
>relaxed midrange that the typical Boogie sound, and a very tight low-end
>response. It
>is, in spite of being "Marshally," a very sweet and smooth sound.
G.P. gave it the "violin" description, but it's very true. Smooth top end on
all channels.
>and definition
>needed to qualify as a great violin sound in MY opinion. Good example of
>CAE+ users are:
>Scott Henderson, Luke, Michael Landau, i.e., the coolest L.A. cats.
I believe Henderson's Tore Down House was recorded with the CAE, or so I've
read. Also, some earl Burning Water stuff.
You can sort of pick it out on the recording, it's sound is so smooth
and refined.
less
>requested otherwise. I "think Soldano" when I hear Gary Moore's "recent"
>stuff; I
>believe Gary Moore's SLO-100 sounds great, very thick sound with tons of
>gain, yet
>admirably smooth, and what a dynamic range it has... Anyone who's seen his
>Live Blues
>video surely agrees that the control Gary has on his sound by merely turning
>down the
>volume knob on his Les Pauls is scary
Gil, believe it or not, Gary is goosing the front end of his Soldano with a
Tube Screamer.
CAE has a
>GREAT
>clean sound, so really, I think you get an excellent package in a small 2U
>rack thing.
>
Just got mine (CAE) with a VHT 2/50/2.
A deadly combination. I'm done reading instruction manuals
and started tweeking this system. I was able to cop a bit of Landau/Henderson
sounds.
>>In what way was his sound "best" with the CAE 3+
>
>The evenness of the sound, the frequency balance. But, as I mentioned in my
>previous
>article, there is also the fact that Luke has started to use less FX than
>before. By
>no means has he quit using FX; his sound still has reverb, delay and chorus
>on almost
>all the time, but now they are more subtle. Also, last time I saw Luke he
>used a Music
>Man "Luke" guitar which had regular humbuckers (didn't ask him what type) on
>it, as
>opposed to the stock EMGs.
>
>Gil
>--
Luke is a great example of what the CAE sounds like and is capable of, but
everything I have on Luke is slightly colored by the EMG pickups.
Carl
> ______ __ __ ______ __ __
> / __ / / /_/ / / __ / / \/ / Gil Ayan, Los Angeles, CA
> / /_/ / \__ / / /_/ / / / / / Email: ai...@lafn.org
> /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_/\__/ http://home.earthlink.net/~ayan
>NOTICE TO BULK E-MAILERS: Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5,
>Subchapter II, p.227, any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent
>to this address is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount
>of $500 US. E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">
Gil Ayan
>>requested otherwise. I "think Soldano" when I hear Gary Moore's "recent"
>>stuff; I
>>believe Gary Moore's SLO-100 sounds great, very thick sound with tons of
>>gain, yet
>>admirably smooth, and what a dynamic range it has... Anyone who's seen his
>>Live Blues
>>video surely agrees that the control Gary has on his sound by merely turning
>>down the
>>volume knob on his Les Pauls is scary
>
>Gil, believe it or not, Gary is goosing the front end of his Soldano with a
>Tube Screamer.
I believe you, hey, whatever works. I think Gary Moore's sound is absolutely
killer.
Gil
--
John McEvoy
When? He changes his shit all the time. He is currently using a Rivera
Bonehead amp w/Los Lobottom CABs.
Toto IV-Fenders and Marshalls- all modded; Ibanez, Lexicon and Eventide
outboard gear
Isolation-Mesa/Boogie-stock; tc electronic 2290 delay, Bradshaw switcher
I just happened to have the Apr. '84 GP mag right here...
I gotta get a life.
dja...@xs4all.nl wrote in message <34fcf76d...@news.xs4all.nl>...
Steve
Gil Ayan wrote:
> The CAE, on the contrary, has some monstrous crunchtones out of it (3 channels vs 2, BTW).
> relaxed midrange that the typical Boogie sound, and a very tight low-end response. It
The clean sound
> of the Soldano SLO-100 is not out of this world, as I understand it -- actually, I
> clean sound, so really, I think you get an excellent package in a small 2U rack thing.
I have a CAE3+se preamp and agree with the above comments completely.
Even though it fits into the Fender clean/Marshall crunch/lead
category--it has quite a bit of flexibility.
Each channel has independent gain/volume/low/mid/treble and individual
bright switches. There is also a global presence/bass/level section (tube driven)
that can be switched in on top of any of the channels. The presence/bass
can be used to make a real crisp sparkling modern clean tone; and
to add cut and definiton to fat neck humbuckers like on a '335.
The level can be used as a lead boost also. The clean channel
puts out a real robust signal that can be used to overdrive
a moderately powered tube power amp section. It has
tons of deep bass and sparkling highs. The second channel
works great for Marshally "crunch" rhythms as well as leads and has a very
wide range of gain. The third channel has a tone that is distinctively
different than the second channel--more modern sounding perhaps, more
preamp tone, less string-tone, but it is still dynamic and cleans
up when you back off your guitar volume. It has
a different harmonic content also--"sweeter"...more even-order
overtones, I would suspect. It is VERY thick, smooth and round and
has excellent sustain. The EQ on all the channels
is reasonably effective, so that you can roll off highs and/or
boost mids as desired for different tones.
I would say an uncannily sweet top end and refined tone are its
essential characteristics, but again, there is a lot of sonic
versatility there--
The clean channel alone
used in conjunctin with a good overdrive pedal and the global eq
can provide whole variety of great tones.
Steve
Robert Hoffman
> >
> >Who knows Steves' setup?
> >
> >Which amps did he use, effecprocessors etc.
> >
> >Steve has a great sound, his distortionsound I like the most.
> >
I've done a few session with Luke, and only once did he bring a rig
(marshall heads and cabs - I think we did it in the spring of '95).
Funny thing was the other sessions he used whatever was lying around the
studio - a boogie in one and an AC-30 in the other and both times he
still had that unmistakable Luke sound........