Eric Clapton 80s tone for HX Effects?

[sergiocochinero]

Hi dudes.  I've been tryin to get the Eric Clapton 80s tone with my hx effects (Journeyman era), or John Mayer's Last Train Home sound, but I dont get it and dont find any patches of it out there. It would be great that someone could help me.  

[codamedia]

What AMP are you plugging the HX Effects into? 

 

As for effects.... in that era he used Chorus, delay, compression (studio style, not stomp) and wah.... 

If your amp is not providing the overdrive, I'd use a combination of the Heir Apparent (always on) goosed with a Tube Screamer for solo's. 

[sergiocochinero]

Hi, man.  Thank you for your answer.  I own a Mesa Boogie Lonestar and a Fender Supersonic, both with dirty channel.  I will try as you say.  I had tried to engage two overdrives at the same time (Minotaur and Tube Screamer I think) for the solos, but the sound is very noisy combined with chorus and rest of effects.

[codamedia]

Sounds like you have the amps to produce the overdrive.... in that case all I would do is kick on a Tube Screamer for solos. On it's own the TS is not noisy, but it will increase the noise of your guitar. It's important to recognize where noise comes from. Also... (IMO) the default settings of the TS models are way too hot, you will likely want to decrease the gain and/or level once you add it. 

[sergiocochinero]

You are right.  I've done it that way and the sound is closer.  Now I guess I've got to try with the chorus and comp setting and mix 

[codamedia]

On 10/12/2022 at 10:58 AM, sergiocochinero said:

You are right.  I've done it that way and the sound is closer.  Now I guess I've got to try with the chorus and comp setting and mix 

 

For the comp... just insert the LA Studio comp near the end of the chain and forget it... it will impart a little magic but for the most part you won't really notice it. For a chorus I'd try the "Legacy > Dimension" with all switches (1-4) OFF. It will be a very subtle chorus tone. Not washy, but present. Use the blend/mix to fine tune the amount of effect you dial in. 

[somebodyelse]

I remember his live sound from the time sounding more like it had been double tracked using a short delay - could be mistaken for chorus.

Of course, try a chorus, but also try a short delay, instead, and go with whichever sounds closest. Something around 40-80ms delay, no feedback and adjust the mix to taste.

Not saying it's definitely delay and not chorus, but I do remember thinking back then that it had a feel of late '50 rockabilly style echo.

[codamedia]

On 10/15/2022 at 8:10 AM, somebodyelse said:

Not saying it's definitely delay and not chorus, but I do remember thinking back then that it had a feel of late '50 rockabilly style echo.

 

I'm going from the OP's mention of the Journeyman album which was the late 80's... I didn't think to ask the OP which tones from the album - LOL!  "Before You Accuse Me" certainly has the sound you are referencing... but I was thinking more about the big hits from the album... BAD LOVE and PRETENDING in particular.

 

On those tunes I'm clearing hearing Wah (often fixed position), Chorus OR rotary/vibe & overdrive on the core tone... then compressor, delay, reverb applied during the mix.

 

[somebodyelse]

On 10/15/2022 at 3:16 PM, codamedia said:

 

I'm going from the OP's mention of the Journeyman album which was the late 80's... I didn't think to ask the OP which tones from the album - LOL!  "Before You Accuse Me" certainly has the sound you are referencing... but I was thinking more about the big hits from the album... BAD LOVE and PRETENDING in particular.

 

On those tunes I'm clearing hearing Wah (often fixed position), Chorus OR rotary/vibe & overdrive on the core tone... then compressor, delay, reverb applied during the mix.

 

Yeah, I'm not disagreeing with any of those observations, except maybe the chorus, though I'm going off what I remember from his live sound than what he recorded with. I remember Joe Bonamassa doing a live cover of Pretending a few years ago, he really nailed the sound. There are plenty of 'rig rundown' videos on youtube with reference to Bonamassa. Would be worth checking the one that was done around the time he did that particular tour for clues?

I can't imagine EC ever using one, but Bad Love sounds like it may have had a pitchshifter on it, more likely overdubs?

A Univibe and/or Rotary Speaker I can easily imagine him using, though.

 

FWIW. he was also using CS Strats with Lace Sensor Pickups in at that time, though that doesn't really have any bearing on this side of the conversation.

[sergiocochinero]

An Autowah maybe? I mean for songs like "bad love".

[somebodyelse]

On 10/16/2022 at 10:25 AM, sergiocochinero said:

An Autowah maybe? I mean for songs like "bad love".

Possibly. Very much depends on how you set it up for sensitivity, and especially, where it's placed in the fx chain. They're most effective when they're near the front , but you might find you don't get the tone you want. EC used a wah pedal.

When it comes to replicating anyone's sound, it takes a helluva a lot of work to really get it nailed... and good hearing.

 

EDIT: I had a brief playaround earlier.

I'm in agreement with @codamedia. A wah, overdrive, chorus, (maybe) Rotary speaker emulator, etc.

I tried it with and without the short delay I mentioned earlier and I'm undecided. I was using headphones, so I used an amp model, which if you're using one has to be the Soldano SLO100 model (Solo Crunch).

As far as the OD... if you use a regular Strat, a Tubescreamer type OD is probably the way to go. If you happen to have an EC Strat with the mid boost (in my case a Strat with EMG DG20s) then any OD and fiddle with your mids on your guitar to suit.

You'll need to do some tweeking, but this is a good place to start.