Getting the Psychedelic 80s Rock Tone

If you want to get that Psychedelic 80s Rock tone, there are a few things you’ll need. In this blog post, we’ll go over what you need to get that classic 80s sound.

Introduction

Psychedelic music first emerged in the underground music scene of the 1960s, and reached its mainstream peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre is characterized by a distinctive sonic palette, which often includes extended guitars solos, heavy use of distortion and reverb, and unusual song structures. Psychedelic rock was a major influence on subsequent genres such as progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal.

What You’ll Need

To get that classic 80s rock tone, you’ll need a few things. A Gibson Les Paul or an Ibanez Destroyer are essential for that thick, heavy sound. You’ll also need a 100-watt Marshall amplifier and a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal.

Guitar

There are a few key ingredients that you’ll need to get that iconic 80s rock sound. Most importantly, you’ll need a guitar that can handle high gain. A Les Paul or SG style guitar is a great option, as they can take quite a bit of abuse and still sound great. You’ll also want to make sure you have a good set of pickups installed. If you’re not sure what to get, EMG’s 81/85 set is a great option.

You’ll also need a good amplifier. A Marshall half stack is always a good choice, but anything that can produce a decent amount of distortion will work. As for pedals, you really only need a couple of basics – a wah pedal and either a delay or chorus pedal. A fuzz pedal is also a good option if you want to add some extra grit to your sound.

Amp

You’ll need a good amp for this tone. A solid state or digital modeling amp with high gain will work great. If you’re using a tube amp, make sure it has plenty of headroom. You’ll also need a distortion pedal. We recommend the Boss Metal Zone MT-2 or the Ibanez Tube Screamer.

Pedals

To get the big, chorused sound of eighties bands like Tears for Fears and Duran Duran, you’ll need chorus and delay pedals. A good quality chorus pedal will have multiple controls so you can adjust the speed, depth, and level of the effect. A delay pedal will also have multiple controls to allow you to adjust the amount of delay time, feedback, and level.

In addition to chorus and delay pedals, you’ll need a good overdrive pedal to push your amp into overdrive. If you’re going for a more refinedsound, a quality EQ pedal can also help you sculpt your tone.

The Guitar

If you want to get the psychedelic 80s rock tone, you’re going to need the right guitar. You’ll need a guitar that can handle a lot of gain without sounding too muddy. A Les Paul or a Stratocaster is a good choice. You’ll also need a good overdrive pedal to get the right sound.

Guitar Type

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the electric guitar became the most important instrument in rock music. Guitars were being used to create new sounds, and they were being played in new ways. This was the time when the Gibson Les Paul, the Fender Stratocaster, and the Fender Telecaster were being used by some of the greatest guitarists in rock music.

There are two main types of guitars that were popular during this time: solid body guitars and hollow body guitars. Solid body guitars are made out of a solid piece of wood, and they are typically used for playing styles that require a lot of sustain (such as metal and rock). Hollow body guitars are made out of a piece of wood that is hollowed out in the middle, and they are typically used for playing styles that require a lot of “jangle” (such as country and pop).

Which type of guitar you choose will depend on what style of music you want to play. If you want to play metal or rock, you will probably want to choose a solid body guitar. If you want to play country or pop, you will probably want to choose a hollow body guitar.

Pickups

When it comes to electric guitar pickups, there’s a ton of myths and misinformation out there. To get the classic psychedelic 80s rock tone, you want what’s called a “hot wound” pickup. These are typically made with Formvar or Polynylon wire, which have a much higher conductivity than regular enamel-coated magnet wire. The result is a brighter, more aggressive sound that cuts through the din of the rest of the band.

Some other factors that affect your pickups’ sound are the number of turns of wire, the gauge of the wire, the type of magnet (alnico or ceramic), and the poles (single or double). For example, a typical single-coil Stratocaster pickup has about 6000 turns of 43-gauge wire on an alnico V magnet with six poles. Compare that to a hot wound Telecaster bridge pickup, which has about 8000 turns of 42-gauge Formvar wire on an alnico V magnet with two poles. As you can see, there are many variables that go into making a pickup, and each one affects the sound in some way.

In general, you want to avoid what are known as “cold wound” pickups. These are made with regular enameled magnet wire and tend to sound lifeless and muddy. They’re often found on cheaper guitars and are not well suited for psychedelic 80s rock tones. If you’re not sure what kind of pickups your guitar has, take it to a qualified guitar technician and they should be able to tell you.

The Amp

The right amp is going to be key to nailing that psychedelic 80s rock tone. You’ll want an amp that can do clean tones and some light overdrive, but nothing too heavy. A Fender Twin Reverb or a Marshall JCM800 would be a good choice.

Amp Type

The most important factor in getting that classic 80s rock sound is the amplifier. While there are many different types and brands of amps that can be used, there are really only two that will give you that signature 80s tone: the Marshall JCM800 and the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+.

The Marshall JCM800 is a British amp that was first released in 1981. It quickly became the go-to amp for many of the biggest names in 80s rock, including Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Slash. The JCM800 has a very distinctive sound that is characterized by its high gain and mid-range punch.

The Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ is an American amp that was released in 1987. It was used by many of the same guitarists as the JCM800, but it also found its way into the hands of metal pioneers like Metallica and Megadeth. The Mark IIC+ has a slightly brighter sound than the JCM800, with more emphasis on highs and highs.

Amp Settings

psychedlic 80s rock tone can be achieved by turning the gain up to about 7 or 8 and setting the EQ as follows:
-Bass: 4
-Middle: 5
-Treble: 6

You may also want to try using a cleaner amp setting and then adding a bit of overdrive or distortion with a pedal.

The Pedals

Back in the day, if you wanted to get the Psychedelic 80s Rock tone, you needed to have the right pedals. Overdrive, delay, and modulation were the key to getting that sound. Nowadays, you can still get that sound with the right pedals, but you don’t have to break the bank. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pedals you need to get the Psychedelic 80s Rock tone.

Overdrive

Overdrive is the main ingredient in getting that psychedelic 80s rock tone. It’s what gives your guitar that crunchy, distorted sound. There are many different types of overdrive pedals, each with their own unique sound.

The most common overdrive pedal is the Ibanez Tube Screamer. This pedal is used by some of the biggest names in rock, including Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. The Tube Screamer gives your guitar a warm, overdriven sound that is perfect for rock and blues.

Another popular overdrive pedal is the Boss OD-1 Overdrive Pedal. This pedal is used by players like Joe Bonamassa and Kirk Hammett of Metallica. The Boss OD-1 gives your guitar a sharper, more aggressive sound that is perfect for hard rock and metal.

There are many other types of overdrive pedals available, each with its own unique sound. Experiment with different pedals to find the one that gives you the sound you’re looking for.

Distortion

To get the Psychedelic 80s Rock tone using pedals, you will want to use a distortion pedal. A good choice for this would be the MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion pedal. This pedal will give you the ability to get a wide range of different distortion tones, from light to heavy.

To get the best sound out of this pedal, you will want to set the distortion level to around 5-7. This will give you a good amount of distortion without making your sound too muddy. You will also want to set the EQ so that the bass and treble are turned up slightly, and the mids are turned down slightly. This will help you to get a clearer sound.

If you want to add some more depth to your sound, you can try using a chorus pedal. This will help to thicken up your sound and give it more depth.

Delay

Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.

A typical simple delay pedal contains three components:

* A record head, which records the incoming signal to an audio storage medium.
* A playback head, which plays back the recorded signal from the audio storage medium.
* A feedback loop, which routes the Output of the playback head back to the Input of the record head.

The delay pedals used by most rock guitarists in the 1980s created a bright, “metallic” sounding echo which was well suited for the distorted sounds of electric guitars.

Reverb

In the 80s, rock guitarists were all about getting huge, dense tones with lots of sustain and texture. To achieve this sound, they relied heavily on reverb pedals. Reverb pedals simulate the sound of an echo by creating a series of reflections that decay over time. This gives the guitar a rich, full-bodied sound that is perfect for solos and lead parts.

There are two main types of reverb: spring and digital. Spring reverb is created using a physical spring, while digital reverb uses electronic algorithms to recreate the sound of an echo. Each type has its own distinct character, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for your style.

Spring reverbs are known for their organic, natural sound. They tend to be warmer and more shimmery than digital reverbs, making them ideal for country and blues players. Digital reverbs, on the other hand, offer more control and flexibility. They can be dialed in to create very specific sounds, from short “room” reverbs to long “plate” reverbs.

When shopping for a reverb pedal, it’s important to consider what type of music you want to use it for. If you’re looking for a warm, vintage sound, go with a spring reverb. If you want more control over your tone, go with a digital reverb.

Putting It All Together

Now that we’ve gone over all the different elements that go into creating the psychedelic 80s rock tone, let’s put it all together.

Here are the essential components:

-A clean, bright guitar tone with plenty of midrange
-Modulated delay and reverb for a sense of space and dimension
-Overdriven amps pushed into natural tube distortion for sustain and grit
-An assortment of effects to add color and interest, including chorus, flanger, and phaser

With all of these elements in place, you’ll be able to create a wide range of sounds, from smooth and dreamy to rough and grungy. Experiment with different combinations of effects and dial in the perfect tone for your song.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – a rundown of how to get the psychedelic 80s rock tone. Hopefully this has been helpful in getting you one step closer to nailing that sound. As always, experiment with different settings and find what works best for you and your playing style.