Strokes: What effect on Room on Fire single note lines???

[magnus02]

I'll have to check song names but if you've heard the album a few times you've heard the effect...

It almost sounds chorusy on the single note melody lines and it's very prevelant on some songs more than others. I thought it was an octave up or something but now after experimenting with that I have no clue... it's very synthy and I think sounds great but I just can't figure out what it is...

Any help?

[theanalogdream]

I read an interview where he said he used the neck pickup with the tone rolled all the way to the bass side. He also mentioned he blew a few amps getting that sound haha

[magnus02]

it's definitely very bassy at times... and i know on most songs it's probably simply that... but there's definitely some effect on others... tracks 4 or 5ish maybe??? I'll check tonight for the best example

[yellowecho]

I read an interview where he said he used the neck pickup with the tone rolled all the way to the bass side. He also mentioned he blew a few amps getting that sound haha
That's exactly what I was going to guess.
You can hear some of those lines on the track "I Can't Win".

[dancehall]

yeah I've had good luck with neck pickup, tone knob off, and a Big Muff. Haven't tried it with chorus, might be a good idea.

[wizard_23]

I read an interview years ago and they said that to get that sci-fi synthy sound on the intro of 12:51 all they did was dime the Fender Devilles and record them and they kept blowing up. :rotflmao

[magnus02]

Yea 12:51 might be the best example... I guess maybe that's all it is... could have sworn there was more to it but maybe not

[cookieshoes]

Yea 12:51 might be the best example... I guess maybe that's all it is... could have sworn there was more to it but maybe not

There most likely is a synth (or even auto-tune) element over the track. If you've ever read an interview with guitarist Nick Valensi, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, so I really wouldn't go by the quotes about a maxed MXR micro amp through the DeVille with the guitars tone rolled off being all it is. The singer, Julian Casablancas, calls all the shots in the band, and writes all the songs. Chances are that the guitar solo was given that effect by way of outboard gear. Listen to the track live and you can hear that it's not the same at all.

Like many bands, they've been known to give false information in interviews. I seem to recall that they insisted that the drummer was really playing drums on certain tracks where it was clearly a drum machine.

[Mr. SD-1]

Like many bands, they've been known to give false information in interviews. I seem to recall that they insisted that the drummer was really playing drums on certain tracks where it was clearly a drum machine.

If you are referring to certain tracks on Is This It.... no drum machine was used. Real drums, EQ'd, compressed, and heavily mangled to sound fake.

[sleepyone]

My band's first LP was recorded and produced by Gordon Raphael, producer of the first 2 Strokes album. I'll ask him the next time we catch up on one another

[magnus02]

That'd be awesome! Thanks so much

And I just figured they used triggers on their drums for those tracks... but then again I don't know enough about production to know how much you can manipulate a normal track, im sure its possible

[wizard_23]

Yea 12:51 might be the best example... I guess maybe that's all it is... could have sworn there was more to it but maybe not

Yeah I remember reading it and thinking that it didn't sound right, but that's definately what they said. I reckon what The Analog Dream said about the neck pickup, tone rolled all the way back sounds familiar too..

I used to have a HRD and I tried diming it a few times to see if I could get this sound but it was far too bloody loud to bear! :bow

Hmm.. I kind've want a HRD again.

[wizard_23]

Bumping this one.. I really don't think there is any synth or effects on it. I cranked my vox night train last night with the tone controls rolled down and my strat in the neck position and it was sounding very close to the tone on those lead breaks on Room On Fire. Happy to be corrected, but I think it really might just be a cranked Deville.

I'd nearly say that it's on the 'burn' channel or it's just the clean channel with an overdrive in front.