RUSH workingman tone??

[minorseventh]

I cant get this song out of my head! especially the intro... my god Alex Lifeson just achieves the gnarliest grind on these opening notes like he is channeling Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi at the same time.

Ive been messing with my gear trying to nail it and I keep missing something.

I have a classic 30 head into an open back carvin 2x12, and Im trying it with a skreddy screwdriver (comes close) and a liquid sunshine. guitar is a les paul.

I do NOT want another stomp box because I have a box of em already.... but just out of curiosity... would a King of the Britons get me there? or some other JCM in-a-box?

theres just something about this tone. its huge and nasty and thick yet articulate... big output tubes cooking for sure.

[frankencat]

I thought the Crunchbox was really close.

[RUSHFANnLV]

Well, he's doubling himself on that track so I doubt you'll get the thickness by yourself but he was using a 50W JMP at the time and a ES-335 with a trapeeze style tail piece. There are reports of a fuzzface in the early days but I don't hear one on that track.

I read recently that his eq structure was heavy on the highs and bass and easy on the mids but I can't be sure how accurate that statment is. I've always thought his tone to be mid heavy with, as you mentioned, a lot of power amp distortion. More power amp than pre for sure and....Crank it up!

http://www.musictoyz.com/articles/chopalex.php<--there is a link to his equipment list for each album. Hope it helps. Alex Rules!

Have you heard the new album?

[Lolaviola]

Can you place a board or a pillow on the BACK of your cab? Or even shove it up to a wall. I find that closed back cabs are crucial to that woody straight to the amp tone so experiment w/ cab placement and EQ.

Also try reducing the gain on the pedal and the input of the amp and increasing the master till she's singing.

[gitpicker]

FWIW I saw the 2112 tour and Lifeson has 2 or three Marshall stacks on stage, however, walking behind the stage revealed a Super Reverb, tilted back, with a microphone on it - there were no mics on the Marshalls...

[SoCalSteve]

Isn't that a great song? I've tuned into it on the radio during the guitar solo section and thought it was Black Sabbath before realizing what song it was.

[DonneR]

isnt t he classic 30 el84s ? that will be your biggest problem and the open back cab Lola alluded too......

What speakers are in the Carvin.......

Pedal wise a Rat with LEDs is really great for that tone:AOK

[enickma]

Originally Posted by DonneR

isnt t he classic 30 el84s ? that will be your biggest problem and the open back cab Lola alluded too......

What speakers are in the Carvin.......

Pedal wise a Rat with LEDs is really great for that tone:AOK

Yeah, my keeley modded RAT gets a great early RUSH vibe.

[minorseventh]

Originally Posted by DonneR

isnt t he classic 30 el84s ? that will be your biggest problem and the open back cab Lola alluded too......

What speakers are in the Carvin.......

Pedal wise a Rat with LEDs is really great for that tone:AOK

I will try closing off the back of that cab somehow tomorrow, the speakers are Celestion vintage 30s.. theyre ok but nothing great.

and funny enough, I havent owned or played a Rat since the 80's...
maybe Ill go to GC this week and wail on one.

thanks for all the replies... keep em coming!