santana tone

[helicopter99]

everyone probably knows what gear santana is using a prs in to a dumble or similar amp.

i have a similar set up but am unable to dial in that wailing tome he is famous for.

has anyone got any tips on eq of the amp to help me get close

this is what im after
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmXYz0Ba3TI

[PedalFreak]

He has multiple amps running at the same time. The Dumble is hand tuned for him, as are his original Boogie Mark I & II's. Usually its one of the Dumbles and one of the Boogies. Plus they are turned up LOUD!

[pfrischmann]

There's a guy un you tube that nails it using a mk1 and a altec 415C speaker...

[panoramic]

sounds like something you could mimic on a drri with the volume at like 5

[frdagaa]

I can come pretty close with my PRS and Fuchs ODS50. No magic in the EQ settings, etc; I think the key is setting the gain appropriately, and then adjusting the guitar volume and tone to dial in the sweet spot.

The clip referenced by the OP was gorgeous, but I kept wanting Santana to jump in with a little more bite. I love when he switches from his usual soulful, mellow neck pickup stuff to the bridge and/or wah pedal to bring in the bite. Nice contrast.

[helicopter99]

i have a fuchs and prs how are you eqing and setting up te gain?

[jay42]

Don't ignore a compressor. I can't find that he uses one, but he sounds like he does. It might make things easier.

[azwhofan]

you'll nitice as well that's he's always pacing around his stage area looking for the sweet spot of the moment

[Husky]

Originally Posted by helicopter99

everyone probably knows what gear santana is using a prs in to a dumble or similar amp.

i have a similar set up but am unable to dial in that wailing tome he is famous for.

has anyone got any tips on eq of the amp to help me get close

this is what im after
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmXYz0Ba3TI

Try turning the tone down a bit on the guitar and never run the Volume control on the guitar all the way up

[Guitar Dave T]

FWIW, I greatly prefer Santana's older, original tone from the Abraxis days. It just seems so much more organic and soulful.

But if you really want to chase what he's doing currently, the best suggestion so far in this thread is to start working the tone and volume controls on the guitar more. Get a good blistering amp tone that has a good brilliant top end sound without taking your head off, then roll back on the guitar's tone and volume controls. It doesn't take much either, just a click or two.

BTW, apply the same approach to chasing Eric Johnson tone, Sonny Landredth tone, and just anybody else's tone who's really making it happen. It's one of the hallmarks of a 'next level' player.

[rob2001]

Hate to be the guy to say it, but if your rig is similar, then you just have to play like Carlos. Yes, he chooses the tools he chooses, but he could get a wailing tone with any rig.

[Guitar Dave T]

Originally Posted by rob2001

Hate to be the guy to say it, but if your rig is similar, then you just have to play like Carlos. Yes, he chooses the tools he chooses, but he could get a wailing tone with any rig.

I used to tell my guitar students in the early 80's that if they really wanted to get EVH's tone, they had to cut off their hands at the wrist and grow a new set of Eddie's hands.

Some of their moms were not amused.

[ROKY]

Originally Posted by helicopter99

everyone probably knows what gear santana is using a prs in to a dumble or similar amp.

i have a similar set up but am unable to dial in that wailing tome he is famous for.

has anyone got any tips on eq of the amp to help me get close

this is what im after
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmXYz0Ba3TI

For that kinda tone my recipe is:

'79 Ibanez Artist
'68 Fender Showman with the Mids full up,Treble 5,Bass 3 into a
single EV 12L
Pedalworx Cactus Crunch overdrive

[Billy Penn]

Belive it or not I get pretty close with my rig to the later Santana tone. Ash/maple Tele with Bardens, Analogman Juicer, Blackstone OD pedal into my 5F6-A 4x10 clone with Weber 10A125's. The trick is to roll the tone back on the bridge pickup or use the bridge & neck together. It gets pretty close and surprises me every time. You gotta roll back that tone and thing/play like the man to cop it.

[stevie2600]

4x12's loaded with hemp speakers and a Dumble style amp will get you there. Set the amp in the Jazz position, Gains between 12 and 1 o'clock, presence and treble at 11, and bass and mids WAY up. Set your guitar in the bridge position with the treble control up and ride your volume. Carlos doesn't play with the tone knob that much. His original PRS' didn't even have one to begin with.