From: kls@snail.ecn.purdue.edu (Kerry L Sylvester)
Subject: Re: Sounding Like Slash
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 02:50:21 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.180537.4049@vax.muskingum.edu> tgerman@vax.muskingum.edu writes:
>In article <1992Nov15.182307.26077@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>, kls@thebe.ecn.purdue.edu (Kerry L Sylvester) writes:
>> In article <1992Nov10.154756.21791@lmt.mn.org> alexa@county.lmt.mn.org (Alex Alexander) writes:
>>>A while back, someone posted on alt.rock-n-roll.metal.gnr a response to
>>>a question about how to sound like Guns N' Roses' Slash when you play the
>>>guitar.
>>>
>>>A fairly knowledgeable guitar player answered that you need a Gibson Les
>>>Paul blasting through a huge Marshall stack and play using only the
>>>pentatonic blues scale (or something like that).
>>>
>>>Not being a guitar player, this sounds forumlaic to me. Is it really that
>>>easy to sound like Slash? Mind you, I don't think Slash is the best guitar
>>>player in the world or anything. I just *really* like his style.
>>>
>>>People like Vai and Van Halen and Malmsteen and Satriani make me say: "WOW!"
>>>
>>>But Slash kinda melts me in the same way that Santana does. Any knowledgable
>>>guitar players or music theorists out there care to try to explain this to a
>>>non-music reading, scale brain dead drummer?
>> 
>> It's not that difficult to attain the sound he has...granted a REAL Les Paul
>> and a Centennial Marshall stack are the best way to achieve this but the
>> biggest thing you need to do is tune down your guitar a half step (assuming
>> standard E tuning...All of the songs on UYI I & II are played this way on
>> all guitar parts.  He's not real big on effects...a wah here and there,
>> a Boss EQ pedal, and maybe a flanger.  Otherwise, not much.
>> 
>> Just a non-music reading, mediocre guitarist.
>> 
>> Kerry L. Sylvester
>>>
>>>
>>>_________________________________________________________________________
>>>Alex Alexander           |    The thoughts expressed here are my own, 
>>>LaserMaster R&D          |    and in no way reflect those of my company
>>>7156 Shady Oak Rd.      G|R   (which would no doubt disavow everything
>>>Minneapolis, MN 55344    N'   I have ever said on the net or in person).
>>>(612) 943-9314          G|R   ------------------------------------------
>>>---------------------    |   "Your only validation is in living your
>>>alexa@county.lmt.mn.org  |      own life; vicarious existence is a
>>>CIS -- 71005,506         |       fucking waste of time." -- Axl Rose
>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> 
>I read somewhere a while back that Slash doesn't rely on a huge Marshall Stack  
>at all (at least not on "Appetite")  He gets his tone from 200w amp, I believe.
>As far as the notes he cranks out, he has a love for improvisation and uses
>genuine emotions when playing music, which leads to some very expressive stuff. 
>The whole band is very honest and committed to their music, which also helps. 
>If you want to get a good idea of Slash's philosophy, get a hold of the
>magazine "Guitar for the Practicing Musician" November '92 (I think)

"Guitar for the Practicing musician" is where I read about some of this...I
also read about the VCO WAH and other effects in an interview in another
mag. (can't remember its name now).  He was really pissed about his
Marshalls getting trashed in St.Louis cause they don't make them anymore.
They ended up pulling some older ones out of storage to continue the
tour.  Sounded like he got those during one of the Appetite tours.  After
they had the money to pay for them.  :)  He uses the Boss EQ for sustain
and a tuned down Les Paul for that nice sound...I can make my Les Paul
copy sound pretty damn close going though my cheap practice amp.
I'm pretty sure Appetite was done with something other Marshalls...oh,
one correction on my previous post...he uses a Marshall Jubilee stack,
not centennial.  

sorry...I would be charcoal on alt.guitar.  :)

KLS
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar