Syd's Guitar Tones

Syd was a big experimenter with guitar tones. He used many different pickups, effects, and amplifiers to get his tones.

He mainly stuck to a Selmer stereo amplifier, used with Fender Esquire and Telecaster electrics. He also had a Danelectro electric, although I am uncertain of the model it was.

A big effect of his was the Binson Echorec, a tape-driven echo/delay unit. This was used to get the sweet-sounding echo effects on the solo of Astronomy Domine, a sound which I love (and you can't seem to get echo swells on a lot of today's modern delay pedals, sadly. I rather like that sound).

Stuff like the distortion sound on the beginning of Interstellar Overdrive were really not made with effects; just cranking the amplifier very loud and adding a lot of treble, making the classic 'overdrive' (which I also love the sound of).

Reading that makes me wish I could play guitar.

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"And so I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky"

It's easy. You should try sometime, that is, if you haven't already.

I haven't. I've always wanted to. I thought about picking up a cheap electric guitar on ebay, but I really don't know enough about guitars to know if I am getting anything decent.

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"And so I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky"

Well, give it a try. It's really easy.

'Anyone can play guitar...'
-Thom Yorke/Radiohead

Cheers Shane G

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And all the lot is what I got,
It's what I wear, it's what you see,
It must be me, it's what I am,
Vegetable Man.

You're welcome.

The trouble with electric guitars is that the space between the strings is really narrow and can be ackward for the beginner.

In my own case I started off on a (very) cheap spannish guitar. They have very wide necks and are easier for the beginner. Once I had learned a few chords etc I was able to move onto the electric guitar with no problem.

I tried to start on electric guitar initially, but got nowhere. Just something you might like to keep in mind.

you wont get a classic replicated sound unless you fork over some serious cash for vintage amps and guitars, but you sure as hell can replicate it.

get yourself a few pedals to fool with. i prefer BOSS for most of it, but here's what ive got. i dont use them all for Syd/Floyd stuff, so i'll underline what i do use for it.....

Big Muff by Electro Harmonix / Sovtek

DD5 Digital Delay, Two Equalizers (one for solo's), Treble Charger, Noise Reduction, Tuner, Super Chorus, Octave, and Phase Shifter, all by Boss.

Volume Pedal by Morley.

Flanger/Phaser (the blue rack mount one)(very vintage) by MXR.

Original Crybaby by Dunlop.

I also use a Fender Telecaster, with DR High Roller strings (im sponsored, these baby's are highly recommended!), and Laney Tube Fusion head and 4x12 cabinet (200watts)(sponsorship coming soon). you could look into one of those pedal boards with all of the effects and stuff on it if youre on a budget. ive played a few, but ive never owned one though. ive always been fond of pedal collections heh'. good luck and have fun!

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"I open the door, to an empty room, then I forget."

Where does time go! 9 months ago I posted this thread. Anyway, I have taken a brake from you guys because I felt the conversations were getting dull. (My fault entirely, I know). I now know quite a lot about guitars and musical equipment.

Seamus Laughs:
I tried out that Laney Tube Fusion the other day. It was a half stack but projected some seriously good sounds. I also tried out a small little Marshall tube amp (DSL401) and thought the tone was out of this world. Is it worth sacraficing the power of a half stack for a hell lot more tone?

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And all the lot is what I got,
It's what I wear, it's what you see,
It must be me, it's what I am,
Vegetable Man.

oh lord, will we ever know? hahaha.

but seriously, i guess its all about what you do with your music. if youre in a band and feel the need for a stack, i do recommend going that route. but as for an occasional at-home kind of player who just wants a sweet tone and doesnt need a huge amp taking up his space, then i'd recommend going this route. ive recently purchased one of those old Gibson tweed combo amps to sit around and jam on, and like the Marshall you tried, this baby has the sweetest tones. ive never been too fond of marshalls though, they just dont seem to give me what im looking for in an amp. im too picky. but anyway, like i said, which amp to buy is based all around how youre going to be using your music, which is why i have both. a half stack for shows and touring, and a few combo's here and there to jam on.

good luck either way!

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"I open the door, to an empty room, then I forget."

thanks man. I think I'll end up going down the same route as you. A combo just wouldn't be right for live obviously but perfect for recording. I tried out a half stack Laney TF for only £500 !! A marshall half stack (DSL series) would cost nearly a grand. I'll get the combo for recording now and then when the money starts coming in again, I'll get a stack.

__________________
And all the lot is what I got,
It's what I wear, it's what you see,
It must be me, it's what I am,
Vegetable Man.

sounds good friend. take care and keep rockin'.

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"I open the door, to an empty room, then I forget."

I love the marshall sound. I use it for my distortion and I have a peavy for my clean. Im hoping to replace the Peavy with a VOX though, or a Fender. Dunno which. But I need a Boss line selector so I can switch between the two amps. once i have the dough!

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"I'm lost at sea, dont bother me"

"theirs more in a smile than in a hand"

"And the sea, isn't green, and I love the qeen, and what exactly is a dream, and what exactly is a joke?"