This tone from "The Wall"

Alright. This clean tone? This is my dream clean tone. I grew up listening to this album and I cannot emphasise it's significance to me. This clean tone? To me is the perfect clean guitar sound.



I'm trying to tone match it. I'm not getting close so I'm asking for help. I can't find an isolated guitar part, but I'm pretty sure somebody who is better at this than me will be able to grab part of it and work with it.

The original signal chain is straightforward, but awful difficult to replicate. It was:

- 1950s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with PAF pickups.
(I know. Gilmour is known for a strat but he was playing a LP for most of The Wall)

- DI into a Neve console of...some description

- Blended with a clean amp*. He's known for Hiwatts, but I think for The Wall he was running a Marshall
(*Maybe)

- Luxurious use of delay. He used to use an MXR rack-mounted delay, but yeah.

I've got a Les Paul at home! But it's not a 1950s Goldtop with PAF pickups. I also don't have a Neve Console. I also can't confirm what amp he blended it with (IF he did), so this is a tone that was simply constructed, but is a result of the absolute nicest of nice equipment to get all the details. The smoothness, the chirp, the contrast of the top end to the bottom...it's just freaking gorgeous.

I reckon the AFX can get closer than my efforts. Thus I submit to the tone-match lords. Help a man out!
 
From that website (which is usually damn reputable)

"Another Brick in the Wall 1
studio
Stratocaster, bridge pickup
– rhythm/lead (3 tracks); clean signal into mixing desk with delay (long feedback)"

Well I'll be damned. I thought the clean tones on that was the bridge of a Goldtop.
 
I've not tried to create any Floyd tones yet with the Axe, but i do have a Strat with the Gilmour Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in the bridge, so I might have a play in the near future. Still a rookie with the Axe, but I think it has everything needed to create the tone.
 
As far as I know the solo was done with DG's Gold Top LP. You can hear the difference between the lead sound and the rhythm guitars, which I would say are strat. Interesting that Gilmourish doesn't mention the LP, they're usually the most complete source of info on Gilmour's gear and tones.
 
I am in a Floyd Tribute band and use an AxeFX II / MFC.

The gilmourish site is good for information to develop tones you are after, But I found this site just as good if not better to dial in delays, and such.
http://www.kitrae.net/music/David_Gilmour_Tone_Building.html

My PF tones right now kick a$#! My band mates & listeners are floored when I play Another Brick, Dogs, or Run Like Hell with the delays and tones I've developed. The Axe just kicks some serious a#$ for this!. But it took me a bit of time to study the gilmourish site, and the Kit Rae site, trying suggestions to find what sounded best to me and close to the original. Tried the Brit Floyd patches but honestly liked mine better (no disrespect -was just used to my sounds and routing). I use about 4 patches for all the floyd material, with global amps, and all effects are global except delays.

The most important thing is start with a compressor, and very clean amp. Add his pedals (from site references) you want, but keep it all at unity gain with pedals on/or off. I periodically change what my clean amp is. Started with the Hiwatt with TAF Fanes (which was good) but using the SuperVerb with ML 412 cab now, and like how that sits better. Experiment, but those sites mentioned do you give you great info to chase the Gilmour tone & effects you want. My main guitar for the band is a Deluxe Strat (HSS). Recently put the DG20's in, but am about to go back to the N3's!

Have tried with my Les Paul, and it's tough to get that Gilmour sound with it. He may have used one on the album but for some solos here and there. The Strat is still all over it, and was live back then. I do still pull out the Les Paul occasionally for some Floyd tunes.

Also use an FX-8 into an amp (4-cable) and the same effect blocks I've developed from using the II, when I feel like ripping the Floyd tunes through a real amp, or backline amp.
 
I am in a Floyd Tribute band and use an AxeFX II / MFC.

The gilmourish site is good for information to develop tones you are after, But I found this site just as good if not better to dial in delays, and such.
http://www.kitrae.net/music/David_Gilmour_Tone_Building.html

My PF tones right now kick a$#! My band mates & listeners are floored when I play Another Brick, Dogs, or Run Like Hell with the delays and tones I've developed. The Axe just kicks some serious a#$ for this!. But it took me a bit of time to study the gilmourish site, and the Kit Rae site, trying suggestions to find what sounded best to me and close to the original. Tried the Brit Floyd patches but honestly liked mine better (no disrespect -was just used to my sounds and routing). I use about 4 patches for all the floyd material, with global amps, and all effects are global except delays.

The most important thing is start with a compressor, and very clean amp. Add his pedals (from site references) you want, but keep it all at unity gain with pedals on/or off. I periodically change what my clean amp is. Started with the Hiwatt with TAF Fanes (which was good) but using the SuperVerb with ML 412 cab now, and like how that sits better. Experiment, but those sites mentioned do you give you great info to chase the Gilmour tone & effects you want. My main guitar for the band is a Deluxe Strat (HSS). Recently put the DG20's in, but am about to go back to the N3's!

Have tried with my Les Paul, and it's tough to get that Gilmour sound with it. He may have used one on the album but for some solos here and there. The Strat is still all over it, and was live back then. I do still pull out the Les Paul occasionally for some Floyd tunes.

Also use an FX-8 into an amp (4-cable) and the same effect blocks I've developed from using the II, when I feel like ripping the Floyd tunes through a real amp, or backline amp.

Any chance of you sharing these presets, give us something to start with?
 
I agree with MuleMan26, the kitrae site is fantastic for building Gilmour tones. I am also in a Floyd Tribute band, I am mainly using the Jumpered HiWatt, or a deluxe verb for the amps. Add some delay, and a little bit of chorus or flanging (you can hear it prominently on the live versions of the wall) and use a strat-style guitar. In fact if you search youtube there is a video of them the Wall tour doing Another brick pt 2. and he does all the rhythm work on a strat and switches to a les paul right before the solo.
 
Any chance of you sharing these presets, give us something to start with?

Sure. Here's a couple to get you started.

I use scenes 1-5 so pay attention to that.

1. PF5 Run - The Run delays are on each scene. With each scene giving a flavor of clean to drive. Scene 1, 2, and 3 are all clean and identical. Scene 4 with drive. Scene 5 with Drive and Flanger Just depends on the mood/crowd on which one I feel like playing. A clean Run Like Hell is nice, but found myself kicking on a drive, the flanger,(scene 5) and rolling back my vol knob on guitar a little and got killer compliments on the tone from fans and sound guys.

2. PF5 Brick - Use this for all Another Brick In the Wall (or any other wall tunes really) Scene 1 is a clean tone (no delay). Scene 2 is clean w/ Brick delays. Scene 3 ?forgot... Scene 4 and 5 are my lead tones.

Either of these presets should get you started. I use scenes, BUT I dynamically change those scenes a lot with the other pedals. Especially on all other tunes besides Run and Brick. Every Floyd patch I have always has Compressor, Drive1, Drive2, Flanger, Chorus, Phaser, Volume, and of course delays. Volume Sweep is set with a slight delay for nice swells.

The delays are the key to the sound IMO. You'll notice I run the delays in series next to each other. Thanks Kit Rae! for that suggestion and delay times. It's the "triplet" delay he talks about Gilmour using. I tried all the suggestions and found these work best for Run and Another Brick. Proven live with good results. NOW if you want to use these patches for other tunes, simply bypass Delay 1, and use Delay two for ambience.

To use these on other tunes, just vary some pedals with IA switches.
Chorus is almost always on. Drive 1(x) slight boost for cleans. Drive 1(y) a bit stronger that X. Drive 2 is fuzz face(x) and PI(y).

Examples:
  • To use these for Breathe Rythym. Scene 1. Turn on Phaser. Turn off Delay 1. Others to taste.
  • Breathe Slide Leads: Scene 1 . Drive1(boost) on, Phaser On, Delay 1 On, Volume Swells with Vol Pedal. Amazingly awesome. Basically same for great gig in sky. Keep it clean though.
  • Time Solo. Delay 1 Off. Drive 1 On. Drive 2 (y)(PI) on.
  • Money Solo. Scene 5 on either. Delays to taste.
  • Shine on Intro. Scene 1. Drive 1(x) on. Delay 2 on. Delay 1 off. ... etc..
  • etc... etc...
Trying to explain this all from my office. No axe in front of me. Hope this helps. And good luck. Remember these were dialed in from scratch for my guitars and setup. I run in Mono. We have another guitarist in band too and we split duties - but I do most leads..
I run into CLR's sometimes, and other times into a Freyette Power Station and Mesa 1x12 Mini Rect (using fxloop out 2). Sounds glorious for us.

Good luck!
 
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Sure. Here's a couple to get you started.

I use scenes 1-5 so pay attention to that.

1. PF5 Run - The Run delays are on each scene. With each scene giving a flavor of clean to drive. Scene 1, 2, and 3 are all clean and identical. Scene 4 with drive. Scene 5 with Drive and Flanger Just depends on the mood/crowd on which one I feel like playing. A clean Run Like Hell is nice, but found myself kicking on a drive, the flanger,(scene 5) and rolling back my vol knob on guitar a little and got killer compliments on the tone from fans and sound guys.

2. PF5 Brick - Use this for all Another Brick In the Wall (or any other wall tunes really) Scene 1 is a clean tone (no delay). Scene 2 is clean w/ Brick delays. Scene 3 ?forgot... Scene 4 and 5 are my lead tones.

Either of these presets should get you started. I use scenes, BUT I dynamically change those scenes a lot with the other pedals. Especially on all other tunes besides Run and Brick. Every Floyd patch I have always has Compressor, Drive1, Drive2, Flanger, Chorus, Phaser, Volume, and of course delays. Volume Sweep is set with a slight delay for nice swells.

The delays are the key to the sound IMO. You'll notice I run the delays in series next to each other. Thanks Kit Rae! for that suggestion and delay times. It's the "triplet" delay he talks about Gilmour using. I tried all the suggestions and found these work best for Run and Another Brick. Proven live with good results. NOW if you want to use these patches for other tunes, simply bypass Delay 1, and use Delay two for ambience.

To use these on other tunes, just vary some pedals with IA switches.
Chorus is almost always on. Drive 1(x) slight boost for cleans. Drive 1(y) a bit stronger that X. Drive 2 is fuzz face(x) and PI(y).

Examples:
  • To use these for Breathe Rythym. Scene 1. Turn on Phaser. Turn off Delay 1. Others to taste.
  • Breathe Slide Leads: Scene 1 . Drive1(boost) on, Phaser On, Delay 1 On, Volume Swells with Vol Pedal. Amazingly awesome. Basically same for great gig in sky. Keep it clean though.
  • Time Solo. Delay 1 Off. Drive 1 On. Drive 2 (y)(PI) on.
  • Money Solo. Scene 5 on either. Delays to taste.
  • Shine on Intro. Scene 1. Drive 1(x) on. Delay 2 on. Delay 1 off. ... etc..
  • etc... etc...
Trying to explain this all from my office. No axe in front of me. Hope this helps. And good luck. Remember these were dialed in from scratch for my guitars and setup. I run in Mono. We have another guitarist in band too and we split duties - but I do most leads..
I run into CLR's sometimes, and other times into a Freyette Power Station and Mesa 1x12 Mini Rect (using fxloop out 2). Sounds glorious for us.

Good luck!

Cheers fella, will definitely give these a go
 
Heres a quick sample of that Run Like Hell patch, used with a Les Paul (for sake of this thread). Its little dirtier than I like, but sounds great none-the-less.



EDIT:
And here's Another Brick preset with a Les Paul


just quick one try recordings to demonstrate. excuse da clams!

EDIT AGAIN:
Great Gig in the Sky w/ same preset. Used Brick preset, scene 2, plus turn on phaser, and bypass delay 1. Glass slide on LP, Volume pedal swells.


Sample of a money solo with the "Run" preset. Scene 5 and bypass delay 1. I know op wanted wall tones. But this just shows how versatile the Axe can be in one preset.
 
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Where's Bobby Harrison when you need him ;-)

*Responds to Bat signal*

Here I am!

I'm afraid I do not come bearing presets, since the last time I played side 1 of The Wall with Brit Floyd was in those dark, pre-Fractal days.

I've attached a clip of the band playing at Red Rocks, filmed a couple of years ago. "Another Brick In The Wall - Part 1" starts around the 6 minute mark.

As I mentioned, I didn't have my Axe FX back then. I was using a G System and my Cornford MK50 mkII head. I went for a the cleanest amp sound I could dial in, a whole load of compression, delay set to the tempo of the song (I can't remember the exact tempo off the top of my head, but you can tap it in) and I used pickup position 2 (bridge and middle).

Damian (stage left) played the majority of those ultra-clean Wall sounds, including all those pedalled, open D parts in "Another Brick..." and "Run Like Hell". Damian also played the clean rhythm parts in "Another Brick pt 2". He was using the Axe FX II around the time of this video, but, if my memory serves me correctly, he mainly used it for effects, integrated with his Roland set up, before gradually incorporating the amp modelling block of the Fractal. Therefore, I'm not sure if even he has a preset that's 100% Axe FX, although he may have created new sounds since.

I believe the clean rhythm sound on the studio version of Another Brick part 2 (by the REAL Pink Floyd) was the result of a DI straight into the desk, but don't quote me on that. Bjorn at www.gilmourish.com is highly knowledgeable when it comes to the history of DG's gear. His site is a great source of reference and I'm willing to bet that it's been thoroughly scoured by anybody who has ever played guitar in a Pink Floyd tribute band.

I hope this helps.

Here's a link to that Red Rocks show:

 
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Thanks for chiming in! Love your shows (seen 3 of them when you were in the band). Red Rocks must of been special. Never caught you guys there, but have seen a few others there, and by far my favorite venue! Great video!
 
Here's another Run Like Hell preset - It's essentially a slightly tweaked stock "Run Like Heck" preset. I don't have a Telecaster (this is a JP6, bridge humbucker only) and this is live straight into the board.

I did subsequently increase the mix slightly as well as the feedback.
 
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