Extreme and Nuno

mnwst

mnwst

Inspired
I recently rediscovered these guys after probably 15 years when I last listened to one of their albums. I was a fan back in '91-'93, saw them in '93 and '95, and really loved Nuno's playing, riffs, and songs. I thought the albums could have been produced differently, but no doubt a talented group of guys. I remember there were a lot of haters at the time, and of course their timing couldn't have been worse (totally not their fault).

But I was listening to 3 Sides and just love the production, sound, tones, etc. So- any other fans out there and what would you use in the Axe to get some the sounds off of 3 Sides, or even Pornograffiti? I seem to recall in interviews that he used Marshalls, RAT distiortion pedals, and ADA preamps? The stereo spread on 3 Sides is killer.

Cheers!
 
Three sides was a soldano hot rod 50 and boss turbo distortion. If u use the slo with low gain and the super distortion, cab within v30s it's right there. Porno was an Ada mp1. Gearslutz has a great thread on his stuff.
 
That Bill Lawrence pickup has a lot to do with the sound also. It adds a completely different flavor to the harmonics, pick attack and chords Nuno uses. I love that pickup for leads and certain sounds but it seems to smear chords- some in a good way and some bad imo
 
Really track down the thread on gearslutz, the making of that whole album was nuts.. it's awesome to see from the viewpoint of the producer and engineer some of the mania.
 
I think he's one of the most under-rated players of all time. The guy is so good live...it's nuts!

That said, I was playing around with this backing track when I read your post. LOL! I'm using the 800 Mod amp with one of my own created cab impulses. I didn't tone match or anything....I just plugged in and tried to play "in the style of". :)

 
Danny - very nice! I used to play 'Get the Funk Out' with a band back in the day. Never had it airtight though. I seem to remember a tad more treble, as he always had this airy crispness to his solos.
 
Nuno is one of the best players of that era, period...such a cool unique style and so much ability/musicality.

I thought Lynch was my biggest influence back then but when I listen back to stuff from then I realize it was far more Nuno.
 
plyall said:
Danny - very nice! I used to play 'Get the Funk Out' with a band back in the day. Never had it airtight though. I seem to remember a tad more treble, as he always had this airy crispness to his solos.
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Thanks! I'm not air tight either....not with anything I play to be honest. I always like to add a bit of myself in so it makes any cover I play a bit more personal. I've always liked when others put their spin on something and made it "different".

Yeah you know plyall, that treble thing is what always bothered me about the Porno album. It was just a bit too abrasive for me rhythm wise. Even live when they toured doing that album, the treble he was getting out of that MP2 or whatever the heck he used, was horrible. I saw them 3 different times in 3 different rooms for that tour and every time, the tone was just loaded with highs to where it hurt. My favorite tones from him are definitely the first album and 3 sides. The thing about 3 sides that I DIDN'T like was, I thought most of it was a bit dreary and lacked kick. He reduced his gain so low it really made things sound weak.

Don't get me wrong, the production was good...I just felt the album was a bit of a let-down compared to the upbeat, guitar pyro onsalught we got from Porno. I can't even tell you how long that cassette stayed in my car. Maybe 2 years? 3 sides shows major growth in songwriting, but it also has that sort of depressing, slow moving sort of thing that just really never did much for me, though I did listen to it often in hopes it would catch on. I just prefer the first two albums personally. Still good stuff and definitely one of my fave players of all time. He's just so sick live....the way it should be. :)
 
I hear what you're saying Danny. I've been going back and forth this past week between Porno and 3 Sides. My favorite is Cupid's Dead, the groove, the tone, his picking, that solo section that's less solo and more riffing!!, all of it. I feel like Nuno was let out of his cage on Porno, but then the very next album does their version of Sgt. Peppers. That said, his playing on Porno is sooooo good, that had it been even 5 years earlier, I think he would've received the respect he truly deserves. dpeterson, thanks for the link I'll look it up, I was trying to find stuff online to get more details.

I guess the old man in me is reflecting on the why behind everything. They did everything right (referring more to 3 Sides)- stellar hooks, songs, amazing chops, harmonies, production, concepts, etc, etc but it didn't catch on.

But glad to see Nuno is still doing his thing.
 
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3 sides is their white album. Front to back great. I love the tones. Some of his hotel room demos made it in too which is cool. One solo he used a little battery powered Marshall amp and headphones as the microphone to capture the moment. Great stuff.
 
Wasn't Pornograffitti mixed by Michael Wagener?

He loves pushing amps with a high mid PEQ. Might be one source of that crisp guitar tone.
 
Danny Danzi said:
I think he's one of the most under-rated players of all time. The guy is so good live...it's nuts!

That said, I was playing around with this backing track when I read your post. LOL! I'm using the 800 Mod amp with one of my own created cab impulses. I didn't tone match or anything....I just plugged in and tried to play "in the style of". :)

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Never seen him live but for on TV and he sounded unreal. Some HDNET concert years ago. Anyway...I'm gonna see him live here in DC in a few weeks with generation axe
 
What about the tones on waiting for the punchline? I know the album came out after grunge killed that style but I love the tone and the tunes are great, nuno is an incredible player.
 
rickgk said:
What about the tones on waiting for the punchline? I know the album came out after grunge killed that style but I love the tone and the tunes are great, nuno is an incredible player.
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I don't know, Rick. That album just never did anything for me other than a good drum sound. I dig the bluesy guitar tone and feel of the record, but like 3 sides, it just seemed too dark, dismal and not uplifting enough maybe?

I can respect the art and the fact that they didn't put out the same album every year, but that said, a band wins you over due to a certain sound they create. If you don't give the people enough of that sound, it's easy to lose interest and I believe that's what happened to extreme.

If you look at bands that were successful, most of them maintained longevity due to putting out the same sounding record a few times. Van Halen, Bonjovi, Def Lep, Led Zep, most classic rock bands etc, all kept putting out a few albums of the same sound. This to me, in my experience, is crucial for survival to common folks that may not listen to music like we that are musicians.

At any rate, Nuno's playing is indeed incredible as it is on everything he takes part in. I just didn't totally dig the whole dirty blues thing when you compare it to the stuff that got me interested in Extreme.

It's like my thoughts on Dream Theater. I love them as musicians, but Images and Words is what hooked me. After that, one or two albums I liked and the rest.....I can't listen to 5 minutes of because it literally sounds like the formulas they write on the chalkboard when they are creating the stuff.

Though the hooks are there, I personally like a happy medium of hook vs prog vs musical wankage. Images and Words gave me all of that and it's what sold me on them.

When a band tries redefine the face of music or they go way astray from what got them recognition, it can sometimes be the death of them. I'm all for change, but I also need some of the stuff that hooked me or I too lose interest. Just my take. :)
 
rickgk said:
What about the tones on waiting for the punchline? I know the album came out after grunge killed that style but I love the tone and the tunes are great, nuno is an incredible player.
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that was a fender combo amp of some sort, make is escaping me at the moment. amazing how he doesnt use his own gear ;)
 
I saw the three sides tour. It was awesome. Never understood the lukewarm reaction it got. I assumed it was too pretentious for many. It went over their heads.
 
Dutch said:
I saw the three sides tour. It was awesome. Never understood the lukewarm reaction it got. I assumed it was too pretentious for many. It went over their heads.
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You're so right Dutch! This thread made me go play that album....it's not as lead guitar savvy as porno but it kills it on so many different levels. Tones, writing, textures etc. This shows me I've grown as I haven't listened to this in years. It also made me listen to waiting for the punchline. I still hate that album lol!
 
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