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Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 05:29 PM

I'm wondering if anyone out there has some ideas as to how SV gets some of the sounds he uses at the beginning of "Whisper a Prayer" ...

I'm talking about that fat synthy sound with feedback - here's what I know so far:

1. Trem dips to get the floaty pitchy feel
2. The Jem if you crank up the gain and add some compression will decay rather nicely to a 3rd harmonic (Octave + 5th to the fundamental) and SV seems to do this, but his harmonics come in a lot stronger and more quickly
3. I know he uses Eventide harmonisers - was wondering if they account for the above?
4. Does anyone know if he relies on real acoustic feedback, or is it all electronic?

Any answers gratefully recieved ...

Posted by: Ninevolt Jul 12 2007, 05:34 PM

Andrew,
Not to be a smartass or anything, but like most Steve Vai riffs, I am sure he gets his sound directly from either aliens, God or other divine influence...
Ninevolt

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 06:06 PM

Yes, it does sound that way Can us mere mortals ever understand ?

Posted by: Scott Gentzen Jul 12 2007, 06:08 PM

He's using the volume pedal on that point, isn't he? I know he does later when he's harmonizing with the delay.

Flo has a sustainer pickup in it. Not sure what the two extra switches on the body of that guitar do though either (from the Astoria video).

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 12 2007, 06:41 PM

I know he uses volume pedals, Delay, Reverb, Harmonizers (no idea what kind) and obvioulsy some kind of FX Pedal or MultiFX Pedal. Its VERY Hard to replicate that song in any way. it wouldnt hurt if either if you could master the art of creating feedback and trem bar antics.

also, If he doesnt answer here, I'd PM Pavel, he might know.

PS.

Whispering A Prayer is my single most favorite song, second only to Iron Maidens powerslave.

Posted by: Robin Jul 12 2007, 06:48 PM

Slightly off topic:

May I ask whats so amusing about this song? I think its rather boring

This is song is a thousand times better! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piIBShJ1GXI

(please dont kill me)

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 12 2007, 06:50 PM

Blood and Glory is a great song, i even know how to play it.

But i find Whispering A Prayer to be one of the most Beautiful songs, the melodies are just so unreal, the song inspires me everytime i hear it, and when i saw him play it live, i could of cried....But i uh Didnt, Ahem!!
Im uh, TO MANLY TO CRY.




























You heard nothing hear today

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 06:57 PM

Missiles locked, loaded and aimed at Alta ...

Ok, I'll give you my view. Since I am not a Metal guy, my love of Steve Vai revolves around his sense of melody and emotion. For me, the 3 best songs of his I have heard in order would be:

1. Tender Surrender
2. Whisper a Prayer
3. For the Love of God

All slower more emotional songs. Having said that, I admire all of his playing, and the link you gave above is pretty cool too

EDIT - Changed the order of the songs



What happens on GMC stays on GMC





































Or does it ???

Posted by: Robin Jul 12 2007, 06:58 PM

Hmm very well then! I dont think the melodies are that great, ah well. Everyone have different opinions.

Oh and btw Andrew, that link I gave you isnt just "pretty cool" I cant find words to describe it actually

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 07:07 PM

Well ok, we disagree about his best songs but we both share an immense respect for his genius, which I guess is good enough

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 12 2007, 07:10 PM

I sure hope it does...

Anyway, Those songs you picked, Tender Surrender, Whispering A Prayer, And For The Love Of God are pretty much EXACTLY my favorites, except it would look liek this.

1. Whispering A Prayer
2. For The Love Of God
3. Gentle Ways

Gentle Ways is another slower emotional one, check it out if you like thay style of Vai. Excellent tune.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 07:24 PM

Heh, thanks! Waiting for an Amazon shipment with a load of new Vai CDs (I have 3 so far). Hope Gentle ways is on one of those ....

Ok, I see its on Sound Theories, cool, I'm getting that - what album was it origionaly on?

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 12 2007, 07:43 PM

Alive In An Ultra World, You should buy that album as well, it has Whispering A Prayer on it

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 12 2007, 08:06 PM

Got that one ... ahh, missed it because it had some other title (Brandos Costumes or some such). Thanks!

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 13 2007, 12:20 AM

Excellent Choice

Posted by: Pavel Jul 13 2007, 12:56 AM

Sorry for replying this late but i couldn't log in to forum the whole day!

Ok - i'll tell you what Vai uses to get those sounds:

1. the intervals shifting + maintaining the original note is the Digitech Whammy Pedal! You can set it to millions settings - really an amazing piece of equipment! So for example you play C and you set the pedal to major third, and when you press it (like wah pedal) you get the original C + E which is created by Whammy Pedal! Cool, ha?

2. Vai has Fernandez Sustainiac pick-up (the neck pick-up on Flo guitar) which gives him unlimited sustain!! The two switches are used to create like harmonics. So as soon as you pick a note it will go into artificial harmonics without you doing it. You just play the note. The switches, as long as i remember, set if it goes an octave or 5th, or 2 octaves...

3. 2xCarvin Legacy Amps - 100Watts - live on stage it gives you an amazing sound, natural feedback - you only have to control it like Vai does!

4. His rig - better let's not talk about it!

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 13 2007, 01:57 AM

Wow! Thanks for the info Pavel ... I can feel a Digitech whammy in my future maybe

Right, off to read about Sustainiacs ...

Posted by: Speedeh Jul 13 2007, 07:59 AM

Here's an example of Vai and Mojo (another JEM) doing crazy things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQF1t2RdINU

I don't wanna ask how he does all that. I feel that I will somehow learn it when the time is right :D

Posted by: blindwillie Jul 13 2007, 08:09 AM

Oh heck. I read "SRV". You made me read a whole thread with questionmarks stacking up around my head...

I didn't realize it was Vai until Pavels reply

Posted by: JVM Jul 13 2007, 08:51 AM

Oh my god. I've seen the bad horsie video and I thought that was crazy, but this is absolutely insane. One of the best live performances I've ever seen, thanks for showing me. What a show

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 13 2007, 01:02 PM

Cool stuff - I looked at the Whammy, don't think I need one of those, but that Sustainer ... wow! I'm seriously tempted to get my Jem modded, but I wonder how good the sustainer pickup is in regular mode compared to the Neck EVO I have now, which has a seriously nice clean sound ...

Posted by: Travelin' Man Jul 13 2007, 04:16 PM

Andrew, I just watched it on utube. It sounds to me like Humpback whales. Or maybe the back tracking for a nature show for them

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 13 2007, 04:25 PM

Maybe he has a whale-a-tron effect pedal down there somewhere ....

Posted by: Pavel Jul 13 2007, 04:36 PM

I think if it screwed up the sound on his guitar, Vai wouldn't put it in his guitar! And just to inform you - that particular JEM is called "Flo" (Vai names all of his guitar to make it easier to communicate with his guitar tech), it's his most used guitar right now and he plays almost complete shows using only that guitar for all songs so i bet it has great sound!

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 13 2007, 05:13 PM

Cool - Pavel you know a lot about this, thanks!

Now I know about Evo and Flo, Evo used to be his favourite but it is now damaged and unplayable I think? I thought he would have been using Flo just for that song or similar, but if he uses it all the time now, that answers the question, thanks!

Hmm. I wonder if my tech would do the mod for me ...

Posted by: Speedeh Jul 13 2007, 05:17 PM

Don't forget to ask about LED inlays and crazy night vision goggles

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jul 13 2007, 05:36 PM

Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 13 2007, 06:46 PM

And the finger lasers!! cant forget those!!


But those NVG's are kickass you know Shredin' in the dark!!