Dokken guitar set-up

The frantic · July 20th, 2006, 10:45 AM

Hi Neil!

I was wondering what kind of guitar set-up George Lynch used on the albums you worked on? I know he used a Marshall rig live. I've heard a rumour that he used a small combo to record in the studio, is that true?

NK · July 26th, 2006, 12:35 AM

I did 3 albums with George - two with Dokken and one with Lynch Mob.

On ULAK, we used a heavily modified Marshall head (mod was done by Lee Jackson of Metaltronix).

On BFTA we used a completely stock purple Marshall (1969 model number) head. It sounded absolutely amazing.

On Wicked Sensation we used a Soldano head that belonged to Warren DeMartini of Ratt.

I don't think I ever saw a Marshall combo in the studio during those sessions...

Fragle · July 26th, 2006, 04:03 AM

strange, i was about to post a similar question

back for the attack is amazing, musically and sonically. the rhythm tone is somewhat weak by today's standards - although it fits the music well - , but the lead tone is AMAZING.
apparently lynch used some form of sustainiac for all his leads, as well as a tubescreamer? or was the TS also used for rhythm tones?
and btw, what exactly did that sustainiac thing do? is it comparable to the sustainiac device that's e.g. built in the jackson DK2 something model? (http://www.thomann.de/de/jackson_dk2s_egitarre.htm)
any other info regarding the production on back for the attack?

so many questions

well, it's a great record

The frantic · July 26th, 2006, 07:53 AM

Thanks for the answer Neil!

Speaking of Warren DeMartini, do you know if he and Lynch were friends? Since Warren's style is quite similar to George's.

NK · July 26th, 2006, 11:57 AM

Yes, we used the sustainiac for the leads on BFTA. I love those things (I still own two of them). They are a large pedal unit with two pedals, one that sends a boost of tonic (root note) feedback into the transducer, and the other that sends a dominant (fifth) into it. The transducer fits on to a magnet that's attached to the back of the headstock, and is powered by a 60 W amp. So when you hit a note, then step on the pedal, a massive burst of power is sent into the neck and the guitar vibrates and occasionally screams with pleasure. All great fun. I used to run the pedal part and do the punch-ins at the same time, so George didn't have to worry about anything but playing the solos.

I think the sustainiac is made by the same people who make the sustainiac built in device, but it's FAR more powerful - the pedal that houses the 60W amp itself is a good size.

No pedals were used for the rhythm tone, but we did use a TS for the leads, at least for some of them.

Warren and George were, and probably are, still good friends. They grew up together in Orange County I think.

silverwulf · January 21st, 2008, 01:39 PM

Hey Neil, I've heard the the leads on BFTA was one of these:

...plugged into the sustainer and then straight into the board. Any truth to that?

NK · January 21st, 2008, 01:44 PM

None whatsoever.

silverwulf · January 21st, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NK

None whatsoever.

Awesome, thanks! So the leads on BFTA are just the Purple Plexi, a Tube Screamer on occasion, and the sustainer?

NK · January 21st, 2008, 02:20 PM

I remember we had borrowed more than one old Plexi from Aspen, so I can't guarantee that it was always the purple one that we used. George might come in one day and not be feeling the sound that day so we'd mess around with the amps until things sounded better. I'm pretty sure all the rhythms were the purple one though.

Notuern · April 16th, 2009, 06:18 PM

Hey!

How many times have you tracked the guitar parts on BFTA? And do you remember how you panned them?
What has been done with the guitar sound in Mr. Scary? If i listen really carefully to it, i think i can hear the guitar tracks pitched down an octave?

NK · April 24th, 2009, 08:50 PM

We had four tracks, two left and two right.

There were a total of 17 guitar tracks on Mr Scary. On some melodies we used an octavider added in for effect.

Notuern · April 26th, 2009, 05:18 PM

Damn, talk about loads of tracking!

Im REALLY greatful for this info, keep on making the most awesome mixes out there!

July 20th, 2006, 10:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
The frantic Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: In The Village.... Posts: 349	Dokken guitar set-up Hi Neil! I was wondering what kind of guitar set-up George Lynch used on the albums you worked on? I know he used a Marshall rig live. I've heard a rumour that he used a small combo to record in the studio, is that true? __________________ http://www.purevolume.com/franticbleep http://www.franticbleep.com/ Frantic Bleep on Myspace My personal space

July 26th, 2006, 12:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
NK Complete Bastard Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 913	I did 3 albums with George - two with Dokken and one with Lynch Mob. On ULAK, we used a heavily modified Marshall head (mod was done by Lee Jackson of Metaltronix). On BFTA we used a completely stock purple Marshall (1969 model number) head. It sounded absolutely amazing. On Wicked Sensation we used a Soldano head that belonged to Warren DeMartini of Ratt. I don't think I ever saw a Marshall combo in the studio during those sessions... __________________ Neil K. http://www.auslander.net http://myspace.com/neilkernon "If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit, then Rambo is your kind of experience"

July 26th, 2006, 07:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
The frantic Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: In The Village.... Posts: 349	Thanks for the answer Neil! Speaking of Warren DeMartini, do you know if he and Lynch were friends? Since Warren's style is quite similar to George's. __________________ http://www.purevolume.com/franticbleep http://www.franticbleep.com/ Frantic Bleep on Myspace My personal space

July 26th, 2006, 11:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
NK Complete Bastard Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 913	Yes, we used the sustainiac for the leads on BFTA. I love those things (I still own two of them). They are a large pedal unit with two pedals, one that sends a boost of tonic (root note) feedback into the transducer, and the other that sends a dominant (fifth) into it. The transducer fits on to a magnet that's attached to the back of the headstock, and is powered by a 60 W amp. So when you hit a note, then step on the pedal, a massive burst of power is sent into the neck and the guitar vibrates and occasionally screams with pleasure. All great fun. I used to run the pedal part and do the punch-ins at the same time, so George didn't have to worry about anything but playing the solos. I think the sustainiac is made by the same people who make the sustainiac built in device, but it's FAR more powerful - the pedal that houses the 60W amp itself is a good size. No pedals were used for the rhythm tone, but we did use a TS for the leads, at least for some of them. Warren and George were, and probably are, still good friends. They grew up together in Orange County I think. __________________ Neil K. http://www.auslander.net http://myspace.com/neilkernon "If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit, then Rambo is your kind of experience"

January 21st, 2008, 01:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
NK Complete Bastard Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 913	None whatsoever. __________________ Neil K. http://www.auslander.net http://myspace.com/neilkernon "If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit, then Rambo is your kind of experience"

July 26th, 2006, 04:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fragle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,122	strange, i was about to post a similar question back for the attack is amazing, musically and sonically. the rhythm tone is somewhat weak by today's standards - although it fits the music well - , but the lead tone is AMAZING. apparently lynch used some form of sustainiac for all his leads, as well as a tubescreamer? or was the TS also used for rhythm tones? and btw, what exactly did that sustainiac thing do? is it comparable to the sustainiac device that's e.g. built in the jackson DK2 something model? (http://www.thomann.de/de/jackson_dk2s_egitarre.htm) any other info regarding the production on back for the attack? so many questions well, it's a great record

January 21st, 2008, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
silverwulf Ghost in the Machine Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 376	Hey Neil, I've heard the the leads on BFTA was one of these: ...plugged into the sustainer and then straight into the board. Any truth to that?

January 21st, 2008, 02:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
NK Complete Bastard Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 913	I remember we had borrowed more than one old Plexi from Aspen, so I can't guarantee that it was always the purple one that we used. George might come in one day and not be feeling the sound that day so we'd mess around with the amps until things sounded better. I'm pretty sure all the rhythms were the purple one though. __________________ Neil K. http://www.auslander.net http://myspace.com/neilkernon "If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit, then Rambo is your kind of experience"

April 16th, 2009, 06:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Notuern Bloody vaginal belch Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,087	Hey! How many times have you tracked the guitar parts on BFTA? And do you remember how you panned them? What has been done with the guitar sound in Mr. Scary? If i listen really carefully to it, i think i can hear the guitar tracks pitched down an octave?

April 24th, 2009, 08:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
NK Complete Bastard Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 913	We had four tracks, two left and two right. There were a total of 17 guitar tracks on Mr Scary. On some melodies we used an octavider added in for effect. __________________ Neil K. http://www.auslander.net http://myspace.com/neilkernon "If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit, then Rambo is your kind of experience"

April 26th, 2009, 05:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Notuern Bloody vaginal belch Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,087	Damn, talk about loads of tracking! Im REALLY greatful for this info, keep on making the most awesome mixes out there!