MODERN, READILY AVAILABLE GEAR THAT’LL HELP YOU NAIL THE SIGNATURE SOUNDS OF SRV, DIMEBAG DARRELL AND BILLY GIBBONS
BY CHRIS GILL
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN BILLY GIBBONS DIMEBAG DARRELL
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN: THE WHAM OF THAT TEXAS MAN!
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN STRATOCASTER
($2,049.99)
With features like a left-hand vibrato tailpiece and 6105 frets, this guitar is modeled after Stevie’s “Number One” Strat. If the SRV Strat is out of your budget, a Fender Player Plus Stratocaster with pau ferro fretboard ($1,099.99) and a set of three Texas Special pickups ($269.99) will get you close.
FENDER ’65 SUPER REVERB
($2,049.99)
Stevie used a wide variety of amps, including Marshalls, Fender Vibroverbs and Dumbles, the latter now costing as much as a starter home. However, Fender Super Reverbs were pretty consistently found in his backline from the club days through arena shows. It’s also one of the few amps Stevie used for clean and overdrive tones.
IBANEZ TS9 TUBE SCREAMER
($109.99)
From the TS-808 through the TS10, Stevie used them all, but the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer was the mainstay on his pedalboard for most of his career peak from 1982 onwards.
VOX V847-A WAH ($99.99)
Stevie’s Vox wah allegedly originally belonged to Jimi Hendrix. Appropriately, Stevie used his often when performing Hendrix covers.
DUNLOP JHF1 JIMI HENDRIX FUZZ FACE ($159.99)
The Fuzz Face was a late addition to Stevie’s pedalboard, starting in 1988 when he wanted to duplicate Jimi’s tone more accurately.
ELECTRO-HARMONIX LESTER G DELUXE ($272.10)
This pedal is an affordable and portable alternative to the Fender Vibratone rotating speaker cabinet that Stevie used on “Cold Shot” and “Couldn’t Stand the Weather.”
BILLY GIBBONS: MASTER OF SPARKS
EPIPHONE 1959 LES PAUL STANDARD ($899.99)
Can’t afford six figures for an original 1959 Les Paul Standard like Pearly Gates? This model will take you about 90 percent of the way there, with tone and good looks that will get your mojo workin’. Pop a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker ($119) in the bridge and you’ll shout “have mercy!”
FENDER VINTERA ’50S STRATOCASTER ($1,099.99)
The Rev is rightfully known for his righteous fat humbucker tones, but his slinky Strat tones are mighty fine, too (“Heard It on the X,” “Apologies to Pearly,” most of the Deguello album). A Fifties-style Strat with maple fretboard does the job so nicely you’ll want to thank us.
