Deconstructing Dean DeLeo's STP Tone

[@Irishtwinbeads282]

Dean Deleo is def one of the best Guitarists of the so called Grunge era. His tone is amazing. You did a great job recreating it.

[@Michlandir]

Truly excited to see this post. The biggest band of the 90’s that was STILL criminally underrated.

[@1970borntorun]

And unlike Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden, actually knew how to play their instruments and write good songs! Lol

[@brentparks2292]

@1970bourn, that’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard! Your saying Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Dave Grohl, can’t play their instruments? Yes I left others out because I don’t have time to list everyone in those bands. Then you say they didn’t write good music! Are you serious? Your what the rest of us who loved that era call an idiot. All those bands were fantastic, great musicians.

[@BockwinkleB]

@@1970borntorun dude, they were all great players and songwriters. Wtf are you smoking?

[@imandan1966]

@@1970borntorun settle down Beavis

[@KARLOS121]

@@1970borntorun That is a massive dumb comment.

[@christopherhuff3123]

He had a HUGE tone on that first album

[@bradcook5174]

I ordered a Dean DeLeo spec preamp from Demeter a couple years ago. Took forever but was worth it. It definitely has its own sound. Its the most uncompressed sounding high gain amp I've played. All the harmonics and overtones seem to bloom and ring out. For instance, the 3 crazy chords following the C#m in Interstate Love Song's verses don't sound right to me on my Marshalls or Mesas. But on the Demeter you can hear every note ring in those sophisticated chords.

[@DavidRFIT]

I hate those 3 chords. Especially the second. Fuck them.

[@ominosersudlander14888]

@@DavidRFIT yeah hard to play

[@vitob5898]

Great example 👍

[@owlytimbre9103]

Deleo is finally getting his due. Out of the desert rain in '92 he refused to quit playing at risk of losing it all. His joy was infectious. Inspired cat, man.

[@nicolekelly4371]

Truly one of the greats

[@ElliotStent]

Great video Michael! Dean DeLeo is so underrated, both for his playing and sound.

[@EVEROSFP1]

A very smart player.

[@ElliotStent]

@@EVEROSFP1 Absolutely! Lots of jazz influence 👌

[@adam872]

So much jazz chord goodness

[@DJ7tringGuitar]

Dean finally changed up his rig a couple years back. Retired his old CE-1 for a Waza Craft chorus that he sets for a vibrato sound, a Dunlop Echo-Plex for slapback on leads, and 2009 chambered Les Pauls with Duncan Jazz's for the bridge pickups

[@marmaladecream2233]

Dean has one of the best tones ever, studio and live. It was really cool to hear him finally explain his live rig with the AC-30 on the Tone Talk episode recently.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

YES! Great episode! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKSzqGmfoNFkbdU

[@-rubbersoul-]

i thought his sound was more marshall style than vox to be more versatile set up

[@rickaitkins6539]

It's neither. It's Demeter & VHT. Guitar into Demeter, into stereo effects, into VHT stereo power amp, into L & R speakers with a tiny bit of Vox AC30 running clean for the barely noticeable higher high-end tones.

[@BrettPapa]

Dude you nailed it!! Sounds so good!

[@demian113]

Thank you for making this video! Dean is one of my all time favorite players and imho he's always overlooked. His tone and style has been extremely influential on me and he deserves more appreciation than he gets!

[@steverherb]

Excellent recreation of the STP tone! There's so much biting distortion yet the note clarity is perfect

[@michaelpate6700]

Worthy. So worthy. DDL's live sound always crushes and it goes without saying he's one of the most tasteful players in RNR history for sure. What has always baffled me is that I don't think he's ever used his live rig that we all know in the studio, ever. Maybe the 1st album? Beyond that it's all tiny combo amps and and odd single coil guitars and whatnot but live this rig has barely changed and he plays ALL those tunes?!?!? How does he do that?!?! He's a total Wizard and a soft spoken, sweet guy. So very cool as is his tech Bruce Nelson who's making guitars for the best of the best these days. Don't miss STP live! Get a ticket now!!! They always CRUSH!!! Great video Michael!

[@EVEROSFP1]

My favourite STP song is Plush ....I Love the tone of guitars... In an interview DDL had stated for this rig "finally a rig that weather changes don't affect it".Lol!

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

Always loved Dean’s tones especially from Core record! Pretty gnarly and gritty sounding

[@Tboy78]

love their sound, melodies and Dean's solos. thanks for this meticulous overview

[@DesSherwoodGuitarTuition]

Dang that DOES sound close! I've always loved Dean's chords and progressions. Nice job Michael...and never under-sell yourself as a guitarist again. (I've seen a lot of your other videos as well) Keep up the good work!

[@gtrman69777]

I'm a big fan of his chords and rhythm playing as well. It reminds me a lot of Jimmy Page.

[@scottwaszak698]

A lot of “Dean’s chords and progressions” are, in fact, Robert’s.

[@cobrastrapcobb]

I have a similar setup, there's a good trick I recommend. Use one of the classics sides at 50 watts and the other side at 100 watts to a different cab and it will send your chugs to the moon. I usually run it in triode mode as well. U rock brudda take care and be well

[@luca4352]

Okay but now you have to do Jerry's Dirt Rig! You almost have it all, Bogner Fish into Hafler Poweramp for Mids,, Dual Recto for Low end, and Rockman into a small Marshall solidstate Combo for top end. Who if not you??

[@kodykindhart5644]

I know the guy in Seattle who has a hand built amp jerry played on the first record

[@luca4352]

@@kodykindhart5644 it's hand modded by bogner. You're talking about ronnie champagne?

[@marmaladecream2233]

@@kodykindhart5644 The "Snorkeler"?

[@kodykindhart5644]

Yup That one Bought amp from him a while back was talking turning a church into a studio 🤘🤘🤘

[@kodykindhart5644]

Total badass dude and amp

[@LeonTodd]

That Rocktron multi-voice chorus deserves to be spoken of in the same hushed tones as the other popular rack choruses (chorii?) IMO

[@izzyizzm8761]

Is there a chorus that is close to this on the AXE-FX 3?

[@LeonTodd]

@@izzyizzm8761 yep, you can use two instances of the Multitap delay to create an 8 voice chorus - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5ynYZeZpch2jK8&ab_channel=LeonTodd

[@izzyizzm8761]

@@LeonTodd Dam Leon just like that ! Way ahead of the game! I need a link to download all of rag dolls library with on price.. hook me up

[@kevinsharpe8457]

Holy cow .. That’s awesome! I loved Deans sound on Core . You just nailed his sound. Incredible.

[@mikef09]

Love everything about your videos. Just bought a ton of the profiles and REALLY enjoy them, perfect right out of the box. Thank you, Michael!

[@Yupppi]

Pretty exciting and refreshing to see a video without speaker simulation!

[@jasontillman2645]

Great vid! Anderton’s never gave us an STP Sound Like video, so this scratches the itch!

[@soundstorm9508]

Sounds really great man, but one thing you’re missing is a really crucial component of his sound. The Vox AC30, which according to DeLeo, was ALWAYS on from ‘91 all the way into his stuff with Army Of Anyone, so basically his whole career.

[@rickaitkins6539]

Yesss, exactly!!!

[@favoriteblueshirt]

That was great, pretty accurate and convincing, lovely to hear some Dean DeLeo again.

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Thank you!!! STP is my favorite rock band of all time!!!! 👍🏽👍🏽💯

[@Twobarpsi]

STP is one of my favorite bands ever! Love the guitar tone. Awesome video 🤘🤘🤘!!

[@gtrman69777]

I love that you started out with Crackerman and not one of their more popular songs. That and Sin are my two favorite songs from that album. 😃

[@jayboy6895]

A note to everyone. Michael is The Real Deal. Stand Up Guy. If you haven’t got the RockXL pack yet. GET IT!!!!. Insane clean and distorted catches. I will attempting a demo soon but simply watch Michaels review. What a guy. I may even stick a framed poster of him on my legends wall. I hope some day in the future I can share a few beers with The Tone God. 🙏

[@POGFROGULPOP]

That's 'the' Dean DeLeo sound. Glad both the Michael's can help me salivate over guitar tones from yesteryear.

[@Sonicblue1922]

Is there a better channel on youtube? I don't think so....Thanks for all you do Michael!

[@BrianRomeroArt]

This video is amazing. Dean is one of my all time favorites. I’d love another Tonex capture of this pre amp that’s totally focused on Dean’s tones. Specific album tracks as well as his live tone over the years. Also an IR with the VHT power amp into a Marshall 1960AV from the 90’s. I think that power amp is key to his sound as well.

[@STEM2049]

STP really needs to do another album like Core and Purple

[@jamesthompson2804]

I was surprised to learn that, with each successive album, sales were basically cut in half each time. Still damn good numbers, but surprising.

[@JRP3music]

I have Rocktron Replifex/Intellifex and Multivalve/Intellifex fx units. The Intellifex has that 8 voice chorus in it. I still have those units. Great fx racks.

[@jessec6402]

Thanks for posting something more on Deans setup. I missed my opportunity to buy a tgp3 a few years ago. You should do a complete Deleo setup by adding the vox ac30 along with the vintage stereo chorus pedal and the S.I.B Varidrive. I've read quotes of him saying that the vox is the secret sauce to his whole sound. Anyway, great job recreating sounds from a truly great player!

[@rickaitkins6539]

Yes, the Vox AC30! Very significant! I also notice it was missing in this.

[@marmaladecream2233]

@@rickaitkins6539 I think he said in the Tone Talk interview that the Vox came into play after the Core album

[@IgnacioGiri]

These profiles were one of the main reasons why I got the Kemper. Totally worth it! I feel I have Dean DeLeo in my fingers. Thanks for the free updates!

[@danielspangler8358]

Thank you Michael. I was never into the alt/grunge scene. But, as time goes by I came to appreciate some of the song writing, playing and production of certain bands. As always, you're videos are extremely educational and fun to watch. You're a damn good guitar player. I learn a lot just by watching you play. So, thank you once again. Now I must get ready to go to work where music plays no role in what I'm doing. :(

[@markesquivelarvizu6942]

I think STP unfairly got lumped into Grunge/Alt purely because of the time they came out. They were never a part of that Seattle scene. They seemed like a great Hard Rock band that came out in around '90

[@anthonysclafani3963]

wow Plush sounded exactly like the recording, very nice 👏

[@ClassofEighty2]

Massive Inspiring tone!!! Wow. Huge. Way to get into it and break it all down. The Demeter and the Intelliverb Octopus are insane.

[@SolarWarden88]

Great video brother, and as always, Dr. Rack (Torren) comes through again!

[@jimbeaux4988]

Very nice! I was listening to a lot of STP on the radio this last week. That octopus chorus really nails that sound.

[@MrDevins]

Nice, Michael! As a teen rock fan in the late 80s, Aerosmith, Guns, and Neil Young's albums of the era appealed to me more than glam Rock and Metal. Into the 90s, I dug Alice and Chains (saw them open for VH on the F.U.C.K. tour at the Spectrum in Philly) and Soundgarden (saw them open for Guns at the Spectrum). Then came STP - it was just Rock, and it was impossible not to love the DeLeo brothers who brought us new straight up Rock - great riffs and great songs.

[@timmytVA]

I was at that GnR / Soundgarden show at The Spectrum. I remember SG not being quite arena-ready as performers yet. Boy, did that change!

[@todd6726]

wow Michael...great job with the tones here. That preamp is awesome. thick yet clear. I used to use a Rocktron Intellifex and i LOVED it. I used a midi footswitcher and I channel switched my amps with the Intellifex too. I really liked the tones you got here when you were playing "Plush"...keep up the rock exploring my friend.

[@Anje52]

Nice cool video Michael, and interesting to hear the Classic & 2150 back to back with the same rig. Looking forward to the part2 where you add the AC30 :)

[@cliftonwright7081]

Awesome work man! I have a Demeter bass preamp I needsta buss out and start using

[@michaeltoren]

Which bass preamp you got? I've got the VTB201S.

[@stevie..d..charvelman4543]

Keep up all the great work my man. I've been practicing/uploading alot of video's on my channel. I love all your Marshall Jmp-1 preamp video's. I've had a ton of them. I'm waiting on my Synergy-2 rackmount preamp to come in.

[@wakjob961]

Gat Damn Mike... you have... and have access to some really killer gear. Uncompressed high-gain is the unicorn most of us seek. Super envious ;-) Thanks for sharing it with us man!!!

[@BockwinkleB]

Such an underrated player and writer. Kick ass band, and even though they aren't grunge, they were my favorite grunge era band. On tour now btw.

[@NousSommesduSoleil]

Just caught this video on July 10. 2023 .... Thanks for paying homage to Dean and STP , brother .........

[@topiwiio8017]

Great video Michael! Your video few years ago inspired me to buy TGP-3 preamp and when I finally got it and tested it, I fell in love with that piece of gear! Never going to sell it because it's the best value of the money I have put of the any gear have owned. I even pay the extra for the coloured knobs! As I'm trying to achieve Dean's sound I don't have AC-30, but I'm using my Demeter TGA-2 for that porpouse and of course I have Rocktron Intellifex.

[@EliPorterMahn]

VHT stuff is so good man, awesome tones you nailed it

[@audiobrainiac]

Great video! Dean’s my fav guitar player. Wish Synergy could do a Demeter module. Then I could actually afford that tone 😅.

[@GmanMusicProductions]

I sold a lot of gear to purchase my Axe-Fx Ultra which is still great, but I'm so glad I kept my Intellifex! Great job breaking down Dean's sound even without the VOX it still sounded very close. Close enough for Rock'N'NRoll!!!

[@Eleldir]

Most aggressive and colorful tone in the history of grunge, awesome video!

[@Ontariosound]

EVH mentioned that the API console EQ during the mix was part of his tone. I find that analog console EQ can really shape the recorded tone.

[@adam872]

That's some great tone. Big and thick, but able to hear all the notes (clarity).

[@tone1798]

Totally dig the DeLeo brothers! Very tasty players. Dean is one of my favorite players! Thanks for the video, well done.

[@ryanpaul4833]

Another great video! Core was such a great album!

[@gwbenites]

I was living right down the dirt road from Demeter for about a year until about March of this year. I didn't know if he was still doing the electronics thing anymore because he only advertises his winery stuff. I wanted to go up and ask and maybe get a little tour, but never got up the nerve. I also had just got my solder certification and thought maybe I could land a part time job😋., cuz I think he was just doing everything on his property with his son/sons? Anyway I love STP and you have that sound down pretty much!

[@anthonyschreck]

I have to try that stereo track idea! It sounds fantastic man!

[@californiadaze]

Wow - thanks soooo much for this video. This rig is AWESOME!

[@olivernorthguitar]

Thanks for that, it is such a cool and effective guitar tone!

[@zigsrig]

DAMN! Killer tones, and the neck on that Strat!

[@kevinmaund9515]

That tone is amazingly spot on. I need one

[@jayrodoh23]

Man I went and bought an Intellifex after watching this, we cover a lot of STP. That with my JHS Packrat I'm the closet I've ever been to Dean!!

[@FelipeJ]

GREAT !! in crackerman I would use the same, but les paul in middle position out of phase (Y)

[@bbalestier]

Very well done video thank you for all your hard work…

[@paulcowart3174]

Very cool... those old Imperials do sound good Mulling over what to replace the Burst Buckers in my Standard with..I have some 25 year old 57 Classics out of a mega expensive 97 R9 Historic that I might go with So many good winder's out there

[@gradyshawver7643]

Really enjoying your channel!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Awesome, thank you!

[@A.I-GAMING]

Subbed after 5 seconds, this is impressive.

[@johns1159]

Love the way that you meticulously picked out those STP chords. BTW, nice setup.

[@GearBoxTy]

The neck on that LPB (guessing) Strat is INSANE! \m/

[@Locoandchooch]

Really a great savage rock and roll tone.

[@timothy5974]

Nice playing. That Flame is beautiful.

[@seangaskinmusic2300]

I wish I never had to sell my TGP3ri and VHT 2502. I still have a Demeter TGA2.0 that’s been updated to “DeLeo” specs, but it’s a lot squishier than the DeLeo spec preamp was. Especially Ch2 not nearly as percussive as the TGP. I got your THU Demeter pack and that’s holding me over until I can get another TGP3. Dean’s live tone with that rig is insane.

[@CheddarKungPao]

Sounds really great. And damn that Shabat is cool.

[@christopherwoods6]

Nice! Like the 6550.

[@estebancandiaburgos]

sooo cool, in the past i searched for some dean rig rundown or similar stuff but without luck, im specially curious about how he get that killer tones from those vox on live shows

[@schlagdog]

I’d purchase a mini Kemper pack of that.

[@musicstream26]

I know Dean. He's the nicest, coolest, down to earth guy you could ever know. DeLeo Bros are tops!

[@MrJackrockerman]

What a quality content.. Thanks Mike.. ❤️

[@tihinter]

Thanx for all your great vids, I consider your channel as the best guitar equipment channel ever! One question: at around 08’14ff I clearly hear a lot of compression. Is this the compression that the natural hidden compression resulting from that combi of preamp and poweramp, or did you leave some plugins switched on by accident? Or did you use a hardware compressor after the mic pre during recording? I am very curious about this question, because - being an audio engineer - I made the observation, that certain poweramps “take compression very well”, whereas others don’t. That’s a term engineers normally would use while talking about combinations of EQ with certain ribbon mics: It seems, that some mics love being Eq’d while with others it feels like a fight, all the time. I found similar complexity with guitar amps and compressors. Did you ever experience something similar? (sry, if my English is not perfect, I’m no native speaker)

[@b.scottfarthingsworth]

I was told, he used humbuckers in parallel or split for all of that old stuff.

[@incognitoguitars9999]

That TONE!!! Phenomenal

[@Lushoverthebridge]

Love STP!

[@the_grube5782]

I saw STP open for Megadeth on the Countdown to Extinction tour and I don’t recall seeing any of that gear. I don’t remember what the head was but I do remember he was using a Marshall 4x10 cab.

[@AK101b]

Is that the Marshall 1900 cab that Vai had used for David Lee Roth and auctioned off a few years ago?! I see his signature on the top of the cab!

[@jimmyc5498]

Nice job on the tone, Dean is a monster

[@Axess-sv8nq]

Dean's tone changed with every album - especially Tiny Songs (where he was using practice amps and single coil guitars). If there was one thing Dean did, it was experiment. Don't believe me? Look what he said in interviews about his gear. It was always changing.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

In the studio yes. But live it’s strangely consistent.

[@Axess-sv8nq]

@@BigHairyGuitars Oh yeah, definitely! I was thinking of mentioning that this would be more his live rig where he couldn't keep changing things out. Those preamps are nice and versatile. It's like when Tom Scholz got tired of the expense/trouble of setting up dual amps and EQ's - plus burning out entire tube sets every other night - to get the Boston tone. That was the main reason he invented the Rockman. Recreating unique studio sound can be a definite challenge. But, Tom and Dean managed it very nicely!

[@ulisessolis3182]

Single coils and P90s guitars

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

I read an interview with Dean not long after Tiny Music came out, and he said that it and Purple were completely done on single-coil equipped electrics and mic'd acoustics. No humbuckers allowed.

[@danthrax7407]

When I grow up I want you to produce my records and make me famous!! You have gold hands, playing and recording

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Thanks buddy!

[@mattcamacho5570]

This was killer, thank you!

[@michaelthompson3286]

Great vid as usual. The Demeter has a pretty distinct sound on the high end; almost a bit fuzz-style? Not my favourite sound, but interesting to hear something a bit different 🤘🏼

[@luthiervandros]

I love old vht gear

[@camdobie]

This is so good. Thank you 👌

[@patricklesage9902]

Thanks Michael for this amazing video again ! I have just buy the BE100 Deluxe and matching 4x12 and i have a hard time to replicate the tone of the Interstate Love Song that we have to cover ! any suggestion where to start that maybe i didnt think about ! thanks again !

[@richardfuller9274]

Woaaaaahhh sounds real close and real gooooood :)

[@DylanHutto]

Great video dude! you really nailed the sound of those early albums! I have a few questions, hopefully you have the time to answer them 1. Is there anything else the Demeter preamps sound like to you? Could you get close with say, a Marshall or something, or are they pretty much their own thing? 2. Do you know what year(s) your V30s are from? Do they have the clear dust caps like the 2000-2005 and newer 2022 V30s? 3. Mainly a joke question, but where do you find one of those VHT poweramps without having to sell a damn kidney? I wish Fryette would make them again.

[@leeaycock8602]

Enjoyed the glassier cut of the Strat more than the LP tbh. More room for expression with the sgl pups.

[@greggaedeke2386]

Love the DeLeo boys! They kick ass!🎸🎶🤟