Learn How to Get Killer Clean Guitar Tones with Vulfpeck's Cory Wong

In this UA Tones & Techniques video, Vulfpeck guitarist Cory Wong shows you how he records his ultra-funky clean electric guitar tones using UAD plug-ins.
First, Wong details his favorite guitar compressor - the decidedly uncommon API 2500 Bus Compressor - and why he prefers it over other compressors. Then, using the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip plug-in, Wong and host, UA's Ben Lindell sculpt the EQ as Wong plays his signature 16th-note riffs.
Then, Wong shows how he uses some of his favorite UAD plug-ins, including Ocean Way Studios to add a touch of dimension and subliminal space, as well as the Ampeg SVT VR Bass Amp plug-in to add weight and thrust to single note lines.
Wong also details how he uses the Marshall Plexi Classic plug-in very subtly to add "real" amp tone to his DI signal, as well as the TS Overdrive to add texture to a clean sound. Finally, Wong shows you how the Oxide Tape Recorder plug-in at the end of the chain is the perfect cherry on top, adding a touch of warm color to a spanky clean guitar tone.

[@mintran]

"You're the king of clean guitar?" Cory Wong: "Sure"

[@gewuerzgurkeev]

Well... He just is

[@mintran]

@@gewuerzgurkeev He is THE clean guitar!

[@Slevinlobell]

actually king of clean guitar is Kerry King...

[@Slevinlobell]

atleast in HIS MIND he is..lmao..not that hes played more than 5 seconds of clean anything in 40 yrs,lol

[@mintran]

@@Slevinlobell I never cringed that hard before. Meme worthy comment bro!

[@UriahBennett]

Cory Wong seems like an incredibly smart dude who’d be fun to chill and jam with

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@TastyChevelle]

Minnesotan bruh

[@rome8180]

Cool. It's actually clean. So many times I hear a video with "clean" sound and it's completely overdriven.

[@charliebrown3082]

All the time.

[@isaacchura141]

Or with 10 different reverbs and a chorus at Max depth lol. Some people use clean to just mean anything short of distortion.

[@KerteszHuba]

Fluff

[@Bamagolfandguitar]

“Clean” is definitely a relative term now. 95% of “clean” tones these days are what I would call “slight breakup.”

[@tristandeniet]

It seems like some people mean no distortion, other people mean no effects.

[@he1ar1]

spinal tap: set the amp to 11 cory : set it to 0

[@JayTheLane]

0.3 actually 😅

[@andrewnicorn]

I actually learned a ton about recording guitars from this video.

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@Sharkpuss]

@@UniversalAudio this is a great walkthrough. Is there a similar one for bass guitar?

[@PintsofGuinness]

dudes right hand technique is something to behold

[@Nikoo033]

Pints of Guinness Rabbea’s not bad either...

[@AmarylisFlow]

Absolute legend. A guitarist who listens with his ears, not his eyes. Plays what he likes the sound of, no matter what it is or where the settings have to be put. This is an absolute beaut of a video. Longing for iOS versions of these plugins someday🤞🏻

[@hanspoulsen6450]

0,1 - that's so funky and low volume

[@Dathadorne]

@@DandamanV It's all I know!

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

Cory is so inspiring. I love his tone. Makes an affordable Strat priceless

[@InnkeeperStudio]

Great! Now is Joe Dart turn...

[@janbresan2078]

@Universal Audio please make this happen 🙌

[@jeremystig98]

It's Joe's fingers and Jacks mixing.

[@evanabbott2737]

Yeah!!👍

[@paulinefarrar9670]

@@0megalul309 couldnt agree anymore!

[@broccolifireminecraft6367]

I’m a classically trained bassoonist and have no idea what’s going on but this was cool and fun

[@pclindholm]

This was so awesome - I dig tuning the tone by what works rather than what is typical.

[@tonkihonks3430]

I love that whenever in a studio session, Cory always uses his instincts.

[@billium99]

LOL love how Ben can't quite keep it together listening to the playing. Those head pumps and face scrunches!! =)

[@fredm8621]

I challenge anyone to stop their heads from bopping to Cory's beat :)

[@changli4046]

That API 2500 definitely made a lot of his tone and play. Sounds better than most of the compressor pedal I've heard

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@Bamagolfandguitar]

Great video! Most guitarists would be amazed if they knew just how many guitar tracks they hear on the radio that were laid down straight into the board. There were several cats doing it years ago, but with how ridiculously far recording technology has come in the last 20 years, you’d be hard pressed to find a record in 2019 without at least a couple direct tracks. Hell, you can cut an entire demo these days with no amplifiers at all if you had to, and it would sound damn good if the producer/engineer knows what he’s doing. Thanks for the video and these settings 🤘🏼

[@oinkooink]

I'd make it sound bad

[@isaacshaver1018]

I have been waiting for this for so long

[@ValerieOrth]

super helpful - totally helping me dial in my own guitar tone - thanks Cory and UAD!

[@tomasshannon6537]

priceless information! thanks for this. more stuff on getting guitar sounds please!

[@willischirwa3992]

What a relief after too many hard driven videos in the positive grid bias community. And it is harder to get a good clean tone than a hard driven one. This video is pure gold for all the Strat guys out there. This is so funky that it sounds phonkey as can be.

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@Abaddon231]

Agreed ..

[@alexbreyer6921]

Probably one of the most useful tips and tricks video UA has put out yet.

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Well done and thanks for sharing UA! Very helpful to many! Be Well Ben and Cory!

[@TheMrCull]

That was the best UAD guitar video I've seen.

[@ernestthamlypinus4925]

Never get bored with the clean tones of positions 2 and 4!

[@gewuerzgurkeev]

4th position all the way! ;)

[@mpsolanmusic]

these plugins are spectacular. I bought a used silverface apollo twin. the basic plugin bundle has rescued my flat mixes and made them sound professional. a great value and investment no doubt. can't wait to demo some more

[@MMB3245]

I'm halfway the video and this is a gem.

[@HasseC]

Cory is just amazing and truly inspiring!!

[@XK49]

Hats off to the editor. Very clear and considerate

[@UniversalAudio]

👍🏻

[@jonathanwingmusic]

Love the idea of using a bass amp and then clean up the low-end. And the Marshall dialed way back to almost 0. Good tips!

[@Townsendlabs]

Well done guys!

[@joninehritamusic]

This was a great video! Cheers.

[@rhendee]

Great vid & very informative. Cool to see someone use the Ampeg bass plug on guitar. I've gotten some solid overdrive sounds out of the SVT. Thansk UA & CW!

[@UniversalAudio]

You're welcome!! Glad you enjoyed.

[@stephenstrang590]

What does SVT mean?

[@UniversalAudio]

@@stephenstrang590 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampeg_SVT

[@Slaveaway]

Great video. Thanks for this!!

[@roomofidiots]

cory's feel is so great....simultaneously the oldest and youngest person ever ha

[@tonycarpenter-Makzimia]

Very nice!. Thanks for posting this.

[@UniversalAudio]

You're welcome Tony, glad you liked it! 👍

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

*Watching this in 2022 and loving it! 🎸🎵🎶🍷🥳 Definitely some great guitar tones! Enjoying it!*

[@zackorr421]

Very musical tech video. Thank you

[@sweettoof9002]

Amazing technique. Funktastic

[@RamicF]

poor those who do not realize that 80% of that killing tone is in his wrist

[@soups1337]

Perhaps lack of wrist?? :o

[@hirisen]

Pure cartilage

[@beerzerker8359]

What wrist? He said he got rid of his cartilage years ago!

[@rhumandlove393]

@Chance Evans That's why you're just as famous as him right? for your clear tones?

[@alexgleeson9644]

Ha very true!

[@carlosgaleanohn]

Awesome CW!!!! TY a lot...!

[@noelzhu1986]

Real silver face deluxe reverb sitting on the side thinking "am i a joke to you?"

[@Bamagolfandguitar]

noelzhu1986 😂

[@UniversalAudio]

Have you checked out our OX Amp Top Box? It can do wonders with amps and pedals!! www.uaudio.com/hardware/ox.html

[@noelzhu1986]

@j77 I'm going back and forth these days.

[@j6m]

Spinal Tap: turn it up to 11!! Cory Wong: turn it down to 0!!

[@slowgaffle]

this amp goes to -11

[@AdamSJarrett]

Spinal Tap: 11 Cory Wong: 1.1

[@hyperactivistsincorporated4073]

Excellent video and what a tight player glad I ran across this

[@juliusimhauser4464]

Awesome video thank you guys !!!

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@jeanpierre8248]

Great video, congrats👏👏👏

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@PierreJamerson]

Saved as session preset for sure! 🔥

[@DiegoNavaja]

His right hand technique and tempo is incredible

[@sixslinger9951]

I love the Cory Wong Amp sim from Neural DSP. Goes perfect with my strat.

[@Eduaro2U]

Great info - thanks for sharing.

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@davidaraujo927]

Cool video! Thanks!

[@pielord33321]

12:34 "For what I'm doing..." Jack Stratton bursts into the room to remind everyone it's so funky and l o w v o l u m e

[@surfz247]

Excellent video.

[@max_mittler]

best clean sound video I've ever seen and now I don't even have to buy any new pedals.

[@PJ....]

... Cory literarily has the illy "Killer" Clean Tone/s ... Love

[@roidigitalggroup1721]

I love UA Audio Plugins I have such a great passion for this stuff...UA Audio gear like Apollo Twin X is my inspiration to recording music....Love UA Audio I will be a loyal customer for life

[@Harryk7988]

Please do more vids like this

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

Great UAD tones

[@basementfreaks]

i always used the vst plugin amps on one and was feeling weird about it , this is awesome

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@felipegutierrez197]

That -3db on 20kHz at 06:21 sure made a lot of difference! (jk guys, great video)

[@Crash-lm4zb]

Great video!

[@UniversalAudio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nique21nue]

This man is a rhythm machine

[@UniversalAudio]

Indeed!

[@markussukram9290]

Great guitar player...I'm amazed at how so many great guitar sounds and riffs you can find in the disco-funk style...gino soccio...cerrone...donna summer...voyage..chic...earth wind and fire...brothers johnsons..kool and the gang...kc and sunshine band...jamiroquai...level 42...chaka khan...change...bbqandband...insane!!!

[@VoltajeRecordsPeru]

pure gold video

[@daffa9505]

how to get killer clean tone : Get a strat

[@ryanteacher8134]

Right? I've heard strats plugged directly into a mixer board sound good lol

[@stephenstrang590]

tele is even cleaner

[@kira7741]

My guitar ain't a strat but sounds like one, plugged directly to multi fx w/ cab simulation, damn it's clean af. Sounds like piano at times, maybe using a 10 or 11 would have a better sound.

[@R0b1zzle137]

@@stephenstrang590 Not for this style of music. Its very hard to get a telecaster to sound like 2nd or 4th position pick up selector of a strat

[@CargoShorts7]

@@R0b1zzle137 but in contrast, a strat can't get that funk middle position sound of a tele. The only answer is to own both : p

[@andivax]

brilliant tips!

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@BlackenedNL]

Cool vid!

[@HankCScorpio]

I know Corey Wong is an amazing guitarist. Some “artists” get by on good looks. This guy rises above his looks

[@DanButcher303]

But he is very good looking right ? Killer guitar player, super fun, super generous. I think he's cool

[@jabez36]

Damn why you gotta say that lol

[@perudolux]

Great video 👍

[@UniversalAudio]

Cory is a beast!!

[@rordrom3234]

Thank you. This made me happy. :)

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@rafalvarezsevilla]

awesome content duuuude

[@vaughnhollund5316]

He knows how to get his sound for sure

[@jonboy194]

UAD, how about a CW bundle for those plug ins

[@Guitar-B-Q]

I have never heard of Cory - but I am old so that is on me. He seems like a smart guy who knows his stuff. I will have to check out the band. I hope they do more than groove on a root chord!

[@leinztj]

thank you!

[@badmothers6579]

I loooooove this video. Corys guitar tone is seriously out of this workd

[@soyellowsoviolent]

the secret to his guitar tone is underwound single coil pickups in the second position + compressor. oh and he's a great player so there's that.

so there's that-choice!

[@vukjankovic8522]

4th position!

[@EBrassfield]

I really wish he'd try a different pickup selection for once, when you use the same exact tone for 100% of everything, it grows annoying

[@soyellowsoviolent]

@@EBrassfield I like it

[@soyellowsoviolent]

@j77 lindy fralin

[@jazzybeeff]

This was great. Thank u all

[@UniversalAudio]

🥂

[@DiegoRiveraGuitar]

Loved this! More artists please!

[@UniversalAudio]

More coming!

[@EhEsDeeEf]

legend has it cory never stops moving

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

Neither does Joe Dart from head banging.

[@_RLP]

Very, very cool.

[@siscoismyhomey]

Saw Cory on halloween this year, him and his band JAM. Go see him live!

[@FatherFunk]

Awesome vid

[@UniversalAudio]

Wow!! We got Father Funk's seal of approval!! 😀

[@andrescolintv]

Amazing bravo 👏

[@virdesire]

Cory is amazing

[@shellsjoint]

Love the video

[@UniversalAudio]

👍

[@VonnStrummer]

Dude is cold funky!!!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

😂 he got serious when he started playing that prince/minneapolis funk...

[@JulianFernandez]

King of clean guitars? Man, I´m lost for words... gotta love the interwebs.

[@victormcmanus8725]

this video summed up. tone doesn't really matter when you are a beast guitar player like Cory Wong. anything he plugs into is going to sound fire.

[@venomousalex8383]

Tone always matters, a lot.

[@bobatea5406]

Cory looks like a badass rocker in the thumbnail, almost didn’t recognise him lol

[@marcuskurban7790]

Sounds awesome, what speakers are you using?

[@benink5690]

Cory talks about blend in unaltered clean tones with compressed clean. Unfortunately most popular compression pedals do not do this. A good work around for cheap setups is an aby switch into a multi channel amp. One without compression & one with!

[@2121toso]

Great video. Cory knows his sound. Joe Dart Please.

[@zac3392]

I can’t believe you got him to sit behind a desk that long… almost like having a Real Job... LOL

[@Sadowsky46]

😂🤣

[@fabianvanderelst9643]

Some day I'm gonna get myself a real job

[@Nullllus]

How to Get Killer Clean Guitar Tones: 4 T H P O S I T I O N

[@HimanXK]

This is all I know!

[@nathanricher1647]

I’d really recommend a “Steve” with a headbang.

[@gr6e]

*Jack makes sure his stratocaster is in the fourth position*

[@attilamarta2899]

"Ah!" - Jack Stratton

[@JB-xz6dt]

This is so obvious to me too! thanks for acknowledging

[@drydog1000]

Cory could play through a tennis shoe and get a great clean tone. This is fascinating!

[@Abaddon231]

No lie , I don't know what half the settings do on a lot of plugins I use too, but Once my ears are happy with what it does , I do t care what they do or how they do it... respect to Cory for going about it kinda the same way.

[@potatosan4250]

I loved this during the uad event show! So nice I watched it twice

[@UniversalAudio]

😄

[@thilde007]

That was awesome, thank you Cory Wong/Vulfpeck for getting me back into music again! Can UA provide some session files (uadmix files) from this video for download? I only ask because finding the right plugins from the list, adjusting all these knobs/windows with my mouse, and fighting the onslaught of DSP limit exceeded/plug-in not authorized/trial period over pop-ups alerts all while trying to awkwardly hold/play my guitar is currently the bane of my existence :)

[@UniversalAudio]

Hi Tyler, unfortunately those settings were not saved during the chaos of our 6 hr (!!!) live stream event.

[@sengwin]

Marshall cleans are so underrated!

[@personanongrata1308]

Hendrix, Wayne Krantz