SPX90 Zakk Wylde Rack Chorus

That old classic, the Yamaha SPX90 was the delicious rack mounted chorus (fx) box that chorus'd Zakk Wylde's tones on No Rest For the Wicked and No More Tears. Let's take a listen to some SPX-90 in a stereo rack setup.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, my name is Michael Nielsen. I'm a composer/producer. I write music for movie trailers, video game soundtracks, commercials, movies and tv shows. This channel is dedicated to guitar related gear and music production. My production and publishing company is called Ninja Tracks. My guitar sound design is available for Kemper, TwoNotes, THU Overloud, IK ToneX, and IR's.
My Pages
► MY SOUNDS - www.bighairypro...
► COMPOSER WEBSITE - www.michaelniel...
► FACEBOOK - / michael.nielsen.9889
► INSTAGRAM - / michaelnielsenmusic
► NINJA TRACKS - NinjaTracks.com
►MY MUSIC -
open.spotify.c...
open.spotify.c...
open.spotify.c...
►LINKS TO PRODUCTS -
BHS Iconic Tones Vol1: Hair Metal for Overloud THU:
www.overloud.c...
Big Hairy Guitars Cab IR's: bighairyprofil...
Two Notes - BigHairyGuitars Pack: store.two-note...
Kemper Profiles: bighairyprofil...
Overloud TH-U Rig Packs: www.overloud.c...
Ask Me Anything thegearforum.c...
Sweetwater Affiliate Link: imp.i114863.net/jNLvn
►Contact
[e-mail]

[@LeonTodd]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with old rack effects with scratchy as hell pots. That Soldano/VHT combo sounds monstrous.

[@blondiespinknoize4627]

Leon Todd When will we see a collaboration between you two, the kings of guitar preamps on KZbin ?💖

[@lucasdeliramendonca3546]

Man, after years searching that 1980's guitar tones, i'm building a rig with old racks too. My equipment currently consists of an alesis quadraverb, a lexicon mpx 100, a peavey rockmaster and a power amp from the carvin and four other pedals. my guitar sound has never been so good and I got the result I was looking for. I love your youtube channel, I learned a lot of things there. Greetings from Brazil!

[@LovelyGuitars]

Exellent! I'm a rack guy too!

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

I love racks, they're so much cleaner than pedals and the cable runs are so much shorter than having a pedal board. You don't get all the options that pedals offer though unless you just want delays and reverb.

[@JesseJuup]

Scratchy pots are so easy to replace!!

[@funfreq9282]

This guy wound up with all the rack gear that everyone sold to go Axe FX! Great stuff man!

[@TheWaveBloke]

Their loss is our gain 😉

[@metallicblood]

@@TheWaveBloke Haha :D

[@Twobarpsi]

@@TheWaveBloke exactly

[@rjlong89]

The spx90 was in everybodys rack. Classic piece. The use your illusion bass tone...

[@mediumtalented9250]

Your channel has got me wanting to build a rack.

[@ukaeyfvkfiayuvefyiu]

"Swirly stuff is like crack, I can see how things went south."

[@giantessmaria]

Bought this unit in 86' or so when they first came out. Sales person told me if i waited 6 months or so i'd get it much cheaper....he was right, but i couldn't wait...paid over 500 bucks for mine at the time....and yes those modulation settings are SWEET! The flanger/chorus/phaser/symphony presets are absolutely beautiful to say the least. One thing i've noticed though is that when i put them in sequence with my other boxes, it puts a LOT of hiss into my system.....!

[@JuanCanteli]

I had coffee come out of my nose at the '30 Year Old Box' part. Well done. Love your videos!

[@Ilikemusicandcars]

I love that you road test rack gear - this stuff is pretty cheap to buy now, and sounds great. And funny too - great work :)

[@dainhuston]

No doubt I paid $999.00 for a SPX in 1986 about 2 years ago at my fav guitar shop they had one for $99.00 and the boutique pedals that's gone nutz cool but nutz ! LoL

[@bird718]

trip down memory lane. i had the spx90 back in the day.. i hated it and loved it and hated it and went back to pedals

[@guitarz]

Sounds killer!! Best demos on KZbin hands down.. can’t get much better than that exactly

[@flashy5150]

That pink Soldano might like “the reach around”.If you watch and listen to Zakk’s “No Rest For The Wicked” or “No More Tears” LIVE videos, his tone is actually really swirly like you had it at the beginning, with the Yammy chorus in the mix. To me, it sounded great for a Zakk attack.

[@EasyHeat]

Whoa! That is quite definitely THAT freaking sound! When you said: "It's like crack...It starts to feel really good"! Pffffft! Bwahaha! Coffee right out my nose! Ha! Freakin' Priceless! Sounds Wickedly Huge and nails that majestic Wylde era Ozzy tone! Absolutely old school awesomeness. Oh man, I gotta find me one of these!

[@michaelwade9455]

Ive been sitting on my old SPX90, Alesis Quadraverb and ADA MP1 and haven't touched them in years, might be time to dust 'em off and have some fun!

[@TrebleMidBass]

Dytronics cs5 is one of the rarest and the best stereo chorus, i use detuner for chorus and stereo boost

[@Jay-sy5yf]

Michael m'lord, why aren't any of these greats working with top notch producers anymore? Their work is suffering.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Hi Josh, I assume it a budget / profit kinda thing. :(

[@dainhuston]

I have a SPX 90 I've owned since 1986 despite it's narrow frequency range next to my 24/96 gear it's very versatile .

[@JustinBryantdotcom]

Michael awesome!!! I always run modulation post when recording- I find a get more spread and more fidelity going post...

[@giulioposenato9332]

Love it, no more tears is one of my favorite albums, and now I know why

[@Knight766]

Stoked to have your video in my reccomends. Insta-subscribed, I'm learning guitar at 38 and this is just what I needed. You've got some killer innuendo too 🤣

[@CmathTV]

Great vid .I COULD BE WRONG BUT I don't think the SPX was tracked with this s effect in the guitar> amp chain itself . ALTHOUGH Zach used these in his tour rack on the road .I met Jerry Finn(rip) at Conway Studios and witnessed some of his process of tracking guitars. I would suggest the fx were achieved during tracking but the SPX was added at the recording console using the SPX combined with the dry and printed...NOT MULTI-MICING A STEREO .guitar rig (4 mics..2 per cab+room mic/s) for reasons of phase and preservation of punch and so on. More goo from all the other boxes one could have were added at mix....AMS...PUBLISON H-3000- 949..-After my mumbo jumbo...Great job

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Thanks. I agree with all of this.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Interesting. I always use a chorus almost always just because being the only guitarists much of the time it does fill up the space.. 🤘♥️🤘. What a nice LP Custom too. 🤘 Very cool man..

[@got2rock4]

Awesome video 🔥 Valhalla Space Modulator Seasick gtr preset sounds extremely close to spx 90 symphonic especially if you add a pinch of chorus with it. Best part is Valhalla space modulator is a free download and sound so amazing on guitars and keyboards Thanks for creating these great videos.

[@gtrlw11]

Love these videos. Keep them comin!

[@centraliafuckcorruption]

just bought 2 off these for my PA system, should be fun

[@johnbajto4668]

CLASS ACT

[@aliveandfilming2]

Lmao 🤣 the heavenly music @ the VHT is appropriate. How would someone go about switching patches during live gigson the Spx90 or the Gep50 , ex removing delay or chorus ... I'm looking online for footswitches without any luck.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

The best way is using a rack loop switcher. Then you don't need to change the patch at all. You just remove the unit entirely from the chain. OR, a midi mixer, OR midi switching to a new patch, but often there's a lag when switching these old units.

[@kierenmoore3236]

(SPX90 in-line, FX-bypass): 1:13 ... (SPX90 in-line, c Effect): 2:00; 2:37; 2:51; 3:08 ... ... (Pre -> Power, Direct): 5:17; 5:29 ... 5:46 (SPX90 added post)

[@kierenmoore3236]

The SPX90 In-line adds so much noise/grainy-ness (which you might want, for something?) ... ... Mixed in parallel/post sounds that much purer (and brighter).

[@reogh]

Damn it! I sprayed my iced tea LOL. Great tones btw.

[@SeeJay8888]

Your guitar sounds awesome

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Thanks Yan

[@vromanempire2145]

My dream amp right there silver jubilee!!!

[@californiadaze]

"Preamp's hot load into a power amp" 😂😂😂 This video cracked me up.

[@shaneclemens]

Hilarious Mike!! Dry is were its at! Keep those entendre's coming.. ohh no.. err.. any idea how to mimic that symphonic setting with a G major 2?? Anyone? I would have thought that sound was a Detune, which is what I usually use. \m/

[@alexandargabric]

+1 on the question :)

[@axcellgrease]

I have an quadraverb with dentune. Sounds really close. I also have a Yamaha GEP50 which has the Symphonic setting. You can pick those up cheap. Just paid $50 for mine.

[@banorilsk]

Hey Mike! I'm so glad you're back making these awesome videos again! Keep it up!!

[@shakeyjonez]

“I reached around.” - Mike. Somebody get this man some EMGs.

[@JRP3music]

I don't ever like chorus on distortion. It sounds best on clean sounds. I also agree a mixer is a better way to keep your tone intact. Blend in just enough stereo fx to taste. I used Rocktron Replifex and Intellifex. Those units had a nice mixer built in to blend your dry with effects with out over doing it. I used the ADA MP-1 with NS-2 noise gate. The I ran a Tube Works Real Tube II which had a stereo fx loop. Then the 2 Rocktron fx devices. I use a Tube Works MosValve for a long time. I had a Marshall 9005 that I like to use but it needs repair.

[@OrganicPickups]

wow!!!! 2:00 I was about to buy the Yamaha and then I said, for gei it, why...and then I hear this. Yamaha is back on the table for expenses this month!!

[@mikep6967]

Why do I want a shower after watching this... 😆

[@SebaMontero-o7s]

You should teach everyday!!! thank you

[@cainm8808]

Awesome stuff as always

[@iansomers5703]

Absolutely love it!

[@rikh78]

haha that was funny, i nearly spat our cereal :)

[@aliveandfilming2]

Sound awesome as usual 😎

[@larslevinberget9558]

That's exactly what I experienced when hooking up the Soldano SP77 into my DigiTech DSP256 and into the efx return of my Peavey VTM 60 stack and Studio Pro 110 combo...total mismatch on many levels :D

[@rockinchippy]

Dude you are a mess lmao! 30 yr old box! Reach-around! Hot loads! What is this demo ??? I need an SPX90!!!

[@rockinchippy]

$50!!!! Nice ! Now find me one haha

[@Twobarpsi]

Epic, once again 🤘!

[@charliesox5397]

wow

[@kiivje]

Sounds great !

[@WALKET91]

nice video , love that chorus ! what about that Vht Deliverance? can you do a demo about that?

[@AdrianArcasMolina]

wooooow sounds tremendous!

[@LovelyGuitars]

do you prefer to use SPX90 in series or in parallel effects loop? I thinks in paralle it's more dynamice to preserve the sound of the amplifier, right?

[@Gitfiddle]

As guitarists were are so into gear and figuring out what gear our heroes used. How they set it up. What is it? What year? What version on and on and on right? The conversation in the studio that day was probably Zakk saying “Can I get some chorus or a phaser or something.” And the producer says “Well shit..... I’ve got this thing in my trunk. Will this work?” And Zakk says “Sure.”

[@BigHairyGuitars]

That’s definitely possible. Zakk said that he didn’t know how to work his rack. But the SPX 90 had only been out for 2-3 years, and was a pretty hot box. So guys wanting a fresh and current sound we’re often looking for the new cool thing. The SPX was it for a few years.

[@DarioGrillo]

Hi my dear friend ! I need to ask you a question: to connect eventide h9 to my voodu valve preamp (where I disable the modulation section) do I need a rack line mixer? or can I connect the guitar of the input of voodu valve to exit mono and enter the input of h9 to exit stereo in A and B and then in stereo inputs in audio interface? How can I make this connection with a line mixer or without a line mixer?

[@user-mc3gr4ps5b]

makes me want one so bad

[@robb4340]

Great Tone!

[@randystewart7427]

Can you comment about the settings used on the Symphonic patch? We saw one (.7hz). What is the other? I use the SPX90 in my Helix FX loop and it's awesome...just trying to get that final part of the tone locked in. Thanks in advance.

[@buzzsaw63]

"I can see where things went south" lol

[@coreyclark6505]

I thought that first time you had was glorious!

[@yngwieFan87]

I laughed so hard at this! Great video !

[@fonzybrookestone727]

Anyhow......What! Haha, nice video!

[@hiatuso8260]

Blossom and get huge. You're addicted to swirl.

[@henrystepp4270]

Hey bro I found I loose power thrue my patch cables went wireless and gained input so if you hear a difference in left and right it's prolly cuz the cables ain't da same ,get it ?

[@brpadington]

I have the Magicstomp. It has all of the old Yamaha SPX effects in it and it has less noise. He used the Womaniser preset right?

[@brpadington]

I have no idea what the going rate is for these things currently. I can tell you that the modulation effects hold their own with more expensive units. I seem to remember used ones going for 99 on ebay but that could have been a while ago. At any rate it is certainly worth a look.

[@UnixStudios]

Need a shock mount rack, it looks more badass. Glad to see you're staying away from the fractal, kemper junk.

[@pastorkev777]

He has a Kemper and does make models of rare rack gear for it.

[@brpadington]

I use The Yamaha Magicstomp to get my spx90 fix. The chorus really seemed to effect the Harmonics quite a bit.

[@jamespowell1175]

Now that I bought a REV-7, who can fix the mix knob, it's always wet!

[@zorritayotube]

Equipazo que tiene el pibe!!!! :O

[@nezzxam]

Hi Michael, big fan of your content! I was hoping maybe you could help me with the connectivity of Yamaha SPX90. I just bought my first effects unit and I´m not sure if I should be using it in the effects loop of my amp, or maybe feed the line out of my Two Notes Torpedo live signal into the SPX90 and then out to my inteface/mixer. Really would appreciate your take on this!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Thanks. I’ll do a FAQ with this. It’ll be easier to answer

[@sixonethreesix4293]

Is it possible to get that sound from a pedal mix without the SPX?

[@vaughanmacegan4012]

Ok, I have been looking around for an FX unit hardware and/or software FX? I can't find a darn thing that works like the "Symphonic" preset people can't even nail it with Eventide gear nor the mighty, mighty Axe FX. Is there anything out there that does this effect without compromise? I really want this sound!!!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Sadly only Yamaha does the Symphonic thing right. I think all of the SPX series has it. And their Stomp fx pedal

[@jafethuerta]

Hello, I really liked your video. Just have one question; can you combine 2 or more presets in the SPX90 say like the 31 and 45 preset ? Thanks !

[@ALANRMOREY]

You should spend your money on lessons

[@somethinburnin]

I WANT IT!!!!!!!! 😨

[@abnzg]

if you listen to, say, Mr Tinkertrain muting each side and listening to the other, you can hear that the chorus effect is only present on one side. the other is really dry

[@SuperGuitar38]

I know it's asking alot but can anyone post the SPX90's factory preset symphonic settings.

[@metelway]

Hi Michael, do you have your preset of Zakk Wylde tone for Kemper to buy on your website ? sorry I suddenly asked . Thanks, I enjoyed the video a lot !!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Totally! The Marshall stuff is here: bighairyprofiles.com/item/bhp-uk The Lee Jackson stuff is here: bighairyprofiles.com/item/577822186edca00f805223ae

[@metelway]

@@BigHairyGuitars Thanks much bro !!

[@JoyzerDk]

Would love to have a Kemper profile of this! Nicely dialed in, Sir! Also - That Danish name ;)

[@mattgahimer3130]

Love his ADA MP1.

[@tarekwayne9193]

Why do both cabs have to be the same? Does that not add to the stereo effect making one signal different to the other? Thx in advance for any answer🤗

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Tarek Wayne they don’t have to be the same, but if they’re too different you’ll have a lopsided sound

[@tarekwayne9193]

@@BigHairyGuitars okok.... Thx for your response, not experienced in double cabing😅

[@johncecilia4517]

Have you tried Yamaha GW33 from 90's? Are effects similar to this?

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Sorry. not sure. I don't know much about the GW33

[@bengottard7698]

Great video, does the SPX90 sound ok in Mono?

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Yep. Sounds great

[@armandodiaz8765]

Hey Mike sounding great! What model bridge humbucker's in that Les Paul?

[@bighairyprofiles4723]

Armando Diaz hi, thanks!!! It's a Motor City "Detroiter" in the bridge. The neck is the original vintage pickup.

[@armandodiaz8765]

Big Hairy Profiles Thanks!! Is it wax potted or un-waxed??

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Not sure. This came out of my Luxxtone guitar.

[@stormedbyhippiesc3966]

Heavier than teenage guilt

[@everybodylovesgav]

could you recommend a particular chorus pedal that could recreate the SPX90 sound

[@BigHairyGuitars]

everybodylovesgav I wish Yamaha would put out a pedal with just that sound. The closest, but not really “it”, is the chorus or micro pitch shift from the Eventide H9.

[@fre4409]

Michael Nielsen LOVE that tone.

[@Dustiehippo]

Could you tell me what the parameters were set at for this tone? Thanks

[@BigHairyGuitars]

It's simply preset 15 on the SPX 90. Nothing else changed.

[@Dustiehippo]

@@BigHairyGuitars is there not a mix level? When I run mine the effect seems a touch over bearing for zakks tone. And needs to be a little dryer just wasn’t sure what yours was at. I just got mine so still trying to figure it all out. Got the digitech dsp 128 plus as well thanks to your videos! 🤘🏼

[@Dustiehippo]

Update figured it out and it’s pretty cool!! 🤘🏼

[@MotoRiff77]

Whats your thoughts on active pups?

[@BigHairyGuitars]

I love active pickups. I'd love to have them in my Les Paul Standard, but the Lollar Imperials sound so good, that I can't bear to switch it out. I tried EMG for a few weeks in that guitar, and it was awesome. I probably have to get a dedicated EMG guitar. Some of my favorite tones ever are EMGs. From Metallica to Toto

[@AndreiGrozea]

#bringbackrackgear

[@chrissoares23]

Another great vid. If someone wanted to emulate that tone with pedals instead of vintage rack gear, what pedals would recommend to get in the ballpark? Asking for a friend.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

I'm going a chorus fx breakdown in a few weeks, I'll see if I can get close.

[@bjmyjm8]

Chris Soares MXR Stereo Chorus will get ya really really close.

[@jesterraj]

whats the signal chain like??

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Raj Dann sm57 into api preamps

[@officialpoa3171]

*#HOTLOAD*

[@benjaminben11]

You look like saul goodman hehe

[@mrnobodyinvr9762]

Reach around jokes earn Subs. \\m// \\m// Ps, I remember those units New, and they were the shit, then the DSP 21 Pro and Legend came out and were also insane. Fun Fact: I still use my original high school rack mount DSP 128+ for my basic sound, and it still sounds amazing.

[@officialpoa3171]

*Michael, You have got to hear this guys Zack tone! | kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppqlo6B9fcR9e6Msi=QGNLi269L1Q43BYp ..*

[@stronglikemonkey]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know what to do with a 30 year old box. 😕

[@Nightdare]

They all work pretty much the same Get it switched on, grab your plug, jam it in and start rocking

[@amazingwomenofsports1464]

the chorus on that rack isnt a sound. that preamp is a sound

[@HAHb-zc2dp]

I love that Wylde became the most fake biker poser in the world 😂😂😂😂