The SECRET to Getting STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN Tone

RIP SRV
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1959 Sunburst Stratocaster
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1968 Super Reverb
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[@christopherw2520]

I was at that concert the night he died. Incredible concert with an unbelievable lineup. I remember so much of it. At the end of the show everyone was on stage playing sweet home Chicago and each had their turn for a solo. They all did good but when Stevie played they all watched. The guys on the ends took a couple steps forward to look at Stevie who was in the middle next to Clapton. When he finished we all went nuts. He was truly the best! I can't believe it's been that long. RIP

[@xsamitt]

thank you for that!!

[@mcd5778]

That was the day I was born...

[@raymondcarroll3876]

That’s GREAT memory that millions of us, would’ve liked to have had.

[@D.I.Aoutdoors1]

That's awesome! And I would give anything to go back in time to see him play... RIP to, in my opinion, the best blues guitarist that ever lived!

[@CA10Z]

Are there any known video of that last show?

[@TenThumbsProductions]

Rule of thumbs, the more your neighbors call the cops the, better tone you’re getting from your amp.

[@looneytunes47]

Absolutely

[@SwampyMusic]

...Or use your thumb to mute strings so you get that canking sound when your hitting those notes that stevie made shine

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

Or they tell you they heard you and they enjoy it, albeit much to your surprise

[@jeffpagel8178]

truth to that with my old fender super reverb. 3 visits with America's finest

[@thejourneyman8890]

My neighbors have given up on my amp volume 😂 although two of them enjoy listening to me

[@keef4937]

What a great down to earth young guy. Refreshing to see someone on facetube with this attitude, thank you. Please, never lose it.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Great comment. Thank you.

[@guitarman6742]

He has a very nice way about himself. The camera tells the story on that. Well informed and an excellent player.

[@MrDeaweber]

I echo that perfect comment!

[@moss1transcendant]

Yea this guy has passion for what he believes in.

[@killacrush3437]

True

[@willharris1012]

“How to get SRV Tone... ooh neat” *clicks play* *matt starts playing* “Ok so step 1: get good” BRB

[@jacobwaller92]

I know right?!

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Yeah, that nagging little thing called "talent" which I simply do not possess. I remember thinking that once I got calluses that things would magically improve...but nope. Get a teacher and pay him for lessons, they said....nope. Some of us just suck and always will.

[@warren4110]

chuckschilling, nice to meet you brother!! 😂😂

[@chuckschillingvideos]

@@warren4110 right back atcha!

[@smokedjoweed]

Hows it coming along ?😂😂

[@WyattFredaCowie]

The secret is to be Stevie Ray Vaughn Or this guy apparently Killer playing dude

[@anstahir8773]

you mean jesus

[@captaincoconut1694]

*Vaughan

[@anstahir8773]

@@captaincoconut1694 forgive him father for he has sinned

[@jedishaw6771]

Damn! This guy is good!

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Only one SRV! ✌🏻

[@kurtdavidson9808]

I only have to say this. This young man has more class and more knowledge than any of those people giving the thumbs down. I’m 55 years old and I really enjoy listening to him. I wish he lived near me so I could talk him into helping me learn to play better. I guarantee this guy could sit and hold a good conversation with SRV himself. Good job young man. Keep your videos coming. God Bless.

[@bingobongo1615]

He also seems to have infinite amount of money… a 59 strat? Damn…

[@Anna_Nimmitty]

Kurt, even though this is 11 months post your comment that I'm replying to herein, as another 55 year old, I must say that you do indeed also speak for me!!

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

He missed a big part of SRVs heavy signature tone came from 13s, 12s and sometimes 11s on the strings. You will never sound like SRV unless you run heavy strings. The concept is simple, the more steel ringing over the pickup the heavier the tone. The amp is important as well as the 1962 12" radius D shape neck and 1959 Stratocaster pickups. I have both a Texas Special Stratocaster and a SRV Signature Stratocaster. Made in USA....Fender California...no import junk. The REAL DEALs. It's the secret to the tone even when played on shitty cheap Crate amps at whatnot.

[@patrickhoy1347]

@@JohnDoeEagle1 It's unlikely I'll ever be able to handle 13s, but what do you think of the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special pickups in those guitars? I've heard they are great for SRV but are too hot for other types of music.

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

@@patrickhoy1347 If you want to sound like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robin Trower, Jeff Healey, John Frusciante, "some" Eric Clapton, David Gilmour..... they nail the tone perfectly. They duplicate the old vintage hand wound Fender pickups that had extra winds and were hotter. Before they made them like that on purpose you had to go through the racks at your local guitar shop and play many of them until you found "the one".

[@schwabit989]

SRV was a treasure and passed far too soon. Every time I hear Stevie’s sound, it just makes my day better. ❤️🙏

[@scamassassin2538]

I grew up in Texas. I remember Stevie put an ad in a few major TX newspapers looking for old Vibroverbs. I was fortunate to see him at Mountain Shadow Lakes in El Paso, TX a few months before he passed. Second row. That show STILL moves me over 30 years later

[@steveperry3538]

I don’t want to sound hyperbolic, but being an SRV fan from the past, the intro into your video made the hair stand up on my arms. Very well done my friend 👍

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thanks. Means a lot.

[@marcbrownmusic2410]

It was like a Journey to the past.

[@nobelweg]

Same here!!

[@mikeg.9238]

Agreed , good to see the younger generation has an appreciation for Stevie's music. I say that because i'm 54 and it's nice to see quality music still being appreciated!!!

[@Silencer84]

@@MatthewScottmusic You deserve it man. Sick playing. Long live SRV

[@robinmorris5416]

19 people are butthurt that this kid is a monster guitar slinger.

[@michaelrhodes8581]

No doubt he can bend them, but with that being said, the tone isn’t even close

[@rockinran]

Yeah, like me!

[@grandvianna8551]

Michael Rhodes sure thing bud...this guy sounds like Tom Delong from blink. Could you please elaborate on this guys tone being “not even close” ?

[@shanghunter7697]

@@michaelrhodes8581 In your opinion it isn't close BUT opinions are like arseholes, we all have one, yours doesn't matter either :)

[@MatthewScottmusic]

@@michaelrhodes8581 Not even CLOSE!🤣

[@mahina1963]

I can remember exactly where I was when I heard that he died. I couldn't listen to his music for at least a year after that. The music he could've created from that point to now? That's what I mourn, even now. That, and his joyful smile when goofing around on stage. He felt like a friend I knew well, although I never got that physically close to him.

[@smedleybutler5276]

I was a freshman in college. A bandmate and I were in his dorm room listening to the radio. Very sad day indeed.

[@thomasryan9426]

I felt the same way..

[@gunkanjima3408]

Finally, someone who says the amp is most important in the signal chain. Amen!

[@leemurray4158]

I’d take a great amp and a bad guitar over a great guitar and bad amp

[@aniquinstark4347]

Amp and pickups are like 90% of the battle

[@billwalsh388]

You do need a strat tho.

[@DavidJDiehl]

Turns Amp up to 7... Goodbye family and neighbors.

[@alexander_winston]

Bugera makes an attenuator for $100 that really works well.

[@mikkywhalan]

@@alexander_winston in my opinion, I’d get something more expensive. It will last longer, work better.

[@michalescarn511]

Just like SRV is an inspiration to you, you're an inspiration to me🤘

[@rodrigogomes2064]

Were lucky to have these two sources.

[@dawsonherrin2272]

Same here

[@zackhayes1268]

Same

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thank you my friend!✌🏻

[@chasedelao4722]

Agreed!

[@louislamboley9167]

I saw Stevie and Jeff Beck when they toured. Jeff played it exactly like the album. Stevie was free form improvising every note. Never missed a beat. Leaves any guitarist in awe of his command of the fret board and sound. Always the right note. Just incredible. Dynamic. Unrelenting.

[@DeityDestroyer]

That's literally everybody who knows thier scales? When you know the notes, you can combine them how ever you want.. on command. It's called scales.

[@rickya3877]

I saw that tour as well and they both hit their key parts when they had to and they both improvised a lot as well

[@57stratkat]

Big strings, strong hands, ferocious attack, and a life time of practice will get you CLOSE

[@queti5859]

And some cocaine.

[@SuperAwsomeplaya]

And whisky mix with cocaine

[@royfablooo2810]

And a built in studio because your amp will be fucking loud

[@Mklp-du4zg]

All my life been trying to sound like stevie.... not gonna happen.... got the amp, guitar, calluses, tab books, practice practice practice......... NOBODY WILL EVER BE STEVIE.......

[@Mklp-du4zg]

And yes hard to play smaller gigs when you have to crank it to 10, if you cant go to ten your on a losing battle right away to get that tone

[@twootters7433]

I can't believe it's been 30 years. I was 28 when he died. Still makes me sad.

[@jakeg.7562]

Yup. Me too, man. 28 years old. I had to pull my pickup truck over to the side of the road when the radio told the news. I was crying. I'd seen him 3 times and met him once in Sunderland, Massachusetts when he played a small club called the Rusty Nail in 1983 or 84. His hand was sweaty when I shook it like he'd been warming up prior to the show. A true gentleman.

[@twootters7433]

@@jakeg.7562 I cried for days. I cried for Lennon. Even went to the Dakota but this was different. It was like losing a friend. I saw him at Carnegie Hall and shook his hand and told him he and B.B King were my artists. He smiled and said thanks and walked away. Never thought I would never see him again. I'm right there with ya brother.

[@mikeg.9238]

Yup , i was 24 and feel the same...

[@tomfoolery333]

I was 20. Away at college, a friend came by and told me very late that night. He died close to where I grew up. I had not had a chance to see him, thought there would be plenty of time. It still doesn't seem real somehow. Never take anything for granted. He left us so much beautiful music.

[@mikeg.9238]

@@tomfoolery333 You're correct about that , I was 25 and luckily saw him several times at small clubs in my area before he exploded. Also got to see him open for Robert Plant , but like you I figured I'd catch him on his next tour. Had a chance to see him at a stadium in my city with the Allman Brothers and Charlie Daniels but I passed on it like an idiot , he died shortly after and I never stopped thinking what a mistake , should've went. I guess that's how things work out sometimes unfortunately. Now with EVH gone there's really only a handful of guitar legends left...

[@benolsen1414]

He played at expo 86 in Vancouver Canada. They served alcohol inside the venue and I was so pissed off because I was too young to get in. I stood outside and listened and was blown away. I never got to see him before he passed. At least I got to hear him play live.

[@joahyoga1995]

SRV dripped sweat from his wizard sleeves on me, at an outdoor concert in CT, when I was a kid. My life has never been the same since. Thank god for small favors 🙏❤️🎯

[@starke2908]

go ahead and clean it up now, you might smell a lot better. And maybe your life will change

[@bentackett6299]

That's pretty gross. I'm a huge fan of his music but I'd pass on being sweated on. Glad you enjoyed it though! 😃🤢💦

[@joahyoga1995]

@@bentackett6299 it was uninvited for sure 😂

[@haliaeetus8221]

Lol 😂 😅

[@drewparcel1727]

I went to a funeral years ago and found out that Stevie was buried at that same cemetery. Before I left I had to go and pay my respects. It sounds strange but while paying my respects there was this feeling that I was in the presence of greatness. It sounds cliche but it is honestly what happened. RIP SRV

[@omerdelibalta5053]

“You wouldn’t believe how much tone is in raising your action rather than changing the string gauge” , now that’s a lifetime guitar advice there ladies and gentlemen

[@SilverWuf69]

Or..... just lower your pickups... And keep the lower action for easier playing... js

[@GNJ1118]

String gauge changes the tone quite a bit. I used to play 12s in standard tuning and it sounded amazing. I did say used to lol.

[@pedrobarnez5502]

Yes yes, release your truss rod and your micro tilt tension and behold the tone of your strat in all its glory....why this works, or how SRV plays so good with high action....I just....don’t...know.

[@NEH85]

@@pedrobarnez5502 It allows the strings more space to resonate. At least that's how it feels to me..

[@pedrobarnez5502]

@@NEH85 it could be the metallic truss rod and micro tilt when engaged are now responsible for translating the strings vibrations and stop the frequencies from resonating through the wood....that was not that hard to figure out, now if you can figure out how SRV plays that good with that high of action you go ahead and let me know lol

[@peterdanner2336]

30 years ago. That, did not seem like 30 years ago.

[@pb12661]

Yeah, I remember a few months before he passed, I was trying to get my "concert buddy" to go see him with me. He was touring with Jeck Beck at the time. He couldn't make it and I just said, "I'll catch him next time." I had another chance to see him when a friend called me on short notice and said he had an extra ticket. I balked as I was studying for a college exam. silly me. 😢 truly seems like just a few years ago....smh

[@guitarocd9984]

Time is crazy. Just think Kurt Cobain if he didn't die would be closing in on 60 years old.

[@srcastic8764]

I’m getting old.

[@guitarocd9984]

I was 40 when Nirvana came out. 30 years old when Stevie Ray Vaughan hit the scene. Now I'm drooling into my oatmeal.

[@peterdanner2336]

I will say, not that it’s not awful to lose these people in their prime, but they become icons frozen in time at that level. And not, like you know, Axl Rose.

[@jmanzemail]

I really appreciate the way that you dig into tone in your teachings... The language, approach, details... Excellent! 👂🍬

[@joshscott7401]

I love your approach to everything man. You’re so polite and inviting, and super informative.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

"Riviera Paradise" is my all time Favorite Guitar Tone - ever captured on record. R.I.P. Stevie Ray Vaughan = Legend. I enjoyed your playing. Nice demo.

[@combatOracle1]

I saw the great SRV at the Sydney Opera House way back then. During his set, he played a couple of Hendrix tracks and the thing that really hit me was they were note for note. If you shut your eyes it was pure Jimi Hendrix, no interpretation, no improvisation just a perfect rendition of Hendrix. It was so impressive that he had taken the time to work out every nuance of tracks like Voodo Child and play them as what came across as a tribute to another great guitar genius. I got two for one that night, one of my favourite musical memories.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@ Matthew Scott: Just wanted to thank you for a very nice video, very well-done. You are a tremendous musician yourself; you've got a gift of your own. Losing SRV was hard, but you know that he'd want all of us to keep on keeping on, to keep the faith and keep playing and listening to the music. The flame burned especially brightly in him, but we can all do our part to keep the blues alive.

[@guysteele204]

Just subscribed. Love how sensible and down to earth this guy is. Everything he says is distilled and simple, yet uncommonly insightful. He is beyond his years. And so true that a LOT of tone comes from fingertip technique, and the rest from mechanics and engineering. Stevie had both mastered and this guy proves he understands capturing SRV tone through his playing and his words. Good job!

[@Shotthroughaframe]

I’m 51 years old, and have been playing off and on since I was 10 years old. I chased the Stevie tone for years, and found everything you said in this video to be spot on. For years, guitarists have been chasing that tone, and for the most part, it was much easier ( to a point ) than most people thought, due to so much heresy over the years about what Stevie really used gear wise. Keep doing what your doing Matt. You are the closest person I’ve seen so far, to capturing “the tone,” and technique of SRV. The cool thing is....that within all that, you’ve got your own thing going on as well.

[@cmc2234]

Yeah, it's a good comparison, at least up to the :15 second point where it became obviously counterfeit.

[@patrickdolan.]

Id say Tommy katona has nailed SRV tone perfectly. He even looks like him and has a double trouble tribute band. Look him up on KZbin here. It's so Erie but cool

[@mikeg.9238]

Nice playing brother , i can appreciate your passion for Stevie. I still miss the guy to this day , i feel very lucky to have seen him several times back in the early 80's at a small club in my state , before he made it big. I also saw him open for Robert Plant. What an unbelievable player he was and such a loss to the music world. I sometimes think about how much more of a contribution to music he would of had , lucky for us he left us with an unbelievable body of music that i still enjoy listening to today. Rock on brother!!!

[@GeneHolowinskyj]

Thank You for Your calm, eloquent, precise, down to Earth commentary. Everything was very well played and said, I really enjoyed listening to You. God bless You and best wishes in everything You do.

[@ronnie5129]

Matt, this was a great lesson, i love your channel, I saw SRV with Jeff Beck 5 Months before the Helecopter Crash, what a show, at the end of the show Both of them came out and played 4 Yardbird songs togeather, What A Night I Will NEVER Forget, Rock On, Cousin Figel

[@rkoz55]

Almost falling into a vat of hot grease and then committing to not having a regular job ever again is motivation. I like the story of him hanging with Eric Clapton and Eric was playing a borrowed crappy Strat and complaining about it, so SRV swaps his #1 for it and then proceeded to rip on the crappy Strat. I think it was Eric that had to pull over to the side of the road when he first heard SRV on the radio. Anyways, tomorrow is my birthday, man it's been 30 years, so I was 24, dang I'm old, working for a living and still trying to figure out guitar. Play everyday, with a metronome.

[@maxwhitten8376]

Same boat here. I've been practicing for 52 years... Keep digging brother!♥️🏁🙏🏻

[@rockinran]

I think I need to fall into a vat of hot grease. Maybe that'll motivate my old arthritic hands.

[@_RLP]

Keep it loud, mate.

[@subzero308]

Eric also plays a lot more then just fast blues... All SRV played was fast blues. SRV was cool but didnt have any range at all outside of blues.

[@jamespollock11]

Eric was tooling through France on the way down to the Riviera in his Ferrari 365GTB/4 ("Daytona") when Love Struck Baby erupted forth on the Blaupunkt, creating the mindset in EC that he had to know the artist before he made a another meter down the expressway IIRC

[@PipeCat1965]

I watched him play 31 years ago, almost to the day, at the PA Beach Club in Gardner, MA. Dude, you have come the CLOSEST to SRV's sound and chops that I have heard so far. Great tones, great hands. INSTANT SUB one minute in.

[@louisflege3741]

Great, informative video here. I love Stevie, always been a favorite player of mine that I could never duplicate his sound due to lack of appropriate space to turn the volume up, lol. This has been educational and helpful. Wonderful tribute to SRV. I think he would be flattered and humbled by your appreciation. Great playing, too!

[@FBGOODIE]

You really nailed it,thank you so much for sharing your precious craftsmanship

[@billstephens6655]

Nice job. I'm a teacher, and a very amateur guitar player--I really appreciate your teaching style here, and your spirit. Keep it up. Oh, and you're a great guitar player! I saw Stevie a couple of times in the early 80s (lived in Austin then) and tone aside, there was something else about the guy that just transcended all the technical stuff. He channeled something. I don't know what it was exactly, but it was beautiful. Thanks for sharing your insights and for being so humble about it.

[@m73m95]

Matthew Scott: "Crank your fender amp to at least 7" Me: Sits in 2nd floor apartment ....ok

[@mattjns]

😂😂😂 Dude, I cant get mine past 2.

[@TraneFrancks]

It's exactly this apartment scenario that caused me to buy a little Marshall DSL1 combo. In low power mode, it's running at 0.1 Watts and I can actually get it into its sweet spot without getting evicted. Will I get a Stevie tone? Hardly, but I sure do find some enjoyable tones lurking in amongst all that natural tube compression and sustain.

[@Racquetballerkevin]

@@TraneFrancks good idea.

[@CMCK19]

If your amp has a master volume knob you can use that to keep the volume down while getting closer to breakup tones by cranking up the volume - I do it with my blues junior

[@thorpenator9148]

What helps me get the tone at a lower volume is this. Compressor and boost pedal before the overdrive to push the signal. Fender Deluxe helps...I play on two when my wife is home and it sounds pretty good.

[@Fishman9998]

Nice. You inspired me for a moment to think back and reflect on seeing him play Toronto in 88 at the Gardens. Great seats close up. I haven't seen anyone since that is so perfectly on point with his instrument and feeling. Always perfect. Much tone is in the fingers ...

[@ccwhiskey]

Really enjoy your playing and demos and how you present it all .

[@RoadOutWest]

"For those of you out there who take it too serious... please don't. It's just for fun. It's about keeping music alive and keeping the history of all these musicians we love alive". Great takeaway. Well said.

[@WmLJohnson]

I learned a tone trick from you on one of your other videos. Thank you. I’ve been a pro for 40 years. You really capture SRVs nuance effortlessly. I could tell you stories about the scene in 1980 and what other people were doing when Stevie appeared. I always loved his playing but I never worked on duplicating it. Most blues rock guitarists had already put those hours into Hendrix Clapton and Trower so it wasn’t immediately obvious to some of us just how good he was. For many guitarists like myself who love blues, turning down the overdrive and learning the jazz blues pocket was the greater challenge. I now would like to cover SRV well. You certainly are nailing it. Very well done.

[@daveh4925]

i recommend using dildonics method

[@wonderbars36]

Such a nice kind guy. Humble, and down to earth by what you have to say. And yeah man, sad what we lost with Stevie's untimely short exit. And a hell yes, you hit the nail on the head 100%. The secret? Volume, and a solid start with a solid healthy Fender amp. '82-'85 was probably my favorite era of sound for him too. The power trio days. Unfortunate in that he himself wasn't well, but glad he was in the end if even just for a little while.

[@irregularrex4004]

I love your videos and your passion for music. Also you're extremely talented. You're a good inspiration.

[@tonepilot]

Nice to see someone so young and talented with such respect for vintage gear.

[@The_YouTube_Critic]

One thing you almost mentioned but didn't - pickup height. Having a higher action and really low pickup height. If you watch video of him playing #1, you'll see his pickups almost flat with the pickguard. This prevents the sound from getting too boomy and driving the amps front end too aggressively. IMO that's a huge key to get his woody singing strat tone.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

I also prefer a lower height so they are outta my way.

[@j_freed]

The thumpiness from pickups being too close is excess bass and transience right? Cool for a certain grungy sound but not this.

[@unitoftemp]

@@j_freed yes. I like my tone glassy

[@0548SdR]

As explained neatly by Dan Patlansky! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXLIYqmXqbWjsKM

[@darrenc8776]

Yeah I've done that to all my strats. The heavy strings need a lot of room the do the figure of 8 oscillations. If your pick ups are high the magnets pull the strings and kill sustain.

[@MattDavisDrum]

I’m a drummer and have no business being here and will out none of this into practice, however I’ve watched this twice, lol! Excellent playing, Matthew. Like others have said, you’ve truly captured the SRV vibe and I love how you’ve explained it all. Very cool video.

[@movonup]

I watch quite a bit of vids about guitars & amps, just learning and most of the musicians are alright, but not only did you get his tone you've got some major chops. Much respect and thanks for sharing. Peace & rip SRV.

[@Dazz1806]

I love your philosophy with guitar. Just have fun. I’m just getting back into guitar and this is a great reminder to not take it too seriously. Also, great tone advice and awesome playing man.

[@marcgonsalves5935]

My favorite thing about you is how humble you are. That’s refreshing in a world of “look at me”.

[@user-eo9qr3zc2w]

Thanks this really helped me out. I have been trying to sound like srv for thirty years and it is as simple as your amp and volume. This brought me closer to the sound but the neighbors didn't appreciate it too much. Srv is my all time favorite God bless all you blues brothers and sisters out there and keep picking.

[@jasonlaker8723]

Mate you are a sensational player, I am constantly amazed by the talent out there. Nice work young man👍

[@jnagrag9374]

Got to sit in front of him early in a small club 300 ppl. Even then I was floored with his mastery, I only had been playing for 2 yrs then but he made me get serious! Too soon, too soon RIP brother.

[@charlbouwer6058]

Out of all the guitarists i have heard trying to sound like SRV you must be the closest without being him, fantastic playing mate!

[@Ouscazz]

Just found this channel, instant subscribe. One of the best tone videos on the internet, period! I've had some trouble finding the SRV tone with my Strat. Playing through a mini box 2061X Marshall Plexi. I play it dimed all the time and haven't been able to nail the tone, even with the guitar volume rolled back. All I had to do was to roll back the volume and treble a bit on the amp, haven't thought of that before. Instant SRV sound, thanks a lot!

[@Golchen]

Cool video that I chanced upon. You slayed me with the tone and playing! Just pure awesome

[@ItsMrMcFly]

Matthew You're the man! Anyone who knocks this dude needs to go listen to his original music. He makes these videos because Stevie and other Blues/Rock players and vintage gear are his passion. But to me his original music doesn't really sound like SRV and the others. He has his own sound and feel which is something to admire. When you can combine your influences and find your own voice is where the magic is and Matthew has achieved that. Keep on rocking man.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thank you.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

I had the good fortune of seeing Stevie on many occasions and sometimes he was asked to sit in with other players and he used someone else's guitar. In those situations he always sounded like himself no matter what amp he played through or the guitar he happened to have in his hands at the time. I would say this is strong evidence that his tone was largely in his hands. Having said that, we all know that he was quite particular about his own personal set up. I would agree that much of that elusive Stevie tone came from his amps. As you mentioned, he achieved that sound by using several amps simultaneously to create a unique sound. He favoured NOS tubes in all his amps and played pretty loud. In my opinion his best tone was when he played his maple neck strat. It just sounded much more open and clear. I asked him about that and he kind of agreed with that assessment, but said that he preferred rosewood finger boards because they were easier to play when your hand was sweating. That made sense. His sound is such a big subject, but I feel what we are really hearing is his soul. Something that can never be really achieved with a certain guitar or amp.

[@jamespollock11]

Yes, sir!

[@NedJeffery]

The most criminally underrated comment I have ever seen.

[@rustyshackleford6637]

You're right about his soul because a few nights ago I pounded a few beers and then started smoking marwan al shaheed and I got to playing and it was something I had never imagined playing before, it was like i lost awareness of my surroundings and was just playing very intense and also more creative than usual. I'm not saying you have to be wasted to get on that level but I think I realized that nothing SRV played was technically more complicated than any other guitarists (and that's usually the general knock metal guitarists give to the blues). It really is basic blues pentatonic scales. But it's the way you play a note. The way SRV could play just one note and then just feel his way through the hi and low points of a song (on a slow blues song like tin pan alley) is something you can't teach. That's why we listen to him so much. I like the maple neck strat too and I love the tone of Lenny during the Tokyo show, and then he keeps the Lenny strat and starts into Testify with it. Someone would have to correct me if I'm wrong but is that the only time he played a song other than Lenny(or Riviera Paradise) with that guitar?

[@coppulor6500]

yes but everyone confuses tone with style in these discussions. with the right gear and the right settings, anyone can achieve the actual tone. I mean shit, you just heard it. And keep in mind his tone varied over his career so who's not to say the tone in this video wasn't indistinguishable from one of his phases. Its the STYLE thats in the hands. the phrasing, the vibrato, hard guitar attack often etc. tone is not in the hands. style is.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

@@coppulor6500 I would respectfully have to disagree. Much of that unique tone is in the hands. I will give you an example. If 10 great guitar players played through Stevies rig they would end up sounding more like themselves than they would Stevie. That's because their sound comes from their hands. If I played Stevies guitar I certainly wouldn't sound like him. Yes, phrasing, vibrato and attack are unique to every good player, but this all adds up to that unique tone that they alone possess, and it's not necessarily gear dependent.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

I totally agree about the amp being the link to great tone. I have a '66 Super Reverb and a '65 Pro Reverb and I've never been happy with other amps. Set them to 7 on the vol, adjust for Strat or humbuckers and you're there! Love your channel and your whole vibe and playing is just so refreshing! Thank you man!

[@kirkmcknight113]

Young man you are doing an awesome job in your search for than tone. The intro was AWESOME and sound was spot on. At Apple Valley Eric Clapton was down in front of the band stand in front of one Stevie's amp's and said to himself, That's Stevie's way of getting the great sound, turn those amps up and play it loud!!! You are so right that it's so much easier to have fun and not take it So Serious. Cudo's to you. You're a credit to SRV. I'm 70 and born and raised in TX. and he used to play at Stubbs BBQ over in Lubbock. Sad part is I didn't know or ever heard him play until after his death. Been a music lover dang near since birth but was never introduced to the Blues. My practice room is called Stevie's Room by my wife and me both. Thanks!!!!

[@Gl1tchDeclined]

It's pretty bittersweet seeing all these SRV videos circulating on KZbin lately... He actually passed on my dad's birthday, and it's been a few years since my dad's passing. I couldn't agree more on your theory of tone. Great video :)

[@jameswarren7133]

I have heard he tuned down to e flat. Is that true

[@Gl1tchDeclined]

@@jameswarren7133 half step detuned with thicker strings for that super fat SRV tone :)

[@toddvandell85]

The secret to getting Stevie Ray Vaughan's tone? Easy: be Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[@scottski51]

tod. I hope you didn't stay up late thinking up that sharp quip!! Hehe !!!

[@BeauregardHall]

Not at all bro. All you need is a stereo and one of his albums. You sound just like him.

[@jmvmike]

The best 45 second intro ever! Thank you That was beautiful I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

[@gregcharles999]

great tone, you really nailed it and your playing is excellent. I am a long time fan of Stevie who really turned me on the to blues in a big way. its great to see young players catching that magic and keeping it alive. keep it up!

[@craiger2399]

Even a little Fender Champ, dimed, and with just a touch too much reverb will get such an awesome sound, especially in a small space. My 74 Champ only hits 106 DB totally dimed, but man, that sound is so fat, off-clean, and compressed. It really is addictive as a "bedroom amp" (although my neighbors have complained about what I consider bedroom volume lol).

[@tobyrutter3776]

Just bought a champion 600 so I can crank it at low volumes

[@Fotosaurus56]

Years ago, before I had even heard of SRV, I went to a small club in Tulsa. There was a three piece band playing incredible blues. The player sang and played a Strat through a Fender Silverface Champ that was miked. Weeks later I recognized the music as the work of a new artist, named Stevie Ray Vaughan. Both artists left me with a lasting impression.

[@rhendrickson886]

Great playing and tone Matthew. One thing you didn't mention was that Stevie tuned down a half step, which dramatically alters the tone of the Strat and allows for heavier strings if you want to put them on. Thanks for this video!

[@alwinian]

Thoughtful post. Your playing and setup sound great. Thank you!

[@paul2466]

Intro gave me goosebumps! Beautifully done👍

[@lucasvonbraun]

Great video, very appreciated .. After seeing Stevie Ray a few times, one thing that was apparent was, as good as his sound was on recording, nothing could capture the massive, encompassing, monster tone he had live .. and when I say his "sound", I mean HIM : his attack, his ability to generate emotion through the guitar .. and so many other guitar greats I have seen live shrink onstage, their "sound" coming from great recording production and great gear ... Stevie Ray Vaughan's greatness was actually hampered by technology and to attempt to capture his four dimensional guitar abilities and sound on a recording was impossible ..... Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon have talked about the shielding that was required around Stevie Ray's mic stand, as he was always getting shocked and creating arcs of electricity that would literally knock SRV backwards .. They talk about how, prior to the excessive shielding, the mics were always tested by other people, techs, etc .. They'd grab the mic stand, tap their mouth on the mic, etc and no one but Stevie ever caused these shocks and arcs of energy .. They are dead serious when they speak about how Stevie Ray carried a different / more powerful energy .... These things cannot be duplicated with equipment .... In my experience, as far as gear goes, it all starts with the 13 gauge strings dropped down to Eb .... The way those heavy strings vibrate at A 415.30 creates a completely different vibe

[@hockeyman2274]

This guy plays really well and the best part is he seems to have his head screwed on straight - well grounded individual

[@silverfox69]

Great info Matt, thanks for sharing. Your focus on the amp is really what it was, beside the strings, action, pedals and of course the player

[@milkmansada]

I literally had to replay 4:48 at half speed so I could learn it and I have to say it’s beautiful and my favorite part about srv is how he’d play inside of a little box and blow you away, great video

[@guts2112]

The best recreation of his tone I’ve heard.

[@andrewf2149]

Great advice! I'm a mediocre wannabe SRV guitarist with all the gear. 56 avr Strat w 7.25 radius. 69 super reverb. This helped me greatly! Thanks bro.

[@lagoonrd4173]

2001 fender deluxe with noiseless coils

[@Croccolucho]

@@lagoonrd4173 noiseless won't get you there.

[@tone_science]

Great summary, Matt - agree with all the points especially about amp importance, BF volume, and string action.

[@drewarnold6031]

Just had my 58 Strat stolen 3 weeks ago and have been doing a lot of web searching for answers. Came across your vids. Very nice. Keep up the good work

[@williamsporing1500]

Dude, that’s terrible!!!

[@adamdreier]

Couldn’t agree more, the amp is the most essential piece(besides hands), that’s why Keith Richards said he uses no effects, he just wants the amp. What I think the issue today is, people are so dependent on pedals they forget about unity gain and natural amp break up, all that’s needed is then to lower or increase the Volume for the dirt on the clean tone. Ohh I use to rock a super reverb so Fender is my jam 😎.

[@stevebean1234]

Honestly you add so much more complexity by having pedals - just adding more parameters to the mix. And it’s a bit of a mystery on some pedals where you start cutting dB and losing fidelity from your original signal... Anyway, I bought a Mesa Boogie Mark V recently for quarantine and it was a huge benefit to my playing... it sounds much better 😊. I only paid the extra because I can switch it to a 10 W mode and play quietly in my house.

[@robbieadam8667]

If you can do it with just the amp and are selective with the pedals you use then you are only improving your creative options.....just my opinion! I’ve gone both routes and absolutely prefer using pedals

[@regortex3364]

SRV, Hendrix we’re avid pedal users, who we kidding here?

[@anyhoot47]

I once did an open mic night and used the house amp and it sucked. My pockets aren't deep enough for a nice tube amp so for almost 10 years I've been using a Fender Mustang III. I've been accused of using a tube amp. As for pedals, the only pedal I use is a volume pedal. Like a tube amp, the Fender Mustang III has a sweet spot.

[@dutchdykefinger]

these digital modeling amps kind of of put "i just want the amp" in a whole another perspective though i have this little, battery-run vox practice amp, with a ton of amp models, and it's very practical to have, especially if you have guitars with very different characters, yeah i'm not a purist on gear, i play any crooked old 6 string if it's even remotely tunable, but i do like my things minimalistic. a pedal or an amp with A/B channel + footswitch are kind of a must if you want the real dirt, and be able switch back to proper clean and dirty a lot though, there's only so much you can do with the volume knob before it destroys the EQ and S/N ratio (also, riding the volume swells like an 80s guitarist makes you hate noise gates with a passion) i have a strat clone with 2 singles and a humbucker on the bridge though, and it's closer to the strings too, so i'm already pumping the input gain a lot when just swapping over to the bridge pickup, which i only use for distorted parts because it sounds awful clean. tried it for a spin on a tube amp once and it's fucking amazing how much control i had over the gain and therefor the color of the sound (EQ curve inheritance through gain) with just the knobs and switches, i'm never dropping this setup. gain stage pedals (boosters or whatever million marketing names they use for a gain pedal) aren't a bad thing, they go a long way in making a thin strat sound a bit fatter.

[@NatureOverland]

Me playing my all tube amp at 2-3 volume. 😕 hmm. Sounds like shit... okay no problem. Me playing my all tube amp at 7-8 volume. 😬 still sounds like shit..... but louder.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

You're not alone!

[@GuitarTimeWithBillyC]

LoL!

[@klascojoe]

So it’s loud as shit

[@Max-re5vg]

Check your Balances...like a Graphic equaliser.....Bass, Middle, Treble...Valves tweak and peak really quickly....the band where they sound good can be super narrow.....Google setting up EQ.......and...yeah

[@rogerlinville8982]

At that volume you will have to tweak the highs, mids, bass and presence. They can change drastically as the speakers start bleeding...

[@edminer9061]

You nailed it perfectly. The way you move your fingers around the fretboard like Stevie. Just like him, and your young, don't give up.

[@Mojorisin90]

Thankyou so much for this video, it has helped me find what I've always been looking for. Great stuff buddy! 👍

[@johnnelson9309]

Fine job youngun, you seemed to have caught the spirit of SRV. Listening to you I feel you do SRV a great service by teaching and keeping music alive. Best wishes to ya.

[@markburrows1179]

Matthew, from the first time I started watching your channel, you reminded me of an artist from the late sixties/early 70s who was first in a short lived group, and then went to a solo performer for the most part. He was inspirational to a lot of players, plus highly regarded by his peers and contemporaries. He was a multi instrumentalist, but mostly an outstanding guitarist, and his primary guitar was a 1961 Stratocaster. His band was known as Taste and the artist was Ireland's Rory Gallagher, and every artist who knew him said that Rory was the the most laid back, kindest, and friendliest artist who packed up his own gear, talked to fans, and signed autographs. When he toured with other artists and bands, they would sit in the audience and watch his show. When he played Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, the guy recording the concert, decided to run limited footage on most bands and leave most of the footage for the bigger names, but when Taste started playing, he said, just keep rolling, I'll get more film and another camera going. You can even see a scene where one camera man is reloading. At one time someone asked Jimi Hendrix what it was like to be the greatest guitar player ever, he answered, "I don't know. Why don't you go ask Rory Gallagher?" Rory was also lead vocalist, and he mesmerized his audiences. There is even a shot of Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) dropping her jaw. There was no one who disliked him as a person in fact he became a close friend with Alex Lifeson of Rush. At one point when Rush became headliners and were asked if they wanted Rory Gallagher as an opening act, they quickly and unanimously with enthusiasm answered, "Yes!". Now, Rory really didn't reach superstar status, but I believe he preferred it that way, he was just a musician that loved playing the music, and was not a showman, yet if you watch any of his live videos, his playing is phenomenal, and he was an amazing songwriter. Eric Clapton credited Rory Gallagher as the reason he returned back to playing the Blues, which was his true calling. For some reason there has been a lot of attention on KZbin lately regarding Gallagher, and it is because of that it finally clicked of who you reminded me of. This amazing laid back Blues Rock guitar player that was a crowd pleaser with a beat up old Strat. It was his that he bought on layaway back in 1961 at the price of 100 pounds sterling. Said guitar now sits in a Dublin museum. Rory was managed his entire career by his brother Donal. Gallagher also guested with many other artists both on albums and stage, adding his creativity without complaint from anyone. One did not ask Rory Gallagher to join in and say, "No Rory, I don't want that." That's like saying to Neil Young, "You can't play like that on our jam." Who in the hell would do that? Rory died too early at the age of 47, unmarried and without children. He wasn't much into drugs, but he was a heavy drinker. Which is not unusual. Alice Cooper was completely against drugs, but loved his liquor. He claimed the only person to drink him under the table was Janis Joplin, and she loved her drugs as well. Cooper was known for firing band members for drug use, if it got out of control and affected their performance. Yet Alice Cooper was a Theatrical Rock performer, and that was his gig. So were many artists, Jimi Hendrix was, Jethro Tull was, and yes, Stevie Ray Vaughn was also a performer. The most dramatic performer of all was none other than David Bowie who was a chameleon throughout his entire career in not just appearance but in different styles of genre. The Master of Pop Evolution. He was a canvas of art himself. Each phase was remarkable. He said things publicly throughout his career simply for the shock value. His theory was, if anyone was going to start rumors, why not do it himself. People will eat up anything. Later he regretted it, finally admitted that he was always a straight heterosexual man, but that was boring and non creative. So through showmanship personification he exhibited cross dressing, being trans, and most popular, being androgynous. What he did best was hide his private life so well, than no one really believed that he was just an ordinary bloke underneath all of that glamour and artistic brilliance. David Robert Jones, (Bowie's proper name) was only married twice, his first wife Angie (nee) Barnett for 10 years, and they had one son, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, he adopted the Haywood extra middle name later. He was once known as Zowie Bowie. David Bowie's second marriage was to the model, Inman which was in 1992 and remained as such until Bowie's death in 2016, they share a daughter born in 2000, Alexandria Zahra Jones. I guess the trick was keeping his personal life by the name of Jones which is as common as Smith. Who notices folks with the name Jones much? But as innovative and creative as David Bowie was as a legendary songwriter, singer, and composer, he was not a particularly noted as being an outstanding player of any particular instrument. He basically could hold his own. Then there were people like Gallagher where their instrument, and in his case, his 1961 Stratocaster where he had little in the way of pedals and pre-amps, and didn't use a tremolo bar, could bend and manipulate those strings with amazing dexterity. Have I mentioned that you sort of look a bit like a young Rory Gallagher?

[@jaimacpherson1082]

Yeah. Though jimi never said that. Quote made up by rolling stone magazine. Go watch the interview he’s supposed to have said it in.

[@jakemf1]

You just wrote a book in the comments

[@rapidrhinoplumbing-monrovi3269]

All I can say is keep up the good work Matthew, you are saying things people need to hear,,, thank You, Thank You,,

[@craigtittsworth9440]

Great stuff my friend! ... thanks for showing!

[@stevelucero9047]

Stevie secret is that he played HARD... REALLY HARD on heavy ass strings. Watch him play acoustic... he played electric exactly the same way. Dimed his amps. Even his "soft" playing is full of intent. This got him "home" sooner breakup wise...

[@mindeloman]

YES!!!!! I wish I could like this comment a thousand times. Many years ago, when I was 16, I evolved into my SRV phase of guitar playing. "Pride and Joy" was my first SRV song. I was playing it right and all the notes were there, but it didn't sound right. Something was off. My problem was that I played 4-6 hours every day and focused on saving my fingers for extended playing. (focusing on quantity, not quality) So I played light on purpose. Then one day I just played with reckless abandon and just hit it as hard as I could. Yeah, that was his secret. Just don't hold back. Practice session was over for me that day.

[@williamsporing1500]

He said he liked to fight with his guitar

[@avgjoegeek71]

Me: Turns amp up to 7 House: *IMPLODES* Neighbors: Hide under their beds. But.... in all seriousness - great video. My lil' Type A tube amp kills me if I try turning it past 3 in my little room I play in :)

[@forester057]

Seriously would have pictures falling off the walls. Perhaps a good reason to be a bachelor with no home decor haha

[@mikeg.9238]

Ha,ha , shit i just turn my amp on and the wife goes crazy. Sometime's she's louder than the amp. Women" they just don't get it!

[@TheSupart91]

🤣🤣😂😂

[@jimgrill]

I agree 100% with this. Especially about the amp being the most important thing, and about cranking it. I also totally appreciate hearing truth about OD pedals. They hardly matter at all. Thank you!

[@Max-re5vg]

Thanks Man....Great video....good reminder of some of the basics and of course, the amazing talent of Stevie Ray......thanks for the tip about pickups.........tweaking mine tomorrow

[@hndrxspnttaDlucia]

" El secreto es que nació para ser una Leyenda" Sigue practicando muchacho !

[@bee-ex2cs]

Step 1: resurrect stevie ray Vaughan using your necromancy powers, if you dont have necromancy powers, store bought is fine.

[@captaincoconut1694]

*Vaughan

[@cmc2234]

Perhaps you should just start with correct name spelling?

[@bee-ex2cs]

sorry that im illiterate jeez

[@devenchinso]

@chief wiggums yes, you are correct man. Alot of people do not understand this or thing it's not true. Plus why do you want to sound like someone else? Bar gigs.. Sure, at home.. Sure... If you are in your own band. Find your own sound. Youll never become a legend without it.

[@sambone8348]

@chief wiggums Hendrix was often imitated, but never duplicated, he changed and challenged everybody's way of thinking about playing......and inspired Stevie greatly ! Jimi left us 50 years ago today, September 18th 1970......RIP the both of you !!!

[@besnardphilippe7350]

Love your approach to music and tone + you’re a natural presenter. Subscribed here. Peace from HongKong Phil

[@TheWallaby66]

Well done Matthew, some really great playing and observations on Stevies tone. I think also think people underestimate the physicality required to get his phrasing and tone.

[@markyymarkXL]

Ye man I agree with you. Im not knocking the blues jr, it's worth the money, but now that I look back I feel like I made a mistake and not cashing in a bit more for a bassman or a super reverb. I generally play a tele, but stevie is def a giant inspiration for me as well, so im saving for a strat haha Great vids, and thanks man!

[@imCurveee]

The blues junior (imo) would be a better option to stay with as you'll get the fender tube sound and overdrive at relatively lower volumes, compared to something like a super reverb, which will blow your head off before you reach the sweet spot. But if you live out in the countryside and have the space, or have cool neighbors, disregard my advice lol

[@alep7358]

imCurveee and need ear plugs

[@imCurveee]

@@alep7358 definitely

[@zerohourdrift]

imCurveee the blues jr is the completely wrong circuit though. It utilizes el84’s in a circuit closer to a vox

[@docamosroxie8686]

Had 59 bassman re issue....could not handle volume at 7 on it! Volume on 3 shakes plaster!!

[@chris5064]

You’ve got some killer runs my man. Rip Stevie.

[@mrkiks32]

My gosh that Strat looks beautiful! Great video👍🏻

[@sliob]

Hey Matthew, I was unfamiliar with SRV, checked him out, wow, what a great musician, thanks for posting this!

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Check out Live at the El Mocambo or Live at Montreaux Jazz Fest if you're oure interested in hearing a good live show Stevie and his band.

[@BeauregardHall]

The other day I was playing my amp on 7 and the old man from two states over asked if I could turn it down.

[@orvilleholt5728]

Best I've heard and the hand is the deal your right, Stevie ray had huge hands and iron fingers. He could bend and tweak each note like no one else.

[@maurice19541]

Outstanding chops, great gear and very articulate - love your videos!

[@leep6875]

Your videos are absolutely awesome, really informative and interesting, please keep up the fantastic job with your channel