Listen to Cream's Sunshine Of Your Love . Notice that dark, nasty grunty guitar tone? If you like that, try this. (You'll need a wah pedal).

(Set the gain on your amp to a moderate setting. )

First off, flip your PU switch into the neck position, then roll your tone knob on the guitar all the way off. This will more than likely sound pretty muddy.

Then click your wah pedal on & leave it in the forward (treble) position. You might have to move it a bit get it just right.


Ive fooled with the "half cocked wah" thing before but didnt like it. Set up this way, its REALLY cool. Would have never thught to set one up that way, but apparently, thats how Clapton recorded a few of those old bad ass cream songs.


If you dig old school tones, I think you'll like it.

I was using an EMG 81 equipped guitar. Probably woulda been better w a passive humbucker, but still sounded killer.

just tried this with my strat, sounds like the whole layla album

I havent tried it w single coils yet. Looking forward to trying it.

I've chased that sound for years & never would have thought a wah was in the mix. It seems like it would still have the ability to cut thru in a band situation too.

Im REALLY wanting to try it with a multiple amp set up. I think there's some interesting "textures" that could be had with it.

wow, I had my guitarist try it and it does good, albeit a bit strange

prolem is, he's got this wah pedal:



it sounds really good, but the pedal goes back to the rest position on its own, so it's impossible to keep the tone you described for more than a few seconds

With a pedal like that, only fail can follow.

To be fair, Tremonti's tone isn't why Creed sucks. However, if I were to use that pedal, I would have to put some black tape over the name.

I undersand the skepticism, but it's actually a very good wah. And he was looking for a wah which activates when you push it, and this was a nice one.

yanni from stinking lizaveta uses this "trick" to great effect imo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfBs37ptVpo
one of my favorite tones i ever heard in concert

Yeah. More than likely you'll need a crybaby type vox or dunlop style wah. A Morley style wah probably wouldnt be the best choice.

Back then EC was using a an old school Vox wah (I think a V846 with the trash can inductor) .

I use a early / mid 70's Vox King Wah with the TDK inductor. (great vintage old school wahs that can be bought under $150 still). Mines stock, but has had the snubbers removed, and the gear on the pot adjusted to get the sweep I like, and has had the on/off switch lowered down so it comes on quicker / quieter (for fast on off stuff with a wah.. kinda how Hendrix & Jerry Cantrell switch one off & on alot thru stuff)


I fucked around with this some more last night & was getting some REALLY Jimmy Page like sounds. Gonna keep experimenting with it & see what else I can come up with. I think this is one of the best tone tricks Ive learned in a long time.

I read in an old Guitar world that the main reason his tone was like that was because of his speakers/cab. He said he himself was never able to reproduce that exact tone after he switched speakers/cabs.

yeah. Not sure what he was using studio wise, but an educated guess would be either a 66-67 Marshall JTM 45 (50 watt) or a JTM100 head, and 4x12 from the same period (doubt he was using a full stack in a studio situation, but who knows). 25 watt celestions, (Or possibly Goodmans. Some early Marshalls had Goodmans) if it was stock. If he were using a bottom cab, it woulda been one of the tall straight cabs like he & Hendrix were using around that time. I dont think they started making the standard sized ones (same dimensions as a 1960B) until '68 or '69.

I think they were probably an "ingredient", but the basic set up (muddy guitar into a wah in the treble position) seems to do its own thing. My hermaphrodited Marshall plexi (basically a phucked up mix of a 67 superbass, a late 6o's / early 70's JMP Superlead with some 80's JCM 800 stuff goin on, and a few odd mods) ...ran into a tall (4 inches taller than a standard 1960B) with 90 watt Mesa Black Shadows nails it..(as far as amp & cab ).

The only thing remotely close that I have, thats similar to what he was using is the head (which is severly bass heavy, for being a Marshall. It's got bottom end that would make Alexis Texas jealous) and maybe my wah. I'd like to try a real clyde mccoy 60's vox wah next to my King Vox Wah. An EMG 81 & 85 equipped guitar is no where near the sound of whatever gibson (likely stock) he probably used. WAY hotter signal (though I dont run my volume knob wide open..unless playing lead stuff. It NORMALLY stays parked at about 3/4. For cleanish stuff, i roll mine down about half way, then up just a hair til I hit the sweet spot (and that depends on which head Im using, and what pedals are raping the front end).

sorry for the geek post

Watt, reading your "geek posts" as you call them, I have learned some sweet tricks and info regarding pedals and techniques. Always a good read when you post in here.

Good to know Im good for something lol.

If not for what Ive learned from others, experimenting, tearing shit up, blowing up stuff..I wouldnt know none of it either. Always a joy to find people who share that kinda stuff. I try to pass it along as well. What's noise to some, is bliss to others.

Wonder if Kirk, Pep, or Jimmy have ever scanned thru & tried any of my nerd findings?

"thats cool..how'd you come up with that?"

"some nasty mouthed hick on an internet forum"

Maybe theres someone in the world, gettin a sound they like, all because some dumbass Hillybilly boy's experiments / knowledge passing?

Kim Thayil used a wah on the majority of Badmotorfinger to get that crushing tone!