Chika-chicka-chika

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:50 am

While working on an album worth of tunes Cindi and I are tracking right now, I actually found a place for a tone I've always wanted to use: The chicka chicka chickas from Peter Shilling's Major Tom. I want it to be more percussive than tonal, and am having a hard time right now.

The closest I've been able to get is to set the VOX Tonelab for Blackface head into 1x12 cab mod, with moderate compression on the input signal plus a wobbly chorus effect, all into the SPL Channel1 with a tad more compression. Got the treble and presence(air band) knobs dimed and have rolled off enough mids and bass to keep the actual pitch but emphasize las chickas. Mid-gain settings seem to improve the upper frequency response, mid pickup position on Jazzmaster soundng better than the bridge position. The brief chords heard sound very much like a strat(mid position?) to my ears, but can't be sure.

Long story longer, I can't get that high pitched "click" like the original tune, just an annoying muted guitar sound with a squirt of chorus sauce. Anyone given this sound a stab before?

[youtube][/youtube]

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:40 am

errr..... slow phaser? recorded direct?

the more I listen to it though, I don't think it is actually that complicated. I think it's hard to say what guitar it is (probably bridge pickup though), but I think it is being played through a more midrangey amp. so... probably not a fender twin.

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:28 am

I'd say it's some kind of overdrive with tone knob set to treble, then into an almost dry flanger.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:00 am

wah pedal engaged

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:05 pm

blacktaxi wrote:I'd say it's some kind of overdrive with tone knob set to treble, then into an almost dry flanger.

yeah, whether or not if this is how the guy is doing it in the song, this is how I would do it if I were going to record a song like this.

the guy who played guitar on this track was a guy named Armin Sabol. It's hard to know what gear he would have been using at the time but reading about him he seems like a real metal dude and seems to favor gibsons. he has a studio here: http://www.shivasound.de/

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:42 am

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

After a number of attempts, I actually sounded the best picking the bass line in 8th notes to maintain a tone line, getting sufficient chickas playing while muting the Jazzo about 1.5" from the bridge with a brightly filtered/OD'd/chorused setting. Then I chopped about 1/3 off of the tail of each soundbite, and looped 2 measures' worth. May not post results until the whole thing is done, but I'm fairly satisfied with the effect.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:53 am

I want to say this involves a single coil guitar, maybe a strat in one of the inbetween pickup modes.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:56 pm

Sloan wrote:I want to say this involves a single coil guitar, maybe a strat in one of the inbetween pickup modes.

I would definitely start there, bridge+middle position. That'll give you heaps more click immediately.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:17 pm

this sounds like a engaged wah pedal to me too.