Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) was one of the most iconic guitarists of all time, and his Tube Screamer settings are some of the most sought-after by guitarists of all genres.
SRV used a Tube Screamer TS-808 Overdrive pedal, and he typically set the gain control to around 3 or 4 and the level control to around 8 or 9. He left the tone control at noon.
These settings give you a warm, overdriven sound with plenty of sustain. It’s a great sound for blues, rock, and country music.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of SRV’s Tube Screamer settings:
Gain: 3 or 4
This gives you a warm, overdriven sound without being too distorted.
Level: 8 or 9
This boosts the signal without being too loud.
Tone: 12 o’clock
This leaves the tone of your guitar and amp unaffected.
Here are some tips for using SRV’s Tube Screamer settings:
- Start with the gain control turned down low. This will give you a chance to hear how the Tube Screamer interacts with your amp and guitar. Once you have a basic sound dialed in, you can start to experiment with higher gain settings.
- Use the EQ controls on your amp and pedal to shape your tone. The EQ controls on your amp and pedal can be used to boost or cut different frequencies to get the exact sound you want. For example, you can use the EQ to boost the treble frequencies for a brighter sound, or cut the bass frequencies for a tighter sound.
- Experiment with different pedal placement. You can place the Tube Screamer either before or after your amp’s preamp section. Placing the pedal before the preamp will give your tone more sustain and gain, while placing the pedal after the preamp will give you more control over your tone.
If you are trying to get SRV’s tone, I recommend starting with these settings and then experimenting to find what works best for you. There is no right or wrong answer, so have fun and find the sound that you like best.
Here is an example of how to use SRV’s Tube Screamer settings for a classic rock sound:
- Set the gain control on your Tube Screamer to 3 or 4.
- Set the level control on your Tube Screamer to 8 or 9.
- Set the tone control on your Tube Screamer to 12 o’clock.
- Set the gain control on your amp to a medium setting.
- Set the EQ controls on your amp to boost the treble frequencies and cut the bass frequencies.
This should give you a warm, overdriven sound with plenty of sustain. You can adjust the settings on your Tube Screamer and amp to fine-tune your sound.
