The Secret Behind SRV's Tone 

Which signal path do YOU think most closely resembles SRV's use of the Dimension D? Tell us in the comments below! Table of Contents 00:00 Introduction 01:47 The Secret Ingredient 02:36 How SRV Used the Dimension D 03:25 How YOU can Implement It 04:44 The Gear You Need 05:20 "Mary Had a Little Lamb" Example 06:54 "Pride and Joy" Example 09:14 "Let's Dance" Example 12:28 Signal Path (So Far) 13:22 Alternate Signal Path Options 13:52 Signal Path Option #1 15:30 Signal Path Option #2 16:30 Signal Path Option #3 17:44 Our Way vs SRV's Way 19:04 Recap 20:45 Thanks for Watching!

Ok... I've been studying Stevie's playing and tone for 25 years and I always thought I heard a subtle chorusing effect on those studio recordings but never heard this mentioned in descriptions of his rigs. NOW I KNOW I'M NOT CRAZY.

Great video! Texan here, we were turned on to SRV a tad earlier than the wider world. Saw him multiple times in various venues. Mesmerizing. Stevie's "Mary Had a Little Lamb" pays homage to the great Buddy Guy. BG is a national treasure, GO SEE HIM NOW, before he leaves us. Hendrix, SRV, many blues greats are disciples. Thx!

Great info thanks for sharing. SRV choice of string gauge was also a big part of his sound, using .013 - .062 and even .014 - 068. I often wish that he still with us was. I went to 4 of his shows in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1988. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

it's always an informative adventure watching your videos Mason, I appreciate the work you put into bring these to us.

I got my DC-2w last year and was immediately blown away. If you use it on one of its highest wet settings, you get Steve Steven’s Flesh For Fantasy sound. He used the rack unit extensively in his 80’s studio recordings. I have it on all the time on setting 1 and use buttons 3 and 4 (you can use 2 buttons if pressed at the same time) when I need a very wet chorus sound (like in Purple Rain). Thanks Mason for the awesome information!

Fired up my Axe FX III and found the dimension chorus in there - I was amazed A and Bing soloing with and without it on. Never have I ever thought to use chorus on lead guitar - only ever used it messing around with Come as You Are - thanks man! Very enlightening!

It really is surprising how different the parallel methods sound compared to simply running it into the loop. It was night and day for this. Great video once again!!!

I was on the fence on getting this pedal. I finally pulled the trigger and couldn’t be happier

Love the back lighting and the excellent playing. Superb tone bro. 👏

Great video, I love hearing about how Stevie Ray put his Dimension-D all over these tracks!

Thank you for taking the time to teach us. You invest a lot of hours into production and editing to educate us in a minimal amount of time.

Much Love! Great info, as always!

Interesting video. The dimension chorus effect that SRV used was quite subtle, but it did add some cool under the radar modulation that was a nice addition to his tone. Thanks for posting!

Awesome video thanks. You always have insights that no other tuber has. Great playing by the way.

This was awesome. Thanks dudes 🤘🤘🤘

Damn, rough day man. Fuck em. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Great video! I can definitely use this to fatten up my strat sounds. I'm going to see what I can come up with using the Helix and running their Dimension model in parallel. Thanks Mason!

Finally someone talks about the chorus effect! I’ve been saying this for years.

I LOVE your content...really great. I play live and ALWAYS have a chorus happening. Especially with my Strat; it sounds naked without it.

Such a good video, it’s crazy how much better it sounds run post mic than anywhere in line.

Wow you're getting a lot better!!

I am going to have to rewatch this many times thank you so much

What a great video Mason! Thanks!!!

grande mason,come sempre grande spiegazione! ottimo tono,molto fedele all originale di stevie!

Nailed it. I remember listening to his studio stuff and realizing that there was something else there… a kind of “shimmering” effect that was so subtle that you couldn’t put your finger on but you knew was there. I read about this a couple years ago and have been getting close with just keeping the mix on whatever chorus I’d be using down to 20% or so… I’d gotten real close with a Dimension patch from a MD-500 and close-ish with my Julianna chorus. Really great info here, man! Thx!

You’re killing me, Mason! Now I need a DC-2w! Great video, BTW!

It’s nice see you play finally :)

The most valuable info I have gathered is to have a Fender blackface amp cranked to breakup, a Strat running through a TS with volume high, gain low. This seems like a missing piece of the puzzle that no one talks about. Might have to try it. Thanks for the info!

I loved that guitar sound on Let's Dance, but never knew how it was accomplished.

Great video! I have a Line 6 M5, and it has a Dimension model on it. It also has a level, which gets closer to that light level running after the amp mic has. Also just love simple chorus.

100% agree. I got the Waza 2 years ago. It sounds stellar!

While it's known that SRV tuned down to Eb, I feel it's often overlooked what a tonal difference that half step makes! Fatter tone, makes the amp break up quicker, even makes you play different with the slinkier tension for expressive bends and big vibrato. Think of Hendrix too, or even Albert King with the extra slinkiness!

Ive never dived in deep on Stevie Ray Vaughans actual gear. But I know that every time I've personally attempted his, I've always thrown a subtle chorus on. (Also 80s era Clapton tones). It's really the thing that separates his sound from all the other classic blues guys.

Enjoyed the vid man. Myself, like most guitarist, have dove into trying to dial in Stevie’s tone through the years. Particularly his “Texas flood” and “El mocambo” tones. I’ve never heard anybody suggest using a chorus on his studio tone but I stumbled across using one for playing “little wing” years ago and then I started using it for a lot of his other stuff. The key is you want it to be subtle and using a parallel fx loop set about 50/50 wet/dry is a good place to start. There’s definitely movement in his early studio tone and I found a subtle chorus gets me there with ease but you definitely want some of your tone left dry. Not only does it add a little movement and depth but it gives it a little sparkle too. But if it’s obvious you’re using a chorus then you’re using too much. Thanks for reassuring me that my ears aren’t playing games with me. Subbed

Very interesting. Now that you have highlighted it the chorus is definitely there in the SRV studio sound but very subtle. I am not surprised as the chorus was the 80s effect and basically everyone was using a chorus one way or another. Very expensive to replicate the right way as you have suggested it but it does sound very close!

This is awesome 👏. Thanks so much for explaining this.

Thanx...good to know Love all things Stevie!

27 years ago when I niavely asked my guitar teacher how to copy SRV's sound, he literally chuckled and said "well, good luck with that"! Also, I appreciate your clean playing. Many people really over do it when playing SRV licks and just sound messy. You executed them well.

Great video! Never heard anyone talk about this before.

This is wild because I run my dunlop univibe on vibrato mode just barely and get this killer vibe too. It's there but it's not there ya know. Also, my pedal graphic in front of the univibe gives it a nasty stink on my Stratocaster. Drive almost off...but gain cranked just enough to 😂 zone the amplifier. Also, don't forget to roll off the tone & volume knobs on your axe to tastefully get it right. It is a beautiful thing...thanks for sharing your knowledge with everyone. It is very unselfish and nice! 👍

Ahh this is so cool. I always heard SOMETHING different with his recordings like Pride and Joy. There is a barely noticeable swirl to the sound that gave it an edge I could never put my finger on. I am so surprised that it has taken this long to find out what that missing ingredient was.

Super detailed explanation of the SRV tone! Subtle modulation is clear as day. Now, if I just had his touch, tone and taste...

Dude! The DC-2w is ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. It is such a lovely sound and if you haven’t understood how powerful a stereo setup for modulation can be, this will blow your mind! Probably in my top 10 pedals of all time. Probably, IDK. Good stuff Rig Doctor! 👍

So glad I found this video 🤘🥳

Hi Mason, cool video and nice playing too !

Dude! I recently bought the Waza pedal to help get an 80s Clapton 24 nights sound going. I can’t wait to try it in an SRV vibe context!!

Nice playing on this vid!

The Roland Dimension D is mentioned in Andy Aledorts book "Play Like Stevie Ray Vaughan", it says the D was used in the studio recordings of Texas Flood and others, most notably "Mary Had A Little Lamb", "Texas Flood", "Couldn't Stand The Weather", and the end solo on "Pride & Joy". During the mixdown, according to engineer/producer Richard Mullen, Stevie would sit at the board and bring the delay/chorus effect of the D in and out as the song progressed, he liked the "growl" sound and the stereo phasing effects it brought.

great video, sounded just like SRV thanks for demystifying the great sound he had

Cool video I just wish it was able to sound like that in the effects loop. This totally shows you that signal path plays a huge role in getting the sound you want.

I just bought one used after seeing this Thanks!

The boss DC2W is a wonderful chorus pedal. One of my personal favorites is the Maxon ASC10. It's simple, small enclosure, lush, and it can also do some spot on Leslie sounds.

Absolutely love that Rory Strat 😍

Saw him perform live , incredible talent he was .

This is really cool!

I wonder if SRV used chorus that way in order to slightly emulate Albert King. Albert King's tone definitely has a beautifully used phaser effect. I'd like to see a video on how to get an Albert King tone. I personally, never realized that SRV used chorus! Thanks for sharing your knowledge of SRV's tone!!!

Wow. The final ingredient is here. Thx.

I fell into this rig by accident in the 80s. I had a little 6:2 mixer and I sent the guitar signal out to a Dimension C and panned the two returns hard L/R

Nice! Long time SRV fan and never even crossed my mind. Totally hear it though.

In that Let's Dance clip, SRV rips Albert King so well. No wonder Albert called SRV "my son." I don't want to be a SRV clone, but I learned a lot from this vid, and most of your vids. Thanks Mason.

Great video, thanks Mason. I tried to replicate the tone for live sounds using a TheGigRig Wetterbox and mix in my MIJ CE-2 Chorus in parallel to my dry signal , which is going through a Gladio SC for the Dumble sound. The signal then hits my DRVB. Gets pretty close as well, but I never would have thought about this without your video!

mind blowing video! I completely agree on what you have shown here :-)

Killer video, Mason!

adding some kind of subtle chorusing is a great way to fatten your sound...really interesting vid...

I own the boss dc2w, totally recommend it even if you have very chorus under the sun.

dimension is one of the most important effects that people skip over, assuming it’s chorus. stoked to see you spreading the gospel!

I like how you start by saying it's a simple setup then when you go through it it's like explaining the math required for space travel. Killing me man.

Great video!

And all this time I thought the “tone” was in Stevie’s hands...just goes to show ya what I know....excellent vid my brother!!!!

Great video brother

Thanks for pointing this out.. good stuff. In the 80s we all went deaf to the chorus effect and everyone got carried away with it and it just became awful. It sounds so great on this early SRV stuff just used in such a subtle manner though I do think later in there was a bit too much used on some of his later recordings. Its almost with chorus a case of just turn it on enough that you just begin to notice it then stop!

How in the world did you and your team figure that ingredient out!? Wow! Thank you for this! Lol

That's so, So, SO.... freakin CooL !!! 😎 I would have NEVER guessed in a million years that Stevie would have used this sort of effect. 🤔 Really !!! 🙄 *So Much So... that when I really became interested in "Blues Music" I pulled my Dimension-C from my makeshift pedal board thinking it was useless for this genre. 😖 *Well... I guess I should be thankful that it was an old Dimension-C without the "D" mode. 😌 But now I GOTTA go out and GITTME the new version !! 🤣 Thank You for the video and the information. 😉 WoW! 😮 Who Knew ???

Nice stuff!

The fingers a the singers that's the secret of Stevie's Tone ☝️💜

This is true. Stevie and I became very tight in February or 1987 and stayed tight till he passed. Stevie at one point also played through an ART Powerplant preamp on a couple recordings. He also had a treble booster that Cesar Diaz made for him but used it seldom. He hardly used those big Dumbles, because they were too clean and unreliable. I traded him a Blackface Bassman piggy back setup for a 68’ Blonde Tele someone gave him. He loved Telecasters too but wanted that Trem bar so went with Strats.

I just assumed it was the reverb turned up on his amp but this is crazy interesting.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

I had a DC-2W for a minute. It was a fantastic pedal, but it didn't have much control over the level of effect. I found the Walrus Julia to be a close-ish approximation, given the d-c-v control to bring in some dry signal.

Well done.

I know this unit for few years, it's not a big surprise for me but you're right that some people don't pay too much attention :)

In the Dirty Pool Live In Tokyo concert, it's very present this effects in the final sound of guitar

That rory strat though 👌

That's SRV channeling Albert King on that "Let's Dance" solo @ 10:00.

Wonderful! 👍 👍 👍

I have always heard this, subtle chorus really adds a lot, especially with 1 guitar. I heard more high end in SRVs tone too, maybe less mids, but certainly nails the "vibe" (that's the wrong modulation though haha)

Mason, you should do an ej acl 88 or the total electric guitar instructional video. His best tone imo. Maybe he is using a dimension d at the desk. Maybe it’s something Richard mullen used for srv and ej? His lead and dumble definitely have some kinda modulation on it. Very evident with headphones. Thanks for doing these Mason!

Klark-Teknik makes a rack version of the dimensional chorus, it's currently $149 at Sweetwater. I thought it was widely known that SRV used a TC Electronic Stereo Chorus+ Pitch/Flanger to split his signal when he started using multiple amps on the gig. (I'm pretty sure there are pics) A more pedalboard-friendly re-issue is due any minute, minus the AC cord and for a very friendly price, compared to the vintage ones.

To me the SRV's secret sound is in the yours hands,nothing versus you boys,but this is my idea!A salute from Italy!😊✌

This is brilliantly done, much appreciated! What do you think about coming out of a Strymon timeline (stereo)with two leads and then putting one signal path through the Dimension C and then into a parallel blending box and the other signal directly into the parallel blending box and then out into the amp. The idea being to regulate the amount of effect in the ultimate signal? Cheers mate, killer as always!

Wish you would have added another option running the Dimension C in front of the amp in a normal pedalboard setup just so we could hear the difference. Many people don't have a recording setup or effects loop and it would be nice to know if they could get a close sound running it before the amp. Maybe it wouldn't work but it would have been nice to see if that could have been a practical option even if it only gets you 70% there. I guess we'll never know. Anyway thanks for the demo.

Always ended up back to my tube screamer. Over 40 years playing. Start about one half all settings. Dynamic sound.

where was SRV’s chorus live? …i too … once in ‘79?… after discovering chorus … trying to emulate Metheny’s 3 amp setup with Primetimes… a simple Guyatone chorus on 99.5% of the time… (only cut briefly for a spike in a sustained solo note)… i discovered i needed 2 choruses… one for “more effect” … but the first one was the secret weapon. key word: subtle. … i did this test to many people: they wouldn’t know it was on until i turned it off. depending on your ax and your amp, you can kinda cover up that STRAIGHT sound without the pedal, but takes some Bill Frissell level finesse. ;)

Wow, I had no idea. Well, I have a Strat, a TS9, a Deville, and a Dimension-C Waza ... but I just know I ain't gonna do it justice when I try!

That's very interesting. When I saw Johnny Winter live, a while back, guitarist Paul Nelson warmed up the crowd with Johnny's band. He had two Fender Super Reverbs, a pedalboard that was the size of a small Indian rug, and a Strat. He sounded great, I think he was running two differently timed subtle delays. It was a big sound to say the least. Then out comes Johnny with his Erlwine Guitar, a Musicman HD130 amp and no pedals and the sound is even bigger. How is this possible? As I got closer to the stage I noticed that Johnny was in fact running through a pedal, hidden just behind a monitor. I had to find out what this killer overdrive was because the tone was fat, 3D and just amazing. I finally nudged my way to the front and much to my surprise it was not an overdrive at all it was a Boss chorus (what the hell?) with the chorus set almost off, not enough to make a chorus effect but just enough to thicken the tone and give it a little warble.The volume appeared to be past unity and maybe boosting the signal but I'm not 100% sure. I didn't know Stevie was doing something similar so, thanks Mason for this informative vid. I've only done one studio project but I'm starting to realize that the real Kings of Blues tone, it seems, are doing it with a big clean tone first and this is where your SRV pedal would really come in handy, then maybe a little OD on top. I was once guilty of thinking, like a lot of beginners, that the only important component to great tone is your overdrive pedal gain staging and there is a lot more to it than that as you so aptly point out.

I am pretty sure in a premier guitar interview Johnny Winter also said he always leaves a little chorus on in his live rig.

You really got that sound. I wonder what that chorus woud do for other sounds like higher gain, surf music or jazz.

This is bang on man thanks for the amazing discovery! Is it the 1 2 or 3 ? on the dimension d?

I want this sound live so I’m going to try it with a wet dry two amp set up. Right now I use a very subtle warm chorus sound through both amps on some songs. I know it’s there but most wouldn’t notice.