GuitarDistortedSolo
Tender Surrender Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Steve Vai
Steve Vai · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez JEM7VWH
Pickups
DiMarzio Evolution (HSH configuration, likely neck humbucker for solo)
Amp
Carvin Legacy VL100
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (DiMarzio Evolution humbucker)
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (Fire Garden album sessions). Vai is documented as using his signature Ibanez JEM7VWH and Carvin Legacy amp for this era. No direct evidence of alternate guitars/amps for this solo. Effects are a mix of pedals and rack units; see effects_used.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb4
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Morley Bad Horsie Wah · wah
- Eventide H3000 Harmonizer (studio rack, used for delay/reverb) · delay
- Eventide H3000 Harmonizer (studio rack, used for delay/reverb) · reverb
- Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression
Ibanez JEM7VWH → Morley Bad Horsie Wah → Compressor → Eventide H3000 (delay/reverb) → Carvin Legacy VL100 amp
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- fluid and expressive
- rich harmonics
- smooth, violin-like lead
- touch-sensitive dynamics
- pronounced delay repeats
- lush reverb tail
- warm and rounded
- high-gain saturation
- expressive wah sweeps