TonesMatch
The Sky Is Crying — Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

The Sky Is Crying Guitar Tone Settings

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble · 1990s · blues

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster 'Number One'
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (vintage-style, late '50s spec)
Amp
Fender Vibroverb (1964, Cesar Diaz-modded, blackface, 2x12, likely with 5751 preamp tube swap)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1989-1990 for posthumous release on 'The Sky Is Crying' (1991). Used main 'Number One' Strat with neck pickup for solo. Amp was a blackface Fender Vibroverb, likely with Cesar Diaz mods for extra headroom. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer used as clean boost. No evidence of additional pedals or effects beyond Tube Screamer and amp spring reverb.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
7
Gain
4
Reverb
4
Treble
6
Presence
5

Effects Chain

  • Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive

Fender Stratocaster → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Fender Vibroverb (spring reverb on)

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Tone Character

  • warm and smooth
  • singing sustain
  • touch-sensitive
  • edge-of-breakup crunch
  • fat, round solo sound
  • vocal-like phrasing
  • articulate bends
  • smooth, glassy highs
  • dynamic response to picking
  • slightly compressed blues lead

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No source provides exact numeric amp knob settings for this specific recording; amp settings are estimated based on typical SRV Vibroverb/Strat/TS9 studio setups from the era.
  • ⚠️No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, or other modulation/time-based effects on the solo; only Tube Screamer and amp spring reverb are confirmed/audible.
  • ⚠️SRV used TS9 Tube Screamer for most of his career, but some sources mention TS10 for late recordings; for this track, TS9 is most likely based on timeline and sources.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from tone and typical SRV solo approach; sources confirm neck pickup for warm, vocal-like solo tone.
  • ⚠️Presence and reverb settings are estimated based on genre, amp, and era.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. SRV's 'The Sky Is Crying' solo features his signature edge-of-breakup tone, using a Fender amp (likely a Vibroverb or Super Reverb) with high bass, strong mids, and restrained treble for warmth. Presence is moderate to avoid harshness, and reverb is set for a roomy, bluesy feel typical of his 80s recordings.

Sources