social distortion guitar effects and tuning

**shells.72** · March 23rd, 2005, 01:35 AM

hey im new to the board and first wanted to say hi!

I know that they have the capo on 2 but do they tune it down a half step too?

There are so many incorrect tabs out there, does anyone know how to play any of there songs, correct?

I know they have marshalls and fender amps but can anyone tell me any good advice on just how to get that kick ass social d ditoriton sound? I have a peavey backstage chorus if it helps, and a digitech elctronic pedal with the 40 preset one.
I doubt anyof you have the digi tech one its really shitty.

Thanx for lookig even if you cant help.

**A Real Musician** · March 23rd, 2005, 01:58 AM

Two tunings:
Half-step down
Half step down, capo 2

Sound:
Fender Bassman amps
Boss distortion pedals

I'm sure someone else can get more specific.

**PrivateHell** · March 23rd, 2005, 05:07 AM

I figured I'd add what I know....

They're not using distorion pedals. They're using overdrive pedals and thats only for solos. Mike used to use a Boss OD-1 but on the last tour he was using an OD-3. Mike is using 50 watt Fender Blackface Bassmans modded by Billy Zoom to brighten up the bass channel. He also uses Marshall 4x12s loaded with Celestion Greenback speakers.

**M.B.** · March 23rd, 2005, 11:54 AM

Gear lists from 1999:
Michael:
Gibson Les Paul (user four on tour)

2 Fender Bassman 100 watt heads

2 Marshall 4 x 12" cabinets

BOSS Overdrive pedal

Ernie Ball guitar strings (10-52 guage)

Dennis:
Gibson Les Paul (uses two on tour)

Marshall JMP 100 watt head

Homemade/custom 4 x 12" cabinet

Ernie Ball guitar strings (10-52 guage)

John:
Fender Precision Bass

Ampeg SVT Classic head

Ampeg SVT 8 x 10" cabinet

Ernie Ball bass strings (10-52 guage)

Chuck:
24" Boom Theory kick drum

16" Boom Theory floor tom

15" Boom Theory rack tom

14" Boom Theory snare

DW Hardware (stands)

Pro Mark DC sticks

**wolfpits** · March 23rd, 2005, 04:28 PM

most of the tabs i have seen are correct because remember, there are several ways to play the same note or a chord on guitar and have them all be correct. (play your open D string, then fret your A string at the 5th fret, and then your low E string at the 10th fret...they are all the same D note). the timbre may be a little different, but its still correct if you play the correct chords or notes for that song. Its not a matter of what is the correct way but what is the easiest for the player to play. Its only incorrect if its just blatently wrong like the wrong chord progression. Almost every social d song is in a flat key and that is why they tune down a half step rather than play the songs "between the dots" as some guitar players would say. also tuning down allows you to play open chords in flat keys.

The capo is useful for 2 main reasons....first, if your using open chords or play a riff with an open string and want to change keys, you snap on a capo and wallaaa. Secondly, and this is why i use a capo often, certain chord shapes are easier to play than others. Ill often raise the guitar a full step with a capo, but then play the song using chords shapes a full step lower....they then sorta cancel each other out.

as for social d equipement. Mike uses solidbody gibson les paul deluxes fitted with p-90 pickups, marshall cabs, and fender bassman heads. probably a simple distortion pedal but when those all-tube amps are driven hard, they distort and overdrive pretty naturally. They are probably 50 watt heads.

try to find your own sound instead of replicating his. Thats twice the fun.

cheers,
steve

**PrivateHell** · March 23rd, 2005, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Sickboy @}--'--,-----:
Gear lists from 1999:
Michael:

2 Fender Bassman 100 watt heads

<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">They're 50 watters, not 100s.

**shells.72** · March 24th, 2005, 12:00 AM

Wow thanks so much,
I didn't know there were so many guitar players here,
you guys sound pretty good, I ve been playing for about 2 years now, and have a ventura 1971 rose acoustic, and a standadrd epiphone les paul.

**PrivateHell** · March 24th, 2005, 03:19 AM

Originally posted by shells.72:
Wow thanks so much,
I didn't know there were so many guitar players here,
you guys sound pretty good, I ve been playing for about 2 years now, and have a ventura 1971 rose acoustic, and a standadrd epiphone les paul.

<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Man, I wish I had an Epi LP at my 2 year mark.... no such luck....

**lostheart** · March 24th, 2005, 04:57 AM

Originally posted by shells.72:
hey im new to the board and first wanted to say hi!

I know that they have the capo on 2 but do they tune it down a half step too?

There are so many incorrect tabs out there, does anyone know how to play any of there songs, correct?

I know they have marshalls and fender amps but can anyone tell me any good advice on just how to get that kick ass social d ditoriton sound? I have a peavey backstage chorus if it helps, and a digitech elctronic pedal with the 40 preset one.
I doubt anyof you have the digi tech one its really shitty.

Thanx for lookig even if you cant help.

<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">Just in case you are interested and you don't want to bother finding the tabs online, there is a songbook for the "Live at the Roxy" CD and the tabs there are very acurate...