Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey, Thought I'd start a discussion about how and how much Jerry used the ADA 2FX, Lexicon PCM series reverb units and the Phase 100 to achieve some of his great tones. I know that the general consensuses is that his magical crisp, sizzling clean tone was a modded AB763 Fender twin preamp and the special tonal characteristics of a 'pushed to the limit' Mcintosh linear amp and JBL E120 speakers. But over the years I had heard more in his 'clean' solo playing that I couldn't explain never mind replicate with such a front end. I'd heard a bubbling, bell type of sound, almost envelope'ish at times. Subtle modulation sounds that couldn't be explained with simply a tube reverb. We've all seen his ADA unit in the rack pedaled out for mix and regen. I've heard him dial them in during a solo to get just the right plate effect that characterized his solo's at there best. The chorus he uses in Peggio is unmistakable and most likely the chorus in the 2FX but, His 'high on the mountain' reverb effects such as 'Tales of Yankee Power' in the JGB must be the product of one of the Lexicons but which one and how's it set? Also, I'm convinced that while he used the MXR Phase 100 for obvious and non-subtle 'Stop that Train' and Sugeree solos and such, he may have also used it to achieve some of his characteristic distortion effect combined with the MXR dist+. A slow phase or chorus effect in his distortion tones combined with his fender and lexicon reverbs dialed in just so might be what is being heard. But I've heard next to nothing about the use of these effects on this board. Any thoughts anyone?

Peace,

Most guys here know a lot more than me and will chime in, but for starters- I thought Jer never used his "90's" rig with the JGB, and that would leave the Lexicon off any JGB sounds. Any JGB reverb would have been the Fender. But I've been wrong before...

Great topic. I wish I could give you some answers, but all I can really do is agree that I hear what your talking about. When I 1st bought a guys rig used (Tubeworks amp, Strat, phase 90) after returning from years away from playing electric, I was struck by how mcuh the MXR phaser captured some of the Fire On the Mountain spirit...and I do mean leadwork. Of course I cant recreate that tone now lol (different gear too though, including pedal)---but it was a distinct almost epiphany type thing at the time. I think your onto something. I was keeping an eye out for an ADA for awhile with no luck, maybe Ill try again.

It is called Fire on the Mountain.

And, Jerry used an envelope Filter for the sound on Fire on the Mountain.

He was not using a Dist+ when he had the ADA. His overdrive tones were produced by Boss OD1 and OD2.

I have never heard a chorus effect from him? Phase, yes. MXR phase 100.

Yes thanks, I am well aware of the conspicuous Jerry tones; I have an original Mutron III, vintage Script, OD1's (8 and 16 prong chips), and all the obvious stuff. That being said, I was using a different filter when I experienced the "epiphany", and I haven't been able to recreate a sound that strikes me the same way, so it may have been in my head somewhat.

Came across this thread in my search for a replacement for my A/DA 2fx . I’ve had this unit for a couple of years now and love it when it works. While I don’t use the flanger much (got an MXR to cover that), I find myself keeping the chorus on low levels for a lot of songs, and the echo/delay is so lush and fun to play (especially when the 25 is kicking in full-force).

Problem is that this thing is totally unreliable. I’ve had it in the shop 3x now, once for when it totally shit the bed on me mid-gig and the others when the pots would get scratchy. Anyways, I don’t know if I want to invest any more $ into repairing this thing- has anyone ever had to repair theirs? Is the shop missing something when they repair mine?

Or should I just move on to a different multi effect? I’ve been eying the Roland GP-16, anyone have thoughts on that one (or something similar)? Main goal is to find one with delay/echo and chorus.

Thanks yall.