If there is one tone that every blues-rock player chases, it’s the Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) sound. It’s a “Texas-sized” tone: massive, glass-like cleans with a stinging, percussive attack and a layer of smooth overdrive that feels like it’s about to explode.
Using Audio Assault Amp Locker, we can build this signal chain by pairing high-headroom American-style amps with that legendary “Green” overdrive. Here is your recipe for the ultimate SRV tone. 🔥🎸
1. The Amp: Massive Headroom is Key
Stevie famously used a combination of Fender Vibroverbs, Super Reverbs, and the Dumble Steel String Singer. The goal is massive clean power that only starts to break up when you hit the strings hard.
- The Audio Assault Choice: Special Drive (Modelled after a Dumble) or the USA_TWEED (Fender-style).
- The Pro Move: If you have it, use the Hi-Clean model. While it’s based on a Hiwatt, it provides the immense clean headroom and “uncompressed” feel that SRV got from his Dumble Steel String Singer.
The “Texas Flood” EQ Settings
| Control | Setting | The Logic |
| Gain | 3.5 | Keep it clean! The “grit” should come from your fingers and pedals. |
| Bass | 7.0 | You need that big, round low-end “thump.” |
| Middle | 6.5 | Essential for pushing the guitar forward in the mix. |
| Treble | 7.5 | For that signature SRV “snap” and “glass.” |
| Presence | 6.0 | Adds the biting high-end detail. |
| Master | 8.5 | Crank this! It adds the “bloom” and power-amp warmth. |
2. The Secret Weapon: The “Green” Pedal
SRV is the reason the Ibanez Tube Screamer is legendary. He famously used it not as a distortion pedal, but as a mid-boost.
- Audio Assault Model: Screamer (Modelled after the TS808/TS9).
- The “SRV Trick” Settings:
- Drive/Gain: 1.5 – 2.0 (Keep this very low).
- Level/Volume: 8.0 – 9.0 (Crank this to “push” the amp into natural breakup).
- Tone: 5.0 (Adjust to taste; don’t let it get too thin).
Why this works: Setting the gain low and the volume high creates a “mid-hump” that cuts through the mix while keeping your core tone clear and punchy.
3. The Speaker: The 15″ Bloom vs. 10″ Snap
Stevie’s sound relied heavily on the speakers. He loved the “heft” of 15-inch speakers (Vibroverb) and the “snap” of 10-inch speakers (Super Reverb).
- Audio Assault Choice: USA_TWIN65_C12N (from the USA Twin packs).
- Alternative: The Finder BK Deluxe (1×12) for a more intimate, blues-club vibe.
- Mic Setup: Use a Dynamic 57 placed Off-Axis (at an angle) about 1 inch from the speaker cloth. This rolls off the harsh “ice-pick” highs but keeps the aggressive “growl.”
4. The Finish: “Voodoo” Ambiance
SRV’s studio tracks often had a lush, room-filling sound.
- Reverb: Use the Vintage Spring reverb in Amp Locker.
- Setting: 3.5. It should give the notes a “splash” without washing out the rhythm.
- Compression: If you find the attack is too spikey, add a Compressor at the start of your chain with a very slow attack. This allows the initial “snap” of your pick to come through before levelling out the sustain.
5. The “Physical” Recipe
You can have the perfect settings, but to truly sound like Stevie, you need to adjust your physical setup:
- Tuning: Tune your guitar down a half-step (Eb Tuning). Use the Dropped pedal in Amp Locker if you don’t want to retune your physical guitar.
- Strings: Stevie used heavy strings (typically .013s). While you don’t need to go that heavy, a slightly higher action and heavier strings will give you that “piano-like” low end.
- Pick Attack: Attack the strings with the side of your pick (the rounded edge) for a fatter, warmer strike.
The SRV Secret: The “Screamer” Stack
The key to Stevie’s lead tone wasn’t just the amp; it was how he pushed it. In Amp Locker, use the Green Drive (Overdrive) with the Gain set low (2.0) and the Level set high (8.0). This acts as a mid-boost that tightens the low end and adds that infinite sustain for slow blues bends.
