VH1 album tone live.... VH 9/22/1978 Selland Arena

[harddriver]

So many have said the VH1 album tone was only possible due to studio manipulation. Here's Ed in the middle of the 78 tour at the Selland arena and he had that exact VH1 album tone live, no studio trickery. What do you see at this show at the side of the stage being used to either reamp or is he biamping all these Fender Bandmasters, I think I counted no less than 4 maybe 5 including a Reverb head. I also see 12301 is turned on and to the left of the Bandmaster reverb head. There are 5 Marshalls on left side of the stage, 12301 4 newer heads with large logos. All the Bandmasters power lights are on, it looks like 12301 is the only Marshall power indicator light is on that I can see. To me this is more of a revelation than 12301's specs regarding VH1 tone. When the Fender Bandmasters stopped being used this exact VH1 tone also stopped being heard live IMHO.

What do your ears tell you?

[PLX]

I am convinced the Boss GE-10 equalizer was the "real" secret to Ed's tone.

Along with one of possibly two exhoplex's in series, giving colorization and a slight boost.

[WGAFISHOME]

I am convinced the Boss GE-10 equalizer was the "real" secret to Ed's tone.

Along with one of possibly two exhoplex's in series, giving colorization and a slight boost.

You know what, I tend to agree with you.

It's such a simple sound it could easily be just that.

Of course you'd need his touch playing VH tracks to obviously sound like that tone.