Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: LiamH on August 11, 2006, 10:36:54 AM
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The other day I posted something somewhere on here about Steve Vai using an Ibanez (not proco) Rat. I read about this years ago and it always stuck in my mind. I think a few posters thought I was going nuts. And then I could later find no mantion of an "Ibanez Rat" anywhere on the internet.
Here's a picture of Vai:
http://www.tcelectronic.com/Default.asp?Id=8873
The ibanez is there on the board just as I once saw it in a magazinr wayback. Vai is using a Keeley mod.
Anyway I posted this because Vai always mentions the SD1 as being the core of his tone and never seems to mentions the TS...and er that's it. Not too interesting but at least do not have early on set alzhiemers.
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I read somewhere, I forget where, he used the TS when he plays faster parts because the DS1 doesn't sound as good.
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saw this thread's name and thought, "that's be a great name for a Vai album!" Steve Vai and The Rat, has a ring to it don't you think?
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I borrowed my mate's Wydle Overdrive, and have been mucking about with it and the TS9 and the proco rat. Couple the TS9 with either and you get some sounds that will put hair on your chest.
As for Vai and the Rat......for some reason it makes me think of Vai and Satch...maybe that baldy cut of his makes him look at bit ratty.....(well a hairless one anyway).
Oh dear I might get blacklisted for such a comparison.
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That is not a Rat pedal !
That is an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9DX- maybe modified by Keeley
(http://www.robertkeeley.com/images/other/ts9flexi.jpg)
http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=36
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I spotted that, but I think Vai has used a modded Ibanez for years and it might not have been a Keeley. The thing that is bugging me is that I saw one for sale on the web somewhere and it was called something along the lines of "Ibanez Tubescreamer (RAT - Vai/Satriani). I should not even be waffling about this as it is just some stupid thing I have in my head. I am going to dig out my vinly copy of Flexable and see if it mentions it on there.
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The RAT is made by Proco. Vai has never used one as far as I know....
He's used a tubescreamer periodically and often a DS-1 usually Keeley modded but often not, and a Boss OD pedal, SD-1 I think is the model but Im probably wrong...
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"Ibanez Tubescreamer (RAT - Vai/Satriani).
That wouldn't be RATT would it?
Vai probably did use a Rat pedal at one time, after all he used to play Strats with dimarzio XN2 pups and onboard active preamps, and Jacksons with Kahlers. He used to play 7 strings once upon a time too.
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It could have been a Ratt. The reason I am interested is I liked Vai's sound when with alcatrazz. I also know that I saw this old modded TS at least knicknamed a "Rat".
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"Ibanez Tubescreamer (RAT - Vai/Satriani).
That wouldn't be RATT would it?
Vai probably did use a Rat pedal at one time, after all he used to play Strats with dimarzio XN2 pups and onboard active preamps, and Jacksons with Kahlers. He used to play 7 strings once upon a time too.
Like on Ebay where someone is trying to draw attention to what they are selling by putting other brands in the title?
Like: Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (Rat/Boss/MXR/VAi/Satch)
The Alcatrazz sound maybe had something to do with the wall of old Carvin amps he used back then- they did have a different kind of sound - somewhat cleaner as I recall than Marshalls etc
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Ignore me all, this is just some personal obsession!!! I am convinced I read it either on an Alcatrazz sleeve, or in Guitar Player magazine. Either that or passing 35 has addled my noggin.
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http://www.vai.com/Machines/livegear_alcatrazz.html
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Vai playing Malmsteen stuff!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ierC-kbhM1Q
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Watching all those clips on youtube of Vai through the years reminds me why I was such a fan.
The guy could dominate the largest of stages with ease! A consumate showman and astounding player.
I personally think that he excelled in band formats though and I'd love to see him do something other than solo albums and G3.
Guess that time has passed forever..... :cry:
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I must be wrong. I admit defeat. My brain must be addled by far too much abuse of my body between the ages of 18 and 30
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Dunno about Vai using a Rat (proco or otherwise), but the early Rat pedals used an opamp which wasn't suitable for audio applications, which was what made the Rat so popular in the first place.
Later they used a 'proper opamp' no doubt because some techie said that the new chip would make it sound better (it didn't). Since then they have almost constantly upgraded the Rat (always moving away from the original sound)
I guess I gotta get around to getting myself a another rat some time and try out my little stock of non audio opamps :)
Rob...
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let me clear something up here ok. Vai does not currently use RAT, the RAT sounds totally different to the Keeley TS9XD pedal, TOTALLY different! the rat is much more defined a fatter in the lower mid range listen to dave Ghrol, now that's the sound of a RAT! I know for sure that Vai currently used a combination of the Keeley modded tube screamer and a Keeley modded Boss DS1 (distortion) for all his dirty pedals, the rest will come from the amp channels. Although it's inevitable that Vai has used the RAT at some point in his carrear, thats all I know. Hope it helps in some way.