Streets - A Rock Opera and its marvellous Criss Oliva´s sound

[angraste]

Hey guys, easy question for you

What is the exact model of the Jackson guitar that Criss used for the recording and tour of Streets?

Check this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmCpHTsRMqE&feature=player_embedded#!

I absolutely love the tone of Criss in this album.

Gutter Ballet is my all time favourite Savatage´s album (as the band record and as Criss playing is concerned) and Hall of the Mountain King is a metal classic, but in my opinion Criss´s best sound was Streets and Edge of Thorns. I have seen many pics of the 91/92 era and it seems to me that he was quite into the Jackson showed in the video above.

Hence I would like to investigate a bit in that particular model, year, pickups (bartollini, S&D or Dimarzio?) and his other gear at the time...but specially the Jackson.

Also anyone can recommend a reliable place to buy metal picks? (I haven´t tried them yet and nt sure how they would affect my sound).

Thanks

[markD]

marshall 2210 and a jackson custom - an SL-1 will get you there today....

[Hellbat]

Also anyone can recommend a reliable place to buy metal picks? (I haven´t tried them yet and nt sure how they would affect my sound).

Thanks

Try Dava Rock Control nickle silver picks. www.davapick.com

[rdamaral]

I just ordered some. Figured I'd try something different

[fullmetalguitar]

I have that CD. Streets is great all around, especially the guitar work.

[Frigo89]

my favourite album of all time.

As much as I'm a guitar nut, Jon is my favourite of the Oliva brothers. Doctor Butcher stomps Edge of Thorns into the ground hard, IMHO

[DonP]

I've mostly stuck to the earlier Savatage stuff, Sirens, Dungeons, Power and Hall. I'll have to give Streets a listen.

[fullmetalguitar]

Don, Gutter Ballet is also great. Check that one out too.

[angraste]

All albums mentioned are great, from the early Power US Metal stuff of Sirens and Dungeons to the later more operatic style. To me Gutter Ballet is a masterpiece and their pinnacle (and Criss´s best overall performance too). That said, however I "believe" as said above that the sound in Streets is dark, captivating and very beautiful (quite unique and different from other albums). Don´t know if the switch from Charvel to pure Jackson made that change on the sound too, but I can perceive a tone variation from those two albums. The booklet states that he uses Bartilini pickups...
Then again I can appreciate a change of tone from Streets to Edge of Thorns, a bit less dark, but crystal clean (production and execution wise).

Anyone can recommend a dealer for second hand Jacksons of this era (late 80´s beginning of 90´s)? I live in New Zealand though and I don´t know if I trust Ebay

Maybe we are talking gold about Charvel / Jackson and what he might have been using more often is the Gargoyle guitar (which is an ESP), in the studio and on the stage....

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Horns666 knows

[RacerX]

Horns666 knows

Hi Ethan!!!!!! Are you back?

[horns666]

Horns666 knows

Hey man..WTF. Nice seeing you. I'm too lazy myself..but I think Todd would definitely know this. I actually saw the Streets tour within' walking distance from my house. I was just amazed by the sound and performance..and the slanted wall of Laney cabs. If I know Criss would had passed a couple years later. I would had paid more attention to his exact gear..while it was literally in my face.

Prolly this..

I nail his tone with my gear. It was the exact tone I was after at that time. I had two 2210s in stereo but found a more refined sound with my Marshall rack in quest of that exact tone. It's basically two 2210s in a box.

[DonP]

I'm still hooked on the early years. Would you guys (who know the entire catalog) say his tone changed over the years?

[horns666]

Actually I have a better version of Criss' tone. He used a fuzzy, thin sounding Rockman. Max Norman ..or whoever the fuck produced the shit out of it. The production is so wet..like most 80's metal albums. Lots of reverb...just schlacked with reverb.

But those riffs, ideas, songs, and magic was captured ..as a snapshot like many awesome classics including Ozzy/Rhoads.

The tone was in Criss' hands. Better yet was his creativity. He progressed big time. His early solos were pretty primitive, but cool. A huge difference from Sirens (love those songs) to Edge Of Thorns. I'd love to see how much more he had to offer. I don't thinked he peaked...that's for sure.