Iron Maidens sound '86ish (somewhere in time)

[Blitzkrieg]

Hello, does anyone know what gear maiden used in their recordings in the album Somewhere in time? Its the greatest sounding album they have in my opinion. I pretty sure they used guitar synths and plenty of reverb in some stuff to get that futuristic sound. I think Adrian was using a charvel while murray used a H-S-S strat. Its a fast and complicated crazy dual-lead guitar filled album and Im having trouble coming up with that seething-sustained sound. any ideas?

[diablomozart]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

gallien kruegers for amps...d.m.

[toejam]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

Definitely guitar synths. Not sure what kind, but I think they were fairly new at the time. Adrian had a couple white Jackson Strats, one H/S/H with black pickguard, Floyd, the other white with a lot of knobs on it, from what I remember.

[ December 18, 2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: toejam ]

[Blitzkrieg]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

ah yes... I remember that now... I saw him holding that white jackson strat with like 20 toggle switches and 10 knobs in a pic somewhere..prolly in the album booklet [img]graemlins/band.gif[/img]

[Metalcop]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

Yep, Gallien Krugers through Marshall cabs. They used those little practice amps with two 6" speakers through a Marshall 4X12 in the studio. With the effects/distortion on full blast. They had some rackmounted units for touring. I just saw a video off of Somewhere In Time and Adrian was using that white Jackson w/ the guitar synth built in. The master volume and 5-way switch were located behind the trem, all of the synth controls were in the stock control positions. Weird, Judas Priest was using guitar synths during this era as well (Turbo)

[Venomboy]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

In the Wasted Years video Adrian appears to be playing a Strathead Charvel or Jackson w/1 hum and a Floyd. I think it's black.

Definitely GKs for SOIT. I know a guy who used to do artist relations for GK and he met Maiden many a time backstage.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

I saw the video for Stranger in a Strange Land yesterday, and Adrian had that Jackson strat with the synth. That is a great song, BTW!

[diablomozart]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

the gk's are called 250 mls, also a rackmountable version called a 250rl...if i remember correctly the synths were early roland synths...not a 707 but a slightly newer model than that...on the gk's a lot of people who ghot them complained they didn't have enough gain...not true...you have to open up the top of the amp and look at the circuit board and there is a small potentiometer on the board...turn it up and you'll be very close to that particular sound that maiden had...happy hunting and the gk's are actually very nice amps...d.m.

[Blitzkrieg]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

I imagine those would be hard to find ...I wonder how many of those GKs pass through ebay...theres just bass stuff there now.

[Blitzkrieg]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

stranger in a strange land is one of my faves. Its got the synth under the guitar parts in the intro. it gives that surreal tone. ...genius

[terrax]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

i remember back in the day, the gk little amps had a tendency to blow up a lot. I had a friend that had one, and it was always in the shop. So finding a good one might be hard.

Dave

[diablomozart]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=931209534
also www.daddys.com has 2 of them...d.m.

[ December 22, 2002, 12:51 AM: Message edited by: diablomozart ]

[Blitzkrieg]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

After watching the stranger video(again [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] ) I noticed that adrian might have a triple-coil pick-up on the bridge pos. on the white jackson strat. Is that what it is?....could be some weird synth thing too.

[toejam]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

I think it's just a synth. I'll have to dig out that video and watch it later! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Lizard King]

Re: Iron Maidens sound \'86ish (somewhere in time)

Hmm, I am really big on synth or solid state type of distortion sounds. What are some Judas songs have this synth sound in them? I'd like to hear it.