Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

I'm thinking that he used a Rockman into the front end of one of those Marshalls, with a few rackmount units for effects. Don't know which Rockman he used though....just speculating. I'm gonna try and email Alex Skolnick, and see if he knows anything.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

If Chris Caffery will talk truthfully, he assuredly knows it ALL dude. He used Chris's rig for a couple tours.

He might, he seemed to be a nice guy last time I talked with him.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

Ok...I'll try posting on the Savatage board and seeing if he'll answer it...he has his own section there.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

Look here too...

http://www.chriscaffery.com/Index2.html

[JacksonShredder]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

I get Criss's Sound Nailed with my 2205 and the Jackson J90c pickups

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

Being that's "about" what he used, that sounds reasonable.

Never tried j90s... I have a several J50Bs and the 1500 Preamps. Never got a guitar with 90s..

Your opinion on the diff between the 90s and 50s?

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

Ok, I emailed Mr. Caffery, he had this to say:

Mostly Laney Amps after Streets.
He really osunded the same thru anything.
He never ran the amp distorted.
Distirted it twice thru Super Overdrives in the fron.
Always had a delay on and used a rockman....rack mounted in the later days.
Mostly for the unique tone in the circuitry.
He also used a Boss chorus and some EQ's on the road

Admins, if it's not appropriate for me to post this email, please say so and I'll remove it.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Criss Oliva gear, from someone who knows

Wow, what a cool guy to write you back so quickly. Considering how busy he is, I'm quite impressed. He was very very nice when I met him also. Sat and talked to Bill and I for some time and was extremely cool... Just like Chris Oliva was when I met him. That guy always had a minute to talk to a fan...

On the other hand... Jon Oliva became a tool after I berated Al Pitrelli for rolling his eyes and yawning while playing some chris oliva solos at a show I was at... At that time, people were really paying homage to chris oliva, and it was obviously bugging Pitrelli...

He's is such a ass... Sorry to any Pitrelli fans. But, friends of mine were treated pretty badly by Al, at a preshow party they won with savatage and he was a real ass at the show I was at also.

[Guitardude86]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I figured it's better than making a new one. It's very cool of Mr. Caffery to answer a fans mail so quickly!
Well I'm in total Savatage mode these days, Criss Oliva must be the most underrated guitar player of all time. He should be worshipped on a daily basis! And Cleveland, if what you say about Al Pitrelli is true (and I see no reason for not believing you), then he deserves a proper ass-whoop.
What the FUCK was he doing playing in Savatage if he didn't respect the mastermind and soul of the band?? What a tool, this pisses me off!
That's like playing with Ozzy and going "nah, I never really liked Randy.."

Anyway here's a link I found regarding Criss' gear, it confirms what Boxcar Willie wrote, and a bit more. Hope this helps someone

http://www.geocities.com/savarequiem/gear.htm

[Robert Burns]

Well I guess you were "Tone Deaf" Too... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

P.S. After twenty five years of tweaking vigorously.........John is still searching for tonal bliss . Will he ever find it ??.....Someday...just maybe someday... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

BTW ...Materofsolos to answer your question my "Oliva sound" is as follows:

JMP 1 ..Volume 18 / Gain 16 / Bass +6 / Mid -6 / Treble +6 / presence +3-6 / effects +8.......

....JFX 1 set to a usaual Van Halen slapback with just one repeat ....that's it!!!

Have fun

Later

Bill Z / Evilution

[ February 10, 2003, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: horns666 ]

And you guys give me grief over searching for tone, for 5 months?
I have 19 1/2 years to go!

[masterofsolos]

First thing I did when I got my Boss CE-2 was dial in criss's settings and play the Hounds intro