Dimebag loved the BROWN sound.

[jhale667]

Much like the author of this article, I too am not the biggest Pantera fan, but I always loved Dimebag Darrell's playing, and particularly his solos. I wasn't a huge fan of his tone, though - as I'm not into solid state amps. Turns out he was an even bigger fan of the early EVH tone than you would have thought...found on WoodyTone:

http://www.woodytone.com/2010/11/10/...ed-brown-tone/



Dime! Never was a huge fan of Pantera, but loved Dimebag Darrell’s playing (”Cowboys From Hell” is the meanest blues scale riff ever), his interaction with his bro/drummer Vinnie Paul and though I never got to meet the guy by all accounts he was a sweetheart.

He was also born the same year as me, and went through a similar progression of bands (KISS, VH, Rhoads, etc.). Definitely a huge talent and a big-time tragedy – so it sorta pains me to say that I don’t love the guy’s tone. The wood really isn’t there for me, though it’s interesting that like all great players with a signature tone, he was very interested in tone – and loved EVH’s brown sound.

Here’s more, all quotes are Dime’s (RIP man!):

> “I’ve always wanted my very own tone. Actually, a lot of it comes from my Randall amps. I won a Randall half stack in one of those [shredding] contests and I heard something different in it than other amps – it was like a chainsaw, and I bet myself that someday I could make it my own. Then, after a year and a half, I found it.” [How cool is that? Hearing something different and wanting to make it his own is cool. Chasing that tone for 18 straight months is very cool.]

> “I’m not a dude who’s getting the brand-new Boogie or Soldano shipped to them every week – that’s why so many other guys don’t have their own sound.” [They also don't hear and go after a particular unique sound.]

> “I’ve always liked the tone that Edward calls ‘the brown sound’ – that warm, round tone that’s characteristic of a tube amp. Even though I don’t play through an amp with tubes, I’ve got that sort of warmth in my tone.” [Hmmmm. I guess as long as he could hear it and was inspired by it was all that mattered.]

> “The tone I like definitely has a bit of the brown sound, but it’s got to have the attack and the shred on top of that. It’s just got to sound kick-ass.”

Live Rig

> “Live, I have two different setups that I use: the regular Randall RG100HT 100w head or the Randall Warhead [signature head]. Basically, the way the Warhead is voiced, it’s got my little blue MXR six-band graphic EQ and my Furman four-band parametric EQ built in [interesting...]. If I’m playing through the regular Randall, then the guitar goes to the Furman four-band parametric EQ, to the MXR six-band graphic EQ, and into the Randall. If I’m playing through Warheads, then I pretty much plug straight in….”

Cab Details

> Warhead 4×12s which I believe had Celestion V30s in them. Warhead cabs also came in a 2×15 version so he must’ve used them at some point.

Effects

Guitar to:
> Korg rack tuner
> Dunlop Dime Crybaby from Hell wah
> original DigiTech Whammy pedal
> Rocktron Hush IIC rack noise gate

> He also ran a rack MXR Flanger/Doubler through the loop of one of his heads.

Other

> DR Strings, 9-46, 9-50 for drop tunings
> Dunlop 0.88 mm Tortex picks (”My tech, Grady, cuts grooves into them with a dart for a grip. That grip is a great thing, especially when you’re sweating on stage. It’s kind of addictive and I find it’s hard to play without it.”)

Totally dig the idea of finding your OWN tone, too...whatever amp you choose.

[TFM_Dale]

I loved Pantera, still listen to their albums from beginning to end today. Thanks for posting this.

[jhale667]

Glad you like. I think he wrote some absolutely brutal riffs - I love some of the tunes on "Cowboys" and "Far Beyond Driven", but to be honest, Anselmo's voice gets on my nerves sometimes. Dime was an AMAZING, extremely gifted guitarist, though.

[GAR]

... to be honest, Anselmo's voice gets on my nerves sometimes.

Funny, I only felt that way about the band's guitarist!

[sadaist]

but to be honest, Anselmo's voice gets on my nerves sometimes. Dime was an AMAZING, extremely gifted guitarist, though.

Same. There are a ton of great metal bands I have heard that I just can't listen to & really enjoy because of the cookie monster vocals. It just ruins it for me.

[jhale667]

Same. There are a ton of great metal bands I have heard that I just can't listen to & really enjoy because of the cookie monster vocals. It just ruins it for me.

Exactly. I don't want to hear Cookie Monster singing anything besides "C is for Cookie", call me a purist...

[Nitro Express]

Tubes and transistors both clip the same. What makes tube amps different is the transformer saturation and how that relates to the speakers. Most solid state amplifier designers take this consideration out of the loop. That's why Tech 21 SansAmps are more like tube amps. There is analog circuitry that takes into account how the transformers in a tube amp effect the sound. They have come closer than anyone yet. I've heard some god awful tube amps and great sounding solid state amps.

[GAR]

[GAR]

Tubes and transistors both clip the same.

Thats incorrect.

[Nitro Express]

I would say you are wrong GAR. Check out 2:10. I don't think you have more amplifier experience than the man in the video.

[Nitro Express]

You can get the Brown Sound out of some cheap amps. Here's a $300 amp doing it. Dime the volume and the gain and keep all the EQ settings low except for the presence. The key it to slam the power tubes into saturation and greenback speakers.

[GAR]

Didn't Dimebag make money touring with Pantera?

He was signed, wasn't he? I don't understand why he stuck with those solid-state Randalls for so long.

It's almost like: once Darryl switched to Krank amps, Randall's business suffered and thus sold out to a new owner who reinvested the company into tube designs that actually sell.

[jhale667]

He was signed, wasn't he? I don't understand why he stuck with those solid-state Randalls for so long.

Uh, hammerhead - perhaps because he liked them, to the point where they made him his own signature head before he parted ways with them?

[GAR]

Every time I talked to him he had a LOSER beer in his LOSER hands.

Guys like this LOSER dont care about their tone, he hid behind his distortion to cloak a great lack of dexterity and choked notes.

Kids didn't grow up admiring him the way they did EVH or Angus. They admired him like the little kids point fingers of admiration at the 30 clowns piling out of a VW Beetle "look at that, Gramma!"

He out-did himself on a yearly basis how gross he could dress and look, because that's how he was. He didn't give a shit about anything, not even his sound.. and the only reason he went with Krank was they smoked pot together and supported similar views on marijuana.

[jhale667]

Guys like this LOSER dont care about their tone, he hid behind his distortion to cloak a great lack of dexterity and choked notes.

As usual hit "submit reply" INSERT FOOT much like every time you open your mouth, one imagines....

[Nitro Express]

The insanity continues...

[Dave's Bitch]

Every time I talked to him he had a LOSER beer in his LOSER hands.

Guys like this LOSER dont care about their tone, he hid behind his distortion to cloak a great lack of dexterity and choked notes.

Kids didn't grow up admiring him the way they did EVH or Angus. They admired him like the little kids point fingers of admiration at the 30 clowns piling out of a VW Beetle "look at that, Gramma!"

He out-did himself on a yearly basis how gross he could dress and look, because that's how he was. He didn't give a shit about anything, not even his sound.. and the only reason he went with Krank was they smoked pot together and supported similar views on marijuana.

You know, you are a bit of an asshole gar...

[GAR]

As usual hit "submit reply" INSERT FOOT much like every time you open your mouth, one imagines....

What a mess. WHY are you proving my point.. the one about the "30 clowns piling out of a VW" one - this guys' a spectacle and not in a positive way.

Why do you make my position easier? You could just as well point out "well, I like his playing up till about 3:20" or something" and he does indeed have a few technical rffs not entirely based on patterns.

There's all kinds of negative rolemodel guitarplayers who love the Brownsound, Ed influenced a vast range of players and YOU know I have a great difference of opinion on what's going on here in the video. You're just provocating for the sake of it BECAUSE you think he's some stellar thing that he wasn't.

[jhale667]

You know, you are a bit of an asshole gar...

Understatement of the century.

[GAR]

You know, you are a bit of an asshole gar...

All performing bands seek to entertain, but not all entertaining acts can be called "artists."

He lived a inadmirable degenerate's lifestyle not worthy of emulation by the teens who today find him amusing, and can't consider Dimebag Darrel in that realm of "artist."

Is that better? How does that work for you.. I can't put his squandered life in a better light than that.

[jhale667]

That means SO much coming from someone who is an "inadmirable degenerate" internet troll and jealous hater himself...

And since his playing basically redefined the genre, I think we can safely call him an "artist" your obvious jealous contempt notwithstanding.

[GAR]

Understatement of the century.

I think he suffered from depression honestly. I wanted to like him like one would want to like any new person you meet, but he was just this sad character that used humor booze and drugs to offset that "whatever" that he had.

There's too many dark people around in the band world who have this dark moody energy-bullshit in their lives.

That's why you see alot of classically-trained kids move on to become architects, lawyers and engineers instead of pressing onward with bands after college - because they can't take their disciplined experience and apply it to a group lacking discipline. Doesn't mesh, if it did we'd have better music, better bands and probably the reason why fewer Americans make the greats list in classic rock compared to the Brits.

[jhale667]

Beginning to agree with Nitro...



"I tell ya, if there was ever a scumbag that needed to DIE IN A FIRE..."

[GAR]

That means SO much coming from someone who is an "inadmirable degenerate" internet troll and jealous hater himself...

And since his playing basically redefined the genre, I think we can safely call him an "artist" your obvious jealous contempt notwithstanding.

What "genre" are you talking about - "hair metal"? Sure, they helped push pop metal more towards rhythm-based grunge if that's what you mean, and for the worse IMO.

I am not "jealous" of Pantera, my girlfriend at the time had a tape so I gave it a listen.. I'm not ignorant, but Im not jealous either.

- didn't like 'em.
- didn't follow 'em.
- didn't listen to 'em.
- couldn't see the point in 'em.
- didn't like the people that liked, followed, listened or saw the point in 'em either.

Pantera happened between the pop melodic rock stage and the grunge era, a 2 year window of success, why would I hate them for that?

[GAR]

Beginning to agree with Nitro...

Anyone who met Darrel I've talked to says the same thing, "yeah sweet guy but .."


This Love Lyrics
Artist(Band):Pantera

If ever words were spoken painful and untrue
I said I loved but I lied
In my life all I wanted
Was the keeping of someone like you
As it turns out deeper within me
Love was twisted and pointed at you

Never ending pain, quickly ending life --

(Chorus)

You keep this love, thing, love, child, love, toy
You keep this love, fist, love, scar, love, break
You keep this love, love, love
You keep this love, love, love
You keep this love,

I'd been the tempting one, stole her from herself
This gift in pain, her pain was life
And sometimes I feel so sorry
I regret this the hurting of you but you make me so unhappy
I'd take my life and leave love with you

I'd kill myself for you, I'd kill you for myself --

(Chorus)

No more head trips

(Chorus)

[GAR]

Case closed: doesn't take a licensed behavioural analyst to observe that's some pretty disturbed stuff going on in those lyrics.

[jhale667]

Case closed: doesn't take a licensed behavioural analyst to observe that's some pretty disturbed stuff going on in my posts.

DING!

[GAR]

So - you think it's a normal affair writing murder-suicide music?

Like there's nothing wrong with that, totally acceptable and appropriate. Something youd want to be a part of?



Like suppose Dime's brother calls you up and goes "Pantera reforming, will you fill in for Darryl" you'd do it..

[jhale667]

Depends...are their checks going to clear?



Keep your lyrical critiques in the music forum, dumbass.

[jhale667]

Back on fucking topic - has anyone tried the Krank amps Dime had started using prior to his untimely passing?

[vanhalenrocks]

Every time I talked to him he had a LOSER beer in his LOSER hands.

Guys like this LOSER dont care about their tone, he hid behind his distortion to cloak a great lack of dexterity and choked notes.

Kids didn't grow up admiring him the way they did EVH or Angus. They admired him like the little kids point fingers of admiration at the 30 clowns piling out of a VW Beetle "look at that, Gramma!"

He out-did himself on a yearly basis how gross he could dress and look, because that's how he was. He didn't give a shit about anything, not even his sound.. and the only reason he went with Krank was they smoked pot together and supported similar views on marijuana.

Your opinion is a piece of shit, just like you! What clue do you have about who the "kids" are admiring you old fuck? I'm hesitant that you even mean the shit you say, it's so retarded.

[GAR]

Show me a pictorial layout to prove me wrong: you're saying he developed more class as time went on?

People with bad taste will always find a leader to exemplify those ideals, or else Trent Reznor would still be working as a telemarketeer.

[vanhalenrocks]

Show me a pictorial layout to prove me wrong: you're saying he developed more class as time went on?

People with bad taste will always find a leader to exemplify those ideals, or else Trent Reznor would still be working as a telemarketeer.

You're speaking in tongues again, like the troll you are. You're just some idiot with horrific taste (and I have no idea why you'd be at the Roth Army). Take your holier than thou bullshit attitude and shove it up your ass.

[GAR]

Like Trent, Darryl kept himself in a perpetual state of tragedy. Likeminded people are attracted to such crap... just because some enjoy miserable music, doesn't mean it's any good.

[Diamondjimi]

GARfail....

You don't care for Dimebag. We get it.
Who the fuck are you to judge him as a person? He was 10 times the human being you'll ever be.
Saying he hid behind booze and drugs? Pfft, puhleeease.You must have run with a bunch us candy asses when you were growing up.
He lived R&R 24/7. Full on 100 %
On the other hand...You are a worthless bitter troll on a message board. Dime worked his ass off to get to his status. You are simply a jealous sack of shit who's achived fuck all. Hell, you couldn't a single riff or fill in that video and you know it...
Now go eat a bag of dicks and stay the fuck out of Gear Street!

[Nitro Express]

Back on fucking topic - has anyone tried the Krank amps Dime had started using prior to his untimely passing?

No. Not only haven't tried the amps, I've never tried krank either.

[Nitro Express]

When you are laying in a KISS casket and Eddie Van Halen himself lays one of his most famous guitars inside with you at your funeral, that's some heavy shit. All I can say is Gar would actually have a real guitar if he dug up Dime.

[GAR]

Who the fuck are you to judge him as a person?

I dunno.. met him? You met him before? NO. Don't be a babyhead from seeing me shit-up your misconceptions that he was some exemplary person that he was not.

[GAR]

When you are laying in a KISS casket and Eddie Van Halen himself lays one of his most famous guitars inside with you

.. that some crazed fan put you down in?

Not the kind of status I'd recommend anyone to seek. That ain't "rock n roll," that's called dead.

[Coyote]

IMO, Dime was the natural continuation of EVH...

Which explains my interest in his playing, which in itself had an awesome loose "let-it-all-hang-out" vibe.