Chasing Jimmy Page tone

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iamjackslackof

Well-known member
Hi all,

Like a lot of people, the reason I play guitar is Zeppelin and Jimmy Page. I got How The West Was Won when I was 14, and that was all she wrote. I am still chasing his live tone from that album, his earlier 69-75 live tones, and random different recorded tones.

A lot of the pedals I build, like Marshall in a box pedals and EP-3s, are in pursuit of HTWWW and other Page tones. So since I can't be the only one, what gear/pedal combinations have you guys tried that got you close to Zeppelin tones?

I have all the different EP-3s on PPCB, a whole bunch of MIAB pedals, a Belle Epoch Deluxe, an Imperial Electrical Zeppelin (Plexi + EP3 combo :) ), A Lumpy's Tone Shop Albion MIAB, EQ pedal, delays, reverbs, etc. I generally run the Belle Epoch first, then one of the EP-3s, then whichever MIAB, plus some reverb, all into a Strymon Iridium set clean. Almost every day it seems I prefer a different MIAB or think a different one sounds closest. I am planning to cut some clips of HTWWW riffs and recording me playing the same riffs though each pedal so I can get a more apples to apples comparison.

This got a bit rambly, but long story short, how do you guys get the Led out?

Edit: Also I built a RAH and just ordered a real one! Have a Lemon Drop clone as well.
 
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I'm not a huge Page nerd as far as chasing his tones, but I am a fan. You might want to try building a tone bender mkII. If I remember right a telecaster into a tonebender into a supro amp was a lot of the studio guitar tones on the first couple of records.
 
I found the Lemon Drop amazing for capturing that early Zep sound. Obviously it depends a lot on guitar and amp as well, but I found getting the early Zep sound - or a reasonable facsimile - easy with the Lemon Drop. Remarkable pedal. A lot of the time his guitar sound was tiny. Really fascinating when you think of how Led Zep are regarded.
 
LP and the DLS in Super Lead mode (with the gain lower than you’d think) gets you about 80% there. The key is to balance the pickups for that magic in-between tone. Phase 90 is a help too…
 
I've been down that rabbit hole before. Here is what I came up with to scratch that itch....

Its a 5-in-1 pedal that I think is pretty versatile to cover some JP tones. The signal chain is a Tone Bender MKII -> Phase 90 -> Modulated Delay -> EP Boost -> RAH (with order switch between the EP and RAH). I am also working on a slightly smaller version of this as well.


48463529581_b82f6de011_c.jpg
 
dan.schumaker said:
I've been down that rabbit hole before. Here is what I came up with to scratch that itch....

Its a 5-in-1 pedal that I think is pretty versatile to cover some JP tones. The signal chain is a Tone Bender MKII -> Phase 90 -> Modulated Delay -> EP Boost -> RAH (with order switch between the EP and RAH). I am also working on a slightly smaller version of this as well.


View attachment 38477
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Add a send/return for a harmonizer and your a violin bow away from immortality...
 
Great thread! I am a massive Led Zep fan too. For me, the Sola Sound Hybrid Tonebender does a best job. (https://forum.pedalpcb.com/threads/marigold-fuzz.13124/#post-146113). When I am in the JP mood, I use the bridge humbucker and this pedal! I think my Angry Andy + can also achieve some of the Marshall-like sounds. Couple either of those pedals with a Phase II, and you will have the perfect sound for “Nobody’s Fault but Mine!”
 
Coda said:
LP and the DLS in Super Lead mode (with the gain lower than you’d think) gets you about 80% there. The key is to balance the pickups for that magic in-between tone.
Click to expand...

I have some custom humbuckers in my LP meant to get that honky middle position later 72' tone and they work pretty great. Got them from a guy on the MyLesPaul forum, killer.
I built a DLS, but it's really fizzy. I've been meaning to ask on here about troubleshooting but not gotten around to it yet.

My trouble in general is I've gotten 80% of the way there pretty easily, but I keep chasing that 20% lol.

dan.schumaker said:
I've been down that rabbit hole before. Here is what I came up with to scratch that itch....
Click to expand...

Amazing! I'm planning on something similar as well, mostly just as an excuse to build a multiple pedal box. What size is that enclosure?
 
aefpv said:
Great thread! I am a massive Led Zep fan too. For me, the Sola Sound Hybrid Tonebender does a best job. (https://forum.pedalpcb.com/threads/marigold-fuzz.13124/#post-146113). When I am in the JP mood, I use the bridge humbucker and this pedal! I think my Angry Andy + can also achieve some of the Marshall-like sounds. Couple either of those pedals with a Phase II, and you will have the perfect sound for “Nobody’s Fault but Mine!”
Click to expand...
I'm working on a standard Ge Tonebender, I didn't know this one was on PPCB! And I just completed my latest order last night... Your build is simply killer though, and I'm glad it's possible to get that Page tone without needing to fiddle as much with the Ge transistors. Definitely gonna build the Marigold now!

Also I wasn't sure one whether to get an Angry Andy for Page tones, I might have to build one.
 
Coda said:
Add a send/return for a harmonizer and your a violin bow away from immortality...
Click to expand...
I do have Send and Returns on it, just no harmonizer (...yet... :LOL:)
iamjackslackof said:
Amazing! I'm planning on something similar as well, mostly just as an excuse to build a multiple pedal box. What size is that enclosure?
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Its a 1550G, its a big guy! Its a 8.75" x 5.75". I'm finishing up working on one that will go in a 1590DD enclosure.
 
iamjackslackof said:
I'm working on a standard Ge Tonebender, I didn't know this one was on PPCB! And I just completed my latest order last night... Your build is simply killer though, and I'm glad it's possible to get that Page tone without needing to fiddle as much with the Ge transistors. Definitely gonna build the Marigold now!

Also I wasn't sure one whether to get an Angry Andy for Page tones, I might have to build one.
Click to expand...
I also made a Ge tonebender from guitarpcb. I got the transistors from there too, but the pedal doesn’t quite work for me. I have been tweaking the bias of the transistors, but haven’t found my sweet spot. The Marigold fuzz is a nice balance of aggressive silicon with the warmth of Ge. It also provides a tone pot!
 
I find pick position to be fairly instrumental in many of the tones. Pick very close, or even on top of the frets to get that sweet "since I've been lovin you" tone at the beginning of the song, then moving way down closer to the bridge for the later more grinding parts. After that just some pick pressure overdrive on a cranked marshall.....
 
RetiredUnit1 said:
I find pick position to be fairly instrumental in many of the tones. Pick very close, or even on top of the frets to get that sweet "since I've been lovin you" tone at the beginning of the song, then moving way down closer to the bridge for the later more grinding parts. After that just some pick pressure overdrive on a cranked marshall.....
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That's a great point. I rarely see discussion of Jimmy's physical technique, which I'm sure plays a major part as it does for all of us. I'm going to try since I've been loving you that way and see how I get on.
 
iamjackslackof said:
That's a great point. I rarely see discussion of Jimmy's physical technique, which I'm sure plays a major part as it does for all of us. I'm going to try since I've been loving you that way and see how I get on.
Click to expand...
Those first six notes, with the stretch up on the fifth sound every so perfect with the pick just below the end of the frets. Even on my acoustics!
 
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