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If you have any questions on the tone used, please scroll to the bottom of the page.Here are my versions of some of Randy's solos. Files with ** after them have videos on the >>VIDEO page.
FROM THE ALBUM 'BLIZZARD OF OZZ' :
'Mr.Crowley' First solo (new July 06 Studio recording)
'Mr.Crowley' Second Solo (new July 06 Studio recording)
'Crazy Train' Solo
I have tripple tracked this one, to try to emulate that classic 'Blizzard' sound.
'Crazy Train' Solo without backing track.
Triple tracked solo with the backing track taken away.
Both Mr.Crowley solos from a recent rehearsal
'No Bone Movies' solo (Tribute version)**
'I Don't Know' solo
'I Don't Know' solo (Live rehearsal version)
'Goodbye To Romance' solo
Double tracked.
'Siucide Solution' solo
This is the lead break that features during the song.
'Suicide Solution' unaccompanied Solo**
A segment from the solo off the Tribute Album.
Dee**
Dedicated to Dane's Grandma, Nell. She will be missed.
'Steal Away (The Night)' Solo
Triple tracked.
'You Looking at Me Looking at You' solo
(From Blizzard Remaster and Live Mr.Crowley single B-Side)
FROM THE ALBUM 'DIARY OF A MADMAN' :
'Diary of a Madman' solo
Triple tracked.
'S.A.T.O' solo
'Believer' Intro and Solo from rehearsals
'Little Dolls' solo
'You Can't Kill Rock 'n' Roll' solo
'Over the Mountain' solo
'Flying High Again' Solo**
My version of the solo from the Tribute album.
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THE TONE
I get a lot of emails from people asking me how I get the 'Randy Rhoads tone'. One of the main things about Randy's tone was that he pushed the mid range with his 10 band MXR graphic EQ.
Here is what I use for home pc recording.
Most of the clips on this page where played with the Les Paul, the Chravel model 6 or the Randy Rhoads polkadot V replica and recorded into the computer using Adobe audition. (Used to be called Cool Edit) There are plenty of forums and help pages on the internet about home recording so try those instead of emailing me as I just haven't got time to answer all these questions. I have made this part of the web page to help people who email me about my tone and it's all I can do.
I used the original Pod on the 'modern high gain' and these settings:
With these pedals and settings:
But equipment is only a part of how a player gets his sound, the rest is in the fingers.
When I record at home now I don't use ONE piece of equipment that Randy used and live, other than the fact i use a Marshall amp, all my other equipment is gear Randy didn't use.
Again 'that sound' isn't all coming from electric equipment.
For example, when I practice on my cheap Squire Strat and plug that into the new PodXT and use the preset 'Line6 Insane' setting, it is very much like the same 'Rhoads' sound characteristics as my old set up with quality guitars and the same goes for my live sound with the Marshall. Although of little use, here is a photo of the settings I use on my Marshall anyway. Settings need to be changed depending on a lot of things, like the age and make of your valves for example but I keep getting asked about it, so here it is.
If Steve Vai was to play through my equipment, it would sound like Steve's rig and most likely wouldn't sound anything like Randy's tone anymore.
I don't have any more advice on the subject, so if you've read this, don't email me because I don't have any other answers.
The main point I am making is simply this: You can't buy all of your sound from a shop, some of it you have to produce yourself:-)
Des Sherwood guitar tuition © 2000-2005
