Billy Squier - 1959 Super Lead/Frank Levi Mods
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2022 4:36 am
Hello from the UK!
I've always been a big fan of Billy Squier's recorded and live tone - especially his earlier tones (before he seemed to gain a more aggressive, late 70's super lead tone).
I'm keen to experiment with my 1959 SLP reissue and get closer to his tone. I appreciate speakers, mic positioning and recording equipment have a big impact on tone. However, it seems like my super lead with the volume on 2 seems pretty thin and weak?
What mods would you suggest for a fatter, cleaner sound that maintains that Marshall "ringing" sound that Billy had?
https://youtu.be/mBLNixOH45w I also love Jeff's fat lead tone!
I got digging one evening, and found these quotes:
"I’ve got 10 or 12 of these heads that I’ve had since the early ‘70s. I have a few that are a bit later, but the ones I use are the old Super Lead 100s. Frank Levi reworked these for me over the course of many nights of creative abuse. He’d start out with an idea and I’d try it, and then we’d just keep going until we got what we wanted. I love the way these sound because they don’t compress. They have the classic Marshall tone, but don’t compress into that midrange ‘box.’ I set the volume around 2, but they sound like they’re on 12—they’re incredibly powerful.
As for cabinets, I use a 4x12” that has two Celestions and two old Altec silver cones, which haven’t been made since 1952. I have a bunch of those that I pair off. The Altecs give me the bright, clear sound without being brittle. They have a really nice balance—really clean with some warmth, too. The Celestions of course give me that classic breakup."
From an interview with Billy Squier.
"As for his amps, straight from him to me
Modded superleads from Frank that he took gain (and compression and "squish" out of he felt they were more open and punchy."
I've always been a big fan of Billy Squier's recorded and live tone - especially his earlier tones (before he seemed to gain a more aggressive, late 70's super lead tone).
I'm keen to experiment with my 1959 SLP reissue and get closer to his tone. I appreciate speakers, mic positioning and recording equipment have a big impact on tone. However, it seems like my super lead with the volume on 2 seems pretty thin and weak?
What mods would you suggest for a fatter, cleaner sound that maintains that Marshall "ringing" sound that Billy had?
https://youtu.be/mBLNixOH45w I also love Jeff's fat lead tone!
I got digging one evening, and found these quotes:
"I’ve got 10 or 12 of these heads that I’ve had since the early ‘70s. I have a few that are a bit later, but the ones I use are the old Super Lead 100s. Frank Levi reworked these for me over the course of many nights of creative abuse. He’d start out with an idea and I’d try it, and then we’d just keep going until we got what we wanted. I love the way these sound because they don’t compress. They have the classic Marshall tone, but don’t compress into that midrange ‘box.’ I set the volume around 2, but they sound like they’re on 12—they’re incredibly powerful.
As for cabinets, I use a 4x12” that has two Celestions and two old Altec silver cones, which haven’t been made since 1952. I have a bunch of those that I pair off. The Altecs give me the bright, clear sound without being brittle. They have a really nice balance—really clean with some warmth, too. The Celestions of course give me that classic breakup."
From an interview with Billy Squier.
"As for his amps, straight from him to me
Modded superleads from Frank that he took gain (and compression and "squish" out of he felt they were more open and punchy."