Back to the 70's Grand Illusion Solo STYX

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Day
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Mark Day

Mark Day

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I remember listening to Styx's Grand Illusion for the first time when it came out in the late 70's and being blown away by the tone of Tommy Shaw's solo. I'm trying to capture the effects and vibe here so lots of incorrect notes. All guitars are through the AxeFx XL.

 
Their concert of playing Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight back to back is pretty impressive. Ridiculous that guys can play like they do and also sing like sons of bitches. They eventually get too cheesy for me but they have some absolute classic songs. The stage moves in that concert just kill me (not in a good way :lol: :LOL: ).
 
skoora":2hz9mxk8 said:
Their concert of playing Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight back to back is pretty impressive. Ridiculous that guys can play like they do and also sing like sons of bitches. They eventually get too cheesy for me but they have some absolute classic songs. The stage moves in that concert just kill me (not in a good way :lol: :LOL: ).
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I was a huge Equinox, Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight fan, still am actually. I dig the artsy, fartsy with the great guitar riffing and unexpected changes within songs. This is what I grew up with. I can also do without the cheesy moves on stage but holy these guys are still talented. I'm hoping i get to see them this summer.


Mark
 
Awesome Mark! I have been on a 70s kick for a couple of years now and this clip was great! Overtime the Styx - Grand Illusion show comes on Palladia I watch it all the way through. One of the few classic rock bands my wife knows almost all the lyrics. I lucked out marrying a girl that rocks.
 
gibson5413":2bv0v0p7 said:
Awesome Mark! I have been on a 70s kick for a couple of years now and this clip was great! Overtime the Styx - Grand Illusion show comes on Palladia I watch it all the way through. One of the few classic rock bands my wife knows almost all the lyrics. I lucked out marrying a girl that rocks.
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Cool, yes I'm lucky too. Roxie is a total Classic Rock fiend and knows way more than me.

Mark
 
Wow! Cool Mark!

I always thought that James Young was the one who played that solo, and that Tommy Shaw played the second solo after that one.......no???

Thanks
 
Ian1eh":1nob05ng said:
Wow! Cool Mark!

I always thought that James Young was the one who played that solo, and that Tommy Shaw played the second solo after that one.......no???

Thanks
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When I was watching that GI/PO8 concert I was surprised how many of the solo's JY did. For some reason I had it in my head that Shaw did most of them but JY is pretty smokin' on guitar. But God! He is a cheese ball…. :lol: :LOL:
 
anything with the trem is james young plus he has the fat but still stratty tone.
 
Ian1eh":3rtpiyce said:
Wow! Cool Mark!

I always thought that James Young was the one who played that solo, and that Tommy Shaw played the second solo after that one.......no???

Thanks
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Tommy played the first one, James played the 2nd. They still do it that way live :)
 
Pretty close! His Wah tone had much more q or resonance (with the Fractal Wah) and I believe the frequency was a bit lower. I believe Tommy Shaw used Hiwatt amps and JY used Marshalls and they both had a custom preamp that they called the Yoshinarato which is a preamp/distortion unit which apparently was a big part of JY sound. I believe Tommy Shaw only used it for solos. Perhaps that's were JY mids came from with his Strat. I loved JY guitar tone and you can here it featured in parts of some of the songs, like the intro of Miss America and and Queen of Spades I was a huge fan when Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight came out! I played these albums to death jamming a long when I first started to play guitar.
 
First, awesome job Mark, always dig your clips! That tone is so unique, kudos for getting as close as you did. Honestly though, I mostly tune in to covet that Lifeson Les Paul of yours. :lol: :LOL:

Grand Illusion was one of the first LPs I bought with my own cash as a kid. Huge fan of that era. Like some of you guys, I always thought JY did the gnarlier solos and Tommy the more melodic ones. Was surprised to see the opposite when I bought the GI/Po8 BluRay.

They're slightly less cheesy without Dennis, but I have to agree about some of the lame stage moves they pull off in that concert. They more than make up for it musically though. And Tommy's got a pretty sweet collection of guitars. :rock:
 
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