Ultimate Rhoads

Does anyone know how Randy got his tone for the Diary tour? It is very very different than his tone on the previous tour.

I remember an interview he stated they were starting to add more out front. I know the delays were added because they panned L to R, but I'm wondering if they added some modulation type of effect as well. His tone is very unique and hard to describe.

Any info on this would be mega appreciated.

Peace,
RR

Is their a specific bootleg that you listen to where you hear this tone high up in the mix? I have yet to hear any Diary show that isn't drowned in keyboards.

I have a couple bootlegs - one from Minnesota then I believe that other Kalamazoo one. You are right, keyboard overkill but songs like Iron Man and Paranoid really have his tone standing way out.
Don Airey also commented on Randy's tone once in an interview. He said it sounded like Randy had a ring modulator on it or something. Just a very unique sound. I also notice that some of the whammy bar harmonics tend to die out quickly. I dunno if it has to do with the Marshall cabs he had in front of him as monitors. He had those set up because his backline sound was muffled because it had to be behind the castle doors or something.

NicDots wrote:Is their a specific bootleg that you listen to where you hear this tone high up in the mix? I have yet to hear any Diary show that isn't drowned in keyboards.

I am not a guitarist so can't add to this topic with any specific information regarding tone.
What I can agree with is that listening to all the 'Diary' shows I am yet to enjoy any of them! The KB's kill Randy's playing unlike the later 'Blizzard' shows when the KB's complimented Randy's work. I find even the best 'Diary' shows hard to get through, although the 15th Jan show is one I do like parts of.

Yeah, I hate hearing the piano sound, with echo no less, at the beginning of Crazy Train.

My favorite bootleg is the King Biscuit/Montreal show. Randy's tone is thick with some chorus yet retains definition. Yes, and the keys there just complimented and filled in.

It's kind of hard to think of OzzY type of metal with the whole castle stage and all ringing out with loud piano and keys. The stage, music and that whole image just doesn't seem to go with the overloaded keys they had going on in the Diary tour.

I could make myself hated for saying this BUT, I would rather listen hear Brad Gillis playing 'Diary' shows than Rand, Brad is under rated but his style suited what the band were doing at that point more than Randy's.

But Like you said rreza Montreal 1981 is one of my favorites shows as well and nobody could have beaten RR in those shows with that band at that time.

Trigger, that is so true about Brad. Night Ranger had a keyboard drenched sound, so he was used to that style. Ozzy was still searching for his identity at the time Diary came out. It was prior to the big keyboard backlash, so he tried it out and it sucked.

Regarding Brad, I will admit that he had an incredible tone. I hate to say this but it probably is favorite tones of OzzYs guitarists. That Boogie mid-range grind is just so wicked!

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Yeah, Don could've used a different sound for the Crazy Train intro. Maybe a distorted B3 like Jon Lord or something.

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wareagle wrote:lol or he maybe couldnt have played,

I love you, Elliot.

I dunno. Don was now out front with the band up there in that balcony so maybe they figure if he's gonna be seen he might as well be heard. Maybe it was SHARON'S idea! Just jokin'.

LOL, there's a good chance. Let's not forget what Sharon did at Stalingrad and in Poland!

NicDots wrote:LOL, there's a good chance. Let's not forget what Sharon did at Stalingrad and in Poland!

And before that in the trenches on Flanders field!