YJM's Guitar Alchemy - The webs best Yngwie fansite

Amps/Effects
An in-depth look at Yngwie's amplifiers and effect preferences

MARSHALL '1987' 50 WATT NON MASTER VOLUME HEADS
Yngwie's amp of choice is the Marshall MK.II 1987 (model #) head. Yngwie uses vintage models dating from 1972-73 in the studio and live, but the re-issue Marshall 1987x is a superb replica of the 1972 (year) model which were slightly more aggressive in sound. Yngwie always runs the volume control on 10 with the tone controls varying between amp heads.

Yngwie currently has an endorsement deal with JJ Tesla tubes/valves and uses the E34L power tube (a variant of the EL34 tube).

Yngwie has used the Marshall 1987 50 watt non master volume amp as long as he has been in the spotlight and has said "Over the years virtually every amp manufacturer in the world has asked me to try their amps...I'd rather pay for a Marshall than get the others for free".

If you get to try one of these amps do not expect high gain by any means with single coil pickups. These amps are relatively clean sounding and only start getting into major overdriven sounds when slammed with an overdrive booster pedal. Even then these amps are much cleaner in sound than say a Boogie Rectifier, Soldano SLO, Peavey 5150 or newer Marshalls like the JCM900 and JCM2000's. However, the Marshall JCM2000 DSL100/DSL50 models come close on the vintage gain 2 channel slammed with a DOD 250 or 308 Overdrive box.

Remember, a lot of Yngwie's sound comes from the sheer volume he uses and microphone placement is also a big factor.

MARSHALL CABINETS - STUDIO
In 'Studio 308' Yngwie has 6 vintage Marshall 4x12" 'Basket Weave' cabs model #1982 loaded with vintage Celestion G12 H30 speakers set up in a concrete "bunker" which is approximately 20 x 15 feet, these cabs are hardwired to the Marshall 1987 heads which are in Studio 308's control room. Yngwie never plugs into his top cabinets live and he only records with straight front cabinets.

The Chris Tsangarides produced albums saw Yngwie mic the vintage Marshall cabs with Neumann U87 microphones [big $$$], these days he favours the Shure SM57. The microphones then go to Focusrite Preamps and then straight to tape [bypassing the mixer] when recording.

MARSHALL CABINETS - LIVE
Depending on the country seems to affect what cabinets Yngwie uses. When he is on home soil [USA] there tends to be a couple of Marshall 1982 4x12 'basket weave' cabinets in the back line - presumably these are loaded with vintage G12H30 speakers. But photographs also show that the back line is often made up with Marshall 1960A + B cabs probably loaded with Celestion G12T-75's [75w] or occasionally Celestion Vintage 30's [actually 70w]. These cabs vary between JCM800 and 900 badges so are probably supplied by the Marshall distributor in whichever country Yngwie is touring [as part of the companies artist relations programme which hires amps/cabs etc out around the world]. Contrary to popular belief Marshall do NOT do free artist endorsements. Yngwie currently has an endorsement deal with Celestion speakers and the ad features the GT12-75.

MARSHALL MG15DF-X
Yngwie brought this amp out with him on the 2003 G3 tour for use in his dressing room, a very cool little amp. Yngwie playing through this amp can be heard at the start of Yngwie's chapter on the G3 Live In Denver DVD. Yngwie runs a DOD YJM308 and Boss NS-2 before the input but a Malmsteen tone can be obtained without by maxing the gain and having all EQ at approx 12 o' clock.

FENDER ROC PRO 1000
Yngwie has used a few other amps over the years for specific applications. Most recently is the Fender Roc Pro amp which was used on the 'Concerto' album.

The Roc Pro 1000 combo was used on the 'Full Shred' video and at Yngwie's many clinics around the world, also a few TV appearances have seen the combo used where it would be impractical to use the Marshall. Yngwie's live 'Concerto' performances saw the Roc Pro being used live as can be seen in this rig below.

RACK
Yes Yngwie does have a rack for live work. It is however not on the scale of 'noted' rack users like Steve Vai or John Petrucci. The basic components of the rack are quite simple. The picture to the left shows Yngwie's rack from the Facing The Animal world tour in 1998.

From top to bottom:

Samson Wireless reciever (in rack case on top)
Furman Power Conditioner
E-MU Vintage Keys Module (for bass pedals)
2 x Korg DL8000R (digital delay units).
TC Electronics G Force
The stompboxes that are shown beneath the rack gear are (left to right, to to bottom):
DOD 250 Overdrive
Boss OC-2 Octave
2 x Boss NS-2 Noise Suppresor
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer

These effects are then routed by a Custom Audio Electronics (bottom of unit) signal path which allows Yngwie to select the effects he requires.

DOD 250 OVERDRIVE/PREAMP
This cheap Overdrive pedal has been a vital part of Yngwie's sound since 1978. Yngwie has used both the older vintage 'grey' models and the new reissue 'yellow' versions. His favourite is the old grey type, but most purists can not tell a lot of difference. To my ears the DOD 250's characteristic sound is best heard on the cleaner sounding (guitar tone) earlier Yngwie records e.g. 'No Parole For Rock N Roll', 'Rising Force' and 'Marching Out'.

DOD YJM308 OVERDRIVE/PREAMP PEDAL
DOD are producing a Signature Yngwie model called the DOD YJM308, it is similar to the 250 except for a few component changes to make is sound closer to Yngwie favourite vintage grey 250. In comparison the DOD308 does sound quite a bit different to my DOD250 pedal, the 308 has less bass in it and a little more top end gain.

To my ears it definitely helps add some Yngwie mojo when I use my YJM Strat and I would heartily recommend it if you are going for the Yngwie tone. Yngwie used the YJM308 exclusively on 'Attack' and on the supporting tour.

BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPPRESSOR
Yngwie uses this pedal after his YJM308 and before the Marshall 1987X input. The pedal is simple yet works exceedingly well reducing unwanted noise yet not taking away any tone or sustain, Yngwie uses the following settings: Threshold = max. Decay = 8 o clock. Mode = Reduction.

This pedal is a must if using the DOD YJM308 as its extremely noisy.

IBANEZ TS-9 TUBESCREAMER
Yngwie has used this pedal on a few occasions when he may not have a DOD 250 with him.

All his recent UK 'Guitarist' magazine sound clips from the early 2000's have seen a TS-9 used, but it has not been used live or in Studio308 for a few years now since "Magnum Opus".

THE FLOOR CONTROLLER / FATAR BASS PEDALS
The picture below shows what Yngwie has on the floor to control his sound throughout a gig.

ROLAND DC-10 ANALOGUE ECHO
This silver faced device has been on Yngwie's stageboards since the early 1980's. Its this unit that allows the 'eye of the hurricane' swirling sound heard at the end of his main solo spot on live gigs. It can be seen top left in the picture above.

BRADSHAW SWITCHING UNIT
Below the DC-10 is the unit which allows Yngwie to select preset effects and also punch in any of the effects in his rack when he wishes. This pedalboard is the successor to the one that can be seen in the REH video and has more patches available.

FATAR BASS PEDALS
These are connected to the E-MU Vintage Keys Module in the rack and allow Yngwie to hold sustained bass notes. These can be heard in his live solo spots. Previously Yngwie used the classic Taurus bass pedals as well as Roland equivalents.

JIM DUNLOP CRYBABY WAH
Another of Yngwie's favourite pedals, the Crybaby wah is a timeless effect and it can be heard on practically every Yngwie album. Yngwie has the Dunlop CB 535Q wah here, but switches between this and a standard new and vintage Crybaby pedals. The Dunlop Classic GCB-95F wah (with fasel inductor) is a good choice.

ZOOM 9002 PRO
Yngwie used this device for demos from the Fire & Ice to Magnum Opus era, despite its relative simplicity it does sound very good with a HS-3 loaded Strat as it has enough gain (analogue distortion) in it to make the Strat sing - much better sounding than a POD. I may be wrong but to my ears 'I Can't Wait' and 'Aftermath' (from the 'I Can't Wait' EP) could well have been recorded with this unit, I can dial in a sound near idential with mine. If you listen closely its a bit more nasal and high end-y than the normal YJM Marshall tone.

These units can be found pretty cheap on ebay and make for an excellent home practice tool. They also record well to tape. Two versions are available - the 9002 Pro and the 9002 Pro Artist Edition. They are both the same except the artist edition has patches by Brian May, Richie Sambora and Dweezil Zappa amongst others.

JOHNSON J-STATION
Yngwie has also used the J-Station (now discontinued) for his practice box presumably replacing the Zoom 9002. I have personally not tried one but my all accounts when coupled with a DOD308 and a Stratocaster the results are good. Yngwie's ad for the unit saw the quote, "When I can't plug into my vintage Marshall stacks, I use the J-Station backstage, on the bus, at home in front of the TV, in hotel rooms, everywhere... It rocks!!!!". Settings to achieve Yngwie's sound can be seen below.

J-Station settings courtesy of the official Yngwie Malmsteen website - www.yngwie.org

STRINGS & PICKS
Yngwie uses 1.5mm Dunlop picks made of Delrin. These are white with Yngwie's signature on. If you wish to use the same pick then ask your store for Dunlop 1.5mm Delrin picks, they will be purple in colour but are the exact same shape and material as Yngwie's.

As for string gauges Yngwie goes for a custom set made up by Dean Markley after a recent switch from Fender Bullets.

.008 | .011 | .014 | .022 | .032 | .048

Taken from www.deanmarkley.com

So many of you have been asking us at Dean Markley Strings, “When are you going to make Yngwie's sets available to us?” Well the long-awaited strings are now available.

Yngwie has put in an enormous amount of work over many years to get to the “top of his game” with his playing. Yet he has generously allowed us to let his fans know and purchase the same set of strings he uses to perform his magic.

Yngwie performs his special, blazing-solo magic with two of our sets, custom made for him and called appropriately, Yngwie's Magic. Both sets have Yngwie's projectile end. The difference between the two sets is the low E string.

Also available to his many fans are the same exact two sets, but using the overwhelmingly popular ball end. Hence these sets are called Yngwie's Ball End.

Yngwie recognizes that not everyone can adapt to the special gauge he uses, and he wants to support the talents of his ever growing number of dedicated fans. So for fans who want to develop a style similar to his neoclassical style, but who can't quite master his unique gauge, Yngwie has suggested two alternate, more standard gauges. These sets have slightly heavier strings than Yngwie uses. These are our Yngwie Approved sets.

Yngwie's strings were manufactured to Yngwie's personal specifications for that maximum speed, tone, and playability he demands from his strings. Their special core-to-wrap ratios and custom gauging are especially suited for fast solos and incredible tone and sustain. They are constructed from the highest quality nickel steel available, and offer world class performance—set after set. These incredible strings were custom made for an incredible player. If you like Yngwie's masterful style, you're going to love these strings!