SRV Amplifiers and Effects
It is well known that Stevie used relatively few effects either in the studio or on stage. His stomp-box gear consisted of a pair of Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamers, a pair of Vox wah-wah pedals, a few Octavias, Univibes, Fuzz Faces, and an Echoplex. It is interesting to note that Stevie never used digital or rack-mounted effects.
Some specific amps which Stevie always used were a pair of 1×15 Fender Vibroverbs. This pair of amps was a constant in Stevie’s sound. One other set of amps that Stevie regularly used were a pair of 100-watt Fender Super Reverbs. A few other amps that he used throughout his life included a Marshall 100-watt Super PA, a Marshall 200-watt Major, and a 200-watt Marshall Town and Country Combo.
Later on his life Stevie replaced the previously mentioned Marshalls with a Howard Dumble Steel String Singer. The Marshalls were replaced due to the fact that the proper tubes could no longer be found.
Another type of cabinet which Stevie owned was a Fender Vibratone. This was a Leslie-style speaker cabinet, but unlike the Leslie, this cabinet had a slotted, rotating foam cylinder around the stationary speaker, instead of a rotating speaker.
Stevie’s on-stage rigs changed a number of times throughout the years. Between 1981 and 1983 Stevie used the following setup. A 200-watt Marshall Combo 2×12 JBL. Two Fender Vibroverbs 1×15. And for pedals a Tube Screamer and a Vox Wah were used.
The following setup was used in 1984. 2 Vibroverbs with 2 Super Reverbs. The effects used at this time included a Tube Screamer, Vox Wah, and a Univibe.
In 1985 Stevie changed his stage setup yet again. He was now using 2 chained Vibroverbs, one of which was driving a Vibratone cabinet. One or two Super Reverbs and a Dumble Steel String Singer, which was driving a Marshall 8×10 cabinet. The effects used during this period included a Tube Screamer and two Wah pedals. This rig was used until sometime in 1988, upon which it was changed again.
The stage setup which Stevie used from 1988 until the time of his death in 1990 was made up of of two Vibroverbs, one driving a Vibratone, two 4X10 Super Reverbs, two Marshall heads driving 2 Marshall cabinets, a Dumble Steel String Singer driving a Marshall 8×10 cabinet, one or two Tube Screamers, a Fuzz Face, and an Octavia.