Recording Software Protools Digi 6.4
Electric Guitar Gibson Les Paul Custom 1979, pickup switch in middle position
Electric Bass Fender Squire 2000 (plugged to board)
Guitar Amplifier Roland Micro Cube, set to "Classic" with 100% gain and
some reverb
Drum Program Drumsite
Organ Roland S-2, Rock Organ, standard setting
Strings Roland S-2, RS Strings, standard setting
Effects Roland Chorus Pedal, speed medium slow, intensity max
Al's Comments About Guitars, Amplifiers, and Tone Carlos Santana from
his first album has had a distinctive (though ever-evolving) tone created by his
choice of guitars, amplifiers, and amplifier settings. In one word, Carlos's tone
has always been thick. In two words, smooth and thick. And in eight words,
smooth and thick with infinite sustain when desired. (Sustain describes how
long a guitar can hold a note before fading away.)
Carlos has now recorded literally hundreds of songs, and to my ears his tone in
Europa is the most smooth and thick, has the most sustain, and is the most
beautiful.
Carlos's guitar technician Renee Martinez has said that Carlos produced this
tone playing a through a Mesa Boogie Mark I amplifier turned to maximum
volume. I have not found information anywhere indicating what guitar he used,
but I think I know.
First about the amplifier. Let's go back a bit.
It is accepted legend that Carlos was the first important guitarist to try the
first Mesa Boogie model, called the Mark I, first built by Randall Smith near
San Fransisco in the early 70s. In fact Mr. Smith credits Carlos with giving
the amp its name. When he first played it, Carlos turned it to 100% volume,
shredded the walls off of Mr. Smith's store in front of astonished shoppers,
and said, "Man, this amp boogies!"
Wikipedia quotes guitar technician Renee Martinez saying Carlos got his tone
in Europa using a Mesa Boogie Mark I amplifier played at max volume with no
effects. And I believe him. I own a Mesa Boogie Mark II-b amplifier, which
is more versatile than the Mark I but retains its legendary tone and volume.
The sound I get from my Boogie turned up very, very loud indeed sounds
exactly like the tone on Europa.
Now we turn to guitars. Mr. Martinez does not say what guitar Carlos used on
Europa, but because my sound is so extremely close to his, I believe he used the
same guitar I use, a Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Now, if you compare my recording of Europa here to Santana's original version,
you'll definitely notice a difference. That's because I did not record Europa
using my Boogie amp. I used a Roland Micro Cube. Why? Again, the Boogie is
just way too loud. If I try to record at high volume, I would expect my
neighbors to ask the police to quiet me down. And we live in a neighborhood
with nice big yards. The Boogie is that loud!
That is why I recorded Europa using a little 15-watt Roland Micro Cube
amplifier. All of that said, I think the Micro Cube has an outstanding tone, and
although in a perfect world I would recorcd with my Boogie, I'm perfectly
happy with the Micro Cube, which keeps me out of trouble with both my wife
and neighbors.
Well, enjoy friends. And please find your way around the rest of
freeverseband.com.
Electric Guitar Gibson Les Paul Custom 1979, pickup switch in middle position
Electric Bass Fender Squire 2000 (plugged to board)
Guitar Amplifier Roland Micro Cube, set to "Classic" with 100% gain and
some reverb
Drum Program Drumsite
Organ Roland S-2, Rock Organ, standard setting
Strings Roland S-2, RS Strings, standard setting
Effects Roland Chorus Pedal, speed medium slow, intensity max
Al's Comments About Guitars, Amplifiers, and Tone Carlos Santana from
his first album has had a distinctive (though ever-evolving) tone created by his
choice of guitars, amplifiers, and amplifier settings. In one word, Carlos's tone
has always been thick. In two words, smooth and thick. And in eight words,
smooth and thick with infinite sustain when desired. (Sustain describes how
long a guitar can hold a note before fading away.)
Carlos has now recorded literally hundreds of songs, and to my ears his tone in
Europa is the most smooth and thick, has the most sustain, and is the most
beautiful.
Carlos's guitar technician Renee Martinez has said that Carlos produced this
tone playing a through a Mesa Boogie Mark I amplifier turned to maximum
volume. I have not found information anywhere indicating what guitar he used,
but I think I know.
First about the amplifier. Let's go back a bit.
It is accepted legend that Carlos was the first important guitarist to try the
first Mesa Boogie model, called the Mark I, first built by Randall Smith near
San Fransisco in the early 70s. In fact Mr. Smith credits Carlos with giving
the amp its name. When he first played it, Carlos turned it to 100% volume,
shredded the walls off of Mr. Smith's store in front of astonished shoppers,
and said, "Man, this amp boogies!"
Wikipedia quotes guitar technician Renee Martinez saying Carlos got his tone
in Europa using a Mesa Boogie Mark I amplifier played at max volume with no
effects. And I believe him. I own a Mesa Boogie Mark II-b amplifier, which
is more versatile than the Mark I but retains its legendary tone and volume.
The sound I get from my Boogie turned up very, very loud indeed sounds
exactly like the tone on Europa.
Now we turn to guitars. Mr. Martinez does not say what guitar Carlos used on
Europa, but because my sound is so extremely close to his, I believe he used the
same guitar I use, a Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Now, if you compare my recording of Europa here to Santana's original version,
you'll definitely notice a difference. That's because I did not record Europa
using my Boogie amp. I used a Roland Micro Cube. Why? Again, the Boogie is
just way too loud. If I try to record at high volume, I would expect my
neighbors to ask the police to quiet me down. And we live in a neighborhood
with nice big yards. The Boogie is that loud!
That is why I recorded Europa using a little 15-watt Roland Micro Cube
amplifier. All of that said, I think the Micro Cube has an outstanding tone, and
although in a perfect world I would recorcd with my Boogie, I'm perfectly
happy with the Micro Cube, which keeps me out of trouble with both my wife
and neighbors.
Well, enjoy friends. And please find your way around the rest of
freeverseband.com.
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| Europa © 2006 Albert Mora |
| Background |
Europa is the archetype of a musical form unique to Carlos Santana, the
instrumental Latin Rock ballad. It starts with a romantic melody and gradually
crescendos into a soaring, screaming expression of power and beauty. The
electric guitar has never sounded better.
From its inception, Free Verse built a reputation for tremendous covers of
Santana material. In Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland there were numerous
Latin bands, and Free Verse felt it was the undisputed king at covering
Santana. Guitarist Mario Moreno played a Les Paul, Carlos Santana's model
at the time. Chris Guerra played a Hammond B-3 organ and Fender Rhodes
electric piano, the same instruments Santana's Gregg Rolie played. The band
carried two percussionists using LP percussion instruments, the top brand of
percussion instruments in the world to this day, and only brand used by the real
Santana band.
When Al auditioned for Free Verse, he knew that being able to play Santana
covers extremely well was a requirement, so above all he prepared to play his
best Santana for Gerry, Chris, and Dan. They hired him, so Al's Santana must
have cut the mustard.
Of Free Verse's many Santana covers, Europa was probably the most popular.
Unfortunately no good recording exists of the Free Verse playing it live. But
this version is highly faithful to both the original by Santana and to how Free
Verse sounded playing it. Enjoy!
instrumental Latin Rock ballad. It starts with a romantic melody and gradually
crescendos into a soaring, screaming expression of power and beauty. The
electric guitar has never sounded better.
From its inception, Free Verse built a reputation for tremendous covers of
Santana material. In Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland there were numerous
Latin bands, and Free Verse felt it was the undisputed king at covering
Santana. Guitarist Mario Moreno played a Les Paul, Carlos Santana's model
at the time. Chris Guerra played a Hammond B-3 organ and Fender Rhodes
electric piano, the same instruments Santana's Gregg Rolie played. The band
carried two percussionists using LP percussion instruments, the top brand of
percussion instruments in the world to this day, and only brand used by the real
Santana band.
When Al auditioned for Free Verse, he knew that being able to play Santana
covers extremely well was a requirement, so above all he prepared to play his
best Santana for Gerry, Chris, and Dan. They hired him, so Al's Santana must
have cut the mustard.
Of Free Verse's many Santana covers, Europa was probably the most popular.
Unfortunately no good recording exists of the Free Verse playing it live. But
this version is highly faithful to both the original by Santana and to how Free
Verse sounded playing it. Enjoy!
| Credits |
Melody and Concept Carlos Santana
Drum Programming, Instrumentals, Sound Engineering Al Mora
Drum Programming, Instrumentals, Sound Engineering Al Mora
| Technical Information |
| SONG |
| Listen to Europa in CD-quality here: |
| Free Verse The best things in life... |