NOTE: This website is frequently updated. Last update June 2011
PINK FLOYD'S SORROW TONE - The clip below is an attempt to duplicate the Sorrow intro tone from the 1994 Pink Floyd tour and the Pulse live album. I used a Strat equipped with EMG-SA pickups with the SPC control on maximum. The amps used are an Alembic F2-B preamp with the mid range set to maximum, going into a Reeves Custom 50 (Hiwatt clone).
Sorrow Intro - B.K Butler Tube Driver + Sovtek Big Muff + Boss CE-2 chorus + TC Nova delay set for 540ms, Alembic F2-B into Reeves Custom 50
Sorrow Intro - same as above but without the backing track
The clips below are an attempt at reproducing the Sorrow intro tone from the 1988 Pink Floyd tour and the Delicate Sound of Thunder album using the distortion pedal combined with the overdrive of a Mesa Boogie mark series head, as David used on that tour. The Boogie was set for a light drive and placed in the signal chain after the distortion pedal, a Boss HM-2, Big Muff, or Cornish P-2.. This is similar to how the Tube Driver was used in 1994. The signal then goes throgh chorus and delays, then into the Hiwatt power amplifier.
Sorrow Intro - TC Booster +Line Driver + Boss HM2 + Mesa Boogie Mark III + Boss CE-2 chorus + TC Nova delay set for 540ms into a Reeves Custom 50
Sorrow Intro - TC Booster +Line Driver + Cornish P-2 + Mesa Boogie Mark III + Boss CE-2 chorus + TC Nova delay set for 540ms into a Reeves Custom 50
Below are some older clips of my attempt at David Gilmour's guitar tone from Pink Floyd's Sorrow using a variety of different gear. I was not going for any particular performance, just a generic late 1980-mid 1990s tone. Part of this unique tone comes from the EMG neck pickup and the SPC filter David used, but a big part of the tone in my opinion is the Boss CE-2 chorus. Gilmour used a Steiberger GL guitar for the studio version and his red strat with EMG pickups when playing live. The solo on the studio version sounds like Gilmour's Boss HM-2 pedal blended with a Gallien Krueger amp into a clean Fender amp. He may have used the HM-2 for the 1987-89 tour, but I think it is more likely David used a Ram's Head Big Muff, Pete Conrnish P-2 (improved Muff clone), or Civil War Big Muff, depending on the tour. The clips below are played with a 2008 American Standard Strat, Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup, into a '65 Fender Twin Reverb RI..
Here are Pink Floyd clips of the incredible, but very simple, intro notes to Sorrow. The tone is quite different when played live than the studio version. Clips are in this order: studio version (Ram's Head Big Muff), live at the Omni 1987, Delicate Sound of Thunder CD 1988, Pulse CD 1994, live in Miami 1987, live in Italy 1994, Strat Pack DVD 2004.
Sorrow Intro Clips of Pink Floyd
[MP3] Pink Floyd Sorrow Intros
...and my attempts at the intro..
Playing the intro to Pink Floyd's Sorrow with a Pete Cornish P-2
[MP3] Raw Pete Cornish P-2 with some delay.
Playing the intro to Pink Floyd's Sorrow with a Civil War Big Muff
[MP3] Boss CS-2, Civil War Big Muff, Boss CE-2 chorus (L channel only), and TC Nova Delay at 440 ms
Here are clips of the second Sorrow solo played by David Gilmour from various times. Clips are in this order: studio version (Boss HM-2), live at the Omni 1987, Delicate Sound of Thunder CD 1988, Pulse CD 1994, live in Miami 1987, live in Italy 1994, Strat Pack DVD 2004.
Pink Floyd Sorrow Solo #2 Clips
[MP3] Pink Floyd Sorrow Solos
MY STEREO “SORROW” SOLO TONE - I was going for a general late 1980-mid 1990s tone here. Just four pedals. Boss CS-2 -> Distortion -> TC Nova Delay at 440ms -> CE-2 after the left Nova channel. The left channel is a 65 Fender Twin RI. Right channel is a Fender Cyber Twin set to match the 65 Twin. It does not have as much balls as the real twin so the volume is off a bit. I think the stereo delay and bit of modulation in one channel is what makes it sound big. Other than that, I think it is the CS-2 and a hot pickup that makes the tone Gilmourish. Played with a 2008 American Standard Strat, Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup, into a '65 Fender Twin Reverb RI. Here are my setings.
Boss HM-2
[MP3] Boss HM-2
Ram's Head Big Muff
[MP3] Ram's Head Big Muff
B.Y.O.C. Large Beaver
[MP3] B.Y.O.C. Large Beaver (Triangle Muff clone)
Pete Cornish P-2
[MP3] Pete Cornish P-2 (improved Muff clone)
Civil War Big Muff
[MP3] Civil War Big Muff
B.K. Butler Tube Driver
[MP3] B.K. Butler Tube Driver set on overdrive
SORROW LIVE TONE WITH P-2 - In these Sorrow clips I was going for the DSOT/Pulse live tone, with combinations of the BK Butler Tube Driver, and Boss CS-2 compressor. On these clips I have a TC Nova delay in stereo and a Boss CE-2 chorus on in the left channel only so it does not dominate the sound. Played with a 2008 American Standard Strat, Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup..
Pete Cornish P-2
[MP3] Boss CS-2 compressor, P-2, and Boss CE-2(left channel only)
Pete Cornish P-2
[MP3] Boss CS-2 compressor, BK Butler Tube Driver set for slight boost, P-2, and Boss CE-2(left channel only)
