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lead guitar from “wheel in the sky” by journey | ToneDB

wheel in the sky

journey

lead guitar

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Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is a classic rock sound with a smooth sustain, a touch of overdrive, and a bright, clear presence. It's designed to be melodic and soaring, cutting through the mix without harshness.

Gear

Gibson Les Paulinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIamp
Reverb$1800Sweetwater
Shure SM57microphone
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

Neal Schon's lead guitar tone on "Wheel in the Sky" was recorded using his Gibson Les Paul through a Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier, captured with a Shure SM57 microphone. The track was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles with Geoff Workman producing. The Mesa/Boogie Mark II's cascading gain stages provided the smooth sustain and controlled overdrive that became a signature element of Journey's guitar sound during this era.

Production Credits

Producer: Geoff Workman

Engineer: Geoff Workman

Recorded at: Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark II

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Les Paul or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
  • Use a Mesa/Boogie Mark II or similar high-gain amp, but keep the gain at a moderate level.
  • Experiment with different speaker cabinet options to find the right balance of warmth and clarity.
  • Use a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM57 positioned slightly off-axis from the speaker cone.
  • Apply EQ to shape the tone, focusing on boosting the upper-mids and high frequencies for presence.
  • Consider using a touch of compression to even out the dynamics and add sustain.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
  • Mesa/Boogie Mark II(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five 35 Head$1800-$2000

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier

Direct descendant of the original Mark II with the same cascading gain structure and EQ voicing that creates that smooth, singing sustain

ReverbSweetwater
PRS MT15 Mark Tremonti Signature Head$600-$700

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier

Budget option that captures similar smooth overdrive characteristics and midrange focus for classic rock tones

ReverbSweetwater
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul guitar

Affordable Les Paul with humbuckers that delivers the fundamental mahogany/maple tone and sustain of the original

ReverbSweetwater
Neural DSP Archetype Plini Plugin$100-$130

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark II amplifier

Digital option with high-gain amp models that can recreate the smooth, compressed lead tones with built-in effects

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 microphone

The exact same microphone model used on the original recording, still manufactured and industry standard

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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