The Billy Talent Guitar Tone: Sound Like Ian D’Sa Using Plugins, a Budget Setup, or Studio Gear
How to get close to the guitar tone of the Candian rock band!
The Billy Talent Guitar Tone: Sound Like Ian D’Sa Using Plugins, a Budget Setup, or Studio Gear · Source: Bobby Singh, Alamy
You might have heard of rock anthems “Red Flag” and “Fallen Leaves”! So, if you’re looking for the Billy Talent guitar tone to play these songs as faithfully as possible, we’re taking a look at the gear of the Canadian superstars in our series, following Green Day and Soundgarden. How can you get close to guitarist Ian D’Sa’s tone using plugins, affordable entry-level gear, or even expensive studio equipment?
Get the Billy Talent Guitar Tone
Billy Talent I and II
What a moment it was when Billy Talent released “Billy Talent II” in 2006. The decade had slowly begun to recover from nu metal, and not all rock fans were really open to the lo-fi sound of The Strokes and and other “the”-bands. Then suddenly, this Canadian quartet came along with such catchy, groovy riffs that you just couldn’t get them out of your head.
Initially formed under the name Pezz in the 1990s in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, by singer Benjamin Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D’Sa, bassist Jonathan Gallant, and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk, the band changed its name to Billy Talent in 1999. An American band with the same name had informed the up-and-coming band through their lawyers Pezz had existed in the U.S. since 1989. The name Billy Talent comes from the movie Hard Core Logo.
The band’s 2003 debut with the single “Try Honesty” already brought them a fair amount of attention and success in the alt-rock world. You could hear influences from At the Drive-In and Mars Volta, as well as elements of System of a Down, but their songs were more accessible and direct.
With “Billy Talent II”, they stepped it up in every way. “Fallen Leaves” and “Red Flag” in particular were hits on rock radio almost everywhere. While the subsequent albums Billy Talent III (2009), Dead Silence (2012), Afraid of Heights (2016), and Crisis of Faith (2022) didn’t quite match the band’s earlier successes, they still boast a large fan base, in no small part thanks to, Ian D’Sa’s riffs.
Billy Talent’s Guitar Tone: Ian D’Sa’s Gear
When it comes his main axe, Ian D’Sa is a die-hard Fender guy. Over the years, he’s been seen on stage with a variety of HSS Fender Stratocasters, such as a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS. In an interview with UberProAudio, Ian also mentions a ’52 Reissue Telecaster in a Butterscotch finish, which he calls “Crispy Chicken” and uses primarily in the studio.
Usually, D’Sa swapped out the bridge humbucker on his strats for a Seymour Duncan model, including the SH-4*. As for amps, Ian initially played through a 5150, but then had Canadian amp manufacturer Stephenson build him three Stephenson Custom 60 tube amps, which he played through Marshall 1960 4×12-inch cabs. A Diezel VH4 is also part of his sound, through a Diezel 4×12″ cab and a Komet Concord amp.
Like many of the bands featured in our guitar tone series, the bulk of the Billy Talent guitar tone comes from Ian D’Sa’s fingers. That being said, Equipboard also lists pedals such as the high-end fuzz ZVEX Woolly Mammoth Fuzz*, as well as classics like the Klon Centaur and the Boss RV-5 Reverb as some of Ian’s preferred gear.
Ultimately, however, D’Sa’s extremely dynamic playing style is the most decisive factor. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to continue exploring the Billy Talent guitar tone. But to achieve similar results, extensive practice is crucial. You can’t just plug in and be done with it, that’s not possible with such a nuanced style.
Get the Billy Talent Guitar Tone with Plugins
The Billy Talent guitar tone is heavily Plexi, with Ian D’Sa’s tone featuring heavily boosted highs.One example for a plugin solution is the UA ’68 Lion*, which offers a software-only version of the UAFX pedal that lets you get close to that sound.
There is also a plugin version of the Diezel VH4*; Ian uses this amp live on its second channel to beef up the lower mids and bass. The Stephenson amps themselves are so niche that there are no amp captures, plugins, or NAM profiles available. But with the aforementioned Lion or other Plexi plugins featuring gentle gain and properly boosted highs, you’ll definitely be on the right track to replicating Billy Talent’s sound.
Beginner Gear for the Billy Talent Guitar Tone
Even a Wampler Plexi-DriveMini* could be enough to get you started on the Billy Talent guitar tone. Or a Valeton GP-5* with the corresponding NAM profile. Coincidentally, there’s also a NAM Capture available for the Diezel VH4. When you get down to the nitty-gritty, these entry-level pedals might end up sounding a bit muddy compared to expensive amps and pedals. But if you’ve got Ian D’Sa’s riffs down, the difference is unlikely to matter much for rehearsals and practicing at home as a beginner.
If you want to get closer to the legendary Klon tone that Ian likes to use to warm up the mids, there’s an affordable solution from Behringer*. A slightly more versatile option would be the hardware version of the aforementioned Plexi plugin from Universal Audio, the UAFX ’68 Lion*.
Studio Gear for the Billy Talent Guitar Tine
The high-end amps from Stephenson Amplifiers are handmade and built to order. The manufacturer doesn’t list prices on its website, but the all-tube models are very likely to easily fall in the mid-four-digit range, at least. Alternatively, the Friedman Plex Head* is available.
Of course, this also includes the corresponding Marshall cab*. Conveniently, the aforementioned Diezel VH4* is available for purchase directly for the low end, as is the Z-Vex fuzz pedal*. Taken together, this package comes very close to the Billy Talent guitar tone.
Conclusion
What are your experiences? How do you get close to Billy Talent’s guitar sound? And are there any rigs or presets for guitar simulators like ToneX, Quad Cortex, or Helix that can transport you into Ian D’SA’s world?
Let us know in the comments!
FAQ – Billy Talent Guitar Tone
How do you get the Billy Talent guitar tone?
To get the Billy Talent guitar tone, start with a bright-sounding guitar, run it into a crunchy, high-gain amp, and add a boost or overdrive for leads.
What amp is used for the Billy Talent guitar tone?
Billy Talent guitarist Ian D’Sa mainly uses custom-made Stephenson amps, but also a Diezel VH4, both known for tight, aggressive high-gain tones.
What pedals are used for the Billy Talent guitar tone?
The Billy Talent guitar tone often relies on boost and fuzz pedals, including Klon-style overdrives and more aggressive fuzz units. These are used to push the amp and add sustain, especially for lead lines and single-note riffs.
Which guitar is best for the Billy Talent guitar tone?
Fender-style guitars, especially Telecasters and Stratocasters, are strongly associated with the Billy Talent guitar tone. Single coils (or bright humbuckers) help achieve the sharp, cutting sound that sits well in a dense mix.
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