Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Mudbone Mar 26 2011, 05:36 AM

I'm sure we all have our favorite guitar tone. Now its true a good portion of it comes from the hands, but the a lot of it comes from the gear - Metallica wouldn't sound like Metallica if they were playing Danelectro's through small combo amps (nothing against Danelectros, in fact I kinda like them ) Its really a combination of neurons and flesh meeting steel, wood, and electrons. Certain gear makes a particular tone that inspires you to play the way you play. So its really a circumstance of man and machine becoming one - I guess that means guitar players could be considered cyborgs in a way

So who produces your favorite guitar/bass (I didn't forget about you Bogdan ) tone? Other than yourself of course

Even though I'm a dyed-in-the-wool metalhead, my favorite guitar tone has got to be that of none other than Stevie Ray Vaughan. To me, that is the epitome of guitar tone. If aliens landed on this planet and seen a guitar, and wanted to know what it sounded like, I'd play them some Stevie... after their mandatory colonoscopy of course.

Posted by: thefireball Mar 26 2011, 06:47 AM

I love http://redmusiconline.com/!

The guitarist has a cool lesson for their song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52JWFtxXoBQ.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 26 2011, 07:49 AM

I'd agree on Stevie having just killer tone. It comes from, well, Stevie, and an ancient Marshall, and ancient strat, and strings the size of telelphone poles. One the Metal end, I'd have to say Carcass. They were one of the first bands I came across to use lower register tuning without wads of "frap" on the strings. Also, I'd have to throw in Meshuggah for much the same reason though they do make use of 7 and 8 strings guitars in many cases instead of detuning.

So much of "Heavy" tone started with the Boss Metal Pedal back in the day creating the classic "Scooped" sound back when most amplifiers simply could not provide that kind of tone by themselves (argument ensues of course). Now that Vendors like Mesa Boogie, Krank, have embrace crazy gain at the amp stage, it's wonderful world Not to leave out Marshall and the other great vendors out there of course.

In addition, active pickups were a big step toward nutso gain. I"m a fan of them myself. As well as guitar on board pre-amps. There are wads of little strings the weave the fabric of great tone. It's a never ending journey to seek the perfect tone but a journey well worth taking.

Posted by: Sickz666 Mar 26 2011, 12:09 PM

I just love Eric Johnsons tone It got a really smooth sound, both distorted and clean.

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Mar 26 2011, 01:26 PM

TONEWISE I'D GO FOR ERIC JOHNSON sorry for the caps

Posted by: The Uncreator Mar 26 2011, 01:43 PM

Petrucci, simply for the fact that he has an ungodly amount of distinct and individual tones. Also Tom Englund of Evergrey, Love the way he makes those Engl's sound.

Posted by: Sollesnes Mar 26 2011, 01:50 PM

He's not using ENGL? Isnt he using 6505s?

Posted by: twist Mar 26 2011, 03:00 PM

The former mentioned Boss metal pedal, i actualy have on of those They sound like 80s metal

And to be on topic: I am not sure which sound i prefer, if i had to name a few i would definitely go for Kai Hansen in his earlier gamma ray days, he got smoother over the years, i still like it but i prefer the more brutal, raw sound when they were not as experienced... Besides that i like modern metal-core sound as from Bullet for my Valentine, a sound that in my opionion relies more on the equipment and settings used.

Posted by: The Uncreator Mar 26 2011, 06:48 PM

Correction, Sounded.

I do believe he is using those now, although If I remember correctly he used Engl's for The Inner Circle, which is what I had in mind.

Posted by: Fran Mar 26 2011, 08:04 PM

Santana, SRV, Hendrix, Knopfler... ohh, so many!!

Posted by: OzRob Mar 27 2011, 07:51 AM

For very different reasons, Mark Knopfler and Richard Kruspe.

Posted by: Sollesnes Mar 27 2011, 11:21 AM

Ah, ok, that could be.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 29 2011, 10:43 AM

If the question was about bass player I would definitely say : Marcus Miller. He has the coolest slap tone I ever heard.

Regarding guitar players - I like John Frusciante's setup. It's raw and organic

Posted by: SirJamsalot Mar 29 2011, 05:58 PM

Mikael Åkerfeldt

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 30 2011, 04:57 PM

Oh, here's a complicated question

Not sure what to answer, lots of players have cool tone. You can definitely feel the character in each of the great players tone if you listen well. Every great player has recognizable tone, you instantly know who it is.

For creating a great tone, you don't need monster setup, but you do need a decent guitar and amplifier. The truth is, instrument and amplifier only amplifies the stuff you do with your fingers, so if you handle those frets well, it will reward.

My personal favorite sounds are from Santana, SRV, and Eric Johnson. Those are just monster tones.

Posted by: Brandon Earman Apr 1 2011, 01:24 PM

Nobody has mentioned Pink Floyd??! I would have to say David Gilmour. As much as I love SRV and his tone, David Gilmour can get that guitar to sing like no other. He doesn't play fast, but every note he plays counts, and is usually beautiful. It can be tough to mimic his exact sounds (as with any guitarist).

Posted by: Sensible Jones Apr 1 2011, 10:12 PM

OK, apart from the obvious already mentioned Tone Meisters I'd like to add two of my favourites:-
Mr B. B. King and
Mr Andy Timmons!

Posted by: noztnac May 24 2011, 02:11 AM

Alcatraz era Yngwie

and

more for more modern guys

Daniele Gottardo

Posted by: casinostrat May 24 2011, 04:23 AM

I agree with Brandon, David Gilmour has an amazing tone, and proves the concept of less is more. I also like the tone that Gary Moore uses, and Eric Johnson's tone as well.

Posted by: bgrossbe May 25 2011, 05:09 PM

Jake Cinninger from Umphrey's McGee (http://www.youtube.com/user/umvideo?blend=1&ob=5#p/search/0/2ed_0MwtAsU)

David Gilmour
Duane Allman

Posted by: Qenzoz May 25 2011, 05:44 PM

Paul Gilbert

Posted by: Ben Higgins May 25 2011, 06:18 PM

Good call, I haven't heard a bad tone from him !

Very difficult to decide but I'll go with the 80's sound of Mattias Jabs !

Posted by: quadrium May 25 2011, 06:21 PM

Slash!

Posted by: Daniel Realpe May 25 2011, 06:29 PM

also Slash, instantly recognisable and epic

Posted by: SirJamsalot May 25 2011, 06:37 PM

Matthias was the David Lee Roth of guitarists - what showmanship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueBM0nsBQ3U&feature=fvwrel

Posted by: Juan Cortes May 25 2011, 07:23 PM

For the fusion style Brett Garsed, i have a MI audio tube zone and it is incredible, over a very clean channel, wonderful pedal.
Also, i thing that Yngwie`s sound in the fist era was amazing, so clean and smooth.

Posted by: bill95 May 25 2011, 08:44 PM

Slash's and Gilbert's

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 25 2011, 11:23 PM

Mark Tremonti - riffs

Andy Timmons/ Guthrie Govan - lead

this is happening today tomorrow ..well that's another story

Posted by: rokchik May 26 2011, 04:48 AM

Jimmy Page - just has a great classic tone IMHO Love his blues/rock stylings. He will always be my favourite

Mark Tremonti - Love his riffing and the tone he creates whether clean or heavy is always infectious to me. I was not a fan of Creed although I have gone back and listened with new ears... still not a huge fan I much prefer the heavier tone of Alter Bridge... seems more his comfort zone to me.

Tom Morello - I love how he can make a guitar not sound like a guitar. He's very unique.

Toni Iommi - He just has that demonic heavy tone down pat. Almost instantly recognizable.

Posted by: Gary May 26 2011, 06:31 AM

Going with the mixed tones of Marty Friedman. The Asian influenced clean tones on Scenes and Introduction are so incredibly good...and when he steps on the gas in the solos they have just the right amount of bite to them.

Cheers~
Gary

Posted by: Ben Higgins May 26 2011, 09:55 AM

Absolutely.. not to mention a Woody Harrelson lookalike !

Posted by: Daniel Realpe May 26 2011, 08:00 PM

oh yes, of course Tom morello is a sound wiz

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Jun 5 2011, 12:36 AM

Andy Timmons, Eric Johnson, David Gilmour...

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 5 2011, 08:46 AM

This morning - Guthrie Govan - I'm watching a presentation video of the new compilation he shall be on, along with other guys presented by bluesjamtracks.com! This guys is simply amazing ... Check this out!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 5 2011, 09:55 AM

All of the above are great. I really like Michael Amott's tone.

Posted by: Stephane Lucarelli Jun 7 2011, 07:32 PM

Scott Henderson & Michael Landau

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 7 2011, 09:47 PM

Henderson is the man I love the album called 'Tore down house'

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 7 2011, 10:00 PM

Amazing samples! He never stops surprising me.



Regarding the topic.. I love too many styles of music so it's difficult to choose some players... I always loved Slash sound but I think that it¡s because I like the things he plays... I also like Mark Tremonti sound in the first Alter Bridge album.. it blows your mind.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 7 2011, 10:02 PM

Gabriel you like Guthrie and Mark, if you like Andy Timmons as well, the trio is complete

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 7 2011, 10:22 PM

hahaha it would be a great G3! Any Timmons has a really good tone. I like Mesa Boogie's sound! I use the Dual Rectifier live.

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 12 2011, 12:19 PM

Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Andy Timmons, Adrian Smith amongst others..
There are many great ones out there

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Sep 12 2011, 01:45 PM

Tone G3

Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, Guthrie Govan

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Sep 13 2011, 04:25 AM

to me is jimmy page's tone, creamy

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 13 2011, 06:46 AM

How did I not mention him!?
He's amazing

Posted by: Mudbone Sep 13 2011, 07:41 AM

I just started listening to Andy Timmons, and he's got a great tone going on. He actually uses the dual-rail single coil type pickup in the neck and middles positions, and these pickups get a lot of flak because they're not "true" single coils. It doesn't matter, they sound great nonetheless.

Posted by: Finny Sep 13 2011, 11:54 AM

Dimebag Darrell!

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Sep 13 2011, 12:08 PM

+1