How Many Guitars In A Band Do You Prefer?, What combination do you believe has the most impact? Options

[Mudbone]

So which combination of guitars do you think works best? Here's a list of one guitar bands:

Jimi Hendrix
Cream
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Black Sabbath
Pantera
Rage Against the Machine
Led Zeppelin
Nirvana
Van Halen
The Who

And here are some two guitar bands:

Judas Priest
Iron Maiden*
Guns N' Roses
Aerosmith
Rolling Stones
The Beatles
Metallica
Megadeth

*I'm aware of the fact that Iron Maiden is now a three guitar band, but historically they've functioned as a duo.


I've noticed it is real tricky pulling off a two guitar sound in a live situation, that being because there are two guitars occupying the same audio spectrum. I think its real tricky to write two guitar music that will sound good live. However, with that being said, when it is accomplished, it is simply amazing. The sound of harmonized guitars is hair raising.

The best live music I've probably ever seen and heard was a Black Sabbath tribute band called Embryo. In a live situation, the sound that Iommi came up with works beautifully. Each instrument is clear and articulate,and the gain structure on the guitar is distinguishable, instead of a pile of mush that happens so often with two guitar bands.

Of course I'm generalizing here, a big portion of live sound depends on the the sound guy, who is usually a knob. He can make any arrangement sound terrible, but I think a one guitar band is less susceptible to the buffoonery of the sound guy than a two guitar band would be.

So, what do you think are the pros and cons of each arrangement? And which do you choose?

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