Most Unique tones

[IPlayHamers]

In your opinion, which guitarists have the most interesting and unique tones? 2 that come to mind are Adrian Belew and Dimebag Darrell(RIP). They were as far away from the Marshall/Fender sound as possible.

Lets hear some more.

Thanks

[adelphi710]

johnny greenwood

[IPlayHamers]

who's johnny greenwood?

[Milkshake]

Originally posted by IPlayHamers
who's johnny greenwood?

radiohead

[ericb]

Originally posted by IPlayHamers
In your opinion, which guitarists have the most interesting and unique tones? 2 that come to mind are Adrian Belew and Dimebag Darrell(RIP). They were as far away from the Marshall/Fender sound as possible.

Lets hear some more.

Thanks

I met Belew in the mid 80's when I worked for a guitar company and he was using Mustang guitars with the Roland Hex synth pu thru Roland Jazz Chorus amps.. I saw him a few times after with similar gear, and then the last time I saw him he was playing DRUMS for PROJEKCT2!! To me his tones aren't that distinguishable but his style is.... Same really with Johnny Greenwood (WHO I LOVE BTW) ... IT's sort of hard to define what you're asking with this but many of us use lots of fx to play with .. I mean these guys use lots of fuzz, modulation ,delay etc but still sounds like guitar to me!

The guy in PLACEBO is pretty distinguishable.. lots of FUzzes and tones like Johnny Greenwood

The EDGE has 1 of the most unique sounds to me.. Just beautiful AC30 sounds....

Dean Deleo in STP had a pretty unique and interesting tone to me with his Demeter Tga3 preamp and VHT power amps but last time I saw him in concert he used 2 VOX Ac30 's and sounded very much similar.....

ERic Johnson to me has a VERY unique sound, but most of it is due to the lack of treble and his extreme legato picking style..

Robbie Krieger in theDOORS had a very unique style (Only guy I've ever heard sound close was Hugh Cornwall from the Stranglers!) , as did Jerry Garcia from the Dead...

Trey Anastasio had a very unique sound! ALTHOUGH when I met him he was using Ibanez guitars and Mesa amps and a tube screamer back in the early -mid 80's and then switched to Paul's guitars thru Mesas and then thru Deluxe Reverbs, thru switching systems ,etc and always sounded like TREY TO ME!!

David Gilmour has a pretty unique sound... (in the fingers again)

I think I'm finding a common theme .. Most guys I think have a pretty unique sound , sound similarly thru all kinds of different gear.. .hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Same for me!

Steve Hilllage had a very distinguishable sound, but much of it was guitar synth...

Frank Zappa had distinguishable tone and style

Reeves Gabriels

HENDRIX

NUGENT... the list goes on and on!

BBKING.....

Neal Young
ERIC

[The Eristic]

Tony Iommi
Peter Green

[ericb]

Originally posted by The Eristic
Tony Iommi
Peter Green

Iommi's a good one! Blackmore is too.. but it's hard for me to draw the line between 'different tone ' and 'distinguishable style! ERIC

[8nthatK]

Lowell George
Keith Richards
Jimi
Brian May
Frusciante
Fogerty
George Harrison...

A few that comes to mind immediately.

[DrSax]

JEFF BECK

[todaystomorrow]

absolutely Johnny Greenwood!

George Harrison, Belew, The Edge

always thought Jerry Garcia had a very unique sound, even though I'm not a big fan

[saros141]

Neil Young
Peter Green
Gordie Johnson

[Ed DeGenaro]

Holdsworth

[phoebus]

Vernon Reid - Living Colour
Geordie - Killing Joke
J. Mascis - Dinosaur Jr.
Page Hamilton - Helmet
Robert Fripp
Matthew Bellamy - Muse

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally posted by IPlayHamers
In your opinion, which guitarists have the most interesting and unique tones? 2 that come to mind are Adrian Belew and Dimebag Darrell(RIP). They were as far away from the Marshall/Fender sound as possible.

Lets hear some more.

Thanks





Jimmy Page

[Benny]

john scofield
+1 Robert Fripp

[Dave LaP]

Hiram Bullock

[natch!]

It's always easy to tell when Albert Collins is on a recording

[rwe333]

Originally posted by Ed DeGenaro
Holdsworth

Big +1 on that - and other great ones mentioned - but there are so many others...

Snakefinger, Brian MacLeod, David Torn, Jan Akkerman, Derek Bailey, Steve Hackett, Michael Hedges, Lowell George, John Abercrombie, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Richard Thompson, Vernon Reid, Joni Mitchell, Kevin Breit, Steve Howe, etc...

[ericb]

Originally posted by rwe333
Big +1 on that - and other great ones mentioned - but there are so many others...

Snakefinger, Brian MacLeod, David Torn, Jan Akkerman, Derek Bailey, Steve Hackett, Michael Hedges, Lowell George, John Abercrombie, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Richard Thompson, Vernon Reid, Joni Mitchell, Kevin Breit, Steve Howe, etc...

HEY I just thought of 1 of the most unique tones , and he hasn't been mentioned yet... BILL NELSON Of Be Bop Deluxe... Anyone know what he used? Hollowbody Gibsons into Ampegs???? I'm totally guessing

ERIC

[rwe333]

Originally posted by ericb
HEY I just thought of 1 of the most unique tones , and he hasn't been mentioned yet... BILL NELSON Of Be Bop Deluxe... Anyone know what he used? Hollowbody Gibsons into Ampegs???? I'm totally guessing

ERIC

Good call!
Not sure of the gear though...

[Tom CT]

Dickey Betts

[aquadog]

No one mentioned Brian May

most definately krieger- probably one of the oddest tones of any guitarist I can think of, but how can you now like it?

Although hes not a six string guitarist, Robert Randolph anybody?

and Prince!

[John Phillips]

Originally posted by ericb
HEY I just thought of 1 of the most unique tones , and he hasn't been mentioned yet... BILL NELSON Of Be Bop Deluxe... Anyone know what he used? Hollowbody Gibsons into Ampegs???? I'm totally guessing
Gibson 345 or 355 into a Carlsbro*, then later a Yamaha SG2000 I think, possibly with a Boogie. A friend of mine is really into his stuff, went to see him recently. Apparently he was using an Eggle Berlin (see Ed DeG. for details :)), but I don't know what amp/other stuff.

*Carlsbro: probably unknown outside the UK, they were a British retail chain that went into amp production (outsourced I think). Simple tube designs about on a par with Sound City or Laney (back then) for build quality and tone, although they used active EQ like the later Sound Citys. Not that many players really liked them, they were a choice if you couldn't afford a Marshall or Hiwatt usually. Later, like Laney, they went into solid-state amps and PA gear and were a mainstay of the semi-pro scene for many years. The gear is unremarkable-sounding but at least fairly reliable. Recently, they've had a bit of a revival and relaunched some tube amps, at least one of which is a reissue of the originals, but apparently with a conventional tone stack instead of the active EQ.

[Slaphappy]

Billy Corgan http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/images/smilies/bigun2.gif

[ericb]

Originally posted by John Phillips
Gibson 345 or 355 into a Carlsbro*, then later a Yamaha SG2000 I think, possibly with a Boogie. A friend of mine is really into his stuff, went to see him recently. Apparently he was using an Eggle Berlin (see Ed DeG. for details :)), but I don't know what amp/other stuff.

*Carlsbro: probably unknown outside the UK, they were a British retail chain that went into amp production (outsourced I think). Simple tube designs about on a par with Sound City or Laney (back then) for build quality and tone, although they used active EQ like the later Sound Citys. Not that many players really liked them, they were a choice if you couldn't afford a Marshall or Hiwatt usually. Later, like Laney, they went into solid-state amps and PA gear and were a mainstay of the semi-pro scene for many years. The gear is unremarkable-sounding but at least fairly reliable. Recently, they've had a bit of a revival and relaunched some tube amps, at least one of which is a reissue of the originals, but apparently with a conventional tone stack instead of the active EQ.


HEY John, thanks so much for the info .. COOL... I heard he was touring again, but not in the US!!! BUMMER.. I'll take a long drive in a heartbeat to see him!! I've heard of Carlsbro actually , and they've recently made a little el84 amp called the FATBOY that looks like it'd be a cool amp. NOt sure if it's still the original company , or someone else who has rights to the name though. Anyway, thanks a lot for the Bill Nelson info! ERIC

[Teleplayer]

Billy Gibbons
Johnny Winter
SRV
Brian May

[straticus]

I've always thought Mick Ronson's tone on the Bowie stuff was unique ................. and very cool.:dude

[shallbe]

Originally posted by straticus
I've always thought Mick Ronson's tone on the Bowie stuff was unique ................. and very cool.:dude

Agreed. Also:

Sonny Landreth--he stands out, IMO.

[amper]

Robin Guthrie - Cocteau Twins. Hands down.

Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher - My Bloody Valentine.

Robert Fripp. Can't get any more unique that Fripp.

Neal Nalstead and Rachael Goswell - Slowdive.

Ah, all my favorites...

[Unburst]

Steve Howe

[tedwoods]

All the above,obviously, plus:

PETE TOWNSHEND

Ted

[begin_etienne]

Yngwie ?

[Brusco]

Walter Becker, Eric Bran (Iron Butterfly),
already mentioned: Steve Howe, Mick Ronson,

[lookslikemeband]

Tom Scholz - Boston

The guy is a gear genius.... I mean, You could hear 1 second of a Boston song and just KNOW it...

[cameron]

Brian May definitely.

A couple more whom I haven't seen mentioned yet are Mike Oldfield (he's one of those with a distinctive and immediately recognizable vibrato in his fingers) and Greg Sage (of The Wipers).

[pureoldsound]

some got to it first but:

Steve Howe- has a unique tone and playing

Tom Scholz - I agree you can hear just a couple of chords and Know it is Boston......

Alex Lifeson- Specially in Moving pictures

George thorogood - not a huge fan but he has a pretty unique sound.

Billy Gibbons-

Angus Young -

EVH

Ian Crichton from saga

[Kevan]

Just found some old MP3's and wanted to add:

Johnny Marr- The Smiths (esp. on "How Soon Is Now")
Steve Vai- esp. post-DLR stuff.
Billy Duffy- The Cult (esp. pre-1992)

+1 on the Page Hamilton.

[cameron]

Angus Young -



I don't know. I'll agree that there is a distinctive AC/DC guitar sound. But although everyone associates the band with Angus and his SG, but I think the more important component is Malcolm and his Gretsch.

The key to Malcolm's style is playing everything as first position open chords. There's almost never a "power chord" in an AC/DC song, and that's what sets their sound apart from most heavy bands - all open chords, and you need the bite of the Gretsch pickups to get that sound.

[Sam Evans]

MBV

[Tag]

Robben Ford

[MickRonson]

Originally posted by straticus
I've always thought Mick Ronson's tone on the Bowie stuff was unique ................. and very cool.:dude
:D the best

[Timmo]

Originally posted by ericb
HEY I just thought of 1 of the most unique tones , and he hasn't been mentioned yet... BILL NELSON Of Be Bop Deluxe... Anyone know what he used? Hollowbody Gibsons into Ampegs???? I'm totally guessing

ERIC

Seems to me Nelson used a Gibson 345 out of Carlsboro amps....?

[amper]

Originally posted by Kevan
Johnny Marr- The Smiths (esp. on "How Soon Is Now")

The key to getting that sound on "How Soon Is Now?" is to tune your guitar up to F#, like Marr did...if you try to play it with standard tuning, it never sounds right...

[The Everlove]

john frusciante has a very distinct tone.

[riverastoasters]

Originally posted by IPlayHamers
In your opinion, which guitarists have the most interesting and unique tones? 2 that come to mind are Adrian Belew and Dimebag Darrell(RIP). They were as far away from the Marshall/Fender sound as possible.

Lets hear some more.

Thanks

Lowell George
Eddie Hazel
Jeff Beck
Michael Landau
David Hidalgo and/or Louie Perez
Warren Haynes

[riverastoasters]

Originally posted by Tag
Robben Ford

Nah he sounds like just another guy trying to cop Robben Ford....

[DrDespair]

Brian may

David gilmore

Jimmy page

they are very hard to copy though it sounds so simple sometimes.

DrDespair

[drbob1]

I think Brian May qualifies in both senses: he has a style and sound that's instantly recognizable, but he also uses idiosyncratic gear to get a sound no one else uses (that little Deacy amp for leads...). Many of the other names we've mentioned get similar tone and style from any kind of gear...

[alnico2]

Although some say he sounds like another famous guitarist -- Robin Trower comes to mind.

Love the pure aggresion in Gary Moore's style.

Larry

[mad dog]

Bill Frisell. Jeff Beck. These guys have their own sound. They're in parallel, tone colorist universes.

Bobby Radcliff comes to mind. One of the toughest sounds ever with a strat and music man amp, later mostly with SRs. He also plays a Korean Epiphone, and it sounds unlike (and way better) than I've ever heard from anyone else on this istrument.

Finally, an exotic choice. Reverend Aubrey Ghent on lap steel. I know how most of those instruments usually sound. His sound is comes from somewhere else entirely. One of the great tone monsters in electric music.

[waxnsteel]

To me those unique voices show through when you hear the opening riff of a brand new song, no vocal yet, but you know exactly who it is based on the guitar sound. So for me, that makes:

Slash
Tommy Shaw
Steve Vai
EVH
Eric Clapton
Richie Sambora
Matt Scannell
Bonnie Raitt

SRV, David Gilmour, and Brian May were that way, though I never had one of those moments.

And I agree with the Tom Scholz ssessment. You always knew it was him.

And Robert forking Randolph is amazing!!! Get the Eric Clapton Crossroads DVD and watch that guy!! Sometimes he sounded like a harmonica, and the sound With Doyle Bramhall on "Green Light Girl" had me looking for a female backup singer, cause that's what it sounded like to me. He's a dude who truly sings through his instrument. He had such control of that thing. I also thought the green light on Doyle's amp was kind of "cute" in that particular instance.

[24fretslater]

Tom Rogers Stevens and Christopher Thorne, Dime, Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield, Steve Howe at times, Nuno bettencourt, Mikael Akerfeldt and Peter Lindgren, Adam Jones, and so many more plus the ones you guys already listed. No two guitarists ever sound exactly the same, but as far as major originality...I gotcha.

[24fretslater]

Originally posted by waxnsteel
To me those unique voices show through when you hear the opening riff of a brand new song, no vocal yet, but you know exactly who it is based on the guitar sound. So for me, that makes:

Slash
Tommy Shaw
Steve Vai
EVH
Eric Clapton
Richie Sambora
Matt Scannell
Bonnie Raitt

SRV, David Gilmour, and Brian May were that way, though I never had one of those moments.

And I agree with the Tom Scholz ssessment. You always knew it was him.

And Robert forking Randolph is amazing!!! Get the Eric Clapton Crossroads DVD and watch that guy!! Sometimes he sounded like a harmonica, and the sound With Doyle Bramhall on "Green Light Girl" had me looking for a female backup singer, cause that's what it sounded like to me. He's a dude who truly sings through his instrument. He had such control of that thing. I also thought the green light on Doyle's amp was kind of "cute" in that particular instance.



i just saw Robert Randolph and the family band last week at a Santana Concert!! He was fricken awesome, the whole band was....but i think the most impressive thing that night was Dr. Dennis Chambers on the drums for santana....that guy really suprised me...usaully double kicking is found more in heavy metal and stuff that i mainly listen to, but when that guy started busting it out i was like..."holy monkey" that guys insane. I'm guessing he has a doctor in music...

[Unburst]

Originally posted by Timmo
Seems to me Nelson used a Gibson 345 out of Carlsboro amps....?

My fading memory is telling me he played a Yamaha SG2000, don't know what amp.

[tybone]

Santana...specifically referring to his Dumble/Tone Tubby Tones.

[hasserl]

Duane Allman
Toy Caldwell
Kim Simmons
Rod Price


re Robert Randolph, I'm not a fan. He is unique, I'll give you that, but his tone is awful and overall his sound is just grating to me. I can't take more than a couple of minutes of it.

[spikeRI]

+1 Tommy Bolin and Be Bop Deluxe is a band I had forgotten.....they were pretty cool:dude

[parasol]

Josh Homme
Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta)

[CrossHair]

Buckethead... can't wait to see him November 4th!
CH

[Phloored]

David Fiuczynski

[riverastoasters]

Originally posted by 24fretslater
Dr. Dennis Chambers on the drums for santana....that guy really suprised me...usaully double kicking is found more in heavy metal and stuff that i mainly listen to, but when that guy started busting it out i was like..."holy monkey" that guys insane. I'm guessing he has a doctor in music...

Dennis Chambers can be incredible. Even if you know it's coming.

[tonemandan]

Jim Hall

( sound of crickets chirping....... )

No really....he gets a unique archtop tone that is dark and woody but at the same time you can hear the "acousticness" of the guitar.

Nobody else I've ever heard quite gets that tone.

Dan

[TaronKeim]

Jagori Tanna of I Mother Earth... amazing chimey clean tones... thick screaming overdrive tones, expressive and unique solo tones and some of the most orignal sounding chorus/vibe/phase + drive tones I've ever heard, plus a hell of a slap and pop player on a strat.

-TJK

[CerpinVolta]

Josh Homme
Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta)

:dudeheck yes! Omar is amazing OMG i wish i could get his tone...and creativity...playing ability...afro :rotflmao

Seriously though Omar Rocks!!
:RoCkIn

[TaronKeim]

Ahh... great old dead thread.

Forgot to mention... big fan of Matte Henderson's tones... fat sounding strat-ish clean tones that always have a sweet high-end... smooth drive with lots of ass that still retains its definition... killer sci-fi effects usuage plus some serious vibrato/whammy skills. Love his tones as much as his playing.

-TJK

[1964]

Those with good tone all their own (IMO):
Keef
Knopfler
Landreth
Prince
Santana

[7String Thing]

I think the most original sounds are the easiest to distinguish from other players...

Santana - you always know its him because of his technique/dumble sound
Eric Johnson - Mega legato / ultra smooth gain with little treble
Steve Vai - The Dimarzio's and his technique
Joe Satriani - All in the hands
Dave Martone - Totaly original sounds sometimes, kinda funky metal shred guy.

[mild]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned Nick Zimmer from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's... but he commands a flippin' HUGE sound, considering that the band is Drums, Guitar, and Vocals. (Most people don't realise what's missing until the 4th or 5th song)

Check their first album (Fever to Tell) - its the best example.

[Rock Johnson]

Vernon Reid - Living Colour


I loved that weird hollow sound Reid had on the "Cult of Personality" solo. It's probably not something I'd use every day, but it fit perfectly with that song.

[BadAssBill]

Robert Cray
Derek Trucks

[danieldroukas]

The guy from Band Of Horses plays some odd 70s Marshall and a LP, but I've never heard any tone like it before. Listen to "The First Song" off of Everything all the Time.

[cyb3rvampire]

Billy Corgan http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/images/smilies/bigun2.gif

Jim hall+1
Scofield+1
Frisell+1
JEFF BECK+99999999999999999 (how do you sound and play like that!?!?)

Omar -100000000000000000000000
Deloused was great, Frances was okay, but the new album they have out is horrible. I know its not out yet, but its really bad. Omar is a class example of a guy who hides behind his effects

Tom Morello...a guy with not that many effects but what he can do with them....wow.

[wahfreak]

Scott Henderson
Greg Howe
Frank Gamble
Al Dimeola
Steve Morse
Eric Clapton

[Serious Poo]

Midge Ure from Ultravox (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBoH1R0Boo&mode=related&search=) (Midge's solo is 3:00 into the track). I remember an interview in Guitar Player magazine a long time ago where Alex Lifeson from Rush went on record as saying that Midge's approach and tone in Ultravox really influenced the way he approached playing guitar in the 80's and early 90's.

[anyone]

Daniel Lanois
Shawn Tubbs
Ty Tabor
Bernard Butler

[BMonroney]

Nobody has mentioned TORN???

David Torn has a truly individual, genius approach to the guitar

also, +++ on Frisell, Landau, Beck, Scofield, Hidalgo, Greenwood

Pat Metheny
Terje Rypdal
Keith Richards
Steve Khan
Bruce Conte
Larry Carlton
Nils Cline
...

[Mullet Kingdom]

I'll add:

Mike Stern

Hound Dog Taylor

Buddy Guy

Eddie Van Halen

Otis Rush

Link Wray

Dick Dale

The Edge

Carlos Santana

Roy Buchanan

Lonnie Mack

Jimmie Vaughan

David Grissom

the list goes on and on.

[Miles]

Josh Homme
Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta)


I'll second Josh Homme...VERY distinct tone!!
-Johnny Greenwood

[BBQLS1]

Unique? Easy: Ty Tybor of King's X

[FJTurner]

The Shaggs

[Bmused]

Ry Cooder
David Lindley
Richard Thompson
Lindsay Buckingham

[CJReaper]

Chris Poland (OHM, Damn the Machine, Megadeth)

His tone is very unique, you can always tell it's him. I'm not sure what's in his back line (rack) but his tone is warm and round, lots of mids with killer sustain. His playing is like Holdsworth meets Jeff Beck jacked up on speed.

Cheers,

CJ

[deluxeman]

Brian May
The Cat from King's X His name escapes me

[torgeot]

Brian May
The Cat from King's X His name escapes me

That's Ty Tabor, he's mentioned above as well, that tone is the same live as well. Last time I saw him he was using a line 6 product.

[bosstone]

Blues Saraceno

[disaster]

Greg Ginn (The Mighty Black Flag)
Kurt Ballou (Converge)
Jack White
Josh Homme (again)
East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys)
James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)

[Teh RedWizard]

Justin Hayward
Stone Gossard
Phil Collen & Steve Clark (RIP)
Heck,I think even Kurt Cobain had his own tone going on!!! :crazy

[buddatron]

So many great names. When I think Unique tone first guy I think of is Bill Frisell.
I got a song by Lyle Mays called Ascent, you can't tell where the saxaphone ends and the guitar begins, really cool stuff.
And the Nashville record is beautiful!!
Oh and LINDLEY!!!!
Can't even imagine Jacskon Brownes "Running on empty" with out that amazing slide playing, that and the fact that the dudes sideburns were so long that he had to cut them in order to play his violin, that is F*#ng rock!!

[super_darker]

Chad Kroeger.




...



NOT.


But seriously
Alex lifeson for sure
The Edge
Billy Corgan
Billy Howerdel

Among others. I'm hesitant to call it 'tone' and would lean towards 'a recognizable style & style'

But thats imo.

[TaronKeim]

Kurt Ballou of Converge... has the most crushing stanky yet defined tone I've ever heard. Used to use a mix of 8x10 cabs and 4x12 and had a clean signal always present, even when playing ultra distorted, so there was a crispness and definition to his sound.

_TJK*

[Leonc]

Ha. Before the end of the first page, this thread just turned into a "list of your favorite guitarists" naming almost anyone who ever played a note. Funny how fast that happens sometimes.

[disaster]

Kurt Ballou of Converge... has the most crushing stanky yet defined tone I've ever heard. Used to use a mix of 8x10 cabs and 4x12 and had a clean signal always present, even when playing ultra distorted, so there was a crispness and definition to his sound.

_TJK*

that's what I'm sayin'.
we're on the same wavelength, as usual.

[ssslayer]

Infact on the first page itself ppl lost the meaning of the thread when thye were posting names like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Rithci Blakcmore, Toni Iommi ...

I mean these were the guys who made the Marshall sound popular!


And the origianl poster wanted to know about ppl who have had tones differnet from traditioanl Fender or Marhshall tones.

[bilbal]

Bobby Weir

bilbal

[Robert1950]

JEFF BECK

Oh yes. +1

[crimson on pink]

stephen o'malley. travis bean+sunn stacks=:drool
duane denison
steve albini

[ctone]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned BB King and if you count the fact that he plays a Lab Series amp(now) he even qulifies for the not Marshall/Fender original Qualification. Danny Gatton also comes to mind. On the more obscure front there was a New Hampshire band called Groovechild whose guitar player Brian Kilough always got some unique tones. I didn't notice any mentions of Randy Rhodes(spelling?) either, seems to stir up a lot of contoversey tone wise, regardless it was a really unique sound.

[troykennedy]

Alex Lifeson

Andy Summers

Eddie Van Halen

Brian May

The Edge


These guys really all added to the sound and vocabulary of the electric guitar in pretty unique ways.

[Z-Rider]

Sonny Landreth's TONE on South of I-10.

Derek Trucks' TONE on Hittin' the Note.


Z.

[riffmeister]

ha!
well --- jamming the word
"most" up in front of the word
"unique"
might warn us in advance of
the extent of "discussion"
that will (probably not) take place
in such a thread, eh?
dude.
dt / spltrcl

this is one of the most best replies I have ever seen.

:p

[joepopp]

I agree with many of the guys listed but don't forget guys like, Johnny Mar, Nels Cline, and Mark Ribot.

Unique cats for sure...

[BeauZooka]

Thurston Moore & Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth!
The Flaming Lips
The Melvins
Steve Hackett

+1 for
Fripp & Belew
My Bloody Valentine
Cocteau Twins
Nils Cline

[Timbre Wolf]

Syd Barrett - never heard anyone else play like that

Glenn Campbell (of The Misunderstood, and later, Juicy Lucy - not the guy you all think of first)

Karl Precoda (of the Dream Syndicate)

- T

[tedzepplin]

Les Paul and Dick Dale. No one else sounds like them.

[TaronKeim]

that's what I'm sayin'.
we're on the same wavelength, as usual.

Haha... I didn't see your post, you beat me to it!

Almost everyone doing the progressive hardcore thing now wants his tone, though, and when Kurt is at the production/recording helm, he is more than glad to give it to them. Not that I mind, I could listen to Converge rip-offs all day long:D

You hear Breather Resist's Charmer? It is a pretty fantastic album that Kurt produced... just picked it up the other day.

Nothing I've heard for "heavy" music comes close to the sheer FORCE of Kurts' tone on "No Heroes". His production on that album is just right off the f*cking charts for me.

_TJK*

[LocustXReign]

Kurt Ballou of Converge... has the most crushing stanky yet defined tone I've ever heard. Used to use a mix of 8x10 cabs and 4x12 and had a clean signal always present, even when playing ultra distorted, so there was a crispness and definition to his sound.

_TJK*

Beat me to it :jo. At least i can say i missed this thread because ive been living in the studio for a few days lol!


-dave

[LocustXReign]

Haha... I didn't see your post, you beat me to it!

Almost everyone doing the progressive hardcore thing now wants his tone, though, and when Kurt is at the production/recording helm, he is more than glad to give it to them. Not that I mind, I could listen to Converge rip-offs all day long:D

You hear Breather Resist's Charmer? It is a pretty fantastic album that Kurt produced... just picked it up the other day.

Nothing I've heard for "heavy" music comes close to the sheer FORCE of Kurts' tone on "No Heroes". His production on that album is just right of the f*cking charts for me.

_TJK*


P.S. If I was ever to kill someone, I'd want to do it while listening to the ride out on Hellbound from that record. What an instense part!!

[deluxeman]

Hound Dog Taylor. Awsome nasty tones. Sounds like somethin's gonna blow up any second.

[Timbre Wolf]

Hound Dog Taylor. Awsome nasty tones. Sounds like somethin's gonna blow up any second.
Now I've definitely got to give 'ol Hound Dog a listen. Thanks for that description!

- T

[gainfreak]

John Sykes
Eddie Van Halen (Marshall years) ;)
Ronnie LeTekro
Brian May
Warren DeMartini
Blues Saraceno
Steve lukather (Boogie Years!)
Michael landau
Boston Pre-Rockman days! :D
SRV
Stryper (say what you will but there tone was unique!!)
Brad Gillis
Harry Cody on the Second coming album
Michael Schenker
Matthias Jabs
Dann Huff
Dave Meniketti
Mick Ralph’s
Paul Kossoff
Gary More
Leslie West
Billy Gibbons
David Gilmour

[disaster]

Haha... I didn't see your post, you beat me to it!

Almost everyone doing the progressive hardcore thing now wants his tone, though, and when Kurt is at the production/recording helm, he is more than glad to give it to them. Not that I mind, I could listen to Converge rip-offs all day long:D

You hear Breather Resist's Charmer? It is a pretty fantastic album that Kurt produced... just picked it up the other day.

Nothing I've heard for "heavy" music comes close to the sheer FORCE of Kurts' tone on "No Heroes". His production on that album is just right of the f*cking charts for me.

_TJK*

Heard "Charmer"? oh, have I ever. (I had at least ten copies of the promo piled up on my desk for a while.)
It is a pretty good record, and super Ballou-esque, for good reason.

Kurt Ballou's tone on No Heroes and You Fail Me is what I think of when I hear the word "dirty." Its Black Flag on 11. People don't realize what an influence (directly and indirectly) Converge have been over the years to "aggressive music," as they call it.

[WurstBurst]

Joe Walsh

[archtop]

Unique? Easy: Ty Tybor of King's X

I was addicted to the early King's X albums and I love Ty's playing. He's changed his gear a lot but he always sounds like Ty. However on the early albums, he played an early 80's Strat Elite with those strange looking single coil pickups and mid boost circuit through a Gibson Lab Series L5 solid state amp used as a preamp, then power amp and 4x12's I believe.

I remember at the time there was all this secrecy surrounding his amps, and they used to be hidden from view on stage... but apparently it was because he was mildly embarrassed that the amps he was using were uncool.

Definitely a unique sound, and a unique band in the world of metal... if you want to call it that.

[LocustXReign]

Heard "Charmer"? oh, have I ever. (I had at least ten copies of the promo piled up on my desk for a while.)
It is a pretty good record, and super Ballou-esque, for good reason.

Kurt Ballou's tone on No Heroes and You Fail Me is what I think of when I hear the word "dirty." Its Black Flag on 11. People don't realize what an influence (directly and indirectly) Converge have been over the years to "aggressive music," as they call it.

I dont really have to words to explain how much I love that band and what theyve done for heavy music. Everytime they put out a record 20 bands come out of the woodwork ripping them off and then they do something totally new and just shit on everything everyone else was trying to do.

[Jerrod]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned BB King and if you count the fact that he plays a Lab Series amp(now) he even qulifies for the not Marshall/Fender original Qualification. Danny Gatton also comes to mind. On the more obscure front there was a New Hampshire band called Groovechild whose guitar player Brian Kilough always got some unique tones. I didn't notice any mentions of Randy Rhodes(spelling?) either, seems to stir up a lot of contoversey tone wise, regardless it was a really unique sound.

I love BB, but do you really think he sounds *unique*? I don't. Same with Danny Gatton.

[disaster]

oh damn, how could I forget Steve Albini?

[mattzito]

John Scofield
Scott Henderson
Lionel Loueke
Robben Ford
Allan Holdsworth

[scottlaned]

Scofield has the most recognizable tone to me.

[Ackrite]

While I think all of these guys have been mentioned, to my ears, I always know when these guys are moving their fingers:

Trey Anastasio
Jerry Garcia
David Gilmour
Mark Knopfler
Grant Green

Peace and good times!:AOK

[Lucidology]

lionel loueke has a great octive doubling tone here about half-way through ...
Great lines too ..

YouTube - HERBIE HANCOCK - CANTALOUPE ISLAND - NORTH SEA JAZZ - 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_cBx9HbLEs&NR=1)

[Cheebatone]

Another vote for Holdsworth here. He's not my absolute favourite player, but he definitely has the most unique 'voice' ...to these ears anyway.

[Scott57]

Whether it's tone or style or a combination of both, it seems I can always recognize:

George Harrison, Keith Richards, the Edge and Brian May.

[HTR]

Frank Zappa

[dpeterson]

Ty tabor, Out Of The Silent Planet till the King's X album. All Lab Series L5 second channel low input :)

dave

[SRVTWO]

Doyle Bramhall II - A tone freak.
Chris Duarte - Like a garbage truck crashing into a Plutonium factory.
SRV - The one whose tone we will compare ours to the rest of our lives.
Mike

[DonM]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x139/donmare/r127-3.jpg

This guitar is Roy Buchanan's 53' "Nancy"
I played it thru a white Gibson tweed maybe 20 watts?
the amp was killer,

but this guitar! ~~

Its tone was so unique - that when I played it
people gathered and would not leave - they came because "they never heard a guitar like it" they were surprised when they saw it was a Tele!, they also new little or nothing of Roy Buchanan - yet they stayed gathered and listened and asked questions and had me trying different sounds - I had already played 10 Vintage Teles that day and nobody came around -
and heres the kicker this was at a Vintage guitar show!

[Dr.Mavashi]

I cant believe nobody mentioned Uli Roth .... George Lynch, YJM, EVH all stated that he was a huge influence on the, especially the first two. What he was doing during 75-77 is of "eruption" level. Sails of Charon anbody ???? That riff is more evil than the etire scandinavian movement of cookie monsters. I also wanna mention Lynch's Wicked Sensation tone, best blues metal tone ever, and very unique, perfectly 80s shred appropriate yet very classic british hard rock - awesome. And I cannot mention Chriss Oliva(RIP) of Savatage most elegant metal tone of all times, period.

[jumpnblues]

Haven't read the entire thread and don't know if it's been said but IMHO one of the most unique and prettiest tones I've heard is Anson Funderburgh, his '57 Strat (all pu's, but I really like the mid), and '63/'64 Super Reverbs. I also like his live Dr.Z MAZ 38 tone but it hasn't been captured on a CD so far IMHO. But, man, that "Z" live and those Super Reverbs live and on his CDs...pretty, pretty, pretty!


Tom (Anson's buddy)

[re-animator]

my short list:


Robert Fripp
Carlos Santana (esp. the early days)
Holdsworth
Bernard Sumner
Eric Johnson
Neil Schon
Gilmour

[mild]

Kevin Shields
Nick Zinner
Jack White

[Teh RedWizard]

Skipped many pages here...but for me,Alex Lifeson is right up on the list of most unique tones and style. I still listen to the Grace Under Pressure album sometimes and think...wow,nobody else plays stuff that sounds even close to this!

[solitaire]

Did I mention Steve Stevens use of the toy raygun here? That's what I call unique without perhaps being the most difficult to actually replicate by fans.

Being mainly an EJ fan myself, even though his tone is rather unique in many ways, many try to replicate his tone and most unsuccessfully so.

Personally I like what some Lace products do to the signal, as long as the highs are kept back nicely. You can't achieve that with other gear.

[Lachdanon]

I think Steve Stevens playing is killer. Just listen to the top gun anthem. I've always loved that tone, Also the tone on his Flamenco a go go CD.

Another killer tone is Prince. He changes it so often, but you hear one note and you know its him.


Lach

[MBreinin]

There is only one and he is the King of Tone.

Billy F. Gibbons.

Edward Van Halen and Eric Johnson are the Crown Princes of tone, but Billy is the King.

Mike

[Guitar Dave T]

First time I heard Holdsworth with Bruford in the mid 70's, back in his SG days, I had just never heard anything like him, tonewise and style.

His tone still just blows my mind.

And his style and talent are just ridiculously incredible.

[snacker]

sonic youth
johnny marr

[randall g]

Early Montrose - when I think of a great rock tone, that comes to mind.

Steve Hackett!

The sounds he had on Selling England by the Pound were so different - (maybe because he used a transistor amp?)

[scott58]

My 2 favorites are David Gilmore and Ted Nugent (Damn Yankee's/Uprising DVD). There are many others but those 2 are outstanding.

[dorfmeister]

Andy Gill
Keith Levene
Fripp
Belew
Page Hamilton
Nels Cline
Wayne Krantz
Reeves Gabrels
Neil Young
Edge
David Torn
Henry Kaiser
Andy Summers
Iomni
Sonic Youth
Steve Albini
Robert Quine
Richard Lloyd
Tom Verlaine
Johnny Ramone
Matthew Friedberger
Glenn Branca

[Miles Long]

Right here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXozVen2bBo