Most unique 90’s guitar tone

[Gas Hed]

I can’t think of a more rich, saturated, yet clear recorded guitar tone from the 90’s that isn’t Dean DeLeo’s. I have no idea how he did it, but damn.

 

[Sidmore]

Ty Tabor is the first person that comes to my mind

 

[Jason UP]

Billy Corgan sure stood out from the others....you certainly could tell a Pumpkins tune from any other....and still can

 

[NorCal_Val]

Jag Tanna from I Mother Earth.
Great hard rock Strat tone.

 

[eigentone]

Tom Morello definitely had an identifiable sound and style.

 

[ArtDecade]

Entombed. HM-2.

 

[TheClev]

One of the things I love about that era is how many guitar players were chasing their own tones rather than someone else's. Even among the big four grunge bands (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains), each band had a unique sound unlike the other three.

 

[Non-Musical Hack]

Graham Coxon created a lot of interesting tones and parts.

 

[cugel]

Corgan single footedly made the price of muffs go through the roof.

 

[GA20T]

Marc Ribot & Neil Young

 

[Jayyj]

Lots of 90s guitarists I adore, but for uniqueness it has to be Kevin Shields.

 

[sws1]

The Edge - 90s U2 at times barely sounds like a guitar.

 

[Hawkmoon269]

Kurt Cobain, alternating between his DS-1 and Small Clone.

 

[Army of BONO]

I can’t think of a more rich, saturated, yet clear recorded guitar tone from the 90’s that isn’t Dean DeLeo’s. I have no idea how he did it, but damn.

If I remember correctly he said in a GW interview around the time of Tiny Music that he was using a lot of P90s and teles along with weird old small tube combos cranked all the way up.

I think Core was mostly his Demeter pre and VHT 2150 with a Les Paul.

 

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

Marc Ford at the peak of his BC SH&MC years.

 

[BUK]

Alain Johannes.... Eleven hooked me from the first notes.... and then delivered always!

 

[HugoTheCat]

Marc Ford on Black Crowes

 

[pepedede]

Marc Ford at the peak of his BC SH&MC years.

I am a huge Marc Ford and BC fan, but I wouldn't call his tone unique. Unusual for the 90's, yes. But very much a classic rock sound.

I put forward Larry Lelonde from primus. I've never been much of a follower, but he's very different. There are too many to mention though from that time, Paul Destafano from porno for pyros also deserves a spot.

 

[Bluesful]

I have no idea how he did it

 

[Bluesful]

I've always been a fan of Kelly Jones' tone.

Typically SG > some kind of AC30 based amp like a Matchless.