Agree, most people seem to solely focus on getting big tones with gain and completely overlooke the beauty that is a good clean tone. Knopfler and Jerry Garcia should be mentioned. These guys are so on a level of their own that you know who it is after playing a single note.
Bill Friedman, that is why I commented about Mark. Fantastic player with his very own style of playing and his own sound. Always liked Dire Straits, still like a lot of Mark’s solo records.
Totally agree. He has a sound that I don't think anyone does as an original, and even when a player here in Australia, the late, great Phil Emmanuel played some Dire Straits covers, as good as he was, having seen MK play live, it is so remarkably different. I have never heard anyone make the sounds Knopfler does.
I’ve always thought your air drums were second to none! Keep on Rick. You amaze me how much you know. Most of the time I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I enjoy watching you. You seem to be able to play any guitar player I know. Can you listen to most things and can pretty much get it without someone showing you how to do it?
Can't agree more on why Knopfler doesn't get talked about enough. He has an incredibly distinguished sound and will always be among my absolute favorites.
I can't agree more on that. If someone were to compile a list of the top 10 most underrated 🎸 players, Alvin would be on that list every time. And Ten Years After was an overlooked band who happened to be one of the most rockin' acts at Woodstock.
@garyssimo Agreed ! " Rattlesnake Shake " is one of the coolest of hard core blues tunes I'd ever heard by FM. And also, It's unreal how some cover songs become so immensely famous when the original is so often overlooked.
For me, Carlos Santana. 2 notes is all it takes and you know it's Carlos your're listening to. Doesn't matter what guitar he's playing or what amp he's using- and he's used a few through his career- it always sounds like Santana.
Yeah I totally agree. I was hoping to find this comment! I don't particularly love his music (I like it , but I'm not like a huge fan or anything), but in terms of distinctive guitar playing, I would put him right up there. Maybe Hendrix #2 and Brian May #3 and Eddie Vanhalen next...Something like that. But definitely Santana would be my #1.
I heard Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for the first time riding in a car and thought "man, that sounds just like Eddie Van Halen". Well, that's because it *was* the one-and-only Eddie Van Halen. The other standout for me is Carlos Santana, whose pure tones are instantly recognizable. When he hits a sustained note, my brain can't think of anything else, but can only listen. Mesmerizing.
I heard an intro guitar sounding like Jimi Hendrix on an Otis Reading album track made long before Jimi was well known ,,Then found out it was indeed Jimi ,
Ahhh that's who it reminded me of when they talked about Brian May's sound, sounding like a half-cocked wah. The person who REALLY sounds like he's playing through a half-cocked wah is old-style Carlos Santana!
Brian May has many, many sounds, but there is this one that is super saturated, singing, almost violin like but with serious bite and yet it is not distortion. For me, that is one of the most unique sounds.
His full chorus sound, or his 800/1600ms delay is just so iconic. Not to mention his screamy tones like on Bohemian Rhapsody or Save Me. Even his choral melodic lead tones like on Hammer to Fall, Spread Your Wings, or even Headlong.
To add to Bryan May's unique sounds was that in his early days he used an amp built by John Deacon (Queen Bass Player) called "the deacy" which is what have him that "symphony string" sound (in conjunction with using volume control and Harmony's) I liked that sound even better than his AC30
@@jacobsmith3019 ahh yes! excellent point Jacob, he used to use an English 5 pence which kind of had a serrated edge, I don't think he does any more but cant say for certain
@@richardhalferty3530 Last I heard he was still using them, there should be a rig rundown somewhere on youtube where his roadie talks about buying bags of them holding a hundred a bag, evidently they're not that hard to find.
SRV gets my vote. Incredible tone and chops that go well beyond what most guitarists are capable of. As good as people think he is, he's actually probably better...
Glad you talked about Brian May, he literally built his own guitar to create the tone he wanted. He also plays with a sixpence and he's always looking for the feedback, you can see it by how he walks around the stage when he plays. He built his Red Special in a semi-hollow way to let "her" react to the vibration which the strings crate, and he completely invented a new type of switch system that makes his pickups go on and out of phase, they can also be put together in all the possible ways. Not to talk about how he protected the body, the bridge and the tremolo to reduce the string's friction almost to 0. I mean, when he did all of this he was 17 and the guitar was built with materials found in his house and in his father workshop!!! I just think it's incredible the passion and the ability that this man has.
I would watch Brian May play anytime. I'm not technically knowledgeable about how he gets his sounds. Queen would delve into so many styles of music and he would adapt his part to match the genre. The first time hearing Killer Queen I was blown away by something old sounding brand new. Saw them twice and the first song was Tie Your Mother Down. Blew us away and then got even better.
He didn't initially build his own guitar because of a tone - it was because good guitars were so expensive back then when he was a teenager. He did make a bloody good job of it though - his dad helped him. It took around 15 months to complete.
classiccarz wow it’s not life most guitarists sound pretty similar in a lot of their songs. Also go listen to srvs pride and joy, Lenny, and tightrope and tell me they sounds the same.
David Gilmour and Rory Gallagher are very distinctive. They both can capture an ethereal sound with pinch harmonics, hand techniques that are beyond the gear.
All the greats are easy to pick out within a few notes: EVH, SRV, C Santana, Gilmour, Hendrix, Page, Clapton, J Beck, Eric Johnson, BB King, George Harrison, Brian May, Mark Knoffler, The Edge,...geez their are so many great guitarists with their own identifiable tone.
I’ve always enjoyed listening to Donovan, and to this day, despite watching the video of them both performing it live at the Royal Albert Hall, I would never guess its Page on Sunshine Superman.
I'm sure this is blasphemy to most, but I don't think Clapton has a distinct sound. Maybe it's because he experimented in so many genres... hard rock with Cream, covering Bob Marley reggae, his unplugged album. I get that he's really good, but I can't pick out his style, and I don't think he ever pushed the limits of what was possible on the instrument, in the way that Hendrix, SRV, EVH, or Tom Morello did.
@Rob Mullins you have made an excellent point. The players you’ve mentioned and so many other guitarists who are considered "great" are unique. Astute observation, great comment...thank you.
@@erikjohnsen3135 I’m going to the same place as you, I just get bored with Ol' Slow-hand's post Blind Faith playing. All that booze, heroin and cocaine must’ve changed his wiring. He’s lucky to be alive...and still be able to play as well as he does.
Nonone ever talks about that pick running up the strings he does! Thats a great point, it is SUCH an SRV move... between that and his reverb tone, you know its him right away
Should be SRV for EVERYONE but then I'm from Austin By God, Texas and we all hung out on the WRONG side of town because of the music he produced straight from his own soul to ours. In a time that Austin, TEXAS was actually segregated, hippies, whitiies, cowboys, blacks (colored in those days sadly) and Mexicans wre all brought together under one roof to hear the God given and unmistakably original style and sound of a legend gone much too soon 😢. If you're a one of a kind musical 🎼 🎶 genius take a damn bus, hitchhike, walk, crawl, whatever just DON'T FLY cause for some reason somebody gets pissed and removes you from this life and the suffering begins to everyone you know as well as your own life. The magical times I refer to were long before Texas Flood. Disco was in style 😎 (somebody's not mine). Willie had just released "The Outlaws" if that tells you anything 😉
I can’t believe no one mentioned Pete Townhends live at leed guitar tone. One of the most beautiful and difficult to reproduce unless you have a Hiwatt and an SG with p90’s. Also Carlos Santana. Very unique tone and style. You can always tell it’s Carlos after just one note.
People talk about Eddie's sound but I think his playing a lot more recognisable than the tone itself. That pick attack, rhythm and swing is unmistakable.
RIP Eddie Van Halen!! He was my moms favorite rockstar & she’s the one who made me fall in love with rock & start playing guitar as a kid. One of my biggest regrets is bailing on a chance to see Van Halen live with her a few years ago. EVH a legend!!
Gotta be Tom Scholz from Boston for me, I mean he built his own equipment and studio from scratch for god sake, his guitar sang like no other, it gives off that outer space/ufo sound. Not to mention the fact he has all his contraptions he built from scratch, such as the hyper space pedal, he also studied how the human ear interpreters different sounds. And on top of that the way he would overlap multiple recordings of his guitar over each other, it’s just out of this world how melodic all the recordings would come out together, there aren’t too many bands that have a guitar sound/player that sings as another voice in the band.
And let us not forget that bone crunching, teeth gnashing gain..Love it. Guys like Nuno Bettencourt, who is like Brian May on steroids, reminds me of that gain..
To some degree, Tom Scholz the guitarist was hurt by the success of Tom Scholz the engineer. He made and sold so much gear that everyone sounded a lot like him for about four years.
Mal-2 KSC It was also necessary for him to sell that gear he invented, it was the only way he could finance Third Stage because CBS had frozen all royalties from the 1st 2 albums.
Agree on Eddie. His “brown sound” was pretty well pioneering. Bridge HB without a tone control (which sounds different than a LP), compressor, just a touch of phaser directly into an overdriven amp. But I think we recognize Gilmour’s tone within the context of Pink Floyd repertoire. It isn’t a particularly unique tone. It’s more his style that’s unique to his genre. Brian May, on the other hand, plays a homemade guitar with integrated onboard effects, (such as switchable out of phase pickups), through a homemade practice size amplifier, and was always recorded from a distance in the studio. He could play Mary Had A Little Lamb and we would instantly know that tone. IMO, take them out of their well known repertoire and those two are the most unmistakeable.
To me: David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, BB King, Budy Guy, Eric Clapton, Brian May, The Edge, Mark Knoffler, Hubert Sumlin, Albert King. Rick, your videos always have a great subject and big lessons to us. Big hugs from Brazil.
I think it should be noted that two of the most recognisable sounds mentioned here are EVH and Brian May. Both are also widely known (even by guitar idiots like me) to have built and/or massively tweaked their guitars like scientists.
Rick, one of the things my guitar instructor spent a lot of time on was "Touch Control" and it is rarely dissed today. When young player asks me for advice, I talked to them about this. Most new young players just want to "Wang" the guitar, play hard and put a compressor in front of the amp to control their over playing. I think a great video from you would be demonstrating this in conjunction with the use of tone/volume knobs and pickup switching. With your recording studio, you can record the same passages with different playing styles/touch control and guitar settings. Then play them back against each other. You have the talent, experience and equipment to bring something to your audience that others can't deliver. Please do it. These young players need to understand. You and Rhett will gloss over it quickly but they don't get it.
You're lucky, I was just a freshman in high school and a senior called me over and had me play out of an Ampeg V4 head into a Sunn 8x10 and Orange 2x12 at full volume and said "If you can sound good through this you can play anything." Goddamn it fucking hurt, and despite the obvious overkill, he was right. It sounded glorious once I got over the monolithic volume, and every good and bad nuance of my playing was magnified to the point the entire neighborhood heard me. He also recommended I get a fuzz pedal and my own V4, and that playing with a fuzz for a while would teach me not to "depend on things that cover your mistakes" The rest I had to figure out on my own, but playing a 100w head with just a wah, fuzz, and single delay pedal made me a way better player when I moved to EL34 heads and all sorts of toys for my feetsies😇
When I about 20 years old, I had finally got fed up with the 15 watt Peavey Rage amp that I had since I was 15 because I couldn't play in a band setting. So, I saved up $500, walked into my favorite music store and said, "What'll this get me?". They had been unsuccessfully carrying KMD amplifiers for a couple of years and were having a close out sale(I think this is about the time that KMD were also being discontinued). I ended up walking out of there with a 130watt head and cabinet. I honestly didn't care that it wasn't a Marshall or Fender. It was LOUD, and that's all that mattered to me. 25+ years on I still have it... because it's MY amp. I've tried others, but they just don't sound right to me. I guess it's become part of me.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, to me had the overall BEST tone. Early days were "Super Reverbs with 15" speakers, and a Vibroverb with 10" speakers. Very little effects used. Pretty much plugged straight into the amps.
Jimi Hendrix led one of the 1st 'Power Trio's in history, with chart topping songs and explosively eclectic performances, Jimi crafted his sound from a Fender Stratocaster, Vox Wah-Wah pedal, Univibe Phase pedal, a Fuzz Face pedal amplified by 100 watt Marshall stacks set to feed-back volumes. Jimi had to stand off to the side of his stacks or he couldn't control the feedback. Small stages were problematic. Jimi 'LOVED' surfing the feedback, pitch shifting with the tremolo bar. dive bombing. #1 MOST DISTINCTIVE SOUND.
Santana's guitar tone and overall sound is something I learned, accidentally, to recognize as a child. Be it live or studio, when I hear his guitar I know it's him. And I'm not even a huge Santana fan haha. Also, picked up The Beato Book (and a mug!) this past weekend. After following your channel for a year or so, I decided that not only did I want to support what you're doing, but that you might be the only person to teach this lowly drummer some music theory as he branches out into guitar and bass. Keep doing what you're doing and thanks for doing it so well!
Agreed. I think a lot of people get confused between equipment and style. EVH or The Edge or Tom Scholz's sound is recognizable and they're all fantastic guitarists. But largely they can be recognized because of the sound of their equipment. Famously Scholz made his own guitar. Brian May has the same thing - you know it's May because you know the sound of his instrument. And much of the discussion in this video is about the equipment - the guitar, the tuning, the amps, etc. - that each uses to create their own sound. But when it comes to Gilmour, it's not equipment. It's his style of play, which is rarely even imitated and even more rarely duplicated. The few folks that have tried but simply can't make it work within the music they're playing. You know it's Dave because of the way it's being played, not what is being played.
Tom Morello was my first thought when I saw the video title... You can hear him a mile away. In the film Dodgeball there is this little section of guitar played by him, I picked it out immediately... If that doesn't mean recognizable I don't know what does!
...agreed. Evidenced by the fact that when playing with any band, any style it’s still definitively him. I think if you pioneer a style, as he did, it’s a no-brainer.
I remember the first time I ever heard "Smooth" on the radio. I'm not a guitar player nor do I have any special music knowledge but I immediately recognized Carlos Santana as the guitarist and mentioned it to a friend also listening.
I too remember the first time I heard Smooth on the radio - on my drive to work one morning - 17th Avenue, Denver. I got so excited to hear Santana at it again!! I went home that day and told my husband about it. Within the week he came home with the CD for me! When the album and song won so many Grammys that year I asked my husband "Can I pick them or what?" lol But seriously that was/is such a fantastic song! Still get really excited when I play it or hear it!
The first time I watched The Princess Bride, I suddenly caught the unmistakable sound of Mark Knopfler in the soundtrack. That was before the internet days, so I watched the credits at the end of the film to confirm that it was indeed him.
Just like Queen who did the soundtrack for Flash Gordon. If you had no idea they did the soundtrack and only listened to the tracks with no vocals, as Freddy Mercury would be instantly recognizable, you would know that it is Queen, or Brian May more specifically. The same would go for Highlander as well.
@@richardcarden4161 before this guy starts a war: Listening to multitrack tapes reveals his actual studio tone, much like Randy Rhoades, is crap... for a live tone. Since its only studio, it cuts through the mix super cleanly, and his layering is clear. His live tone is better, its closer to what you would hear
Carlos Santana gets my vote. You can recognize his tone and phrasing right away. I believe his most recognized tone came through with his Mesa Boogie Mark 1 and early 70's Les Paul deluxe with the Bill Lawrence pickups.....which were also stock on the Gibson L6 - S
I'm always amazed by how unique and gorgeous Brian May's sound is. But it's quite logical why is sound is so unique: he built his own guitar from scratch (when he was 17!), and added some unique features to it (like being able to subtract the signal from different pickups). He uses a very unique amp setup, including an amp hand-built by John Deacon. And for some reason he plays with a penny instead of a plectrum. And of course he's got his own style of playing. All of that stuff is going to be hard to emulate for anyone.
I would have to agree that Brian May has the most unique sound out of all these guitarists, Joe Satriani describes him as being a whole universe of sounds
It's got to be Billy Gibbons: the perfect blend of blues and hard rock, with his immaculate pinch harmonics. Some say his beard touches the strings and plays better than most other guitarists...
This is true, he did play the first beard harmonic as he was riffing through Burn the witch by QOTSA according to Josh Homme and his beard floated down and played a harmonic
@@yaantsudnbesdai972 All high gain tone goes back to him. Judas Priest had less gain on Screaming for Vengeance than Iommi on the first record. That gorgeous "preamp about to detonate and ignite the power amp". Randy Rhoads developed it into "amps about to detonate and destroy a city". One single note or slide down the neck and before he's past the 12th fret you just know it's Randy. And that's his (live) tone, style is just as recognizable. Even some Metallica albums have less gain than Iommi.
To me Brian May is one of the most recognizable. Between the tone of his unique guitar and style of playing it’s always a dead giveaway. Angus Young also has a pure, raw tone that’s always easy to distinguish.
Without listening? Brian May. Hands down. Then it’s Eddie Van Halen, then Hendrix, then Gilmour. Let's not forget that Boston sound. Think about that one. Tom Scholz is a tech genius. You could say, I suppose Gary Pihl, but it is Scholz that created that unmistakable Boston sound.
Although nearly always underrated by many is Dave Evans otherwise known as 'Edge' from U2. I know its kind of trendy to hate on Bono these days however, its hard to deny that Evans has really achieved a distinctive sound with the delay, shimmer and especially in the early days of U2 often avoiding the thirds to allow for ambiguity. His haunting yet divine ring outs of notes to me show that he often serves the song with less is more.
Brian May is probably worthy of a segment by himself. Consider that he built his guitar 🎸 from salvaged wood, is an accomplished guitar player and holds a PhD in astrophysics - each of these alone are meritorious achievements in anyone’s lifetime.
He is also one of thew few players who wires his pickup for series, parallel, phase and pickup switch combinations, big part of his sound as well as multiple delays.
Brian May is the one guitarist that comes immediately to mind when someone says “unique guitar sound”. There are many other guitarists who have a signature sound, but for some reason, May is first to mind. His unique sound came so early on, back in the early 70s, when everyone else was trying to sound like Page. May wanted to sound completely different and he had such a fat sound to his single notes during solos, a sound so thick, I just had to learn how he achieved it. It was quite complicated the way he got that sound, so he put so much experimentation into his sound, it’s insane.
Some of the most identifiable to my ear: Carlos Santana; Pat Metheny; Steve Howe; Jeff Beck; John McLaughlin; Jimmy Page; Robin Trower; Frank Zappa; Andy Summers; Dick Dale; Justin Hayward; Robert Fripp; Brian Setzer; Tom Scholz; Steve Hillage;; and Ted Nugent.
Carlos Santana. I can listen to amy piece with him on it, even as an uncredited guest, and it so obvious that it's him playing. Nor do I ever get tired of his sound/tone.
David , He plays a PRS guitar made by local Annapolis man Paul Reed Smith. I remember when he first started making guitars back in the day. Not a bad player either but nothing compared to Carlos😂😂
Santana is a really good example actually. I read a write up about him once and it talked about his fender combo that he's had for decades. I can't remember what it is but I think from memory it might have an aluminium coned 15" in it. Anyway, over the years he's made dozens of little modifications and adjustments and you can actually hear the evolution of his tone over the years. Not to mention he's also a fantastic player haha.
@@Proganaut1989 Yeah, of course. You'd know wouldn't you. You know, it's funny how many people on here have dissed so many of the greats. It really doesn't matter who the guitarist is, there'll be some F**knuckle come on here saying they suck or they're rubbish or some other ridiculous comment. But nobody actually has enough knowledge or experience to even give a simple explanation of why. Just that they don't like them, or that "They suck" Disrespecting people who have done a F**k of a lot more than you, who have helped to advance music as an art form and have developed an entire form of music or, in the case of Santana, helped entire communities as well as all the above (as well as having trained to a very high level of skill as a classical musician into the bargain). Such lame, stupid and ignorant comments do absolutely nothing other than demonstrate the ignorance or stupidity of the person making the comment.
of the guitarists shown (all good choices) Eric Johnson gets my vote. He literally spent years just developing a recognizable tone. He spends hours before a performance just meditating on how he will sound. Style is one thing, but if the query is "guitar sound" he is the clear winner.
Same choice I made! Back in 1976, Boston and KISS were the 2 reasons I became a musician. When we heard that Boston guitar tone for the first time in 76, it was magical! Like Rick Beato, my older brother brought home the album. It was so awesome!
David Gilmour is a tone chaser for sure- none of his stuff sounds the same in terms of tone, BUT his emotion is unmistakable. Nobody adds emotion to songs with their guitar like David does.
A great tone chaser, often overlooked, is Alex Lifeson. He always had "his" tone, no matter what gear ge was using. Tones that are impossible to nail without his hands, ears and brain
Most recognisable? Brian May’s Red Special, no doubt. The answer is simple: it’s not even just a customised or modified guitar. He literally designed and built it from scratch with his father. And the amp he always uses? It’s not a branded or commercial amp. It’s the Deacy Amp, which was created by John Deacon himself as an electronic engineer. Both the guitar and amp were handmade and became the trademark of Queen; you literally cannot find those kinds of orchestral sounds anywhere else. You probably only need to listen to it once or twice and then you can already imagine clearly what Brian’s guitar sounds like without having to listen to it again. That’s how unique it is.
@@richardpavey1687 I mean, it’s defo not easy (which is why I mentioned May because that’s his talent), but if you really are passionate, I know you can get there! 💪
@@braydonguitar649 Well, even his AC30s weren't stock. He had them modified to cut out the EQ and give more gain. Yet another reason he sounds like nobody else.
Also true of Eddie Van Halen ; built his guitars, and later career built his own amps. Both Brian May & Van Halen would Top any List most recognizable "Gear sound", as different from playing technique
Carlos Santana, Robert Smith of The Cure, Alvin Lee... just a few more. Frank Marino of Mahogany Rush, Leon Redbone (not a rocker, but instantly recognizable.) I appreciate your videos and get a lot of information from you. I just like music in all it's forms, and really enjoy the music history you show. Great channel and great video!! Hope you enjoy it too, keep up the good work!!
One guy that's frequently overlooked, yet is SUCH a massive influence on everyone is Ry Cooder. I'd recognise Ry's sound anywhere, and he's always been one of my favourite guitarists. On top of which, he's got a lovely, distinctive vocal style too. Personally, I twiddle with my guitar for fun. I'm not very good, and I never play for audiences. So it's more of a hobby for me, and a way to exercise some creativity. In fact, up until lockdown, my guitar and amp had been in storage for the better part of 20 years! But channels like yours Rick, have really opened my eyes to some great tips. I fully intend to try turning up the volume on my amp while lowering the volume on my guitar. thanks to this vid. Only problem is that my volume pot's buggered, and if I move it away from max volume, sound cuts out all together! Looks like I might have to get the soldering iron out. I've never been much of a pedal guy, and have always made do with my amp's clean and overdrive channels, shaping the sound using the various knobs, as well as my pickup selector. As for gear, it's cheap and cheerful here: an old Washburn KC40V and a Fender M80 solid state amp. It does the trick for me :)
I know this is an older post, but if that knob is still giving you trouble, pick up a can of deoxit. It's worth it's weight in gold. Which is actually their moto I think or something.
@@aholder4471 Oh how things have changed in a year! I picked up a Les Paul Studio and a Blackstar HT-20R MkII amp, and have been gradually exploring the glorious world of pedals, contrary to my previous post! I'm still not great, but I know my own tone and style now :) I've got a Boss Waza Craft Metal Zone arriving this weekend. Can't wait! The Studio is such a nice guitar too, a real step up from my old Washburn. Love it to bits. I was initially kinda envious of the binding and other niceties on more expensive models, but now realise those things don't really matter. One interesting side point: when I got my new guitar and amp, I noticed I was still picking up a lot of noise. Took a while to diagnose, but it turns out a dodgy light switch was causing the interference! Now I have a nice, clean signal to butcher and shape with numerous pedals :D Back on topic, I know Rick's mentioned him before, but I'd LOVE for him to do something on Ty Tabor and King's X. I'm sure Dug, Ty and Jerry would be more than happy to do an interview with Rick, and I'd positively squeeeeeee.
As a Gilmour fan I feel the need to say that to me he sounds different on every record he's played on, if not on every song. Also, *he did* use compression since the 70's. Also as a side note, for me one of the most recognisable sound is Mark Knopfler's which I think is fascinating given the fact that his gear, to my knowledge, is quite simple, but his sound is unmistakable.
Two of the absolute best to listen to analyze and explain sound and tone. Never a wasted minute listening to these two as they help us understand what is happening with equipment as we try to achieve a voice through a rig.
Jimmy Page had a diverse sound - everything from treated acoustics to danelectro slide, 12 Strings, violin bows, theremin, multiple effects, another great exponent of tone and volume control on the guitar played off the bounce of the amps. I guess that also shows his skills as a Producer.
Whats funny with Page is that you could say he had a lot of different tones (especially on the recordings) Yet you could say that he had only one tone (The song remains the same/Les Paul-Wah-Echoplex-Marshall)
For obvious reasons. He's using one of the most unique rigs out there (hand crafted guitar with wormholes and all), plus he's not the rage of modern guitarists -- a blues guy. May used one guitar to define his sound and yet he's one of the most unique guitarists out there. It's nearly impossible to duplicate him.
Tube screamer. Eq. Compressor. Occasionally delay. Peavey 5150. E flat tuning les Paul. Punchy low mids. Really clear highs. Cut everything else. Quarter volume roll off gives a crispy springy clean. I dig it. Kinda generic but it's what I like.
SRV, I feel like he reached the highest pinnacle of supreme tone that you could possibly get out of an electric guitar and amplifier. Just absolute sweet perfection.
@@miko1975guitar No way. They were two different incarnations of guitar genius, and there is no comparison between the two. They are just different supernovas.
@@queenredspecial Wah pedal. Strat. Overloaded tube amp. Talents passed on from the Gods themselves, for the amusement of the common man. Feels similar to me.
Brian May gets my vote for most recognizable sound. It's hard to duplicate the sound of a homemade guitar with homemade pickups (that can be configured like no other guitar) being played with a coin. 😀
I may be off target but I think the electrics (including the pickups) on the Red Special were commercially available. I forget now what they are, (Burns Tri-Sonic?) but you could practise your Google-Fu ... (Apart from the strings of course!)
George Harrison was the first name that came to my mind (along with Allan Holdsworth). I have never been wrong when I've heard any of their recordings for the first time and thought, "That must be George Harrison (or Allan Holdsworth)." If we're really talking about a uniquely identifiable sound, those two top the list. Mark Knopler is also in the frame.
I didn't like Harrison much in the Beatles' early days, '63-'64. It sounded to me primitive, extremely basic, and amateurish; unworthy of a worldwide phenomenon band. But by the time songs like Ticket to Ride and I Need You came out, he seemed to have grown tremendously. And he really came into his own when he started playing with that Ric 360/12. Some music critic or other is reported to have said that it was "the Beatles' secret weapon". George got one of the first ones made.
George's choice of first (expensive/pro) guitar - that Gretsch - was indicative of his very early American C&W influence, and you could hear it in his playing style, and hyper-bright, C&W/Gretsch guitar sound. His early C&W influence was pretty clear. But he caught on fast to different guitars as his style evolved and broadened. It wasn't long until he was playing out with a Rickenbacker, and recording with Fenders and Gibsons, etc. Having come of age with the very first Beatles singles, and still rather a fanatical proselytizer to my friends' kids, I watched George's evolutions of playing styles, guitar choices, sounds, and writing with amazement. He might be the single hardest very-famous guitarist I can think of to pin down to a particular sound or style, he evolved so much, and became so diverse in what he wanted to do, when, where, and on what song, using which guitar, and what tone he was looking for. Some guitarists' sounds - as said here - are "instantly recognizable." George Harrison never struck me as such. He never had one sound, or one style, that would've inevitably dragged the Beatles' down into repetition - and they never were.
@@VictoriaIndyTV In an interview he did, he said that he came up with the Rockman devices out of necessity. The tubes on the Plexi's were running so hot that they would last a maximum of 2 shows and it was getting VERY expensive after a while! So, the Rockman stuff was the solution.
@@rickspyder6159 He used heavy strings for most of his professional career. After he got clean he found he couldn't ignore the pain caused by the damage the heavy strings did to his fingers. Late in his career he decided longevity was more important than being macho and keeping the heavy strings, so he started using lighter gauge strings. You can really hear the lighter strings when he plays Voodoo Chile on Austin City Limits. A completely different tone from earlier recordings.
Plus there are two Jeff Becks. Early Beck, using a pick, and later Beck, using fingers. Amazing either way but totally different tones. Incredible right hand control regardless.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Two Rivers, Where Were You, Nadia, Never Alone, Serene, JB Blues, Brush with the Blues, Blast from the East, Scared for the Children, Psycho Sam, Left Hook...Oh yeah and the insane Loose Canon! Many, many more!
George Lynch's sound on Back For The Attack with Dokken was always one of my favorites. Mr Scary, Dream Warriors, Heaven Sent, Burning Like A Flame, and especially Kiss Of Death - awesome sound on that track. (I still try to dial up that tone sometimes). I know that era often gets looked down on, but Lynch had a very distinctive TONE at that time.
Lynch’s tone is great. To this day I’m not sure how he does it, there’s always been Lynch clones that are **close** to sounding like him but not exactly like him. Because his note phrasings, techniques, and his **tenacity** in playing those notes play a huge huge factor to the tone and i have not seen one single person tackle those 3 checkmarks that can actually pinpoint Lynch.
@@6stringhellion good point. It's not just about "dialing in" his tone. To sound like Lynch (or any other legend) you have to be able to play like him too.
When Daft Punk released 'Get Lucky" I instantly could tell it was Nile Rodgers on guitar. Not someone you would expect, but it's true. His tone is as distinct as Jimmy Page's.
It's interesting because it can have an effect on some songs, like Iron Man that sounds like he's pressing some strings too hard, so they're bent up a semitone or so
Recognizable guitar tones-I love it. There are so many. Boston, VH, Brian May, Tom Morello, Buckethead, Yngwie Malmsteen, Santana, Vai, Satch, Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix to name a few. This is a great discussion, and I love the education of this discussion also. I have been learning a lot from you and Rhett.
I remember an interview with Gilmour stating that at a festival Mark Knopfler asked David if he could use Davids amp and setup cause Mark’s equipment didn’t arrive. So he did. As Mark started playing his set it surprised Gilmour as he was a bit afraid that Mark would have a Gilmour sound. Nope. It just sounded as Mark would sound. Proofing to Gilmour it’s all in the fingers of the guitarist.
100% agree; at least on the "recognizable" aspect. I personally think it sounds terrible, however lol. But thats the great thing about music though, we all get our own opinions and preferences. I couldnt possibly care less about Queen and Brian May, but I'd toss him into consideration for it as well. Honestly, a huge majority of guitar heroes "tone" is a strat, super strat, or les paul going into a cranked marshall or fender amp. Their playing and technique, phrasing and dynamics are what make them stand out, but not necessarily what they use to make those sounds.
@Kurt Sherrick God I know people say this album is underrated or whatver. In Rock to me is a top 3 rock album and maybe the best rock album all considering it has all the perfect elements. Its amazing how such a popular band doesnt get barely any recognition for it instead people like Machine Head which I think sucks. In Rock is the best guitar work maybe Iv'e ever heard along with the best organ work, and some of the best drumming by Paice. Every song blows me away because it either has some cool riff or a cool breakdown. It doesnt have great melody or songwriting just a perfect rock album. Well, child in time is great songwriting and melody imo
@@connorclarke1218 Oh I agree about In Rock. It was a incredible album. It is my Top Studio Album. Ritchie really paved the way with Iommi a new direction of guitar. What made Machine Head kinda of weak compared to In Rock was the same songs on Made In Japan live blew away the studio versions of Smoke On The Water, Highway Star and Space Truckin just didn't kick your ass like the Live Recordings which I my humble opinion on Made In Japan are just fantastic. But Machine Head had When A Blind Man Cries which kinda hits my Soul.
I just wish that more people would be able to realize the BRILLIANCE of Both Brian May & Carlos Santana, in how they are able to play….not just play but make their guitars basically SING 🎸 Because their guitar playing is so unique. It feels so good, being able to listen to & amazing to see, if you are fortunate enough to be able to see them live!
I always remember the example from David Gilmour who was playing a memorial show and Mark Knopfler was also playing. David has brought his rig, but Mark had just brought a guitar. He asked to borrow David’s rig. He and his tech agreed thinking he’s gonna sound like me, as soon as Mark plugged in and played he sounded exactly like himself. Truly a player where the tone is all in his hands.
There's a lot of variations of this story. Artist X tries Artist Y's rig but in the end, X does not sound like Y. Then concludes with "tone is in the fingers" or something like that.
@Eric Byrd I think that PF (with other writers than just Gilmour of course) is excellent. I have their box set. But Knopfler has written some amazing stuff both in DS and out. That's a personal taste issue. Like all of the videos that Beato says, "20 Best ", that is just his opinion. And this thread is about guitar tone, not Bests.
Another great topic!! Alex Lifeson has an incredible sound that while it evolved, he never used pedals for overdrive/distortion/lead sounds. He always relied on the guitar volume to get what he was after. For myself, I’ve used modelers for years but also analog or a hybrid setup. Then I began to notice that the guitarists that stood out tone wise, had their own unique sound from using real amps and effects. It’s now something I’m exploring and I’m building my first pedalboard.
Just an afterthought. How can we forget about Les Paul ? We all know his guitar , but what a great a recognizable tone he had from back in the 50's ? His technique and use of the echo repeats was phenomenal !
Rory Gallagher had an amazing tone and he was so underrated.... Brian May asked him how he got his to tone...in the early days Rory used a Vox AC 30 with a Rangemaster treble booster but a lot of his effects were done with his left hand.
@@kevinobrien9626 I understand you. I can recommend you to check out some of his later stuff. It doesn't sound so sharp as the early stuff. The album "Fresh Evidence" from 1990 has a really great sound and his playing is top notch :)
Hackett always sounded (dressed, and even sat on a stool) like Robert Fripp when he came out. Him and DiMeola were considered to be Fripp wannabes before they broke out of that mold. That being said, I think Howe, Fripp, and Adrian Belew are almost impossible to copy. I've tried. Really hard.
I still remember when Steve was always in the top of the guitar polls back in the late 70's. Everything from Close To The Edge to The Clap to Starship Trooper.
Another song came to my mind from David Gilmour 's On an Island, Red Sky At Night. When I first heard I thought David uses a guitar synthesizer to produce sax sound with a guitar. I never thought that a sax player could play as David plays the guitar. Then I learned David played a real sax. Amazing !
I'm with you! And he's generous enough to share his setup and (try) and show his technique. You want to see a musician who's been killing it for the last at least 100 years or so...lol.. go see him before you will never get a chance. For me I would say he is in the top of underrated players for sure. And do yourselves a huge favor and BUY BRIDGE OF SIGHS quick and if you like get a buzz on, turn off the lights and set or lay down with a good set of headphones and be blown away. And while your in that same position (with said buzz and headphones) put on of the most underrated Pink Floyd albums ever, Animals. For me I think It's one of THE most underrated albums of all time. Just trust me on both albums and listening environment and you will have a grin for days :)
@@thomshere I was in high school, extremely ill and in quarantine for two months due to Mono when Bridge of Sighs came out. My girlfriend bought the album and lent it to me with two doobies stuck inside the cover. My temperature would get into the 105 degree area and there I was, stoned, hallucinating from fever and listening to Robin Trower.
Carlos Santana hands down. He's the only guitarist I've ever heard that can make one note sound like Santana. That's literally not even an exaggeration, the opening of Yaleo is just a hammer on, but its undeniably Carlos
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I will never understand why Mark Knopfler is ignored in discussions about guitarists, especially talking about recognizable guitar sound.
Agree, most people seem to solely focus on getting big tones with gain and completely overlooke the beauty that is a good clean tone. Knopfler and Jerry Garcia should be mentioned. These guys are so on a level of their own that you know who it is after playing a single note.
good point
Bill Friedman, that is why I commented about Mark. Fantastic player with his very own style of playing and his own sound.
Always liked Dire Straits, still like a lot of Mark’s solo records.
Totally agree. He has a sound that I don't think anyone does as an original, and even when a player here in Australia, the late, great Phil Emmanuel played some Dire Straits covers, as good as he was, having seen MK play live, it is so remarkably different. I have never heard anyone make the sounds Knopfler does.
Agree
And Rick Beato has the most recognizable air drums technique
And not to mention his tone, unbelievable
Just said this exact thing to my wife, came here to post it, and damnit if it's already here.
Goes with the Bobby De Niro facial expression ;)
Great comment!
I’ve always thought your air drums were second to none! Keep on Rick. You amaze me how much you know. Most of the time I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I enjoy watching you. You seem to be able to play any guitar player I know. Can you listen to most things and can pretty much get it without someone showing you how to do it?
Can't agree more on why Knopfler doesn't get talked about enough. He has an incredibly distinguished sound and will always be among my absolute favorites.
I can't agree more on that. If someone were to compile a list of the top 10 most underrated 🎸 players, Alvin would be on that list every time. And Ten Years After was an overlooked band who happened to be one of the most rockin' acts at Woodstock.
@@stevecowder4774 Peter Green too
@thehilligan
Absolutely ! Years ago, I finally got into early Fleetwood with Peter and I'm glad I did. He's definitely an overlooked player.
Then Play On with Danny Kermin playn off Peter is the best fletwood album of all in me humble non pie opinion. Carlos stole Peters black magic woman.
@garyssimo
Agreed ! " Rattlesnake Shake " is one of the coolest of hard core blues tunes I'd ever heard by FM. And also,
It's unreal how some cover songs become so immensely famous when the original is so often overlooked.
For me, Carlos Santana. 2 notes is all it takes and you know it's Carlos your're listening to. Doesn't matter what guitar he's playing or what amp he's using- and he's used a few through his career- it always sounds like Santana.
Yeah I totally agree. I was hoping to find this comment! I don't particularly love his music (I like it , but I'm not like a huge fan or anything), but in terms of distinctive guitar playing, I would put him right up there. Maybe Hendrix #2 and Brian May #3 and Eddie Vanhalen next...Something like that. But definitely Santana would be my #1.
My thoughts are the same, 2 notes for sure. Stevie Ray is second.
And he's been playing those notes for 50+ years. Boring and overrated.
I've been talking about Carlos Santana for eons.
@@margaretedwards1366 Thank you-he was the second best player in his own band when Neal Schon played with him
I’ll add Mark Knopfler on the list! His technique, his tone and his phrasing are something really unique.
I couldn’t agree more. He plays like no one else. I love it and never tire of it.
also Buckethead
Completely agree!! Mark is an icon in the subject!
Mark Knopfler is one of those rare guitarists who can bend 3 strings at a time. And not via the tremolo bar either.
Indeed. So much of his sound is in the hands he was given.
I have the most recognizable guitar sound... its awful.
😂
hahaha
😄😁
*puts down drumsticks after 20 years and picks up his guitar*
Hold my beer.
Hahaha!!
My wife calls me a "Hoarder".
"Tone Chaser" sounds definitely better.
Lol
Don't allow yourself to be gear shamed. You can tell your wife I said that. Boys will always have their toys
I tell my wife that it is cheaper than golf.
@The Doobie Sisters & Sack Blabbath Hoard Chaser
@@Jukkala some of us have to tell our husbands - lol - I play golf and am a tone hoarder
I heard Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for the first time riding in a car and thought "man, that sounds just like Eddie Van Halen". Well, that's because it *was* the one-and-only Eddie Van Halen.
The other standout for me is Carlos Santana, whose pure tones are instantly recognizable. When he hits a sustained note, my brain can't think of anything else, but can only listen. Mesmerizing.
I heard an intro guitar sounding like Jimi Hendrix on an Otis Reading album track made long before Jimi was well known ,,Then found out it was indeed Jimi ,
@@kevanbodsworth9868 Jimi and Otis both played Monterey in ‘67
Ahhh that's who it reminded me of when they talked about Brian May's sound, sounding like a half-cocked wah. The person who REALLY sounds like he's playing through a half-cocked wah is old-style Carlos Santana!
Santana for sure
I actually had a strong need to blast 'Smooth' after this video
I agree that Santana has an unmistakable sound. To that I'd add Jeff Beck.
100%, both very unique
Santana - yep - the most boring
And BB King if we're not just talking about rock
@@3rdtryproductions440 BB is cool - a legend
Respectfully, Santana is repetitive and boring.
Brian May has many, many sounds, but there is this one that is super saturated, singing, almost violin like but with serious bite and yet it is not distortion. For me, that is one of the most unique sounds.
Same. His guitar playing is so melodic and compliments piano beautifully. You always know when it's a Queen solo
His full chorus sound, or his 800/1600ms delay is just so iconic. Not to mention his screamy tones like on Bohemian Rhapsody or Save Me. Even his choral melodic lead tones like on Hammer to Fall, Spread Your Wings, or even Headlong.
Name a song it’s in?
@@cs292the You Don't Fool Me, solo
Brian May. Instantly recognisable. Built his own axe and made completely his own sound. Mark Knopfler, also, has a very recognisable sound.
No
To add to Bryan May's unique sounds was that in his early days he used an amp built by John Deacon (Queen Bass Player) called "the deacy" which is what have him that "symphony string" sound (in conjunction with using volume control and Harmony's) I liked that sound even better than his AC30
I believe he also played with a coin, adding to some of his sound as well
@@jacobsmith3019 ahh yes! excellent point Jacob, he used to use an English 5 pence which kind of had a serrated edge, I don't think he does any more but cant say for certain
@@richardhalferty3530
Last I heard he was still using them, there should be a rig rundown somewhere on youtube where his roadie talks about buying bags of them holding a hundred a bag, evidently they're not that hard to find.
SRV gets my vote. Incredible tone and chops that go well beyond what most guitarists are capable of. As good as people think he is, he's actually probably better...
Riviera Paridise by SRV is best Strat tone ever!
SRV all the way!!!
Glad you talked about Brian May, he literally built his own guitar to create the tone he wanted. He also plays with a sixpence and he's always looking for the feedback, you can see it by how he walks around the stage when he plays. He built his Red Special in a semi-hollow way to let "her" react to the vibration which the strings crate, and he completely invented a new type of switch system that makes his pickups go on and out of phase, they can also be put together in all the possible ways. Not to talk about how he protected the body, the bridge and the tremolo to reduce the string's friction almost to 0. I mean, when he did all of this he was 17 and the guitar was built with materials found in his house and in his father workshop!!! I just think it's incredible the passion and the ability that this man has.
well it was actually taken from Rory Gallagher - Brian May was a huge fan of his and asked for his setup, there are interviews where he says as much
I would watch Brian May play anytime. I'm not technically knowledgeable about how he gets his sounds. Queen would delve into so many styles of music and he would adapt his part to match the genre. The first time hearing Killer Queen I was blown away by something old sounding brand new. Saw them twice and the first song was Tie Your Mother Down. Blew us away and then got even better.
He didn't initially build his own guitar because of a tone - it was because good guitars were so expensive back then when he was a teenager. He did make a bloody good job of it though - his dad helped him. It took around 15 months to complete.
True
And in his spare time earned a Phd in astronomy
Peter Green - "He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats." - BB King.
Backing Peter Green My man!
Alex Lifeson has a lot to say about riding the guitar volume. Maybe some day I will 1) find that sound in my head, 2) master the guitar volume. 🎸🤓
Mr King also highly praised Jeff Healey.
Stevie ray Vaughan is the most recognizable imo. no mistaking him for anyone else!
I haven't listened to him too much, but I've mistaken him for Jimi Hendrix on occasion.
Gerry Moore ?
Gary Moore?
classiccarz wow it’s not life most guitarists sound pretty similar in a lot of their songs. Also go listen to srvs pride and joy, Lenny, and tightrope and tell me they sounds the same.
Stevie Rey who?
David Gilmour and Rory Gallagher are very distinctive. They both can capture an ethereal sound with pinch harmonics, hand techniques that are beyond the gear.
True enough!
Never liked gilmour. Talented, but far from greatest.
@@CaptainPupu David is the GOAT! Ever hear the guitar solos on Comfortably Numb?
Rory and Johnny Winter were in the class off their own. It was in their guts.
All the greats are easy to pick out within a few notes: EVH, SRV, C Santana, Gilmour, Hendrix, Page, Clapton, J Beck, Eric Johnson, BB King, George Harrison, Brian May, Mark Knoffler, The Edge,...geez their are so many great guitarists with their own identifiable tone.
I’ve always enjoyed listening to Donovan, and to this day, despite watching the video of them both performing it live at the Royal Albert Hall, I would never guess its Page on Sunshine Superman.
I'm sure this is blasphemy to most, but I don't think Clapton has a distinct sound. Maybe it's because he experimented in so many genres... hard rock with Cream, covering Bob Marley reggae, his unplugged album. I get that he's really good, but I can't pick out his style, and I don't think he ever pushed the limits of what was possible on the instrument, in the way that Hendrix, SRV, EVH, or Tom Morello did.
@Rob Mullins you have made an excellent point. The players you’ve mentioned and so many other guitarists who are considered "great" are unique. Astute observation, great comment...thank you.
@@erikjohnsen3135 I’m going to the same place as you, I just get bored with Ol' Slow-hand's post Blind Faith playing. All that booze, heroin and cocaine must’ve changed his wiring. He’s lucky to be alive...and still be able to play as well as he does.
You forgot Dimebag Darrell.
Jeff Beck needs to mentioned as well. Cause We've Ended As Lovers is still the gold standard for me.
I love the way Jeff Beck picks leads with his thumb and fingers while working the vibrato bar and volume knob!
jperryfan Absolutely! What a gorgeous piece! I’ll never tire of it.
As well as Santana, Joe Pass Etc So many...
It’s SRV for me. I could recognize it’s him in a second just from him running the pick down the strings getting ready to play something
Nonone ever talks about that pick running up the strings he does! Thats a great point, it is SUCH an SRV move... between that and his reverb tone, you know its him right away
Could not agree more
oh yeah and that thick strat sound with his unique take on the pentatonic scale for sure for sure
I can listen this sound in mind ☺️
Should be SRV for EVERYONE but then I'm from Austin By God, Texas and we all hung out on the WRONG side of town because of the music he produced straight from his own soul to ours. In a time that Austin, TEXAS was actually segregated, hippies, whitiies, cowboys, blacks (colored in those days sadly) and Mexicans wre all brought together under one roof to hear the God given and unmistakably original style and sound of a legend gone much too soon 😢.
If you're a one of a kind musical 🎼 🎶 genius take a damn bus, hitchhike, walk, crawl, whatever just DON'T FLY cause for some reason somebody gets pissed and removes you from this life and the suffering begins to everyone you know as well as your own life. The magical times I refer to were long before Texas Flood. Disco was in style 😎 (somebody's not mine). Willie had just released "The Outlaws" if that tells you anything 😉
I can’t believe no one mentioned Pete Townhends live at leed guitar tone. One of the most beautiful and difficult to reproduce unless you have a Hiwatt and an SG with p90’s.
Also Carlos Santana. Very unique tone and style. You can always tell it’s Carlos after just one note.
David Gilmour is most recognizable to me...the tones and notes change sound so good. Tom Morello as well.
I agree it's David Gilmour.. For me he is the greatest living guitar player ever.
Absolutely. The greatest and most recognizable tone. My favourite guitar player.
+1 Gilmour truly made his guitar sing!
I'm waiting until Rick is making videos about Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Robert Fr💥(drone strike by Discipline Global Mobile)
Amén.
The two immediately recognizable tones that come to mind for me are Brian May and Eddie Van Halen.
Are you familiar with the Starfleet project from the early eighties? Was a one off supergroup they both played in .
People talk about Eddie's sound but I think his playing a lot more recognisable than the tone itself. That pick attack, rhythm and swing is unmistakable.
Plus, he really looked like he was having FUN!!!!
u r right, he can play eruption on any guitar and u can still tell it's eddie
RIP Eddie Van Halen!! He was my moms favorite rockstar & she’s the one who made me fall in love with rock & start playing guitar as a kid. One of my biggest regrets is bailing on a chance to see Van Halen live with her a few years ago. EVH a legend!!
I’m ur moms fav rockstar
SRV...there's no mistaking his style, his tone. On acoustic, James Taylor.
Add Doc Watson to acoustic guitar players. One note from him, and you know who it is.
And Neil Young
Joni Mitchell's acoustic guitar is a good counterpoint to it because it's her unique compositions, not gear, that makes her so recognizable.
Um, sorry...WRONG! On acoustic it's Michael Hedges! 😉🤣
@@ClusterFugue - LOL...do you have any idea how few people have even HEARD of Michael Hedges versus James Taylor?
Malcolm Young plays one bar of an A open chord and you know its him in a heartbeat- incredible.
@Grieg Ragen Reminds me of an old saying. There's 2 types of guitarists, those who think they can play like Malcolm Young and those who've tried.
Glad to see Malcolm getting respect. He made the AC/DC sound as much as Angus did.
Looked for this
Malcolm does not get the appreciation he has earned. He is every bit of a Guitarist as Angus, if not better
Roy Buchanan is the guy that really mastered the volume and tone knobs to get his unique sound.
Danny Gatton too
Gotta be Tom Scholz from Boston for me, I mean he built his own equipment and studio from scratch for god sake, his guitar sang like no other, it gives off that outer space/ufo sound. Not to mention the fact he has all his contraptions he built from scratch, such as the hyper space pedal, he also studied how the human ear interpreters different sounds. And on top of that the way he would overlap multiple recordings of his guitar over each other, it’s just out of this world how melodic all the recordings would come out together, there aren’t too many bands that have a guitar sound/player that sings as another voice in the band.
And let us not forget that bone crunching, teeth gnashing gain..Love it. Guys like Nuno Bettencourt, who is like Brian May on steroids, reminds me of that gain..
To some degree, Tom Scholz the guitarist was hurt by the success of Tom Scholz the engineer. He made and sold so much gear that everyone sounded a lot like him for about four years.
More than a feeling!!!!
Love Tom
Mal-2 KSC It was also necessary for him to sell that gear he invented, it was the only way he could finance Third Stage because CBS had frozen all royalties from the 1st 2 albums.
For me, David Gilmour and Eddie Van Halen has the most recognizble tone. Unbeliavable musicans. RIP EVH
Agreed on Eddie… unmistakable!
Eddie, Alex, and Dave essentially defined the sound of the 80s.
I agree, David Gilmour with that long deep whining sound that just makes you think deep, signature David Gilmour
Agree on Eddie. His “brown sound” was pretty well pioneering. Bridge HB without a tone control (which sounds different than a LP), compressor, just a touch of phaser directly into an overdriven amp.
But I think we recognize Gilmour’s tone within the context of Pink Floyd repertoire. It isn’t a particularly unique tone. It’s more his style that’s unique to his genre.
Brian May, on the other hand, plays a homemade guitar with integrated onboard effects, (such as switchable out of phase pickups), through a homemade practice size amplifier, and was always recorded from a distance in the studio. He could play Mary Had A Little Lamb and we would instantly know that tone.
IMO, take them out of their well known repertoire and those two are the most unmistakeable.
@@ArmchairDeity don’t forget Micheal Anthony he was key to their harmonies which was a huge factor to the Van Halen sound
@@tannertuner how would you recommend getting a Gilmour tone? Bridge single coil with a TS, reverb and compressor?
To me: David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, BB King, Budy Guy, Eric Clapton, Brian May, The Edge, Mark Knoffler, Hubert Sumlin, Albert King.
Rick, your videos always have a great subject and big lessons to us. Big hugs from Brazil.
I think it should be noted that two of the most recognisable sounds mentioned here are EVH and Brian May. Both are also widely known (even by guitar idiots like me) to have built and/or massively tweaked their guitars like scientists.
Except in the case of Eddie his tone wasn't dictated by his guitar as much as Brian's tone.
Rick, one of the things my guitar instructor spent a lot of time on was "Touch Control" and it is rarely dissed today. When young player asks me for advice, I talked to them about this. Most new young players just want to "Wang" the guitar, play hard and put a compressor in front of the amp to control their over playing. I think a great video from you would be demonstrating this in conjunction with the use of tone/volume knobs and pickup switching. With your recording studio, you can record the same passages with different playing styles/touch control and guitar settings. Then play them back against each other. You have the talent, experience and equipment to bring something to your audience that others can't deliver. Please do it. These young players need to understand. You and Rhett will gloss over it quickly but they don't get it.
You're lucky, I was just a freshman in high school and a senior called me over and had me play out of an Ampeg V4 head into a Sunn 8x10 and Orange 2x12 at full volume and said "If you can sound good through this you can play anything."
Goddamn it fucking hurt, and despite the obvious overkill, he was right.
It sounded glorious once I got over the monolithic volume, and every good and bad nuance of my playing was magnified to the point the entire neighborhood heard me.
He also recommended I get a fuzz pedal and my own V4, and that playing with a fuzz for a while would teach me not to "depend on things that cover your mistakes"
The rest I had to figure out on my own, but playing a 100w head with just a wah, fuzz, and single delay pedal made me a way better player when I moved to EL34 heads and all sorts of toys for my feetsies😇
When I about 20 years old, I had finally got fed up with the 15 watt Peavey Rage amp that I had since I was 15 because I couldn't play in a band setting. So, I saved up $500, walked into my favorite music store and said, "What'll this get me?". They had been unsuccessfully carrying KMD amplifiers for a couple of years and were having a close out sale(I think this is about the time that KMD were also being discontinued). I ended up walking out of there with a 130watt head and cabinet. I honestly didn't care that it wasn't a Marshall or Fender. It was LOUD, and that's all that mattered to me. 25+ years on I still have it... because it's MY amp. I've tried others, but they just don't sound right to me. I guess it's become part of me.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, to me had the overall BEST tone. Early days were "Super Reverbs with 15" speakers, and a Vibroverb with 10" speakers. Very little effects used. Pretty much plugged straight into the amps.
Agreed. When I think of ‘Strat tone’ his tone is what I think about. Big big fan.
Jimi Hendrix led one of the 1st 'Power Trio's in history, with chart topping songs and explosively eclectic performances, Jimi crafted his sound from a Fender Stratocaster, Vox Wah-Wah pedal, Univibe Phase pedal, a Fuzz Face pedal amplified by 100 watt Marshall stacks set to feed-back volumes. Jimi had to stand off to the side of his stacks or he couldn't control the feedback. Small stages were problematic. Jimi 'LOVED' surfing the feedback, pitch shifting with the tremolo bar. dive bombing. #1 MOST DISTINCTIVE SOUND.
Brian May. He’s not really my favourite, but I think his sound is unique.
My thoughts too.
tazmon122 As far as I know he uses sixpence coins which are invalid since 1973.
Not to mention his guitar is one of a kind
BB King - He plays the first note or two and you always know who it is.
If we're looking at more than just rock players. Also throw Django Reinhardt and Tony Rice in there.
the same note over and over
David Priest Yeah. That’s true. Practically one note by BB King and you can tell it’s him. Although it’s mostly in his fingers and his vibrato.
Tyrone Jeff O'Reilly Ramirez and he’s great at making the most out of those notes
@@gogpoydiyes, the most redundancy
Tom Scholz has one of the most instantly recognizable electric guitar sounds ever crafted
Santana's guitar tone and overall sound is something I learned, accidentally, to recognize as a child. Be it live or studio, when I hear his guitar I know it's him. And I'm not even a huge Santana fan haha.
Also, picked up The Beato Book (and a mug!) this past weekend. After following your channel for a year or so, I decided that not only did I want to support what you're doing, but that you might be the only person to teach this lowly drummer some music theory as he branches out into guitar and bass.
Keep doing what you're doing and thanks for doing it so well!
Tom Verlaine
Dr Deuteron LOL
Santa is a genius. kudos
Yeah, I always recognize Santana too....always bends his notes sharp.
Santana (imho) lost his sound in the 80's .
David Gilmour plays a note and you nstantly know who's playng..
You know it's David when the guitar sound is soulful and melodic
@@simon-di7xt I love me some Gilmore, but his sound can be so melancholy, yet it draws you in.
Agreed. I think a lot of people get confused between equipment and style. EVH or The Edge or Tom Scholz's sound is recognizable and they're all fantastic guitarists. But largely they can be recognized because of the sound of their equipment. Famously Scholz made his own guitar. Brian May has the same thing - you know it's May because you know the sound of his instrument. And much of the discussion in this video is about the equipment - the guitar, the tuning, the amps, etc. - that each uses to create their own sound.
But when it comes to Gilmour, it's not equipment. It's his style of play, which is rarely even imitated and even more rarely duplicated. The few folks that have tried but simply can't make it work within the music they're playing. You know it's Dave because of the way it's being played, not what is being played.
Bb King is like that also, but his tone does not use any pedals.
TRUE!
Tom Morello was my first thought when I saw the video title... You can hear him a mile away. In the film Dodgeball there is this little section of guitar played by him, I picked it out immediately... If that doesn't mean recognizable I don't know what does!
Extremely distinctive. Absolutely.
...agreed. Evidenced by the fact that when playing with any band, any style it’s still definitively him. I think if you pioneer a style, as he did, it’s a no-brainer.
Yep, every thing he guests on he stands out like a sore thumb.
I remember the first time I ever heard "Smooth" on the radio. I'm not a guitar player nor do I have any special music knowledge but I immediately recognized Carlos Santana as the guitarist and mentioned it to a friend also listening.
I too remember the first time I heard Smooth on the radio - on my drive to work one morning - 17th Avenue, Denver. I got so excited to hear Santana at it again!! I went home that day and told my husband about it. Within the week he came home with the CD for me! When the album and song won so many Grammys that year I asked my husband "Can I pick them or what?" lol But seriously that was/is such a fantastic song! Still get really excited when I play it or hear it!
How many guitar players can you identify by hearing only ONE note? Carlos Santana would fit into that category. Enough said.
The first time I watched The Princess Bride, I suddenly caught the unmistakable sound of Mark Knopfler in the soundtrack. That was before the internet days, so I watched the credits at the end of the film to confirm that it was indeed him.
He is unmistakable!
Just like Queen who did the soundtrack for Flash Gordon. If you had no idea they did the soundtrack and only listened to the tracks with no vocals, as Freddy Mercury would be instantly recognizable, you would know that it is Queen, or Brian May more specifically. The same would go for Highlander as well.
Yep, I heard the tone and said “Is that Knopfler?” Waited for the credits Nd sure enough. Very definitive.
Jelsick May is unmistakeable too. Was there any doubt 5 seconds into that movie? Wonderfully campy movie with a ridiculously awesome soundtrack.
Came here to comment about how Mark Knopfler invalidates their compression argument, and was delighted to see 2 of the top 3 comments are about MK 😂✊
Clearly it's Brian May, no mistaking that guitar
His tone SUCKS!
@@richardcarden4161 before this guy starts a war:
Listening to multitrack tapes reveals his actual studio tone, much like Randy Rhoades, is crap... for a live tone.
Since its only studio, it cuts through the mix super cleanly, and his layering is clear.
His live tone is better, its closer to what you would hear
Says you. I say Gilmour because I've spent eons listening to PF, so it's pretty subjective.
As he made it himself, yeah, no-one like it.
@@richardcarden4161 So, how many records did you sell with your clearly superior sound?
Carlos Santana gets my vote. You can recognize his tone and phrasing right away. I believe his most recognized tone came through with his Mesa Boogie Mark 1 and early 70's Les Paul deluxe with the Bill Lawrence pickups.....which were also stock on the Gibson L6 - S
Great point, Santana is instantly recognizable and pretty much nobody else sounds like that.
To me, Santana always sounds the same…’let’s play something Dorian over this minor chord progression’. Nice sound, but I get bored within a minute.
Europa
You've got it spot on His PRS fully driven into a large valve stack and dialled down to the smooth
@@sitgesstudio large valve stack?
I'm always amazed by how unique and gorgeous Brian May's sound is. But it's quite logical why is sound is so unique: he built his own guitar from scratch (when he was 17!), and added some unique features to it (like being able to subtract the signal from different pickups). He uses a very unique amp setup, including an amp hand-built by John Deacon. And for some reason he plays with a penny instead of a plectrum. And of course he's got his own style of playing. All of that stuff is going to be hard to emulate for anyone.
He played with a UK 6 pence coin
I would have to agree that Brian May has the most unique sound out of all these guitarists, Joe Satriani describes him as being a whole universe of sounds
It's got to be Billy Gibbons: the perfect blend of blues and hard rock, with his immaculate pinch harmonics. Some say his beard touches the strings and plays better than most other guitarists...
Lot of hookers sound in there.
Billy is definitely unique
This is true, he did play the first beard harmonic as he was riffing through Burn the witch by QOTSA according to Josh Homme and his beard floated down and played a harmonic
Sounds very Gibson ish......
It's May 15th 2022 and I just spent 20 minutes reading these comments saying to myself "no love for Billy Gibbons?!"
Rory Gallagher is the most underrated guitarist of all time. Rory was my late dads favorite player/musician. He kept playing, changing a string.
I agree about Rory Gallagher. I would also add Ritchie Blackmore, Robben Ford and Larry Carlton for very recognisable sounds and styles.
For me, the single most recognizable guitar I've ever heard, and it still stands today, was Andy Summers from The Police. Instantly recognizable.
Most people think The Edge came up with that chiming guitar sound, but Andy was before that.
Alex Lifeson would like a word….
Van Halen , Vaughn, Iommi and Blackmore stand out to me........ Gilmour 's sustain and vibrato are brilliant.
Very very very good mention, "Iommi." Very underrated and under the radar and distinct.
@@yaantsudnbesdai972 All high gain tone goes back to him. Judas Priest had less gain on Screaming for Vengeance than Iommi on the first record. That gorgeous "preamp about to detonate and ignite the power amp".
Randy Rhoads developed it into "amps about to detonate and destroy a city". One single note or slide down the neck and before he's past the 12th fret you just know it's Randy. And that's his (live) tone, style is just as recognizable.
Even some Metallica albums have less gain than Iommi.
To me Brian May is one of the most recognizable. Between the tone of his unique guitar and style of playing it’s always a dead giveaway. Angus Young also has a pure, raw tone that’s always easy to distinguish.
Without listening? Brian May. Hands down. Then it’s Eddie Van Halen, then Hendrix, then Gilmour.
Let's not forget that Boston sound. Think about that one. Tom Scholz is a tech genius. You could say, I suppose Gary Pihl, but it is Scholz that created that unmistakable Boston sound.
Then all of them 😆😆😆😆😆
Mark knopfler?
Tony Iommi.
Alex Lifeson has a very unique style and sound. One of my favorite guitarists.
He is massively underrated.
What makes Lifeson so special is that he had several signature tones. New Wave Lifeson is as recognizable as Prog Rock Lifeson.
I agree. Lifeson had an ever changing tone through the 90's-00's etc though. It kept Rush cutting edge in my opinion.
Without Alex filling in the space he does Rush would be a talented but very average sounding power trio.
@@toneloc223 I think he's got an "ever changing tone" throughout almost his whole career, specially from 80's on.
Although nearly always underrated by many is Dave Evans otherwise known as 'Edge' from U2. I know its kind of trendy to hate on Bono these days however, its hard to deny that Evans has really achieved a distinctive sound with the delay, shimmer and especially in the early days of U2 often avoiding the thirds to allow for ambiguity. His haunting yet divine ring outs of notes to me show that he often serves the song with less is more.
Beautifully said! The Edge is a master of tone and atmosphere, truly beautiful sonics on so many U2 tunes.....undeniable ear candy!
He's not a gifted guitar player but, YES, he definitely created his own new sound
Brian May is probably worthy of a segment by himself. Consider that he built his guitar 🎸 from salvaged wood, is an accomplished guitar player and holds a PhD in astrophysics - each of these alone are meritorious achievements in anyone’s lifetime.
He is also one of thew few players who wires his pickup for series, parallel, phase and pickup switch combinations, big part of his sound as well as multiple delays.
Brian May is the one guitarist that comes immediately to mind when someone says “unique guitar sound”. There are many other guitarists who have a signature sound, but for some reason, May is first to mind. His unique sound came so early on, back in the early 70s, when everyone else was trying to sound like Page. May wanted to sound completely different and he had such a fat sound to his single notes during solos, a sound so thick, I just had to learn how he achieved it. It was quite complicated the way he got that sound, so he put so much experimentation into his sound, it’s insane.
Let’s not forget Tom Sholtz
@@kennethchartrand4251 great call.
@@kennethchartrand4251 Indeed. And his tone was a combinations of meat on metal, his electronic wizardry, and close attention in the studio.
Some of the most identifiable to my ear: Carlos Santana; Pat Metheny; Steve Howe; Jeff Beck; John McLaughlin; Jimmy Page; Robin Trower; Frank Zappa; Andy Summers; Dick Dale; Justin Hayward; Robert Fripp; Brian Setzer; Tom Scholz; Steve Hillage;; and Ted Nugent.
Finally a Justin Hayward. The bee fuzz, with infinite sustain, was/is instantly recognizable from his 335.
@@dacktracker For sure, Justin Hayward's lead sound is a huge inspiration!
Carlos Santana. I can listen to amy piece with him on it, even as an uncredited guest, and it so obvious that it's him playing. Nor do I ever get tired of his sound/tone.
Amen!
David , He plays a PRS guitar made by local Annapolis man Paul Reed Smith. I remember when he first started making guitars back in the day. Not a bad player either but nothing compared to Carlos😂😂
I'm not a fan of anything of his after '72, but I agree - unmistakable!
Santana is a really good example actually. I read a write up about him once and it talked about his fender combo that he's had for decades. I can't remember what it is but I think from memory it might have an aluminium coned 15" in it. Anyway, over the years he's made dozens of little modifications and adjustments and you can actually hear the evolution of his tone over the years. Not to mention he's also a fantastic player haha.
@@Proganaut1989 Yeah, of course. You'd know wouldn't you.
You know, it's funny how many people on here have dissed so many of the greats. It really doesn't matter who the guitarist is, there'll be some F**knuckle come on here saying they suck or they're rubbish or some other ridiculous comment.
But nobody actually has enough knowledge or experience to even give a simple explanation of why. Just that they don't like them, or that "They suck"
Disrespecting people who have done a F**k of a lot more than you, who have helped to advance music as an art form and have developed an entire form of music or, in the case of Santana, helped entire communities as well as all the above (as well as having trained to a very high level of skill as a classical musician into the bargain).
Such lame, stupid and ignorant comments do absolutely nothing other than demonstrate the ignorance or stupidity of the person making the comment.
of the guitarists shown (all good choices) Eric Johnson gets my vote. He literally spent years just developing a recognizable tone. He spends hours before a performance just meditating on how he will sound. Style is one thing, but if the query is "guitar sound" he is the clear winner.
Jeff Beck's sound is so unique, when he's asked for identification at a routine traffic stop, he can just play his solo on Nadia, and drive on.
Tom Scholz, Boston (even though he was copied pretty heavily in the 80's). He literally built his own sound.
Casey A. TOTALLY AGREE, talk about a TONE MEISTER!!!
Same choice I made! Back in 1976, Boston and KISS were the 2 reasons I became a musician. When we heard that Boston guitar tone for the first time in 76, it was magical! Like Rick Beato, my older brother brought home the album. It was so awesome!
Agreed.
+100. Built = desire + knowledge + skill + solder + components + experimentation.
He made the Rockman for his sound. He then sold tons of Rockmans so others could have the same sound.
David Gilmour is a tone chaser for sure- none of his stuff sounds the same in terms of tone, BUT his emotion is unmistakable. Nobody adds emotion to songs with their guitar like David does.
Exactly....
It's all in his phrasing. It's unmistakable
@@goatfromhell666 it's also in his bending and double bending. He expands your mind up to one plateau then he bends it up further.
I agree
Andrew Latimer is mighty close though. Both are amazing that way.
A great tone chaser, often overlooked, is Alex Lifeson. He always had "his" tone, no matter what gear ge was using. Tones that are impossible to nail without his hands, ears and brain
Oh, my gosh - Andy Summers, too! Incredibly distinctive player. Adrian Belew! ... so many.
Glad you mentioned Andy Summers.
NIce additions!
Im very pleased that Knopler is getting so many good comments, plays with so much soul.
Enticing...loved this program. Brought to light and amplified all the identifying details of what makes all the quite artists unique....
Another thing I like about Mark is he makes mistakes every now and then, and he plays right through them like the pro that he is
His last name is Knopfler.
Most recognisable? Brian May’s Red Special, no doubt. The answer is simple: it’s not even just a customised or modified guitar. He literally designed and built it from scratch with his father. And the amp he always uses? It’s not a branded or commercial amp. It’s the Deacy Amp, which was created by John Deacon himself as an electronic engineer. Both the guitar and amp were handmade and became the trademark of Queen; you literally cannot find those kinds of orchestral sounds anywhere else. You probably only need to listen to it once or twice and then you can already imagine clearly what Brian’s guitar sounds like without having to listen to it again. That’s how unique it is.
I designed and built my own guitar and I (and it) sound like sh1t.
@@richardpavey1687 I mean, it’s defo not easy (which is why I mentioned May because that’s his talent), but if you really are passionate, I know you can get there! 💪
The Deacy Amp was used quite a bit, but his vox AC30's were really what he used most of the time
@@braydonguitar649 Well, even his AC30s weren't stock. He had them modified to cut out the EQ and give more gain. Yet another reason he sounds like nobody else.
Also true of Eddie Van Halen ; built his guitars, and later career built his own amps. Both Brian May & Van Halen would Top any List most recognizable "Gear sound", as different from playing technique
Carlos Santana, Robert Smith of The Cure, Alvin Lee... just a few more. Frank Marino of Mahogany Rush, Leon Redbone (not a rocker, but instantly recognizable.) I appreciate your videos and get a lot of information from you. I just like music in all it's forms, and really enjoy the music history you show. Great channel and great video!! Hope you enjoy it too, keep up the good work!!
One guy that's frequently overlooked, yet is SUCH a massive influence on everyone is Ry Cooder. I'd recognise Ry's sound anywhere, and he's always been one of my favourite guitarists. On top of which, he's got a lovely, distinctive vocal style too.
Personally, I twiddle with my guitar for fun. I'm not very good, and I never play for audiences. So it's more of a hobby for me, and a way to exercise some creativity.
In fact, up until lockdown, my guitar and amp had been in storage for the better part of 20 years!
But channels like yours Rick, have really opened my eyes to some great tips. I fully intend to try turning up the volume on my amp while lowering the volume on my guitar. thanks to this vid.
Only problem is that my volume pot's buggered, and if I move it away from max volume, sound cuts out all together!
Looks like I might have to get the soldering iron out.
I've never been much of a pedal guy, and have always made do with my amp's clean and overdrive channels, shaping the sound using the various knobs, as well as my pickup selector.
As for gear, it's cheap and cheerful here: an old Washburn KC40V and a Fender M80 solid state amp. It does the trick for me :)
I know this is an older post, but if that knob is still giving you trouble, pick up a can of deoxit. It's worth it's weight in gold. Which is actually their moto I think or something.
@@aholder4471 Oh how things have changed in a year!
I picked up a Les Paul Studio and a Blackstar HT-20R MkII amp, and have been gradually exploring the glorious world of pedals, contrary to my previous post!
I'm still not great, but I know my own tone and style now :)
I've got a Boss Waza Craft Metal Zone arriving this weekend. Can't wait!
The Studio is such a nice guitar too, a real step up from my old Washburn. Love it to bits. I was initially kinda envious of the binding and other niceties on more expensive models, but now realise those things don't really matter.
One interesting side point: when I got my new guitar and amp, I noticed I was still picking up a lot of noise. Took a while to diagnose, but it turns out a dodgy light switch was causing the interference!
Now I have a nice, clean signal to butcher and shape with numerous pedals :D
Back on topic, I know Rick's mentioned him before, but I'd LOVE for him to do something on Ty Tabor and King's X. I'm sure Dug, Ty and Jerry would be more than happy to do an interview with Rick, and I'd positively squeeeeeee.
Eddie Van Halen’s tone seemed bright and warm all at the same time. Each note in his solos had sort of a bell like quality to them.
the same can be said of the great Chuck Berry except Berry had that blues, country thing going on in his playing.
Bell like?
I bet you also say you taste tobacco and leather in wine.
Eddie RIP
As a Gilmour fan I feel the need to say that to me he sounds different on every record he's played on, if not on every song. Also, *he did* use compression since the 70's. Also as a side note, for me one of the most recognisable sound is Mark Knopfler's which I think is fascinating given the fact that his gear, to my knowledge, is quite simple, but his sound is unmistakable.
Two of the absolute best to listen to analyze and explain sound and tone. Never a wasted minute listening to these two as they help us understand what is happening with equipment as we try to achieve a voice through a rig.
Jimmy Page had a diverse sound - everything from treated acoustics to danelectro slide, 12 Strings, violin bows, theremin, multiple effects, another great exponent of tone and volume control on the guitar played off the bounce of the amps. I guess that also shows his skills as a Producer.
@@22julip especially live JP. super fucked up and full of mistakes and heroin.
@@TheJoeAnderson666 But only Jimmy could make them sound like intentional mistakes.
Definitely his producer skills but the way he attacks with the pick and vibrato/other technique are so distinctive. Not appreciated enough
Whats funny with Page is that you could say he had a lot of different tones (especially on the recordings) Yet you could say that he had only one tone (The song remains the same/Les Paul-Wah-Echoplex-Marshall)
Why had, he's still alive!😅
I would say Brian May's tone is the most Recognizable. Out of the heavyweights, he has been copied the least.
For obvious reasons. He's using one of the most unique rigs out there (hand crafted guitar with wormholes and all), plus he's not the rage of modern guitarists -- a blues guy. May used one guitar to define his sound and yet he's one of the most unique guitarists out there. It's nearly impossible to duplicate him.
He uses coins to play. That's why he sounds totally different.
@@jbblackley that is true, the bridge and the pickups of Red special and the treble booster played a huge role in his tone though
@@alexandrebenois7962 ZZTop used coins for a more chunky sound to play on their huge album, Eliminator
It’s a contributing factor but it isn’t the sole reason
I think Steve Howe has one of the most unique sounds ever created. You can recognize him when he plays either electric, acoustic or classic guitars
Completely agree. Steve’s sound is great.
Tube screamer. Eq. Compressor. Occasionally delay. Peavey 5150. E flat tuning les Paul. Punchy low mids. Really clear highs. Cut everything else. Quarter volume roll off gives a crispy springy clean. I dig it. Kinda generic but it's what I like.
SRV, I feel like he reached the highest pinnacle of supreme tone that you could possibly get out of an electric guitar and amplifier. Just absolute sweet perfection.
I love Stevie. He was truly touched.
His extremely uncommon use of Gauge 13 strings and strong af fingers really make that tone special.🔥
SRV PURE SPECIAL !!!!!
Many different things sounds !!!!
Such a wide range ‘m
RIP FELLOW TeXaN !!!👍🏼👍🏼🎼🎼🎸🎸
@@miko1975guitar No way. They were two different incarnations of guitar genius, and there is no comparison between the two. They are just different supernovas.
@@queenredspecial Wah pedal. Strat. Overloaded tube amp. Talents passed on from the Gods themselves, for the amusement of the common man. Feels similar to me.
Brian May gets my vote for most recognizable sound. It's hard to duplicate the sound of a homemade guitar with homemade pickups (that can be configured like no other guitar) being played with a coin. 😀
I may be off target but I think the electrics (including the pickups) on the Red Special were commercially available. I forget now what they are, (Burns Tri-Sonic?) but you could practise your Google-Fu ... (Apart from the strings of course!)
@@KL3NCH That's right Brian actually did make his own pickups but "decided to invest on Tri-Sonics cause they just sounded awful" Brian dixit.
Alex Lifeson should be commended for his use of myriad equipment, tones, and styles
Not recognizable though
You should be commended for using the word Myriad properly lol, everyone adds 'of' to it.
@@mike04574 What do you mean? Alex doesn't have a recognizable style?
@@turdferguson2 Thank You sir. Literacy is a virtue to be sought diligently
@@elcidcampeador9629 not as much as others, when you look at their popularity worlwide and the instantly recognizable tones of hendrix and EVH
George Harrison.
Especially his delicate slide work, but his attack, chord use, and rhythmic style are instantly recognizable,
George Harrison was the first name that came to my mind (along with Allan Holdsworth). I have never been wrong when I've heard any of their recordings for the first time and thought, "That must be George Harrison (or Allan Holdsworth)."
If we're really talking about a uniquely identifiable sound, those two top the list.
Mark Knopler is also in the frame.
YES.
@@bronwynbeistle8317 NO
I didn't like Harrison much in the Beatles' early days, '63-'64. It sounded to me primitive, extremely basic, and amateurish; unworthy of a worldwide phenomenon band.
But by the time songs like Ticket to Ride and I Need You came out, he seemed to have grown tremendously. And he really came into his own when he started playing with that Ric 360/12. Some music critic or other is reported to have said that it was "the Beatles' secret weapon". George got one of the first ones made.
George's choice of first (expensive/pro) guitar - that Gretsch - was indicative of his very early American C&W influence, and you could hear it in his playing style, and hyper-bright, C&W/Gretsch guitar sound. His early C&W influence was pretty clear. But he caught on fast to different guitars as his style evolved and broadened. It wasn't long until he was playing out with a Rickenbacker, and recording with Fenders and Gibsons, etc.
Having come of age with the very first Beatles singles, and still rather a fanatical proselytizer to my friends' kids, I watched George's evolutions of playing styles, guitar choices, sounds, and writing with amazement. He might be the single hardest very-famous guitarist I can think of to pin down to a particular sound or style, he evolved so much, and became so diverse in what he wanted to do, when, where, and on what song, using which guitar, and what tone he was looking for.
Some guitarists' sounds - as said here - are "instantly recognizable." George Harrison never struck me as such. He never had one sound, or one style, that would've inevitably dragged the Beatles' down into repetition - and they never were.
For me, Tom Scholz. When you hear the Boston guitar tone, it's unmistakable. When it came out, it was like NOTHING else around.
Which explains why I bought his Power Soak and Rockman when they came out on the market. :)
@@VictoriaIndyTV In an interview he did, he said that he came up with the Rockman devices out of necessity. The tubes on the Plexi's were running so hot that they would last a maximum of 2 shows and it was getting VERY expensive after a while! So, the Rockman stuff was the solution.
SRV playing with that heavy gauge cords and having the power to bend and just make that unique tones. He was a powerful guitarist
@pencil whip I agree.....the best. I like Rory Gallagher too, raw asf!
I don't think anyone hit the strings harder.
His last guitar at the rock museum has 10s on it and low action ...turned to Eb they feel like 9s ...heavy strings is a myth
@@rickspyder6159 He used heavy strings for most of his professional career. After he got clean he found he couldn't ignore the pain caused by the damage the heavy strings did to his fingers. Late in his career he decided longevity was more important than being macho and keeping the heavy strings, so he started using lighter gauge strings. You can really hear the lighter strings when he plays Voodoo Chile on Austin City Limits. A completely different tone from earlier recordings.
Jeff Beck, the best I've ever heard. His style is a voice and gets the best noise and tones. Rick, he deserves one of your shows !
Plus there are two Jeff Becks. Early Beck, using a pick, and later Beck, using fingers. Amazing either way but totally different tones. Incredible right hand control regardless.
Jeff Beck. He can play differents styles but always sound like him. Is not in the gear. Its in the fingers.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Two Rivers, Where Were You, Nadia, Never Alone, Serene, JB Blues, Brush with the Blues, Blast from the East, Scared for the Children, Psycho Sam, Left Hook...Oh yeah and the insane Loose Canon! Many, many more!
Jeff Beck always. No one can sound like JB
Thank you!!! How can he not be on his list! He built his own, for goodness sake.
George Lynch's sound on Back For The Attack with Dokken was always one of my favorites. Mr Scary, Dream Warriors, Heaven Sent, Burning Like A Flame, and especially Kiss Of Death - awesome sound on that track. (I still try to dial up that tone sometimes). I know that era often gets looked down on, but Lynch had a very distinctive TONE at that time.
Lynch’s tone is great. To this day I’m not sure how he does it, there’s always been Lynch clones that are **close** to sounding like him but not exactly like him. Because his note phrasings, techniques, and his **tenacity** in playing those notes play a huge huge factor to the tone and i have not seen one single person tackle those 3 checkmarks that can actually pinpoint Lynch.
Forgot Prisoner.
@@6stringhellion good point. It's not just about "dialing in" his tone. To sound like Lynch (or any other legend) you have to be able to play like him too.
When Daft Punk released 'Get Lucky" I instantly could tell it was Nile Rodgers on guitar.
Not someone you would expect, but it's true. His tone is as distinct as Jimmy Page's.
so refreshing to see some rhythm guitar gods on the comments
.......Right on!
Good call. He's a legend.
eubieland nice one! You’re absolutely right. I wouldn’t have thought of that even though I love that album and Nile’s work.
Absolutely, everything that guy touches is magic!
Brian May has the biggest variety of recorded sounds of anyone, he literally voiced a big band orchestra once.
Nobody talking about Tony Iommi, he wasn’t able to press the strings down hard enough so the extra light strings that sound amazing.
Django and Tony - pure genius
@@Heatfarmer Bless the lefties
Also his Strat broke before the recording of their first album so he had to use an SG that he’s been playing ever since
It's interesting because it can have an effect on some songs, like Iron Man that sounds like he's pressing some strings too hard, so they're bent up a semitone or so
Recognizable guitar tones-I love it. There are so many. Boston, VH, Brian May, Tom Morello, Buckethead, Yngwie Malmsteen, Santana, Vai, Satch, Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix to name a few. This is a great discussion, and I love the education of this discussion also. I have been learning a lot from you and Rhett.
I remember an interview with Gilmour stating that at a festival Mark Knopfler asked David if he could use Davids amp and setup cause Mark’s equipment didn’t arrive. So he did. As Mark started playing his set it surprised Gilmour as he was a bit afraid that Mark would have a Gilmour sound. Nope. It just sounded as Mark would sound. Proofing to Gilmour it’s all in the fingers of the guitarist.
For me it's Tom Scholz from Boston. His guitar sound is immediately recognizable. Great sound it is too...
100% agree; at least on the "recognizable" aspect. I personally think it sounds terrible, however lol. But thats the great thing about music though, we all get our own opinions and preferences. I couldnt possibly care less about Queen and Brian May, but I'd toss him into consideration for it as well. Honestly, a huge majority of guitar heroes "tone" is a strat, super strat, or les paul going into a cranked marshall or fender amp. Their playing and technique, phrasing and dynamics are what make them stand out, but not necessarily what they use to make those sounds.
yessss
Absolutely
Yep and Steve Miller also is easy to recognize
Ritchie Blackmore. His tone, phrasing, and melodic style are unmistakable.
Thank you sir! Blackmore is god
Yes Ritchie is the man. My favorite guitarist since I was 9 and heard my older sister's boyfriend's In Rock Album.
@Kurt Sherrick God I know people say this album is underrated or whatver. In Rock to me is a top 3 rock album and maybe the best rock album all considering it has all the perfect elements. Its amazing how such a popular band doesnt get barely any recognition for it instead people like Machine Head which I think sucks. In Rock is the best guitar work maybe Iv'e ever heard along with the best organ work, and some of the best drumming by Paice. Every song blows me away because it either has some cool riff or a cool breakdown. It doesnt have great melody or songwriting just a perfect rock album. Well, child in time is great songwriting and melody imo
@@connorclarke1218 Oh I agree about In Rock. It was a incredible album. It is my Top Studio Album. Ritchie really paved the way with Iommi a new direction of guitar. What made Machine Head kinda of weak compared to In Rock was the same songs on Made In Japan live blew away the studio versions of Smoke On The Water, Highway Star and Space Truckin just didn't kick your ass like the Live Recordings which I my humble opinion on Made In Japan are just fantastic. But Machine Head had When A Blind Man Cries which kinda hits my Soul.
Ritchie has some of the smoothest legato runs and his tone is always rich yet piercing. One of the greatest rock guitar players, for sure.
I just wish that more people would be able to realize the BRILLIANCE of Both Brian May & Carlos Santana, in how they are able to play….not just play but make their guitars basically SING 🎸 Because their guitar playing is so unique. It feels so good, being able to listen to & amazing to see, if you are fortunate enough to be able to see them live!
I always remember the example from David Gilmour who was playing a memorial show and Mark Knopfler was also playing. David has brought his rig, but Mark had just brought a guitar. He asked to borrow David’s rig. He and his tech agreed thinking he’s gonna sound like me, as soon as Mark plugged in and played he sounded exactly like himself. Truly a player where the tone is all in his hands.
Tom and The Outlaws i would’ve loved to hear that
Who's "me" in this story?
There's a lot of variations of this story. Artist X tries Artist Y's rig but in the end, X does not sound like Y. Then concludes with "tone is in the fingers" or something like that.
@Eric Byrd I think that PF (with other writers than just Gilmour of course) is excellent. I have their box set. But Knopfler has written some amazing stuff both in DS and out. That's a personal taste issue. Like all of the videos that Beato says, "20 Best ", that is just his opinion. And this thread is about guitar tone, not Bests.
You could definitely say the same about SRV or Jimmy Page. When you hear them play you know it’s them even if you’ve never heard the song
Another great topic!! Alex Lifeson has an incredible sound that while it evolved, he never used pedals for overdrive/distortion/lead sounds. He always relied on the guitar volume to get what he was after. For myself, I’ve used modelers for years but also analog or a hybrid setup. Then I began to notice that the guitarists that stood out tone wise, had their own unique sound from using real amps and effects. It’s now something I’m exploring and I’m building my first pedalboard.
Yes. Yes. He also used feedback effect live a lot, simply from his hands. The sustain and the rhythm in his sound is hand controlled.
He used to use an MXR Micro Amp for boosts.
I’d say Brian may, the red specials sound is very recognizable to me
Small amp, too
It's that British Coin, Brian uses as a Pick !
Same here, but it’s still hard to pick just one. They’re all so unique.
by far the most unique sound of any guitar player in rock
tannertuner *wall of small amps :)
Just an afterthought. How can we forget about Les Paul ? We all know his guitar , but what a great a recognizable tone he had from back in the 50's ? His technique and use of the echo repeats was phenomenal !
Rory Gallagher had an amazing tone and he was so underrated.... Brian May asked him how he got his to tone...in the early days Rory used a Vox AC 30 with a Rangemaster treble booster but a lot of his effects were done with his left hand.
Brian loved Rory.
I don't really dig his sound. It just seems so sharp and biting.
Rory!!
Rory Gallagher = Guitar God.
@@kevinobrien9626 I understand you. I can recommend you to check out some of his later stuff. It doesn't sound so sharp as the early stuff. The album "Fresh Evidence" from 1990 has a really great sound and his playing is top notch :)
By far Gilmour, regardless of what guitar he uses, you can always tell it’s him!
Steve Howe, of Yes has a very recognizable sound and style. Robert Fripp and Steve Hackett too
Hackett always sounded (dressed, and even sat on a stool) like Robert Fripp when he came out. Him and DiMeola were considered to be Fripp wannabes before they broke out of that mold.
That being said, I think Howe, Fripp, and Adrian Belew are almost impossible to copy. I've tried. Really hard.
Yes, completely agree.
They are hours concours
Crimson king! 🤘
I still remember when Steve was always in the top of the guitar polls back in the late 70's. Everything from Close To The Edge to The Clap to Starship Trooper.
Another song came to my mind from David Gilmour 's On an Island, Red Sky At Night. When I first heard I thought David uses a guitar synthesizer to produce sax sound with a guitar. I never thought that a sax player could play as David plays the guitar. Then I learned David played a real sax. Amazing !
Robin Trower is possibly the most recognizable in my mind. Truly nothing else like him.
I'm with you! And he's generous enough to share his setup and (try) and show his technique. You want to see a musician who's been killing it for the last at least 100 years or so...lol.. go see him before you will never get a chance. For me I would say he is in the top of underrated players for sure. And do yourselves a huge favor and BUY BRIDGE OF SIGHS quick and if you like get a buzz on, turn off the lights and set or lay down with a good set of headphones and be blown away. And while your in that same position (with said buzz and headphones) put on of the most underrated Pink Floyd albums ever, Animals. For me I think It's one of THE most underrated albums of all time. Just trust me on both albums and listening environment and you will have a grin for days :)
@@thomshere I was in high school, extremely ill and in quarantine for two months due to Mono when Bridge of Sighs came out. My girlfriend bought the album and lent it to me with two doobies stuck inside the cover. My temperature would get into the 105 degree area and there I was, stoned, hallucinating from fever and listening to Robin Trower.
To me he has the Hendrix sound
Carlos Santana hands down. He's the only guitarist I've ever heard that can make one note sound like Santana. That's literally not even an exaggeration, the opening of Yaleo is just a hammer on, but its undeniably Carlos
Agree, he has the most unique sound.
My vote was for Carlos also, but It's really a tossup between him and Jimi. The opening to Foxey Lady...
Yep...