The David Samuel Project

My All Time Favorite Guitar Tone 

I was reading a guitar magazine at borders while taking in a dark, bold, cup of coffee when I came across this article about the top 50 guitar tones of all time.  While the article was interesting I realized I did not agree with all of their selections thus leading me to right this article.  This is the start of creating my own list of favorite guitar tones which many of the artists were not included.  They are not in any particle order and I will most likely have to include a second part to this list as I am including a few more details in my list and it is taking up way more time than I was prepared for.  I have a deadline believe it or not for these newsletters.  I hope you enjoy the article and look forward to your own rants and raves as you will most likely comment on my own list. 

 

*Note: I am including as much detail about the tone as possible. For example album, year, and gear along with my own commentary so you can look up these songs and listen to the tone yourself. 

 

Jimi Hendrix

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Electric Lady Land - 1968

There has been no other song like it.  The tone is what everyone has coveted for the last 4 decades.  He rolled back the volume knob to achieve the clean tone and cranked it up for the dirt.  The rest came from God alone!

Fender Strat / 1959 Marshall “Plexi” 4x12 cab w/ 25watt greenback celestions / VOX Wah pedal.

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan ( SRV )

Couldn’t Stand The Weather / Couldn’t Stand The Weather- 1984

Probably my favorite album of Stevie because the cover of Jimi’s “Voodoo Child”.

1959 Fender Stratocaster (His Number #1) AKA His first wife! Vaughan was a prominent user of Dumble Amplifiers. He used a 1983 "Steel String Singer" at 150 Watts for the majority of his recording career, which he called his "King Tone Consoul". He applied a decal with that name himself where it would normally say "Steel String Singer". For speakers, he used both Marshall 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion speakers, or a Dumble 4x12 loaded with EV12L speakers. Vaughan used EV speakers in his Fender amps as well. 

Daniel Lanois

Sonho Dourado / Wouldn’t It Be Beautiful – 1999

Here is a tid bit about me.  This guy is one of my favorite Producer/Guitarist all time.

One of the world's most admired producers for his work with U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, the Neville Brothers, and one of my all time favorite artist that is less known Chris Whitley.  If you like Edge from U2, David Gilmour from Pink Floyd you have to hear Daniel. He used 1958 Fender Stratocaster / Tweed 4x10 Fender Bassman and or Vox AC30.

 

Jimmy Page

Les Zeppelin II - Whole Lotta Love - 1969

A loose blues riff based more on expression than precision played on a

Sunburst 1958 Les Paul Standard

100 watt Marshall “Plexi” EL 34 output valve tubes

 

Doyle Bramhall ii

Any song from these albums / Jellycream 1999 Welcome 2001

Another one of my heros that most people have never heard of.  If you like rootsy blues rock music with soul please check out Doyle Bramhall ii and Chris Whitley’s “Living With The Law” they are two artist that inspire me today.  Doyle is a left handed player who does not re-string his right handed guitar when he flips it to play.  I think this is what makes him think outside the box when he plays his riffs.  Quote from Doyle:

“My search for what I wanted, tonallv has finally ended. I had been searching for the perfect tone - my sound. I'd always stuck to Strats. I got hold of this '64 sunburst Strat I use with a '67 100-watt Super Bass Marshall, and I took off with it. With these tones, I feel like I can speak perfectly through the guitar.” 

Mark Knopfler

Dire Straights - Money for Nothing – 1985

Les Paul Junior + Laney Amp = Chicks for Free

“We were going for a ZZ top sound, but what we ended up getting was kind of an accident.”

 

Pete Townsend

The Who – Tommy - Pinball Wizard – 1969

Unfortunately all this proves is that Pete’s tone came from his finger tips.

1968 Gibson SG – 100 watt Sound City amp w/ 4x12 cab

 

Eric Clapton

Fresh Cream – I Feel Free – 1966

Borrowed Les Paul – his favorite GTR “Beano” was stolen during album rehearsals

100 watt Marshall

 

Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop – 1989

Distinct tone using the tremolo to bend his notes to minor 3rds

Fender Strat – Rat Distortion Pedal 100 watt Marshall

 

Carlos Santana

Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen - Abraxas -1970Les Paul Special / Fender Princeton or a Mesa / Boogie Amp 

Jack White

The White Stripes - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground White Blood Cells -2001Believe it or not this new comer has tone coming out of his ears!  I love his sound and you will want to go and by yourself a “Big Muff” pedal right away.Silvertone 2x12 / Fender Twin Reverb 1964 / JB Hutto Model