The Incoherant Ramblings of a Poetic Compulsive: In a Nutshell: My Guitar Playing Idealogy & Lists

I'm fairly young, so philosophical discussions about something as enigmatic as guitar tone rarely reach a point in my mind where I'm ready to make a public statement about what I think. But I've plateaued at this fundamental philosophy and I think I've found a place where I can stake my claim.

THE GUITAR TONE SOJOURN
I'm 24 now. Started playing the axe when I was 14. Young in age and young in experience relatively speaking. I've owned, borrowed, and traded for nearly every major type of guitar, amp and piece of tone-shaping equipment I could get my hands on over the past 10 years and I've come to one, inescapable conclusion:

That 90% of everything I want tonally simply does not matter to the ears, minds and hearts of 90% of the listeners of my music. What's more, they don't hear what I hear, even if it does matter to them. And what's even MORE, is that the ones that it does matter to, they realize that they're not hearing what I'm hearing because they're like me, so they make concessions for it.

Please allow me to explain. I would wager the supermajority of listeners to my music, are not musicians at all, much less guitar players. These individuals don't recognize different types of guitar tones consciously and as such, so long as the tone is not incredibly offensive to their listening, they don't catch the nuances of different amps, guitars, rack gear, pedals, etc. Thus, they don't care and don't even realize they don't care.

Of the percentage that are guitarists or guitar enthusiasts, most of them likely fall into the category of "not experienced enough to know the difference between good guitar tone and lousy tone" (for whatever reason be it too mid-rangy, ice pick distortion, muddiness, etc). Of course good vs. lousy is subjective anyway and impossible to quantify, but I think in-general forums like this one have a pretty consensus taste of what good tone sounds like. But quantifying what "good" tone is, is not my objective here. Suffice it to say though, they're level of caring and attention to such details is nearly as irrelevant as the non-musician.

So that leaves an extraordinary minority of guitarists and guitar enthusiasts that happen to hear my music and will pay close attention to the guitar parts. I put myself in this category of listener. It's not ALL I focus on, but I do tend to notice. Now technique is one thing, and I won't go there today. Today I'm talking about tone. When I listen to a recording, or hear a guitar at a live venue, I'm doing just that. Evaluating the tone. But as I evaluate it, I'm also thinking to myself that this guitar is going through a series of rack gear and/or pedals, into an amp of some fashion or another, being mic'd by the PA, going through a mixing board, through another series of effects to power amps and through another series of speakers. As I think about that I try to ascertain what aspects of the tonal quality I'm hearing are contributed to which components along this chain. If I don't like it, there could be a hundred reasons why and it may or may not necessarily have anything to do with the guitarists tonal tendencies. Thus it's hard to pinpoint if the tone I'm hearing is "good" or "lousy" and why. So I make mental concessions for anything I feel is lacking in the sound. It's even worse on an album through a stereo. There's an even longer chain of equipment and sound reproduction going on there.

So in the end, I find myself wondering who really cares?!?! If in the end I have no real control most of the time over how good or how lousy it sounds, why bother? The answer is simple. I care. Let's face it...most of the money spent and time & effort invested into this is for our own sakes. WE want it to sound the way we like. Because the people that listen to our music, most of the time don't hear what we hear. But they like it all the same. It puts ridiculous, unquantifiable debates like "tube vs. solid state" and "valvestate vs. modeling" and "single coils vs. humbuckers" into perspective a little bit for me. In the end, it really only comes down to me. I can't blame the masses for my obsessive compulsive search for a great tone. Because they just don't care like I do.

How many of us have bought gear because we wanted to impress, one-up, or simply avoid the nagging teases from fellow guitarists when we play out? What kind of reason is that? I personally am going to try to make a conscious effort to spend less time worrying about the tone of my guitar, and more time worrying about the quality of writing both when I play...and when I listen.

:Bazooka-Joe

Gear I've Owned:
Electric Guitars:
Peavey Predator (bought from Beacocks/present from parents, ca. 1994) - Sill have
Yamaha Pacifica 112 (bought from Kevin @Hudsons Bay, ca. 1996) - still have 1995
Gibson Les Paul Centenniel (won from Compuserve contest, 1950's re-issue) - sold on consignment via Beacocks ca. 1999
Fender Stratocaster (gift from parents, Mexican, ca. 1997) - sold 2004, ebay
Gibson Nighthawk Custom (borrowed long-term from Derek, 2003-2004) - returned to Derek, late 2004
Carvin SC90S (bought from factory, 2004) - returned, 2004
Gibson Nighthawk Landmark (bought off ebay, ca. 1994) - still have

Acoustic Guitars:
Yamaha (gift, dreadnaught, from David) - still have
Oscar Schmidt (bought in '96 for school) - sold to friend
Ibanez cutaway/pickup (traded PA equipment to JR [Jay's friend] for) - sold to uncle, 2004
Ventura flowerprint pickguard (borrowed from friend, 1994) - returned to Jay [first guitar ever]
Bass Guitars:Fender Squier Jazz (bought from Eric) - Adam has? or Dan?
Samick 5-string (bought on eBay, ca. 2000) - sold on ebay, 2004
Yamaha RBX765A 5-string (gift from parents ca. 2000/01) - sold to Mike, 2005

Bass Amps:
Peavey Mark VI (bought ca. 1999) - sold on ebay, 2004
Peavey 115 cabinet (bought ca. 1999) - sold on ebay, 2004
Peavey 210 cabinet (bought ca. 1999) - sold on ebay, 2004
Peavey TKO 115 (sort of inherited from dad, ca. 1999/2000) - traded to Mike for pedals

Guitar Amps:
Peavey 110 Audition (gift from parents, Beacocks, ca. 1994) - traded in Beacocks, ca. 1994/95
Peavey Stereo Chorus 212 (trade-in buy, Beacocks, ca. 1995) - traded in Beacocks, ca. 1995/96
Peavey 50 Classic 410 (trade-in buy, Beacocks, ca. 1995/96) - still have
Line 6 Pod XT preamp & foot controller (bought, Guitar Center, 2004) - returned 2004, Guitar Center
Marshall VS100H head (bought, craigslist.org (david), 2005) - sold to new music store in SE PDX 4/05
Fender GE-412 cabinet (bought, craigslist.org (david), 2005) - sold to new music store in SE PDX 4/05
Unknown brand silverface 112 (from Jay with microphone & stand) - Adam has? or Dan?

Stompboxes:
Yamaha Overdrive (given from Kevin, ca. 1994) - lost, ca. 1995
Yamaha Flanger (given from Kevin, ca. 1994) - lost, ca. 1995
Zoom 1010 multi-effects unit (present from parents, ca. 1994/95) - still have
Boss PS-2 Pitch Shift/Delay (bought, Beacocks, ca. 1994) - broke and lost, ca. 1995/96
Boss TU-2 Tuner (bought, Guitar Center, 2003) - still have
Boss MT-2 Metal Zone (bought, John, 2003) - sold, ebay, 2004
Boss LS-2 Line Selector (bought, Guitar Center, 2004) - sold, ebay, 2004
D.O.D. or Dunlop? Passive volume (bought, Beacocks, ca. 1994) - broke and lost
D.O.D. Digital Delay/Sampler (traded TKO bass amp to Mike, 2003) - broke, still have
D.O.D. Super Stereo Chorus (traded TKO bass amp to Mike, 2003) - dad has
D.O.D. Compressor/Limiter (traded TKO bass amp to Mike, 2003) - Jay is borrowing
D.O.D. Ice Box Chorus (traded dad for my DOD chorus, 2003) - sold, ebay, 2004
D.O.D. Bass Compressor (can't remember if dad or I bought, ca. 1997/98) - dad has
Marshall Shredmaster (traded TKO bass amp to Mike, 2003) - still have
Dunlop original Crybaby Wah (bought, Beacocks, ca. 1995) - still have, needs work
Dunlop Crybaby Wah (bought, Apple Music, 3/2005) - still have
Morley PVO Volume (bought, Beacocks, ca. 1997/98) - broke, still have
Danelectro Tuna Melt Tremolo (bought ebay, 2003) - sold, ebay, 2004
Danelectro Fish & Chips 7-band EQ (bought, ebay, 2004) - still have
Line 6 DM-4 (bought, Guitar Center used, 2004) - traded, custompedalboards.com, 2005
Line 6 MM-4 (bought, Guitar Center used, 2004) - still have
Line 6 DM-4 (bought again, eBay, used, 4/2005) - still have
Digitech Digidelay (bought, Guitar Center, 2004) - still have
Ernie Ball VP Jr. Volume (bought, Guitar Center, 2005) - still have

Other:
Samson Airline Wireless UHF (bought craigslist, 2004) - still have
Dunlop DC Brick (bought Guitar Center, 2004) - traded in at Guitar Center +cash for Delay pedal and Pedal Power 2
Voodoo Labs Pedal Power II (bought, Guitar Center, 2004) - still have
Custom Pedalboard from http://www.custompedalboards.com/ (traded my first Line 6 DM-4, 3/2005) - still have

Most Personally Influential Guitarists:
Christian Music Guitarists
1. Bob Hartman (petra)
2. Barry Blaire (audio audrenaline)
3. Jon Foreman (switchfoot)
4. Brian Wooten (whiteheart)
5. Matt Thiesen & Matt Hoopes (reliant k)
6. Oran Thornton (johnny q public)
7. Phil Keaggy
8. Joel Hanson (pfr)
9. Mark Lee (third day)
10. Jerome Fontamillas (switchfoot)
Honorable Mention: Michael Sweet

Studio Guitarists
1. Dan Huff
2. Wayne Kirkpatrick
3. Mark Townsend

Modern Secular Music Guitarists
1. The Edge (u2)
2. Gavin Rossdale (bush)
3. Joe Satriani
4. Eddie VanHalen (van halen)
5. Brian Bell (weezer)
6. Tom DeLonge (blink 182)
7. Slash (guns n roses)
8. Eric Clapton
9. Art Alexakis (everclear)
10. Stevie Ray Vaughn

Classic Secular Music Guitarists
1. Jimmy Page (led zep)
2. Brian May (queen)
3. Joe Walsh (eagles/aerosmith)
4. David Gilmore (pink floyd)
5. Lindsey Buckingham (fleetwood mac)
6. Elliott Randall (steely dan)
7. Scotty Moore (elvis presley)
8. George Harrison (beatles)
9. Alex Zivojinovich (rush)
10. Jimi Hendrix
11. Pete Townsend (the who)

Favorite Guitar Solos:
1. "Stairway to Heaven" Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin (Zepplin IV)
2. "Eruption" Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen (Van Halen)
3. "Free Bird" Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Lynrd Skynrd (Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd)
4. "Comfortably Numb" David Gilmour, Pink Floyd {The Wall)
5. "All Along The Watchtower" Jimi Hendrix, The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Electric Ladyland)
6. "November Rain" Slash, Guns n' Roses (Use Your Illusion I)
7. "One" Kirk Hammet, Metallica (...And Justice For All)
8. "Hotel California" Don Felder, Joe Walsh, The Eagles (Hotel California)
9. "Crazy Train" Randy Rhodes, Ozzy Osbourne (Blizzard of Ozz)
10. "Crossroads" Eric Clapton, Cream (Wheels of Fire)
11. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" Jimi Hendrix, The J.H. Experience (Electric Ladyland)
12. "Johnny B. Goode" Chuck Berry, Chuck Berry (His Best, Volume One)
13. "Texas Flood" Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Flood)
14. "Layla" Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Derek and the Dominos (Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs)
15. "Floods" Dimebag Darrell, Pantera (The Great Southern Trendkill)
16. "Heartbreaker" Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin (Led Zepplin II)
17. "Cliffs of Dover" Eric Johnson, Eric Johnson (Ah Via Musicom)
18. "Little Wing" Jimi Hendrix, The J.H. Experience (Axis: Bold as Love)
19. "Highway Star" Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple (Machine Head)
20. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Brian May, Queen (A NIght at the Opera)
21. "Time" David Gilmour, Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon)
22. "Sultans of Swing" Mark Knopfler, Dire Straights (Dire Straights)
23. "Bulls on Parade" Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine (Evil Empire)
24. "Fade to Black" Kirk Hammett, Metallica (Ride the Lightning)
25. "Aqua Lung" Martin Barre, Jethro Tull (Aqualung)
26. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Kurt Cobain, Nirvana (Nevermind)

NOTE: I would like to replace Cobain's solo here with:26. "Always With You, Always With Me" Joe Satriani

27. "Pride and Joy" Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Flood)
28. "Mr. Crowley" Randy Rhodes, Ozzy Osbourne (Blizzard of Ozz)
29. "For the Love of God" Steve Vai, Steve Vai (Passion & Warfare)
30. "Surfing with the Alien" Joe Satriani, Joe Satriani (Surfing with the Alien)
31. "Stranglehold" Ted Nugent, Ted Nugent (Ted Nugent)
32. "Machine Gun" Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsys)
33. "The Thrill is Gone" B.B. King, B.B. King (Completely Well)
34. "Paranoid Android" Johnny Greenwood, Radiohead (OK Computer)
35. "Cemetary Gates" Dimbag Darrell, Pantera (Cowboys from Hell)
36. "Black Star" Yngwie Malmsteen, Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force)
37. "Sweet Child o' Mine" Slash, Guns n' Roses (Appetite for Destruction)
38. "Whole Lotta Love" Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin (Led Zepplin II)
39. "Cortez the Killer" Neil Young, Neil Young (Zuma)
40. "Reelin' in the Years" Elliott Randall, Steely Dan (Can't Buy a Thrill)
41. "Brighton Rock" Brian May, Queen (Sheer Heart Attack)
42. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Eric Clapton, The Beatles (The Beatles)
43. "Sharp Dressed Man" Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top (Eliminator)
44. "Alive" Mike McCready, Pearl Jam (Ten)
45. "Light My Fire" Robby Krieger, The Doors (The Doors)
46. "Hot For Teacher" Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen (1984)
47. "Jessica" Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers Band (Brothers and Sisters)
48. "Sympathy for the Devil" Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones (Beggar's Banquet)
49. "Europa" Carlos Santana, Carlos Santana (Amigos)
50. "Shock Me" Ace Frehley, Kiss (Alive II)
51. "Master of Puppets" Kirk Hammett, Metallica (Master of Puppets)
52. "Star Spangled Banner" Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix (The Ultimate Experience)

NOTE: I would like to Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner solo further up (top 25).

53. "Since I've Been Loving You" Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin (Led Zepplin III)
54. "Geek USA" Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream)
55. "Satch Boogie" Joe Satriani, Joe Satriani (Surfing with the Alien)
56. "War Pigs" Tony Iommi, Black Sabboth (Paranoid)
57. "Walk" Dimebag Darrell, Pantera (Vulgar Display of Power)
58. "Cocaine" Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton (Slowhand)
59. "You Really Got Me" Dave Davies, The Kinks (The Best of The Kinks, Vol. 1)
60. "Zoot Allures" Frank Zappa, Frank Zappa (Zoot Allures)
61. "No More Tears" Zakk Wyld, Ozzy Osbourne (No More Tears)
62. "Money" David Gilmour, Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon)
63. "Black Hole Sun" Kim Thayil, Soundgarden (Superunknown)
64. "Little Red Corvette" Prince, Prince (1999)65. "In Bloom" Kurt Cobain, Nirvana (Nevermind)

Note: I would like to replace Cobain's solo here with:65. "Powerhouse" Brian Wooten, White Heart (Powerhouse)

66. "Blue Sky" Duane Allman & Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers Band (Eat a Peach)
67. "Beat It" ???, Michael Jackson (Thriller)
68. "Starship Troopers" Steve Howe, Yes (The Yes Album)
69. "And Your Bird Can Sing" George Harrison, The Beatles (Revolver)
70. "Purple Haze" Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix (Are you Experienced?)

NOTE: I would move the Purple Haze solo further up (top 20) as well.

71. "Maggot Brain" Eddie Hazel, Funkadelic (Maggot Brain)
72. "Walk This Way" Joe Perry, Aerosmith (Toys in the Attick)
73. "Stash" Trey Anastasio, Phish (Picture of Nectar)
74. "Lazy" Richie Blackmore, Deep Purple (Machine Head)
75. "Wont Get Fooled Again" Pete Townshend, The Who (Who's Next?)
76. "Cinnamon Girl" Neil Young, Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Everybody Knows This is Nowhere)
77. "Man in the Box" Jerryt Cantrell, Alice in Chains (Facelift)
78. "Truckin'" Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead (American Beauty)
79. "Mean Street" Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen (Fair Warning)
80. "You Shook Me All night Long" Angus Young, AC/DC (Back in Black)
81. "Sweet Jane" Steve Hunter& Dick Wagner, Lou Reed (Rock & Roll Animal)
82. "21st Century Schizoid Man" Robert Fripp, King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King) 83. "Scuttle Buttin'" Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan (Couldn't Stand the Weather)
84. "Santeria" Brad Nowell, Sublime (Sublime)
85. "Moonage Daydream" Mick Ronson, David Bowie (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust)
86. "Whipping Post" Duane Allman & Dickey Betts, The Allman Brothers Band (At Fillmore East)
87. "Cult of Personality" Vernon Reid, Living Colour (Vivid)
88. "Kid Charlemagne" Denny Dias, Steely Dan (The Royal Scam)
89. "Killing in the Name of" Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine (Rage Against the machine) 90. "Let it Rain" Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton (Eric Clapton)
91. "Heard it through the Grapevine" John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival (Cosmo's Factory)
92. "Stray Cat Strut" Brian Setzer, Stray Cats (Built for speed)
93. "The End" Robby Krieger, The Doors (The Doors)
94. "Working Man" Alex Lifeson, Rush (Rush)
95. "Yellow Ledbetter" Mike McCready, Pearl Jam (Jeremy{UK})
96. "Honkey Tonk Women" Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones (Hot Rocks 1964)
97. "Cherub Rock" Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins
98. "Under a Glass Moon" John Petrucci, Dream Theatre (Images & Words
99. "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck (Blow by Blow)
100. "Three Days" Dave Navarro, Jane's Addiction (Ritual de lo Hibitual)

Some Honorable Mentions:"Beyond Belief" Bob Hartman, Petra (Beyond Belief)"Independence Day" Brian Wooten, White Heart (Powerhouse)"Jesus Freak" Oran Thornton, dc Talk (Jesus Freak)"Let That Be Enough" Jon Foreman, Switchfoot (New Way to Be Human)"All This and Heavey too" Michael Sweet, Michael Sweet (Michael Sweet)"Place In This World" Dan Huff, Michael W. Smith (Go West Young Man)"Secret Ambition" Studio Guitarist, Michael W. Smith (Go West Young Man)"Spanish Fly" Eddie VanHalen, VanHalen ::(top 10)"Foxy Lady" Jimi Hendrix

Bazooka-Joe made it so at 10:03 AM

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Monday, August 01, 2005

In a Nutshell: My Guitar Playing Idealogy & Lists

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