Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

Y

Young Angus

Kometose Tonologist
"I'm afraid with any gear you won't sound like me, really even if you DID have the exact gear you wouldn't. People think it's the amp and guitar that get the sound... Well, it is not. It HELPS to have great gear but we all sound the same thru any gear. I have played thru EVH's amps, I played Jeff Becks Strats... I still sound like me playing thru their gear! Hahaha, that's the way it is. Just groove and sound like yourself and have FUN!!!"


I saw it on the gear page and thought I'd post it up here because it's such an awesome quote!

Cheers to Steve Snider for posting it up on TGP :smokin:
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

I agree with him, but don't forget he's a rabid gear junkie too. He's owned a boatload of gear, so even he knows it's not just the fingers! hehe

He's one of the most skilled guitar players on the planet though, and anytime I've seen him, I walked away inspired. I personally don't like any of his gear, but I sure like his playing.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

Last I read he really simplified his setup. A Dumble and some pedals. But who knows...
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

While I have found that I sound the same through every piece of gear I've tried, I have also found that the gear doesn't sound the same with me playing through it, nor does it neccissarily complement my playing.
 
Last edited:
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

He uses a CAE 3+SE preamp and a vht 2/50/2 poweramp I believe.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

I think he's sort of right. It's still obviously me playing when I pick up someone else's guitar. I have a style and feel that people who know me can pick out quite easily. I can't really explain what it is, but it's there. However, I know what guitars, amps, and effects bring out the best in me, and I tend to gravitate towards those when given a choice. If you hand me a Rick 360 plugged into a Vox AC-15, I'm still going to sound like me, but it won't be perfect.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

well every guitar i've used, and every amp i've used sounds alot different, so even though i won't sound like someone else will though the same gear as they do, my sound is much different depending on what i'm playing though or with.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

so, what's being said is that if you don't like the way you sound through your gorilla amp, via your SX strat...you better learn to like it, coz when you plug in your 1959 goldtop into your spankin Matchless, it's gonna be the same.
Bull.

I get what he's saying, but he's saying it from the perspective of gear above a threshold. That threshold is very high quality.

When you're in the league-of-me, you're coming from such a low base, that a new guitar strap makes me sound unrecognizable!

Much like to upgrade your new Ferrari you have to pour an extra million bucks on it. But is it now twice as good, no. Does it feel like a Ferrari, yes. But it still feels like you're driving. blah...
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

More-Gear-Than-Skill said:
so, what's being said is that if you don't like the way you sound through your gorilla amp, via your SX strat...you better learn to like it, coz when you plug in your 1959 goldtop into your spankin Matchless, it's gonna be the same.
Bull.

I get what he's saying, but he's saying it from the perspective of gear above a threshold. That threshold is very high quality.

When you're in the league-of-me, you're coming from such a low base, that a new guitar strap makes me sound unrecognizable!

Much like to upgrade your new Ferrari you have to pour an extra million bucks on it. But is it now twice as good, no. Does it feel like a Ferrari, yes. But it still feels like you're driving. blah...
Click to expand...


Oh well, apparently Steve was a crummy student anyway, rocking up to lessons stoned and whatnot...I'd like to hear Steve Lukather play through a gorilla amp!
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

nah, mate... that massive wristwatch and chain would drown out any Gorilla. Chink-ping and ding, clatter. great player.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

What Steve is saying is that who you are will always come through regardless of what guitar or what amp you're playing through. We all have our own distinctive touch and taste and tone...and that will always come through. When Ted Nugent played through Eddie Van Halen's rig, Eddie said Ted sounded just like Ted. Which is as it should be. We all want to use the best gear possible, but regardless of what we're using, we will always sound like ourselves. How could it be otherwise?

I have Matchless amps, blackface Fender amps and old tweed Fendr amps. And Les Pauls and Teles and Strats. Regardless of which guitar I'm plugging into which amps, I always sound just like me and when my friends plug into my gear they never sound like me...they sound like who they are.

We all have our own licks, our own touch, our own distinctive finger vibrato, etc.

Which is as it should be.

Lew
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

Your phrasing and touch are more important to your sound then anything.

but...

You'll have better chances sounding like Steve if you play the right gear then sounding like him if you play something that is not even close...

and besides... I know he's a great player, I really like him... but signature tone? BB King, Slash, Van Halen... those guys are big on signature tone... Lukather? Maybe I didn't listen to the right stuff...

Not everything a good guitarist says is the absolute truth.
 
Re: Awesome Steve Lukather quote from The Gear Page.

This isn't exactly a revolutionary thought. People have been saying it for years. Mostly because its true
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Phantasmagoria
Another NAD. The one I've been waiting for
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
Powdered Toast Man
I built an amp!
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
jeremy
jeremy
C
Headrush Prime- 4 Month Review
Replies
6
Views
4K
jeremy
jeremy
S
To the jack!
Replies
6
Views
397
Seashore
S
freefrog
On dummy coils / inductors / chokes as tonal filters changing the voicing of pickups…
Replies
9
Views
993
freefrog
freefrog
Back
Top