Best Clean Tone Ever

[darkshadow54321]

There are loads of threads about best distortion tones...but hardly any about clean ones.

Recommend some songs, or if it's a private thing, post some clips. Also, no mentions without saying the gear that was used!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Dire Straits Sultans of Swing and just about any clean playing by Mark Knopfler

 

[flank]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

jimi hendrix - the wind cries mary........ probably just a strat into a 60s fender twin or bassman

the beatles - in my life

those have to be my 2 favs

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Alex Chilton on Big Star's "Radio City" album and Richard Thompson on most of his stuff, especially on Fairport's "Unhalfbricking." Pete Anderson has some nice stuff, too.

But Chilton is the best clean strat tone ever, IMHO.

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

The guy from Karate has a nice clean tone, I think it's just a strat into a twin, but it does sound rather nice...

 

[59paul]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Wow, this one would Truly have to be in the ear of the beholder. I really dig some of the clean tones I hear on old, old Blues recordings. I also dig the cleans on newer stuff, as well. Tough call IMO. Cool thread, though......

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Another vote for Mr, Knopfler.

 

[Artie]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

jimi hendrix - the wind cries mary........ probably just a strat into a 60s fender twin or bassman

Funny you should mention that . . . I've been re-listening to it a lot lately.

Anyway, Chris Isaacs "Wicked Game" has a great clean sound on it.
Also, and from an unlikely source, "Follow Your Bliss", off the B-52's "Cosmic Thing" CD, has a great Duane-Eddy-ish style clean, thats worth listening to - even if you're not a B-52's fan. (No vocals, btw.)

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Lenny by SRV....love that tone.

 

[Thames]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Dire Straits Sultans of Swing and just about any clean playing by Mark Knopfler

Yes. Totally agree.

Hendrix "Winds cry Mary" is great too!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Funny you should mention that . . . I've been re-listening to it a lot lately.

Anyway, Chris Isaacs "Wicked Game" has a great clean sound on it.
Also, and from an unlikely source, "Follow Your Bliss", off the B-52's "Cosmic Thing" CD, has a great Duane-Eddy-ish style clean, thats worth listening to - even if you're not a B-52's fan. (No vocals, btw.)

Someone, maybe Eddie Kramer, said Jimi used Noel Redding's bass amp for that cut. Great tone tho...kind of a crunchy, grindy clean tone.

That Chris Isaacs thing sounds like a guitar plugged into the board...no amp.
I've always liked that tone...what'd they actually use? Anyone?

Sort of sounds like a split humbucker or maybe a Strat or Tele.

Johnny A gets a tone like that now and then...he gets a great clean tone too: and through a Marshall model 2000 no less! Saw him play recently...

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Lenny, Riviera Paradise and Little Wing as played by SRV are filled with awesome clean tones...

Most of my favorute clean tones come from a Strat with a5 pickups...like some of Eric Johnson's stuff.

Lew

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

I forgot a couple...just about any Byrds tune, and Jerry Garcia from 1970-1974.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Let's not forget Wes with his L5's. IMO one of the best clean humbucker tones ever.

 

[Thurisarz]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

David Gilmour get my vote! :banana:

 

[Thames]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

David Gilmour get my vote! :banana:

Passive or EMG era ??

 

[ex-250]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Metallica- the unforgiven, but wait, theres more.....

BUT you cant hear it unless you watch the "a year and a half..." dvd, kirk's sittin in the studio playing this gibson hollowbody, ES-295 i think it was, and the second i heard it it just sent chills down my spine. thats the best clean tone ive ever heard

 

[yes-fan]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

always loved steve howe's clean sound. he never really used that much gain.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Pete Townshend on the the new WHO song 'Real-Good Looking Boy'. I always liked Steve Howes sound too, but his live sound sound on the last few tours (before this one) was terrible...thin with no body at all.

 

[Hawkman]

Re: Best Clean Tone Ever

Definately Eric Johnson. "Manhatten" live or "Rain" are two fine examples. 50's strat into a blackface-era Fender.

Robbie Krieger of the Doors. SG into a big tube amp?

The solo at the end of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan" - probably Tony's SG into a laney (clean channel).