What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
- Thread starter leevc5
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jtees4
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
When I was around 13....1971. My older sisters boyfriend left a copy of Leslie West Mountain at my house. I immediately loved it and became a huge Leslie West fan (and also Felix). That was the beginning for me. I was never a gifted guitar player, but I could stay with Leslie and play much of his stuff....he was slow like me....but he also showed me that you can be slow and heavy and fantastic all at the same time. Funny thing is, many years later, my same sister ended up working with Leslie's sister in law, and Leslie would come by once in awhile. She always told him that her little brother used to always talk about him, so he would send me some cd's and different things he was working on. Eventually I got to meet him, I also managed to meet Felix in 1982 when he did a rare EP "The Day That Football Died" which was a song about the NFL Players strike sung to American Pie. My cousins were in the HS band that played and were photographed on the EP....small world.
When I was around 13....1971. My older sisters boyfriend left a copy of Leslie West Mountain at my house. I immediately loved it and became a huge Leslie West fan (and also Felix). That was the beginning for me. I was never a gifted guitar player, but I could stay with Leslie and play much of his stuff....he was slow like me....but he also showed me that you can be slow and heavy and fantastic all at the same time. Funny thing is, many years later, my same sister ended up working with Leslie's sister in law, and Leslie would come by once in awhile. She always told him that her little brother used to always talk about him, so he would send me some cd's and different things he was working on. Eventually I got to meet him, I also managed to meet Felix in 1982 when he did a rare EP "The Day That Football Died" which was a song about the NFL Players strike sung to American Pie. My cousins were in the HS band that played and were photographed on the EP....small world.
leevc5
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Yeah! Theme for an Imaginary Western is one of my favorite songs.
Yeah! Theme for an Imaginary Western is one of my favorite songs.
Leon Of Late
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Kiss was the first band I liked and my best friend liked Kansas. So a Norlin era LP through a Marshall JMP. I didn't know at the time, but many of the other rock songs I liked from the 70's and 80's were played on Les Paul's. Free, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Zeppelin and so many others I can't even think of right now. Much later I learned about the gear these bands and artists used. I was lucky enough to have a cousin who was 7 years or so older and he played the guitar. He was always playing me some great new album or song, which looking back on it was like the greatest rock hits from the 70's.
As the 80's rolled around and I hit Jr. High age, Van Halen and the age of "heavy metal" had begun. AC/DC, Ratt, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot were all getting airplay by 83' when I could drive. Metallica was just starting to make some noise. I remember listening to Whitesnake on cassette in my car and my high school friend said, "yeah, Whitesnake, there's another band that will never amount to anything."
So, most of the music I grew up on and still like today was either an LP through a NMV Marshall in the 70's or a humbucker of some sort through a JCM 800 in the 80's. That "sound" is what I identify with when I think of the classic guitar sound.
Kiss was the first band I liked and my best friend liked Kansas. So a Norlin era LP through a Marshall JMP. I didn't know at the time, but many of the other rock songs I liked from the 70's and 80's were played on Les Paul's. Free, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Zeppelin and so many others I can't even think of right now. Much later I learned about the gear these bands and artists used. I was lucky enough to have a cousin who was 7 years or so older and he played the guitar. He was always playing me some great new album or song, which looking back on it was like the greatest rock hits from the 70's.
As the 80's rolled around and I hit Jr. High age, Van Halen and the age of "heavy metal" had begun. AC/DC, Ratt, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot were all getting airplay by 83' when I could drive. Metallica was just starting to make some noise. I remember listening to Whitesnake on cassette in my car and my high school friend said, "yeah, Whitesnake, there's another band that will never amount to anything."
So, most of the music I grew up on and still like today was either an LP through a NMV Marshall in the 70's or a humbucker of some sort through a JCM 800 in the 80's. That "sound" is what I identify with when I think of the classic guitar sound.
Diego
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Mostly, Marty Friedman and Ritchie Blackmore.
Marty's been using just about anything for decades, from cheap Ibanez to PRS to Jackson Custom Shop models, usually into ENGL amps. And he's taught me that gear is mostly highly irrelevant.
I know guitar fetishists will flame me, but it just is.
He's IMO the greatest lead player in metal history and he's not that fixated on what he plays through. So I've learned not to care. Which of course has turned me into a highly relevant name in the guitar scene (?).
Ritchie used a Strat into Vox amps, then modified Marshalls, then ENGL amps for years.
I've never been without a SSS Strat in my arsenal since I was 13. Strat into a warm overdriven amp is my #2 flavor and it feels like home to me.
Mostly, Marty Friedman and Ritchie Blackmore.
Marty's been using just about anything for decades, from cheap Ibanez to PRS to Jackson Custom Shop models, usually into ENGL amps. And he's taught me that gear is mostly highly irrelevant.
I know guitar fetishists will flame me, but it just is.
He's IMO the greatest lead player in metal history and he's not that fixated on what he plays through. So I've learned not to care. Which of course has turned me into a highly relevant name in the guitar scene (?).
Ritchie used a Strat into Vox amps, then modified Marshalls, then ENGL amps for years.
I've never been without a SSS Strat in my arsenal since I was 13. Strat into a warm overdriven amp is my #2 flavor and it feels like home to me.
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Hmm
Les Pauls - Ace primarily but there are any number of others
Jr's and Specials - Thunders
All the other stuff - Rick Nielsen and Joe Perry made me want to own every guitar I could get my mitts on lol
Amps - don't really know
Hmm
Les Pauls - Ace primarily but there are any number of others
Jr's and Specials - Thunders
All the other stuff - Rick Nielsen and Joe Perry made me want to own every guitar I could get my mitts on lol
Amps - don't really know
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kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Haha yeah i saw an interview with marty and his only request for the guitar is that it stays in tune.
Haha yeah i saw an interview with marty and his only request for the guitar is that it stays in tune.
DMR
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Grew up an 80's era metal head with Hetfield as my #1 so ESP, Gibson Explorer, EMG, Mesa (rectifiers). I've since ditched the Explorer and EMG's and went back to using passive humbuckers in my ESP Eclipse. A lot of my rock idols of course used Les Pauls so i'm happy sticking with my ESP Eclipse with the passive buckers.
My tastes are changing in a big way these days though as I heavily gravitate to stuff like Richie Kotzen and blues. So i'm going toward traditional heavier gain rock/blues tones and away from metal. Right now i'm using the Kotzen RK5 Flyrig in front of my Mesa Single Rec and in September will be getting either an American Standard Tele or Elite Series Tele (for the body cut and compound radius board) and equipping it with a Dimarzio Chopper T.
Grew up an 80's era metal head with Hetfield as my #1 so ESP, Gibson Explorer, EMG, Mesa (rectifiers). I've since ditched the Explorer and EMG's and went back to using passive humbuckers in my ESP Eclipse. A lot of my rock idols of course used Les Pauls so i'm happy sticking with my ESP Eclipse with the passive buckers.
My tastes are changing in a big way these days though as I heavily gravitate to stuff like Richie Kotzen and blues. So i'm going toward traditional heavier gain rock/blues tones and away from metal. Right now i'm using the Kotzen RK5 Flyrig in front of my Mesa Single Rec and in September will be getting either an American Standard Tele or Elite Series Tele (for the body cut and compound radius board) and equipping it with a Dimarzio Chopper T.
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
You know, I dig Chet, but everything he does is so pretty. It is absolutely gorgeous, and I love listening to him. But it is a little too nice for me all the time.
You know, I dig Chet, but everything he does is so pretty. It is absolutely gorgeous, and I love listening to him. But it is a little too nice for me all the time.
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
My favorite Ritchie tone is his ES335 into his Vox amps on the first 4 Purple albums. His tone on the Concerto for Group and Orchestra is his best.
My favorite Ritchie tone is his ES335 into his Vox amps on the first 4 Purple albums. His tone on the Concerto for Group and Orchestra is his best.
Diego
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
His recorded tone in those albums was a bit hit or miss IMO. Some of the leads sound downright clipped.
His live tones with that rig were terrific though. Never understood why he dumped the ES335 for good.
His recorded tone in those albums was a bit hit or miss IMO. Some of the leads sound downright clipped.
His live tones with that rig were terrific though. Never understood why he dumped the ES335 for good.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Early blink-182: Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
weezer Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
Joe Perry Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
slash Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
jimmy page Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
eric clapton Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
are you sensing a trend
Early blink-182: Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
weezer Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
Joe Perry Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
slash Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
jimmy page Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
eric clapton Gibson Les Paul -> Marshall
are you sensing a trend
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Please go directly to ... Jerry Reed.
Please go directly to ... Jerry Reed.
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Yeah! Jerry is more my style. So are Albert Lee and Steve Morse. The Dixie Dregs were an amazing country band. Growing up in the north I wasn't exposed to that music as a kid. I wish I was better at playing it.
Yeah! Jerry is more my style. So are Albert Lee and Steve Morse. The Dixie Dregs were an amazing country band. Growing up in the north I wasn't exposed to that music as a kid. I wish I was better at playing it.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Blackmore. I sound worse and worse the more I get closer to his sound. I have the proper HS treble/trouble booster, a Strat close to his, with the LCR circuit etc etc
For me a Les Paul is clearly a better guitar. I am not offhand aware of any people that I listen regularly to that use LPs in public, except Blind Guardian. After Forever was also a Gibson-backed symphonic metal band. Needless to say the album recordings of pretty much anybody are much more likely to contain vintage Strats and Les Pauls than what they use in public.
This is also partially the reason why this is hopeless. ESP has a very tight grip on the sponsoring of pretty much any metal band. And the more artistic forms of metal don't sell very well, so they depend on the sponsoring money. Who knows what they used on the albums. Now they aren't free to disclose that information.
Blackmore. I sound worse and worse the more I get closer to his sound. I have the proper HS treble/trouble booster, a Strat close to his, with the LCR circuit etc etc
For me a Les Paul is clearly a better guitar. I am not offhand aware of any people that I listen regularly to that use LPs in public, except Blind Guardian. After Forever was also a Gibson-backed symphonic metal band. Needless to say the album recordings of pretty much anybody are much more likely to contain vintage Strats and Les Pauls than what they use in public.
This is also partially the reason why this is hopeless. ESP has a very tight grip on the sponsoring of pretty much any metal band. And the more artistic forms of metal don't sell very well, so they depend on the sponsoring money. Who knows what they used on the albums. Now they aren't free to disclose that information.
loversmoon
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
In the very beginning it was hetfield and Hammett : esp/Mesa boogie
Then dime: Randall/Washburn/dean
These days lzzy hale/Joe Hottinger : Gibson/fender/Marshall
Me: esp/fender/Randall
I guess I kinda combined all my influences
In the very beginning it was hetfield and Hammett : esp/Mesa boogie
Then dime: Randall/Washburn/dean
These days lzzy hale/Joe Hottinger : Gibson/fender/Marshall
Me: esp/fender/Randall
I guess I kinda combined all my influences
Jackylope
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
I am torn. I absolutely love Vito Bratta's tone when he played a strat with a JB bridge and HS3 neck (he used a Steinberger a lot of the time, but that guitar is still my fav sound) with a Plexi head and tubescreamer, and Vernon Reid who used mostly a VG-99 into a Mesa. Both are incredible tones to me, but then I still love the Billy Gibbons and Slash into a JCM800. And then there's the unmistakable twang of Brian Setzer's various guitars through every Fender amp (though commonly a '63 Bassman) that just SCREAMS yes. So what am I left with? Basically a tone-chasing shoshinsha that has no clue. I just love good.
I am torn. I absolutely love Vito Bratta's tone when he played a strat with a JB bridge and HS3 neck (he used a Steinberger a lot of the time, but that guitar is still my fav sound) with a Plexi head and tubescreamer, and Vernon Reid who used mostly a VG-99 into a Mesa. Both are incredible tones to me, but then I still love the Billy Gibbons and Slash into a JCM800. And then there's the unmistakable twang of Brian Setzer's various guitars through every Fender amp (though commonly a '63 Bassman) that just SCREAMS yes. So what am I left with? Basically a tone-chasing shoshinsha that has no clue. I just love good.
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
I've only heard his playing on is one Testament album, but I dig it.
My personal influences:
James Hetfield: Vs and Explorers, Mesa Mark amps and EMGs, legendary sledgehammer
riffs.....the 80s albums are the backbone of thrash....
Jimmy Page: Lots of things, but I especially like his cutting tone with the Telecaster.
Jeff Hanneman: ESPs, EMGs and Marshall JCM800s, surgical precision panzer riffs and chromatic leads.
Prince: Lots of things, but I'm am mostly influenced by his rock playing on Purple Rain and Around The World in a Day (listen to the song TEMPTATION....
), especially when he used his Boss octave pedals. He used EMGs and Mesa Boogie.
John Petrucci: Superstrats and Mesa Mark amps.
Steve Vai: Ibanez guitars always and he used Marshall amps in my favorite years of his. Also very clever use of various delays, especially on Skyscraper, which is probably the best use of all-out shred on a popish rock album.
Yngwie J. Malmsteen: More of a tangential influence, but I love the warp speed alt-picked runs, sweeps, and wild vibrato, his perfect shred tone, and scalloped frets. Scalloped Strats through heavily boosted Marshalls.
Al Di Meola: Taylor acoustics, Les Pauls or PRS electrics and Mesa Boogie amps.
I've only heard his playing on is one Testament album, but I dig it.
My personal influences:
James Hetfield: Vs and Explorers, Mesa Mark amps and EMGs, legendary sledgehammer
riffs.....the 80s albums are the backbone of thrash....
Jimmy Page: Lots of things, but I especially like his cutting tone with the Telecaster.
Jeff Hanneman: ESPs, EMGs and Marshall JCM800s, surgical precision panzer riffs and chromatic leads.
Prince: Lots of things, but I'm am mostly influenced by his rock playing on Purple Rain and Around The World in a Day (listen to the song TEMPTATION....
), especially when he used his Boss octave pedals. He used EMGs and Mesa Boogie.John Petrucci: Superstrats and Mesa Mark amps.
Steve Vai: Ibanez guitars always and he used Marshall amps in my favorite years of his. Also very clever use of various delays, especially on Skyscraper, which is probably the best use of all-out shred on a popish rock album.
Yngwie J. Malmsteen: More of a tangential influence, but I love the warp speed alt-picked runs, sweeps, and wild vibrato, his perfect shred tone, and scalloped frets. Scalloped Strats through heavily boosted Marshalls.
Al Di Meola: Taylor acoustics, Les Pauls or PRS electrics and Mesa Boogie amps.
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Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
Good thread!
Satriani is a big influence in my rig - Marshalls, delay pedals, Whammy pedal, the 535Q wah, Fulltone Ultimate Octave, my Micro Pog and the main ones.
Vai and Satch together got me into DiMarzio pickups. I use Duncans here and there but DiMarzios are so satisfying to me. I'm currently looking for pickups that have the clarity of a Duncan with the output and compression and midrange of a Dimarzio.
Dave Gilmour, Hendrix, Eric Johnson, and SRV have me firmly in the Fender scale camp. The scale is a little tougher with the .010-.052 strings I use (more on that in a minute) but since I started out on 25.5" scale stuff my brain seems to be hardwired for that now. I don't mind a good Gibson or even a PRS - but the range of a 25.5" scale just feels like home to me. Plus I like the snap I can get out of a 25.5" scale. It's nice and round on a Gibson but a Fender scale bites more, even with humbuckers.
EVH, SRV, Jimi, Kim Thayil and Jerry Cantrell got me to go down to Eb and C# and stay there. I looooove those tunings. They feel very natural to me. The whole guitar just sounds darker and throatier and more intense.
I've gotten infatuated with Vibe pedals as of late. I blame Band of Gypsys.
Good thread!
Satriani is a big influence in my rig - Marshalls, delay pedals, Whammy pedal, the 535Q wah, Fulltone Ultimate Octave, my Micro Pog and the main ones.
Vai and Satch together got me into DiMarzio pickups. I use Duncans here and there but DiMarzios are so satisfying to me. I'm currently looking for pickups that have the clarity of a Duncan with the output and compression and midrange of a Dimarzio.
Dave Gilmour, Hendrix, Eric Johnson, and SRV have me firmly in the Fender scale camp. The scale is a little tougher with the .010-.052 strings I use (more on that in a minute) but since I started out on 25.5" scale stuff my brain seems to be hardwired for that now. I don't mind a good Gibson or even a PRS - but the range of a 25.5" scale just feels like home to me. Plus I like the snap I can get out of a 25.5" scale. It's nice and round on a Gibson but a Fender scale bites more, even with humbuckers.
EVH, SRV, Jimi, Kim Thayil and Jerry Cantrell got me to go down to Eb and C# and stay there. I looooove those tunings. They feel very natural to me. The whole guitar just sounds darker and throatier and more intense.
I've gotten infatuated with Vibe pedals as of late. I blame Band of Gypsys.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: What artists have been most influential to you and what gear did/do they use
He started out playing with Death & Obituary, then formed his own band Disincarnate & did a whole lot of guest solo's and sessions stuff on a lot of early 90's/classic death metal albums..also had a couple of nice solo/instrumental albums before joining Testament. He was touted as death metal's "only" guitar hero at the time :laugh2: ...great player though. This was also the time I was starting out on guitar myself and really getting into death metal apart from all the classic/80's metal & thrash stuff I was into at the time.
Yngwie's probably my biggest "inspiration" ..but not really an "influence" on my playing. Vai is awesome too...love Passion & Warfare & his stuff with DLR.
I've only heard his playing on one Testament album, but I dig it.
He started out playing with Death & Obituary, then formed his own band Disincarnate & did a whole lot of guest solo's and sessions stuff on a lot of early 90's/classic death metal albums..also had a couple of nice solo/instrumental albums before joining Testament. He was touted as death metal's "only" guitar hero at the time :laugh2: ...great player though. This was also the time I was starting out on guitar myself and really getting into death metal apart from all the classic/80's metal & thrash stuff I was into at the time.
Yngwie's probably my biggest "inspiration" ..but not really an "influence" on my playing. Vai is awesome too...love Passion & Warfare & his stuff with DLR.