Where/when did "modern" guitar tone begin?

[misterwhizzy]

I suppose this is a matter of opinion. What do you think?

I think the main entries at the start are the SLO100, the 5150, and the Dual Rectifier. I think Soldano was the first to the party, but I don't think of those amps as coming onto the scene with what I'd describe as modern tones. They certainly weren't vintage in sound, but I also don't think the hair metal tones they were initially known for really count.

I think the sounds that are first associated with what has now been coined "modern" are probably those of the 90s Dual Rectifier because of the way it made downtuned heaviness possible. I don't think Mesa is still the poster child, but I do think that's where it started. I'd like to hear what other members think.

 

[jeremy]

i think it had more to do with use than the available amps. theres been tons of gain available for a long time, modded marshalls, modded bassmans... the slo and dual rec were refinements of things that were great, but i think it was how people used them that defines the modern sound. plenty of "vintage' sounding bands use/used the slo and dual rec

 

[Chistopher]

The "modern" sound is indeed getting up there in years

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm not sure where it began. I don't think there's a clean cut line.

Those Carcass and In Machine Head 5150 tones from the 90's don't sound same as the whole "you have to run your mid knob on 10" current trend. But I can see the evolution if you start thinking of the milestone tones from the 2000's and 2010's like The End of Heartache.

But my point is the sounds from the 90's that people got out of those amps, the SLO, the DR, and the 5150, are very different than what people are getting today.

 

[Mincer]

I say when the Dual Rect came out. Tone (and playing style) had a big change, and players chased that.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah... the thing is I can think of many different Dual Recto tones. Like Linkin Park sounds nothing like Behemoth, for example.

And when I think "Modern tone", I think more along the lines of the half djenty half metalcore-y stuff like Monuments and Architects, neither of which sound much like Linkin Park or Behemoth.

 

[uOpt]

I think much of that tone change came from pedals, higher gain amps or not.

And from people opening up to tighter speakers than v30s. \m/

 

[Sam SG]

It started in the late 70s early 80s with those amp modders like Jose hot rodding Marshalls.
Its just progressed till we got to the point of the Mesa Triple Mudifier and the 51shitty.

 

[Coma]

Thread '1992....arguably the greatest year for guitar amps in history?'

Nov 24, 2025

1992 saw the introduction/release of the following noteable amps:

Peavey 5150
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Diezel VH4
Bogner Ecstasy 100A/B

Those are some heavy weight contenders!

• Binnerscot
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Amplifier Central

• 

 

[Coma]

The "modern" sound is indeed getting up there in years

Arguably, it has morphed into something else. Djent-style riffing and low tunings becoming ubiquitous, and then the advent of 8-stting and multi-scale guitars. A lot of the bands coming up in the last few years are using digital rigs and recording tech. When someone says "modern" these days, I tend to think more along the lines of the wooden, dry tones that a lot of newer players seem to favour.

Perhaps it's high time we made a distinction between early modern and late modern. Or... ugh... postmodern.

 

[AdrianSD]

Precisely 40 years ago I'd say. Master of Puppets and Van Halen's 5150 came to mind straight away for modern guitar tone. I don't link it to any specific amp and I guess much of that recorded tone was studio magic.

 

[AdrianSD]

Its just progressed till we got to the point of the Mesa Triple Mudifier and the 51shitty.

That's pretty harsh, there's some epic work recorded and played live with these amps. Not trying to start a flame, just sayin'

 

[Securb]

I would argue the modern era tone started with the Marshall Valvestates then other builders refined it.

 

[Sam SG]

That's pretty harsh, there's some epic work recorded and played live with these amps. Not trying to start a flame, just sayin'

Im just Busting Balls.
The 90s live video of Foghat... Rod Price plays some serious slide through a Recto.
Allthough 20yrs ago I traded my Marshall SL-X for a 5150 to go on the road with a band that needed that. I was pretty sorry I did. Not a bad amp...but not for me at all.

 

[Mincer]

Steve Morse got his best sounds through a 5150, but it was pretty different than anyone else using that amp at that time.

 

[Securb]

Im just Busting Balls.
The 90s live video of Foghat... Rod Price plays some serious slide through a Recto.

I was coming out of our rehearsal space with my guitar, and a woman going into the bar struck up a conversation with me about music. It turned out she is Rod Price's daughter. We ended up talking about Foghat for 45 minutes. I did not know he retired to NH.

 

[justFred]

Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and Page set the stage. Van Halen took from there...IMO it's about artist's not gear.

 

[jeremy]

the guys in widespread panic used a slo100 and dual rec for years. warren haynes has used an slo100 forever. the amps are tools, how they are used is a big part of the "modern" sound imo

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I guess in this thread, we haven't reached an agreement on what is an example of "modern guitar tone".

I'm thinking, like I said before, the kinda halfdjenty half metalcore-y stuff. Kinda like Architects. Is that what you guys have in mind as well?

 

[Chistopher]

Man I don't think you could even get us to agree on what metalcore sounds like