Re: Who has *the* tone?
That's a tough one, I would say it's a tie between Daron Malakian, Alexi Laiho and Dimebag Darrell.
Daron's tone is perfect in almost every way; clear, crunchy, loud, and bassy without being overly so. I always thought there was more gain to his tone than there is.
Alexi has heaviness, blended with harmonics, cut, and somehow quite bright, but it doesn't make your ears bleed.
Dime had the infinite sustain, insane clarity, heaviest palm mutes, satanically delicious amounts of gain, that trademark "ass-kickin face rippin" quality, and pinch harmonics that make me feel a rush every time I hear them.