# Songs/Bands with Guitar Tones You Love **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816 "2009-08-09T06:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/41 "2009-08-13T11:57:59Z")
> [@digs](#): > > And don’t forget Johnny Marr’s work with Neil Finn (Live in New Zealand with Lisa Germano and Ed O’Brien-Radiohead and Eddie Vedder): [There Is A Light](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN3Qwo4jF18) and [Down On The Corner](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ustyrU2OI00&feature=related). Oh, and here’s a too-short snippet of [Distant Sun (acoustic).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXOOnxLONx8&feature=related) I didn’t know about this - I have Johnny Marr and the Healers (Zak Starkey on drums!) with Down on the Corner on it originally - what a great, standout riff and tune. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/42 "2009-08-13T13:41:18Z")
…but Duke Ellington’s rhythm guitarist, Freddy Guy, got a uniquely, subtly, percussive sound. On the RCA sides in the early 30s - like the original [Solitude](http://www.jazz-on-line.com/a/rama/VIC80149-1.ram) - he has an attack almost like a woodblock at times. (I don’t think the effect was just a chance one - Ellington was known to experiment with mic placement to take advantage of room tones and such.) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/43 "2009-08-13T19:56:56Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \*\*Knopfler’s **tone on** Money for Nothing \*\*is legendary - his '58 (?) Gibson Les Paul Sunburst - picked and plucked in the classic Knopfler style - but through an overdriven amp, and it sounds like the bridge pickup with the tone rolled off (so not quite Clapton’s Woman Tone, because Clapton used the neck pickup with the tone rolled off for that…)… Great stuff, to be sure, but I’m a fan of Knopfler’s cleaner Strat tone on (for example) _Sultans of Swing_ (and others). And while we’re talking about clean Stratocaster tones, how about Robert Cray? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/44 "2009-08-13T20:13:48Z")
Pretty much all my picks have been mentioned - Marr, Mould, Buck, The Jesus & Mary Chain - but I’d add **Kevin Shields**. I love the sounds he got on _Loveless_ especially. > [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > The _September Gurls_ stuff is played on an electric mandocello, tuned like a mandolin (fifths) but an octave lower, you can’t get the voicings right with standard guitar tuning. > > OK, this is where I wade in with my usual Soft Boys reference. > > While Robyn Hitchcock is an interesting guitar player, Kimberly Rew is something else. I assumed on hearing his sound with the Soft Boys he was playing a Strat because of the whammy-esque vibrato he used, on seeing him play with Katrina and the Waves turns out he was playing an SG with P90s\* and got the vibrato by physically shaking the guitar so the neck waved back and forward. > > Here’s something on YouTube- [Queen of Eyes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSxRpkva5cw&feature=related) It’s fairly typical but the ultimate dual guitar example is probably _Kingdom of Love_. Really? You prefer Rew To Robyn? Every time I’ve seen him live, Robyn’s guitar work blows me away. The one time I saw The Soft Boys, Rew was definitely good, but didn’t seem anywhere near as original or creative to me. And I’m glad I learned this info about “September Gurls” - I had no clue! ---
**Author:** ![rbhughes1016](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@rbhughes1016](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbhughes1016)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/45 "2011-12-16T21:31:58Z")
“Honey Bee” by T. Petty & Heartbreakers. Entire jam smokes, final solo crushes ! ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/46 "2011-12-17T14:39:39Z")
Sting’s[The Wild Wild Sea](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZb4AnCQ1f0) with Dominic Miller. Michael Jackson’s [Human Nature](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmbYALa0no) with Steve Lukather Nils Lofgren’s solo on Springsteen’s [Tunnel of Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw2OnNoy5JQ) And at the other extreme: [Throwing Muses’s (?)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15f9rpGAOxY)Kristen Hersch just plug the guitar into the amp sound. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/47 "2011-12-17T14:57:39Z")
[Mazzy Star.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yidJbNm8Uo&feature=artist) (3:30) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/48 "2011-12-17T22:09:17Z")
> [@Talon\_Karrde](#): > > Especially the intro to And Your Bird Can Sing (which from I understand has two guitars playing that part) Correct. According to George Harrison, those two guitarists on AYBCS were John and Paul. . ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/49 "2011-12-17T22:12:54Z")
“Every Little Thing” (Beatles) “Brown Sugar” (Stones) . ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/50 "2011-12-17T23:52:35Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Correct. According to George Harrison, those two guitarists on AYBCS were John and Paul. I have a couple of cites\* saying that the two guitar parts were played by George and Paul. Where did you see it being John and Paul? - [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Your_Bird_Can_Sing)and “The Beatles as Musicians” by Walter Everett. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/51 "2011-12-17T23:56:53Z")
I could list approximately 435,876 songs in this thread, but the first one I thought of was [Buddy Guy’s version of _Baby Please Don’t Leave Me_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6tdlmx_GO4), not just for the awesome guitar tone, but also for the rumbliest fucking bass guitar tone I think I’ve ever heard. Goddamn I love this album; it’s one of the most perfect rock and roll albums ever recorded. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/52 "2011-12-18T03:49:30Z")
> [@K364](#): > > I have a couple of cites\* saying that the two guitar parts were played by George and Paul. Where did you see it being John and Paul? > > - [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Your_Bird_Can_Sing)and “The Beatles as Musicians” by Walter Everett. George himself told mastering engineer Steve Hoffman that it was John and Paul. I’ve read persuasive arguments in favor of it having been Paul and George, and several knowledgeable sources (including Paul himself, IIRC) maintain that it was Paul and George. To me, it sounds like Paul and George. Of course, George’s memory may have failed him on that particular question. But I’m inclined to take his word for it, if only because I always liked what he had to say. . ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/53 "2011-12-18T07:40:50Z")
Uhuh. This is a good opportunity to whip out my favourite Youtube clip: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUAg1_A7IE) Buddy Guy’s guitar on this is pretty much the perfect clean guitar tone for me – smooth as butter, with just a hint of drive from the amp to give it a bit of kick. ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/54 "2011-12-18T07:49:25Z")
As far as overdriven tones go, I’ve always liked what Kim Salmon does: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyOQf0AoFc) He’s been playing that same Telecaster for thirty years. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/55 "2011-12-18T08:20:21Z")
> [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](#): > > As far as overdriven tones go, I’ve always liked what Kim Salmon does: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyOQf0AoFc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyOQf0AoFc) > > He’s been playing that same Telecaster for thirty years. 🙂 AWESOME! I haven’t listened to this band in more than 25 years! Many thanks for reminding me of them! ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/56 "2011-12-18T08:52:40Z")
So glad this thread has come back to life, cos I failed to mention one of my all-time faves… **James Honeyman-Scott** Even as a grade school kid I knew there was something magical about his sound. The solo in “Kid” is achingly beautiful. “Tattooed Love Boys” has that solo where he does all those different riffs. You can tell he’s having so much fun. “Space Invader” is another simple but killer riff. “Private Life…” I guess I could say all I can say about him by relating that I could probably write an essay on every riff he ever played. Johnny Marr namechecks Honeyman-Scott as his last great influence before starting The Smiths. A crying shame we only have 2.5 albums worth of the guy. I have a number of Pretenders live tracks… He was even better onstage. What a waste, man. Drugs suck. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/57 "2011-12-18T10:29:58Z")
[Je](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jD2tbLND0)[ff](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esg0OUP6qNw&feature=related) [Be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziRncMpmTI)[ck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snlccdZpXmw&feature=related), Hendrix, [John](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWnt3yJ9ZhA&feature=related) [McLaughlin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jF4LQ_1f1k), [Page](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZXG0fNUUXs&feature=related), [Wes Montgomery](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U), Albert King, Mark Knopfler, Leslie West, Eric Johnson… so many… ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/58 "2011-12-18T11:17:40Z")
Oooop, wrong link for [McLaughlin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcsPhTMGOUM); [this acoustic version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JajJr48PCWM) is awesome too. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/59 "2011-12-18T18:07:49Z")
Clapton “In the Presence of the Lord,” 'White Room." Grant Green, any tune off “Feeling the Spirit,” or … the album (one of my favorites of all time and can’t remember the title) with Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson “Idle Moments!” Yes, got it. Or, really anything he did. Jim Hall – his duet album with Ron Carter on bass. Jimi Hendrix. Nuff said. ETA saw someone got in Wes – I think his best recorded album is “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of WM” with Hank Jones on piano. All those solos are epic, and I sing them in my sleep, but his tone is pure Wes. How do guitarists do it? With their thumb! ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816/60 "2011-12-18T19:40:10Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > The first artist/album that came to mind is Robin Trower’s **Bridge of Sighs**. I haven’t listened to it for years, but that guitar sound is deeply ingrained into my memory. [Wow, I forgot…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0d1HilfLxA) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-bands-with-guitar-tones-you-love/505816.md?page=4)