Successful Rockers That Were Tone Deficient

[Freddy G]

Holy hell!

This entire thread just made me re-evaluate my opinion of many of the posters here

 

[SteveC]

Jimmy Page. Live tone was to die for. Studio tone sounded like a 1940's half-dead radio converted to a practice amp by an amateur..

And, yet… I think exactly opposite.

His live tone was noise, most of it anyway. There were a few (read: FEW) moments of tone-excellence in his live performances. But, IMHO, the vast majority was utter rubbish.

The studio recordings, however, were tone-engineered marvels. Taking guitars and amps that no one, even to this day, would pair and combining them with creative microphone placements, produced memorable tones.

I could live without ever hearing any more live LZ performances. But, I've worn the grooves of most of my studio recordings.

 

[jonas335]

The first Led Z album was really influential among guitarists when it first came out. We all loved that huge sound he got, on records at least...

 

[Nickel Zens]

I've tossed this around inside my head, and I don't have a good way to put it.

There are and have been very successful people that had shit for tone, and never seemed to notice, because the music sold, and because it made people feel good.

Sometimes here, we get caught up in wanting, needing, craving that tone that starts somewhere in the middle of your back, and climbs up your spine, and spreads goosebumps down both arms; I get that. Wow, do I get that.

But there's guys out there that have done very fvcking wonderful for themselves, making classic tunes and giga bucks, while having blah, ho hum mediocre tonez.

I get that too; the feel good, simplistic riffs and lyrics that everyone can relate to. Wow, do I get that too.

So I'll say it.

Bob Seegar and his '72 Tele custom sounded/sounds kinda lame, but you can't argue his success, or his feel good popular tunes.

I'd have loved had he had picked up a Lester and ran it thru a nice Marshall or Orange for a few tunes, but he never did that I know of. Or a SC tele, thru a twin or DR. Just a keyboard for change.

There's been a lot of others over the years, but Seegar is sort of the first guy that comes to mind to me.

Just once, I wish he'da kicked out the jams.

Ritchie Blackmore :- Deep Purple / Rainbow is one of my fav guitarists for technique, he just flows. I think he would of sounded better with an SG or LP tho!!! at least in the studio!!!!

 

[LeftyF2003]

And, yet… I think exactly opposite.

His live tone was noise, most of it anyway. There were a few (read: FEW) moments of tone-excellence in his live performances. But, IMHO, the vast majority was utter rubbish.

The studio recordings, however, were tone-engineered marvels. Taking guitars and amps that no one, even to this day, would pair and combining them with creative microphone placements, produced memorable tones.

I could live without ever hearing any more live LZ performances. But, I've worn the grooves of most of my studio recordings.

+10 - the tone they got on the guitars on the studio recordings was epic, legendary, and perfect for those songs (and as I recall a lot of it was his Tele or his Danelectro). I just wish that AOR FM radio had not played most of it to death!

I downloaded the multi track of Ramble On. really interesting to hear how that track was built. There's one guitar track that sounds AWFUL soloed out but in the mix it really adds. This is a great example of what a good studio guitarist Page is, and how a guitar sound may need to be thinned out just so it doesn't stamp on the rest of the instruments. The test I've always been taught is to turn the track on and off as you play the mix and objectively assess if the track helps the mix or if it detracts or does nothing for the tune. That can be a hard thing to do and why the role of producer can be so critical.

 

[coldsteal2]

Define tone in this situation? It seems no one is thinking alike on this.

Yea where im from Tone Deaf means you sing off key
always too sharp or too flat

 

[X–Ray]

Yea where im from Tone Deaf means you sing off key
always too sharp or too flat

Good to see you CS!

 

[splatter]

it would be much easier to name those with good tone than those with poor tone .Because there are so many with poor tone

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

You guys want to hear bad tone? Start listening to multitracks. Until you do, you don't really know what you're hearing.

Here's somne good examples... download and open. If it's a MOGG file, use Audacity.

Ramble On

Smoke on the Water -

China Grove

Layla

All Right Now

American Band (Since someone mentioned Grand Funk)

Rock and Roll is Dead (Someone mentioend Kravitz)

Rockin in the Free World (SOmeone mentioned Young.. awful, awful tone)

Pride and Joy

Crazy Train

Runnign with the Devil



enjoy.....

Funny thing is, sometimes a crappy tone is exactly what the song needs given its mix.

 

[edro]

Go to 2:04. M'boy plays it just right for the song.

Lenny Kravitz It Ain't Over Till It's Over - Greatest Hits - YouTube

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nawt.

 

[MikeyTheCat]

I must be pretty old as I don't hear most of those multi-tracks as bad tone, just the tone that was used at the time.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nawt.

What does a redneck know about soul music anyway?!

 

[edro]

What does a redneck know about soul music anyway?!

It's a trick question, ain't it?


Singing fish?

 

[MikeyTheCat]

What does a redneck know about soul music anyway?!

Absolutely nothing!

 

[edro]

Absolutely nothing!

 

[WolfeMacleod]

Funny thing is, sometimes a crappy tone is exactly what the song needs given its mix.

Yep.

I must be pretty old as I don't hear most of those multi-tracks as bad tone, just the tone that was used at the time.

Not all of them, no. I was quite distracted from several different angles when trying to put that list together, it gave me a headache.
If you can find the isolated guitar track for.. The Stones' Sympathy For the Devil... that is some awful, AWFUL tone. I didn't have that one uploaded though...

Bad Tone is subjective.. I really like the Free tone in All Right Now. Put it in another song though, and it doesn't work well at all. Same for most tones, I've found.
In the song, they may sound great. Take it out, and it usually sounds like poo.

 

[Kashmir]

The Beatles had complete shit tone.

Only to the tone deaf.

 

[MikeyTheCat]

Bad Tone is subjective.. I really like the Free tone in All Right Now. Put it in another song though, and it doesn't work well at all. Same for most tones, I've found.
In the song, they may sound great. Take it out, and it usually sounds like poo.

That's a lesson I finally learned with my fledgling home recording hobby. In each song something's got to give for a really good mix and often that means guitars will take a bit of a hit. Unless of course your EVH on the first several VH records.

It's like Thumpalumpacus said, "Funny thing is, sometimes a crappy tone is exactly what the song needs given its mix."

 

[Kashmir]

I know we're talking rockers, but just got to say that some of the blues guys over the years were/are just atrocious. Scratchy, fuzzy, screechy, muddy, I could go on and on. Some of them in the live area as well. I've heard some of the most godawful tones from Strat style guitars into Fender tube maps cranked. A downright distorted mess.

 

[coldsteal2]

Good to see you CS!

Good to see you also, had a rough summer health wise but
doing better now