TOP 20 GREATEST ROCK GUITAR SOUNDS OF ALL TIME

In this episode we discuss the top 20 greatest Rock guitar sounds of all time.
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[@RickBeato]

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[@steveblackburn9124]

Hey, ever heard of Jeff Beck?

[@agskytter8977]

@@steveblackburn9124 Or Prince, Santana and Zappa?

[@seamusmclaughlin7142]

Rory Gallagher???

[@baird5776mullet]

This is incomplete without Stevie Ray Vaughn, change my mind.

[@rogerfox9028]

I live sweet Jane .......oh yeah

[@blizzdog3881]

When I think of a unique guitar sound one man that should of been on here is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, this man never gets any credit.

[@marcuswilliams6840]

So true.

[@jjzuc]

Mark Knopfler's 'Money For Nothing' tone was based on Billy Gibbons tone.

[@helenwilliams7065]

Billy Gibbons! Intro to Cheap Sunglasses

[@jimpickens9681]

totally

[@blizzdog3881]

Well if Jimi Hendrix said Billy one of the best guitarist he heard then it ok for me lol

[@KillertoneLabs]

Maybe you could break this into groupings: Top 20 Stand-out Tele 🎸 tones Top 20 Stand-out Les Paul 🎸 tones Top 20 Stand-out Strat 🎸 tones

[@bradcarter6286]

Brian May’s ‘fat bottom girls’ tone Jimmy Page’s ‘Black Dog’, ‘heartbreaker’, ‘the ocean’ Angus and Malcolm Young’s ‘Back in Black’, ‘Highway to Hell’ Hendrix’s ‘purple haze’ Cantrell’s ‘man in the box’ Gibbons ‘la grange’ Slash ‘sweet child o mine’ Iommi’s ‘sweet leaf’ Lifeson’s ‘limelight’ Walsh/Felder’s ‘hotel California’ Duane Allman/Betts’ ‘whipping post’ I could go on and on, but these are ones that would be on my list.

[@smitsonavane6278]

Uhh why does All Along The Watchtower get overlooked by everyone as Jimi Hendrix's best sound There's a reason why it's used in basically everything that has The Vietnam War in it There's a reason why it was ranked as no.5 on Rolling Stone's top 100 best guitar solos It's way better than Purple Haze for me seriously

[@marekwichniarek268]

@@smitsonavane6278 You're absolutely right about "All Along the Watchtower" but "Purple Haze" is also great.

[@guillermogonitorello7328]

Now an Here, B May, Smoke on the water, Burn, R Blackmore,

[@stuartanthony6409]

Yes - all of those save for Slash - there were several bands that sounded like that back then - they were generally speed merchants whereas Slash just brought the pentatonic blues scale back and everyone thought it was great even though it had never gone away. On that matter, Steve Vai's tone on Dave Lee Roth albums (the Jose Arredondo modified Marshall JCM800 which screamed), Robin Trower 'Bridge Of Sighs', Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson with Night Ranger - great tone, Paul Weller - anything by The Jam who created a genre of their own - on the matter of creating a genre of their own - Adam and the Ants post punk guitar tone and that "Burundi beat". Hey - Gary Moore's general tone (personally my fave is his Strat tone in "Corridors of Power" but thats not what I mean) - why is he important? I hear you ask, because he was one of the owners of one of the most recognisable guitars in history which had a "manufacturer's error" where the pickups were wired out of phase in the centre position (I'm sure you all know which guitar this is) giving it a very distinctive and sought after sound that Peter Green was well known for. Iron Maiden's double guitars, For that matter, Thin Lizzy's double guitars ... the list is endless, Ronson's 70's guitar tones for David Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughn's 80's tones (his work on David Bowies Let's Dance was indicative of his mainstream interest), Def Leppard's Phil Collen's heavily compressed tone on Hysteria (this was one of the biggest selling albums of all time). I understand that some of these are genre tones and that it wasn't really mainstream but they were huge selling albums which prompted guitarists to seek those tones. Hell - now Gary Moore's guitar has a "reissue' which includes the wrongly wired up pickups and Gibson copy guitars, Vintage brand by JHS have even made an exact copy of this guitar so that one is a must in any list,

[@danielperktas]

Brian May’s The Show Must Go On is just greatness of tone

[@jgfunk]

I remember when "Money for Nothing" came out in 1985. I was 12. That guitar sound and riff floored everyone. It didn't matter what kind of music you were into (e.g. Rap, heavy metal, R&B) , everyone loved that song and the sound of that guitar and that riff.

[@Power_Press711]

That was the video of the year. If people who don't remember only knew how big that song was

[@WaltPinkman84]

Not to mention that's the beginning of MTV and one of the first music videos we'd ever seen

[@cameronmcdowell5899]

And based on an overheard conversation I think, ironic.

[@tommorris5069]

Tony Iommi’s guitar tones off of the albums Paranoid and Master of Reality are almost 50 years old and still revolutionary.

[@Amarilliobrillo]

I was scrolling down to say “no war pigs??” And saw this, guess I’m not alone

[@williw.5815]

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath has really cool sounds too

[@aturner2799]

Sabbath well perhaps one of my favourite bands with the riff playing of the great Mr ionic second to none

[@aturner2799]

Iommi

[@divebomber6]

He also managed to shy away from one of Sabbath's offspring, Slayer. Without Sabbath, Metallica may have not existed in the first place.

[@jackh8561]

Brian may is such a legend for building his own guitar with his dad as a kid and using the same guitar for every song his whole life, you can her the coin scratching so clearly

[@ethanlora6054]

And an amp made by John Deacon too!

[@johndrowe5281]

And the coin is very much a part of the sound that one hears when listening to Mr May’s work ... and the “licks” that fall under the fingers and coin that would not so readily make themselves available to a plectrum and the same wrist>hand>fingers...!🎸👨🏼‍⚕️🎸. 🌲🎅🏻🎄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😴🌀💤

[@stuartanthony6409]

@@ethanlora6054 Erm ... I think you'll find he exclusively uses Vox AC30's

[@jonasrmb01]

@@stuartanthony6409 idk what amp it was originally but john deacon who was an electrician modified it therefore it was/is called "deacy amp"

[@stuartanthony6409]

@@jonasrmb01 OK - didn't know that ... learn something new every day :) However, I've just looked it up - its not the "amp" that he modified, thats the AC30 made by Vox. It was a little treble amplifier (ie whats known as a treble boost to guitarists) which gave Brian's guitar more "zing" by increasing the treble by 3db thus boosting the output of the guitar at the same time and this drives the amp more for a tighter more compressed sound. Yes, you can buy them - my friend's got one - I didn't know it was called the "deacy". You attach it to your strap and plug your lead into that and another short lead into the guitar One of my guitars is fitted with an internal one which gives me a 3db boost on the treble and the same on themed - it was hand wound by the luthier that made my guitar in 1988. The one Deacy made attached to the inside of the guitar amp and the input was exchanged to route through the little treble boost first and then into the input of the amp - so it was always on. Hence Brian's tight trebly tone which we all want (you'd also need his guitar too for best accuracy). Just to confirm, Deacy definitely did not mess with the actual amplifier itself - this little thing was just like a pedal. There are loads of treble boosting pedals now which you literally plug into and can switch on and off with a foot switch - they often are in a chain with other pedals like distortion, modulation and delay, etc.

[@500a6500]

Shine On You Crazy Diamond always gives me chills.

[@MrVepe47]

I literally cried when he played that bit. It's crazy how music can do that

[@josephhenry1084]

D. Piel . You know Shine on you Crazy Diamond is a lamenting tribute to Syd Barrett?

[@Super0Danny]

I believe it’s actually recorded on a Les Paul 🤔

[@francoisthouvenin189]

Does the same to me!

[@akip7627]

@@Super0Danny im not sure, but i can hear tremolo sound on that

[@ericportillo8277]

I remember hearing Walk by Pantera as a teenager and how distinct of a metal sound it was, kinda sounded like dime was playing through a toy amp, only 100 feet tall. Santana's always instantly recognizable, too

[@clifftheplanteddvd6330]

Sounds like a chainsaw, like a lot of the tracks on CFH and VDOP

[@sinistrality7883]

Ironic because he's known for also playing one of them small amp marshall amps as his backstage warmup amp.

[@gabrielpaiva9070]

@@clifftheplanteddvd6330 Any Dimebag Darrell riff sounds like a chainsaw. I think Dimebag could have filled the list with his sounds.

[@vikingord5030]

Dimebag’s sound was unique and revolutionary. I remember hearing Mouth for War for the first time and being absolutely blown away. CFH, VDoP and FBD totally changed the game with regards to metal.

[@qigung]

Two on my list: 1. Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover 2. Johnny Marr (The Smiths) - How Soon Is Now

[@pothos89]

My thoughts also went straight to How Soon Is Now, but I guess you could argue that The Smiths y were not a rock band in the same vein as other bands on this particular list.

[@nickn2794]

Isn't how soon is now inspired by Mona by the Rolling Stones?

[@spookerz35]

Just about anything by Johnny Marr could qualify...the guy is a legend! The Smiths could be considered "alternative rock" so it fits into rock I guess. Unless, of course, Rick decides to do a separate episode devoted precisely to alternative rock. Johnny played so many different guitars on the Smith's albums so its hard to pick just one.

[@rebeltuba9422]

Eric Johnson is instantly recognizable.

[@realto619]

Ha! The main reason I scrolled down to the comments was to add "How Soon Is Now". Glad to see someone concurs. Love how it lives on in Charmed reruns on TNT...

[@twistedviewlabs]

Anything David Gilmour played was excellent. Such a distinct and beautiful Strat tone. Seriously, his guitar licks alone could create Utopia.

[@standbytogo123]

Agree, could have included 'Coming back to Life' from the Division Bell, Love that track.

[@samtheman123]

I think Slash’s Wah tone on the Sweet Child O’ Mine solo was an all time great tone

[@moizqaiser7255]

Im pretty sure he didn't use it cause GNR are blockers

[@riccardobadalone7964]

I think that’s an excuse, he mentions many he says are notorious blockers. There’s a bias there I think. How can you have so many top 20 vids and never bring the band up at all? I like Rick, but he’s overtly slanted toward certain bands, I’ve accepted it

[@nicholasgardiner9601]

@@riccardobadalone7964 don't mention it. Share and enjoy!

[@doctajuice]

@@riccardobadalone7964 Rick is biased against blockers, which is pretty reasonable

[@ayeyobossman6151]

fuck no. nails on a chalkboard tone

[@lepurpleboi3266]

Interesting thing about Eruption, Eddie used that as a warmup and their producer decided it would go on their first album

[@rodionraskolnikov2281]

@Le Purple boi

[@rodionraskolnikov2281]

Lol

[@MessyMessier83]

Another cool fact: Eddie was only 17 or 18 when he wrote Eruption.

[@Memu_]

Makes sense considering it's basically just a collection of different techniques in a row

[@guff4]

"Eruption" is nice, but we ALL know "Aint Talkin Bout Love" is the one we were thinkin of.

[@thornsofchaos]

The song eruption pretty started the tapping technique Eddie was famous for.

[@guff4]

Yeah... "technique". But this list is about sound. Go back and listen to the intro guitar of ATBL. Anyhooo.. thanks for 'schooling' me on early VanHalen guitar. I was lost but now I'm found.

[@doctorevil5752]

I would say that "I'm the One" is by far the most explosive "song" on that album and the sound is utterly bombastic.

[@goneflying140]

Eddie's Brown Sound is king no matter which song it is!!!

[@goneflying140]

There are so many great tones.. I really liked some of your choices. I think as far Big fat Strat sounds go, Stevie Ray Vaughn had great tone. My favorite of all time is Eddie's Brown Sound. I love the way he used his effects, especially on Ain't talking bout love, and Unchained, where he toggles the Flanger on and off for short rythm parts. Then the MXR Phase 90 is so cool on the solos. I liked your choices with Steely Dan and Boston too. That warm fuzzy Marshall tone just blows my mind.

[@leemaples1806]

Leslie West got an epic guitar sound on Mississippi Queen Still sounds great today.

[@aaronmccutcheon]

Yes his tone was Bad-ass!

[@misterknightowlandco]

And it was a solid state pa head by sunn 😆

[@neilclappguitar]

I agree. I would put that in the top 20!!

[@JohnSmith-wd9rc]

Yes. Leslie West. One of my all time favorites.

[@andystokes8702]

I would have gone for the chorus sound on Nantucket Sleighride. It still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up whenever I hear it.

[@SpaTZz9]

Thank you for the inclusion of Alex Lifeson. Highly ignored in almost every guitar list. he is unique and amazing.

[@crimfan]

Alex had such open ears. He started as kind of a Jimmy Page clone, got into Hackett and Holdswirth, then really got into Andy Summers, then a number of grunge players, and kept going. From the late '70s on, he always sounded like himself, but you could tell he he listened intently to other players and incorporated what he heard into his sound. And, of course, so many kids learned to play guitar from what he played. All three members of Rush are a HUGE influence on generations of players.

[@charlie172011]

others: White Room by Cream Moonage Daydream by Bowie Firth of Fifth by Genesis Paranoid Android by Radiohead

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

And I misspelled it... schmuck.

[@waynerazzi7308]

@Dave Claghorn Jr I think it is more the case that the Rush most people are familiar with is the-post MP albume Rush. Lifeson's work after that was of a tamer variety in line with the trends of music that followed. Pre MP is the best parts of the treasure trove that is Lifeson's work.

[@SamB-fv6su]

Having seen Rush live about 30 times during my life, I have to respectfully disagree with you about Alex Lifeson. He has been “overlooked” by most reviewers because he was a weak player and propped up by the great musicians Peart and Lee. Lifeson was lucky to be there. Play hockey next to Wayne Gretzky and your mother would look like a superstar

[@CGQuarterly]

Would liked to have seen Siamese Dream, and more specifically Cherub Rock on here, but I get that it's gotta be hard to whittle down all of the rock guitar universe down into 20 songs.

[@steveflorida8699]

Robin Trower, Santana, Deep Purple, Steppinwolf, and CCR are distinctive sounds.

[@ross6519]

Should’ve mentioned Jerry Cantrell’s sound from Dirt and Tripod they just sound so disgusting and dark it’s mesmerizing as to how powerful and confident the notes are played

[@anthonysclafani3963]

YES. Cantrell & AIC are soooo underrated

[@kevinelliott5823]

Bordeaux Them Bones🤘

[@ross6519]

Kevin Elliott Great song. Listen to Nothin’ Song off the 3rd record that sound is unlike anything in rock

[@Are_you_eyeballing_me]

Alice in Chains never gets any love.

[@mogsy2112]

Cantrell's dark, sludgy distortion invokes a mood.

[@pinkraven4402]

The solo from "La Villa Strangiato" is unreal. My top 5 easily

[@Player-125]

Good one

[@Exspazament]

Amen!!

[@knutnskar6796]

Yup

[@g.belanger8302]

The live version from ESL is awesome

[@dalemcdowell8885]

@@g.belanger8302 it truly is; he simply goes off. This is the best rock instrumental, IMO.

[@stringtheoryguitars4952]

Owner Of A Lonely Heart. That incredible solo using the harmonizer was so crazy... plus all the compressed clean tones with chorus... SO good!

[@patrickallan481]

We've heard Gimmie Shelter so often it almost seems like a cliche, but it's just amazing.

[@psykomystro]

That intro is EPIC!!! A real masterpiece! 🔥🔥🔥

[@leahcar5312]

as soon as it comes on, i have martin scorcese movie montage in my head 😂🤷

[@epicfoofightersrockstar6602]

Gimmie

[@javierrojasmusic7517]

It's true, in this song you realize how amazing Keith Richards is as a guitarist and how underrated he is.

[@markgowans]

Its surprising Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath isnt on the list. Tony basically created the heavy metal sound.

[@escazon1]

Yes! He needs to be here

[@ogulcanyolcu8714]

his tone on Heaven and Hell song. Even he couldn't get that tone again. That intro... Dude I can't talk, sorry..

[@Acroposthion]

This is true. Especially given HOW he achieved(/s) his sound. *A 24-fret SG with unique pups, reeeeeally thin strings, C# tuning (mostly), into stacks of Laneys.* Nobody else has ever gone near such a combo.

[@Nephilim-81]

Oh yes. Lord of this world should be on there. 🤗

[@SrSacaninha]

He's a blocker.

[@festcentral]

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top should be on this list. He had so many original, iconic tones from Waitin' For The Bus to La Grange to Tush to Cheap Sunglasses to Sharp Dressed Man, etc. Such a varied tonal palette. Could have easily bumped the Chili Peppers.

[@nswhorse]

You could start a fire in a pinch with Billy's tone.

[@collinkroen5753]

Brown Sugar for me (although La Grange is a close second), more times than not the sound of that guitar brings a tear to my eye. I'm getting misty just thinking about it.

[@srb_keepthechange]

true

[@chrismunsonmusic3432]

The dueling guitars at the end of "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide"... Can't beat it

[@altadena57]

Especially his pinch harmonics; he's so good at hitting them and the tone blows me away.

[@dean4559]

the Clapton sound from 'Sunshine of your Love' is my #1 favorite guitar tone. It is so totally raw and almost beyond control. A totally raw tube sound. #2 is Pet Townshend in "we dont get fooled again". #3 "everybody wants some" from Van Halen. I have to agree with Andy Summers tone - fantastic.

[@dont_follow5777]

Gilmour's sound on "Time." That lengthy solo.

[@andreskosberg4566]

Beautiful

[@guitarheroguy5]

I think that's his best ever tone.

[@turdferguson8227]

Gilmores sound on everything is great. He’s got the most recognizable sound. Beautiful licks

[@kevinmcneeley879]

I would have chosen the 1st lead on Comfortably Numb

[@stephenwyatt7747]

@@kevinmcneeley879 i just picked the solo in Time as my fave solo in the comments section, then i saw this comment. When i was in high school Dark Side Of The Moon was played at Friday night parties everywhere. A local band did a very good version of Time one night at our high school dance. Of all the records i had from that era this one still holds up today as a timeless classic. a true work of art.

[@TMats100]

Whole Lotta Love was the first thing I thought of

[@rwbmaat]

Me too

[@randicollier1367]

For tone from guitar, base, harmonica, and those killer drums along with Robert Plants voice it is When the Levy Breakes. Each part has such rich tones.

[@TheBatugan77]

For me, Dazed and Confused.

[@daviddemaria3982]

Yeah, has to be that over Ramble On

[@jonn443]

Jerry Cantrell: I Stay Away, Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Junkhead, Again. His sound defined the 90s Rock/ Grunge Era.

[@satyajeetpatil8177]

Kim Thayil too :)

[@critchie2936]

I came here to say this. Cantrell's newer stuff is amazing too. The guitar sounds on Rainier Fog are fantastic...

[@marvinstarr6399]

Killer tone for sure

[@daviddemaria3982]

No argument. Dirt into and riff is absolutely killer too.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

The opening riff on Van Halen Mean Street off the Fair Warning album has got to be the most unique sound ever created by a guitar. Can’t think of anything else that compares

[@robertfrederick4714]

Agreed!!!!!!!

[@scottcoleman5088]

This is true, and my friend from Argentina, who knows a lot of music, had never heard mean street. It blew him away into think that. It's 43 years old this year.

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

​​@@scottcoleman5088Has he introduced you to some Cerati, Spinetta and Charly García?

[@phast1]

Stevie Stevie Stevie! Mister Vaughn’s clean tones were absolutely formidable.

[@philebbesen]

phast1 I’m hoping SRV wasn’t included because it’s Blues not Rock...because he had the best tone alive

[@redkingeye]

I totally agree, his tone was so responsive to his touch as well. He could go from soft and sweet to a scream just by changing his pick attack. Just beautiful.

[@SuperBroncosguy]

GOAT.

[@tommathews3964]

Jimi's opening wah on "Voodoo Chile" is seminal!

[@sarojaband4664]

A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres are the deepest, most complex albums in the entire RUSH catalogue: Xanadu, Cygnus X1 pts 1 & 2, La Villa. Masterpieces all!!

[@mogsy2112]

I could listen to Xanadu on loop, for the rest of my life.

[@antonleimbach648]

Bro, I can’t believe you didn’t have “How soon is now?” on this list. The guitar work is truly phenomenal and for years I thought it was a synthesizer instead of a guitar.

[@davidtoma7319]

Hell Yes, should have made the list.

[@crazyfire100]

Oh agreed . That’s an awesome one

[@BlueeyesofSkye]

Johnny Marr has an amazing tone, style. I’m an EVH and Schenker guy and I agree.

[@OlYables]

Agree on that. Also, why is the Andy Summers sound just the first chord to “A Hard Day’s Night”?

[@Dan-nt2yb]

It’s not really Rock. But..you’re correct…it’s fuk’n amazing.👍🏾

[@MrDavisJordan]

Siamese Dream has some of the most iconic guitar sounds of the 1990s on it.

[@Gatchamon]

MrDavisJordan I’m not the biggest Pumpkins fan. But “Cherub Rock” is a colossus of tone. The intro guitars, the primary riffs, and the solo are all incredible.

[@rockfish1000]

@Jim Derwin Mayonnaise almost made me cry the first time I heard it. Im almost 50, and I still get a boner when the solo kicks in. Ive never heard anything like it.

[@Goctagon]

Absolutely. The tones on that record are so thick and so heavy. They really create an amazing sonic space when you listen to the songs. Songs like Rocket, Quiet, and Hummer in particular.

[@thebigjimmyd]

How could I forget Rocket?!?!? Goddamn I love that tune

[@jetboy_]

I hope I can still get a woodie when I'm 50, and yes people undermine lord corgans tone all to often.

[@davidwinokur2131]

The guitar sound that blew me away was Jimi Hendrix live on a Strat through three Dual Showman on Foxy Lady. Yes, I was at the concert at the old Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco!

[@garyfredericks814]

Man you're older than me!!!

[@davidwinokur2131]

@@garyfredericks814 When I was born the Dead Sea only had the sniffles!

[@hanszlh6522]

Hi David , just by & 'bout your 'age' , ,,, are you by any chance related to a Ken Winokur , of Alloy Music - silent movies accompaniement ????

[@davidwinokur2131]

@@hanszlh6522 No, not related to Ken. Winokur is actually my adopted name.

[@davidwinokur2131]

@Mr. Diaz I'm not sure of the exact year, but probably '67 when the first album came out. The concert might have been in '68.

[@3LLT33]

La Villa Strangiato has Lifeson's best solo and one of the best solos ever recorded.

[@randallphillips8285]

It's part of my fat man walking regime! My favorite Rush

[@mathijsbastiaansen5394]

My favorite Rush solo is from Anthem.

[@danb3080]

Trees is quite complex and joyful sounding, makes it a good listen too,

[@Thesaurcery4U2C]

Alex Lifeson's solos is why I picked up a guitar 35 years ago Those nasty licks on overture and temples on 2112 still wail heavy in my core when I hear them. Triumph ZZ, ELP, Cream and KINGS X ( who are rarely discussed ) It's amazing the music the three right musicians playing together can make. Seether had a bunch of good songs too. Man I FKN LOVE MUSIC. Update... Sounds are like women... Seasonal and all should be enjoyed. This is the tones that are yanking my chain this season. Pepper Keenan Jerry Cantrell Ty Tabor In no particular order Just my particular taste. LOW & a certain NASTY drive.

[@prodigyguitar35]

I'm so happy to see Alex Lifeson's sound from La Villa Strangiato on here. Great sound!

[@stephenwebb921]

Totally agree! The first guitar sound from me that I thought of was actually the beginning of Spirt of Radio. Just sounds so cool

[@udsmall7306]

subtitled "an exercise in self indulgence" 😂💪

[@billyhodges7194]

Alex is my absolute favourite guitarist ever , so underrated along with Andy summers

[@ThorneyedWT]

Jimi and Iommi have to be here. Proceeding to watch.

[@stanislavmigra]

@@shaft9000 complete agreement.

[@radtech21]

Fantastic choices!

[@JustMikeH]

Iommi not being on the list was a little surprising. Using the light gauge strings (often tuned down) with a treble booster gave him such a unique sound. I've heard so many people try to emulate and miss.

[@grizzle7935]

@@shaft9000 nah Paperback Writer definitely has some great early tones on it.

[@CorbCorbin]

Chevelle and Linkin Park her though. 😀

[@plumbobthing]

I think Robin Trower’s tone and varied sounds are well worth a mention

[@billblessington1053]

If talking great sounds/tone how do you leave out bridge of sighs?

[@edwardlagrossa1246]

"Song Remains The Same" remains Jimmy Page's finest guitar work of his career. One long guitar solo. Only Robert can sing over intense heavy guitar riffs @ the same time and sound intertwined creatively.

[@divineblessings3780]

And Dazed and Confused? My favourite of course is Song Remains the Same.

[@divineblessings3780]

And Blackmore's Mistreated solo.

[@Hoom401]

10 years gone??

[@joestefanoni5263]

I was thinking No Quarter too. That heavy intro is like no other sound ever produced

[@billgendel6564]

The solo that Page does on No Quarter on that album is AWESOME!

[@mikeyb6859]

Trevor Rabin’s unique sound on Yes’s “Owner of a Lonely Heart” was the first one that jumped to my mind.

[@jackmehoff2312]

The whole album was fantastic!

[@bentleighboy]

Shhhh, you are supposed to hate that album.

[@SqualeProductions]

"How Soon is Now" by The Smiths. That tremolo sound is killer!

[@jimsmint]

Yeah but not exactly novel. Straight up Bo Diddley rip off, ahem, excuse me, homage.

[@mattgilbert7347]

All of Marr's sounds are divine, as is his playing.

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

It doesn’t even really sound like a guitar. It’s an amazing sound. I love that song. I think it’s one of the best uses of effects pedals ever.

[@nesfan8]

Yeah, anything Marr plays is godlike

[@user-wu8sj3ee3d]

SqualeProductions And This Charming Man has great tone and is an amazing hook.

[@Kevin-bb7wk]

Van Halen - "Ain't Talkin' "Bout Love." That sound is just so sick.

[@isaacmitchell1845]

Adam Jones , his tone on soooo many songs, Jimmy, Jambi ( especially the solo), Lateralus clean and the distortion in the intro, even his newer tone in descending, invincible and 7empest. Please more Tool related videos!! You’re absolutely awesome and an inspiration!! Thank you for all the hard work and passion!!

[@aidenlosh9518]

Just saying, my favorite Rush sound is the opening to The Spirit of Radio. The complex finger movements needed to play the song combined with the speed at which Alex Lifeson plays it is amazing, but the way it is manipulated by the chorus and flanger pedals makes it mesmerizing.

[@beefymcskillet5601]

I took one look at the intro and I’m like “ how In the hell would you do this live”

[@txdrmr]

It is amazing how four notes can create such emotion. Shine on still gives me chills when I hear that guitar.

[@paoloribaldini]

I just played "Sultans of Swing" on bass before watching this. Knopfler is a so great guitarist (and singer) and so often forgotten... Genius on the six-string!

[@Slider6294]

Absolutely he is. Knopfler is brilliant...funny thing is, I'm surprised Rick picked Money for Nothing because that's actually quite different from his trademark sound.

[@robertbarrass7519]

Wow totally agree with the Farewell to Kings 'Hemispheres duality. My favourite Rush albums and they link seamlessly!!

[@bd6839]

Hollow-Pantera: Dimebag has an unmistakable tone, Them Bones- Alice In Chains: Jerry Cantrell’s tone is very recognizable, and what about Stevie Ray Vaughan?!

[@nswhorse]

+1 for Cantrell. Love his sound. Grunge, but heavy. Dimebag proved nobody needs tubes. Or at least he didn't. For me, Dime on Vulgar and Hetfield on Black are the ultimate heavy sounds.

[@rogerfurer2273]

We really need the 50 or even 100 greatest tones.

[@sakadabara]

Roger Furer , no, what we really need is to repent and confess

[@paulgtr3636]

Angus Young's "Highway to hell" intro is the most rocking rock that ever rocked.

[@Hyce777]

I was gonna say, how do you not include any of AC/DC's tones? They have some of the *best* rock and roll guitar sound, period.

[@jj9749]

Exactly, when he said at the beginning that everyone would guess the first one, I thought it must be HIghway to Hell

[@treffbennett6534]

Plymouth Rock is jealous of Angus' rockin' riff and tone-Highway To Hell intro is why I get up in the morning! Nice mention, amigo!

[@ohboi9578]

Mark Huber because Page had that tone first.

[@sonycans]

Na... Thunderstruck.

[@RyanKnott]

I think Robert Smith of The Cure is incredibly underrated as both a guitar player and a master of tone and texture. The incredible layers of guitars on Disintegration and Wish are stunning.

[@Terrahoskins]

Omg yes

[@carlharrison9503]

Brian May uses a 6 pence coin. Not just any, but ones before the 1960's. An amazing footnote.

[@MandolinRich]

Dr Brian May, Astro Physicist, also wound his own pickups. talk about attention to detail.

[@gunkulator1]

Everybody and I mean everybody who ever picked up a guitar in the late 80s was trying to imitate the sound Slash got out of his guitar in "Sweet Child O' Mine". To this day it is still one of the most iconic guitar sounds of all time.

[@ziraprod6090]

boooo

[@gosmo4504]

If Beatles...why not Revolution? They plugged directly into the mixing board to create the most gain they could. Revolutionary !

[@mrlowhe]

thought it had to be on there... people were returning records because they thought they were defective

[@angrynerd2103]

Helter skelter had a nice sound as well.

[@jonahledesma]

"Bulls On Parade" to this day still has one of the heaviest and fattest sounds ever put to tape. It holds up incredibly well and the band channels a ferocity that is near unmatched.

[@johnruess9699]

In every Rage song there is something special by Tom.

[@DavidRomano-g5v]

Anything done by Neil Young and Crazy Horse,That’s What I’m Talking About 🎸😎

[@daviddemaria3982]

I would have put Killing in the Name

[@bodiew7368]

If I want to get pumped up I'll play Bulls on Parade

[@roywydeman7017]

Jeff Beck, the maestro of tone. Many great sounds including the explosive distortion and wah wah on Ain't Superstitious and the ultra clean sound of Cause We've Ended As Lovers.

[@stratcat4450]

Best living guitar player who innovated a dictionary of tone and technique.

[@bluescat59]

He must be a blocker. That’s the only reason the master could be omitted

[@michellerivera4090]

Nice choices, and pretty well known for these times. But these greats stand on the shoulders of the 60s power groups. Like Free, Grand Funk, Moby Grape, The Doors, Love, Santana, Doobe Brothers, on n on npn

[@a2ndopynyn]

@@michellerivera4090 Umm. You are aware that Jeff Beck was in the Yardbirds, correct? So far as great Beck solo tones, both Blow by Blow & Wired have tons of 'em. I could pick the talkbox from either She's a Woman or Thelonius, and the lead tones from Scatterbrain, on BbB. Also, the solo tone from Come Dancing and all the sounds of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, on Wired.

[@carmstrong6507]

Both Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar sound from Cold Shot and Eric Clapton’s “Woman Tone” should have been on this list.

[@steveoconnor7069]

I couldn't believe he left EC'S "woman tone' off the list either.

[@lisakaz35]

You mean Clapton's "wah-wah" from Cream?

[@steveoconnor7069]

There's a Cream era interview with all 3 members of the band and Eric explains how he got his "woman Tone" on his SG. He does demonstrate the wah wah pedal as it was a new "thing" at the time but the woman tone was much more than just a wah wah pedal.

[@supersqueegee3276]

Or cold shot- SRV

[@SirLancelotTheBrave]

Any of Clapton’s tones off Disraeli Gears could have been on here

[@bwebb90]

Voodoo Child (slight return) for me

[@LFGSatori]

Totally.

[@smaertpot04]

Yep. Unbelievable tone that blossoms open at the strike of each chord like a flower in the spring sun. Not too heavy but overdriven beautifully by the tubes in the Fender Bassman. Good choice!

[@gustavojsierra6321]

I was just a 5 yrs old boy when I first heard "that sound"....and wondered..what is that?? and think ..."How could I do that?"........

[@groovydude8863]

I think it's "Voodoo Chile", if I remember correctly.

[@richarddeady6342]

Yep greatest pure rock oat

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

Loved this one in particular Rick ! Honorable mentions : The Kinks “ you really got me “ & Johnny Marr of the Smiths ( so many songs like This charming man , How soon is now “ the man is a wizard on the guitar 🎸

[@trevormills3339]

Im so happy my boy Lifeson is on here. You can tell it's a Rush song, even if you are listening to one of them isolated, instantly. Alex's guitar sound is completely identifiable.

[@monadyne]

For pure, quintessential rock guitar tone: "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain, Leslie West playing a Les Paul Junior (with a single, single-coil P90 pickup.)

[@anthroplant3671]

Couldnt agree more

[@everettsmith971]

How LW gets left out of all these discussions is beyond me?

[@pa609]

Mountain is so underrated. I saw them play a small venue in New Orleans and the band had to walk through the audience to get on stage. Leslie West stepped on my foot as he walked through and you know how big Leslie was. My foot still hurts ~lol

[@kaiserwilhelmii1827]

That tone really is beautiful.

[@rockfish1000]

An honorable mention for me is Mayonnaise by Smashing Pumpkins. Anything off of Siamese Dream has a really unique tone.

[@lewiscrow]

Neil Young's work on Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" is so unique.

[@granthurlburt4062]

He did the "chimes" (harmonics). Wasnt that Stills doing the rest of the guitar work?

[@raymondpierotti8414]

@@granthurlburt4062 Did you ever see them play together? I can remember Stills staring open mouthed at Young during Southern Man with CSNY.

[@spacebwoy]

Frank Zappa had some amazing sounds, some of the solos on Sheikh Yerbouti are magnificent.

[@DarClaude]

Spacebwoy Wrist watch!

[@DrMackSplackem]

He was a captivating soloist. Before I got deep into Zappa, I didn't really pay attention to guitar solos. His long-ass solos bored me at first, but then something clicked. "Filthy Habits" is epic.

[@Monsterdrumma]

spacebwoy Hell Yeah extremely unique great tone!

[@terrypussypower]

spacebwoy spacebwoy Zappa was an epic tone MEISTER!! The solo on “Fifty Fifty” from “Overnite Sensation” for instance! And the tones he gets live on the “Shut Up And Play Your Guitar” box set are the incredible! Tracks like “five, Five, FIVE”, “Heavy Duty Judy” and “Beat It With Yer Fist” are unique. And his wah-wah tones were unbeatable!

[@Doctorslosh]

@@terrypussypower Zappas lead sound on penguin in bondage from the roxy album....priceless......

[@nothingmuchado]

Great vid! Honorable mention to Johnny Marr on How Soon is Now

[@fffffffffffffffff20]

Yeah beat me to it

[@vk3fbab]

Marr is a bit like The Edge. Very underrated at times.

[@thureintun1687]

Brain May definitely has most unique guitar tone Many of my favorite guitar sounds come from his.

[@joestefanoni5263]

How do you not include Tony Iommi. The godfather of heavy metal? What a distinct, new sound he had early on.

[@poivognome792]

Johns actually playing a jaguar in the under the bridge video, but I remember reading an interview where he says he recorded on a strat

[@Sam-tj4ci]

atomosphysica most definitely Marshall’s. During BSSM his sound was much cleaner than usual. John pretty much exclusively used those, save for a few tracks here and there (for example I believe “Porcelain” was played through a Vox AC-30)

[@wartimemodels]

Definitely a strat

[@willfriday3517]

Yeah I’m pretty sure he wrote it on a jaguar but recorded it on a strat

[@Shincism]

Glad I'm not the only one who heard that and went to the comments.

[@bw1235]

Peter Green’s phase-y Les Paul always sticks in my mind as inextricably linked to the artist and I love it.

[@stuartanthony6409]

Absolutely - Green's blues style was a turning point for all guitar players - the influence was massive. That squeaky tone literally created an entire genre all of its own with players putting their pickups out of phase to get it. Unfortunately his mental health made it so he couldn't reach his full potential, but at least he handed his guitar on to someone who could.

[@payday1963]

The "Walking on the Moon" chord reminded me of the "A Hard Days Night" intro poly chord.

[@mattyc.9332]

payday1963 Me too!

[@darrellstyner0001]

I had exactly the same thought when I heard it.

[@borzas]

I actually thought that was it. It did not just remind me. In my defence, I was assembling my daughter's bed.

[@logan_e]

Rush's "Hemispheres" is a masterpiece, I'm really glad you included it Rick!

[@harrisongordon4246]

Brian May's red special makes such a beautiful sound with the deacy amp

[@erikavery9982]

Brian used Vox AC30s. The Deacy is the preamp John Deacon made for Brian in the Early Queen days. That combination, and Brian’s Red Special, made the Queen Sound.

[@iancarr8682]

Brian May sound based on kit and set up used by Rory Gallagher, as he acknowledges

[@daveb227]

He used a coin for a pick? That's innovative.

[@uwebaganz5144]

@@erikavery9982 wrong - the deacy amp has a speaker inside and was powered with a nine volt battery, brian may also uses a trebble booster + the phase fliping possebillities of the 3 pickups makes his sound, and of course some standard effects sometimes

[@0zyris]

@@uwebaganz5144 Burns Trisonics - scatter wound oversize. Made in London.

[@matthewv789]

So many great tones you had to leave out, just for example: - Steve Hackett long solo from Firth of Fifth - Blue Oyster Cult Don’t Fear the Reaper - 38 Special Hold on Loosely

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

He didn't "leave out" a damn thing. These are all his personal opinion.

[@Tominscv]

You knew this was coming... How could you ignore Randy Rhoads??? First time I heard Crazy Train, in tenth grade, my brain melted!

[@petercowley7052]

So glad you gave us Irish guys a shoutout with the edge! He’s such an underrated guitarist, and an absolute tone freak, when you hear him change like you said from Boy through Joshua Tree (another great delay tone is bad from unforgettable fire) and even up to more recent records like atomic bomb and the hard rock tone he put together for vertigo. He’s a genius.

[@tonyhawkins1905]

Bad is to this day my fav' U2 song & while we're at it Larry's percussion work on that song as well. Also underrated in his chosen craft..

[@Marsllama]

"I love this song so much I named one of my children after it" Later that day: "Hey Dad, how's the new video going?" "Just finished recording. Thanks for asking, Sargent Pepper".

[@johndrowe5281]

“Sergeant” -(“Sargent ...” [sic ...] I hope, if you really named your child in that manner 🥸😉😃🌲🎅🏻🎄🎸🎸👨🏼‍⚕️👨🏼‍⚕️🎸🎸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@adammontgomery5532]

...and his little brother, Iron Man. : P

[@halfunder9712]

Come here reptile, come do your chores

[@big_tuna8]

It's going alright Spoonman

[@johndrowe5281]

@@adammontgomery5532 However, it would be spelt “Iren Man” or “Eyern Man”😎🥸 ... Just ask “Sargent”!!! [sic!!!]

[@eduardoldasilva]

Rush? I literally cry.... Loved your compassion on it. Great tune!!!

[@stuartbowlerwell2845]

Satriani and Surfing With The Alien for me. Always pleased to see Lifeson on a list 😀

[@preservethemankindlovedemo3445]

Best 80s instrumental Song!

[@fredmiller4853]

I’ve always been so impressed by Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky guitar work.

[@ewplayer3]

I was disappointed not to see this in the video. I’ve heard a lot of attempts to replicate that sound, but none have ever managed to get it spot on. One of my favorite guitar sounds of all time.

[@noahtomato3515]

Gotta have Fripp’s sound on Bowie’s Heroes

[@detective4719]

Rob J good Call!

[@thomasisrael1636]

Brian May and The Red Special will always be my favorite guitar sound of all time.

[@FOXFrankJaeger]

La Villa Strangiato so underrated. It is actually one of the best pieces of rock music there are.

[@alsantanna]

"How Soon is Now" from The Smiths, Rick; that's a great sound! Still, what a joy to learn more from you. Thanks!

[@EdwardTMadrigal]

It made me so happy to see The Edge on here. Being a grunge musician I still appreciate how The Edge defined what the delay was capable of, and it definitely shows on Where the Streets Have No Name.

[@franklehouillier8865]

To what extent do you think Eno should get credit for the Edge's sound on the late 80's 90's albums? It sounds really close to Eno's steel guitar sound from that period. I'm not knocking it. I love the sound, but I'm just curious if anyone thinks if was a product of the collaboration.

[@EdwardTMadrigal]

Frank LeHouillier of course it was a group effort. He was the mastermind behind The Edge’s sound.

[@adam872]

Me too. Edge's tones over the years have been stellar.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

People always make the mistake of thinking of the Edge as strictly a guitar player. He's really a sound technician who happens to use the guitar to get most of his sounds.

[@docwill184]

AbbeyRoadkill1 That's really true. Mostly strums, chops and arpeggios. Zero shred zone.. How he dials in layers with taste and no clutter is aristry

[@bluesoverlord]

Guitar sounds that stop you in your tracks the first time you hear them: Keith Richards - Satisfaction - trying to sound like horns and failed. There was earlier fuzz, but nothing had the world-wide impact that this song did. SRV - Texas Flood - Dumble Winterland, Dimension D, and those hands! Perfect. Tone. Ever. Van Halen - Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love and Unchained - this is how you get a flanger dedicated to you. Hendrix - Are You Experienced - backwards guitar, what more is there to say? Don Felder and Joe Walsh - outro to Hotel California - time stands still and no other sensory input gets in until this song ends. Stone Temple Pilots - Plush. If you’re not doing air guitar to this, you’re dead.

[@cyndimanka]

Steely Dan has been my favorite since the 70s. Loving this

[@puffinD18]

Beatles have a few: Revolution, She Came Into the Bathroom Window, The End (Abbey Road) Guitar solos, Dear Prudence.

[@RC32Smiths01]

A sound that i recognize instantly is Chuck Berry! Everyone knows Johnny B Goode!

[@allenbarlow4668]

Jimmy Page's tone on the Achilles' Last Stand solo is my favorite of his tones!

[@willrussell746]

That solo in general is amazing. One of my favorite page solos...and maybe one of my favorite guitar solos ever

[@garyburley2283]

it's my favourite too, when i heard it on presence, it floored me. i was already a massive fanboy. even now 35 years later when the song aproaches 3:42 i count down the seconds and wait for the goosebumps then when it is done i go back and listen again. i've never got through that song without a double play of that solo

[@2-Frames]

Oh yes!!!

[@garyburley2283]

@ same for me and my son. they never grow old, always sound fresh

[@phast1]

Mine too! Excellent tastes sir! Salutations

[@CyberFitzy]

Poor Kim Thayil.. he rarely ever gets mentioned by name. Such a brilliantly creative guitarist. He is the branches in Sound's Garden.

[@jeeves2000]

Ok, here's my addition... Carlos Santana in Samba pa-ti, a sound that has remained unique through the years

[@mcrafford]

Gilmore - Comfortably Numb.

[@russellcampbell9198]

The sound of "All Along the Watchtower" was one of the most arresting things I ever heard. It was like the aliens had taken over the car radio. PS. The break in "Cruel to be Kind" always sounds good to me.

[@crazyfire100]

Has like 3 of the top ten sounds on it

[@irishofling2300]

yeah! All alongvthe watchtower is one of my Favoriten! 👏👍

[@byronlaird5116]

No Carlos Santana ?!? His sound is as identifiable as a fingerprint. As for HEAVY: Josh Homme's guitar on the Kyuss 'Welcome to Sky Valley' album is like the universe collapsing in on itself.

[@barrysmith7710]

Cliffs of Dover,man! That first note is arguably THE MOST EXCITING single note ever recorded on a guitar. Anybody agree?

[@stuartanthony6409]

I think that accolade belongs to Parisienne Walkways

[@jimbo5646]

E

[@eldenboi8354]

@@jimbo5646 E go brrrtt

[@rodheywood9430]

Yes, definitely. I add my vote….

[@kreek22]

@@stuartanthony6409 I'll second that.

[@AirGuitar]

Top 20 Bass Sounds next!!

[@halcyon289]

Five of them , at least, should belong to Chris Squire.

[@robertflores8234]

I second that! I know Timmy C will be on there for sure. Those sound he and Tom created are just awesome, punchy, funky, heavy, groovy, I mean the list goes on and on.

[@brianhu6277]

I have a bad feeling Muse's Hysteria is gonna be on the list

[@willemmouw6852]

1. James Jamerson Power Gap Everyone else

[@aavila1206]

@@halcyon289 wrong, 5 of them belong to Pastorius and Jamerson

[@Claymor621]

Ramble on at #20 is a great call I’ve always loved that sound.

[@keblorb]

Alex with his CE1 and Electric Mistress make Hemispheres what it is, from the first chord on the album to the last. It's so entrancing