The best tone you've heard in person..

SquireJapan

I second the case for Paul Gilbert - when I’ve seen him in the past two years. 

Huge part of this is his technique - he actually plays with very little distortion (well, a lot less then you might think). 

Amazing. 

impmann

Sassafras said:

I went to 3 Captain Beefheart gigs when Bill Harkleroad was playing and they were without a doubt the best sounding gigs I've been to. The volume was perfect as was the arrangement and the overall mix.

Nice!

I saw the Magic Band in London a few years ago - I think it may have been at the Astoria before Crossrail killed it - and the guitar sounds were amazing.

Whitecat

Alan Sparhawk of Low consistently sounds ridiculously good. His rig changes all the time too yet he always sounds just like himself. 
David Gilmour obvs too...

57Deluxe

Can I say mine? I have finally found that I can get tone I really like with my gear and am not really looking for anything more. I still like/hanker after more guitars and amps just as much, but what I have really earns its keep.

HPhillipsmusic

Andy Fairweather Low - humbucker strat into his Cornell Duke plexi head going into a 15inch fender speaker. My god. It sounded like a driven Wurlitzer or something. Crazy cool, and a lovely dude!

Johnnyseven

Steve Albini seen numerous times using his Travis Bean into his home constructed metal box amp and cab, brutal tone.

CloudNine

Neil Young and Crazy Horse a few years back in Glasgow. Perfectly controlled mayhem.

stratman3142

 Being close to the front at a Jethro Tull gig at Hanley Town hall hearing Martin Barre with a Les Paul Junior (no idea what the amp was).

Paul Kossoff, which was also at Hanley Town Hall.

Standing right in front of Alan Murphy at the Cricketers pub (near the Oval).

More recently Robben Ford springs to mind.

Skipped

Best guitar tone heard in person. (At a gig): The Who in The Refectory, Leeds University.



Best guitar tone heard in person. (Anywhere). The pick of the guitars (probably 3 or 4) found during trips searching for vintage guitars. All were 1950s Gibson Les Pauls.

guitarfishbay

Teetonetal said:

In all honesty, I have no idea. I don't think I've ever stood at a gig and gone wow, that tone is amazing. the bad ones for sure stick out, like last week watching trampoline who were so loud it hurt.

I don't think I've ever been to a rock gig quiet enough to not be wearing earplugs.  So in truth, I don't think I've properly heard any tone from about age 15 or 16 onwards.

axisus

I like strattyness. My fave off the top of my head was Thomas Blug at a guitar show doing demo's for H&K amps. First time I heard him, fell in love with the tones and his playing.

markj

Joe Bonamassa.

ESBlonde

The man with that touch, I saw Dire straights on thier making movies tour. Mark just gets that personal tone that is like he's speaking to you. Few can do that and he's the only famous one I've seen in the flesh.

dean111music

Would love to own a benjamin guitar!

RandallFlagg said:

Eric Roche playing "With These Hands" on his Nick Benjamin OM model, sat on the floor cross legged, at Sleaford Playhouse in front of what must have been less than 100 people.

The best live acoustic sound I've heard

robinbowes

Me, at home. Modded Bandmaster Reverb (1x15 combo) with home-made Vibratone extension speaker. Sounded unbelievably good, didn't it @Panama_Jack666 ?

R.

Nunogilberto

Gary Moore, Cardiff, 2009. Huge, huge Les Paul tone.

SimonC

Randy Rhoads with Ozzy, 1980 at Sheffield city hall.

Like a crazy loud multi-tracked violin.
Took my breath away.

ChrisCox1994

this bloke at a pub with an old marshall and a strat on 10. 

thegummy

Elwood said:

Kirk Hammet - Gibson Les Paul '59 through an Axe FX playing Nothing Else Matters

Is that what they use for live shows or were you hanging about with him?

Blaendulais

Tino Troy Praying Mantis John Bull Pub Chiswick circa 2006.  Even better than Tino Troy  Brangwyn Hall Swansea 1980 - and Dennis Stratton was playing for Maiden