I see posts about getting a certain player's sound all the time. I figured that I would put my 5 cents worth on the subject.

This is one player's opinion and should not be taken as the gospel word. Please feel free to add or dispute anything written here. I welcome and love other people's ideas.

There are 3 things that effect your tone and sound:

1. The guitar. What kind of guitar you have and how is the guitar set up? Both players played Strats for the most part. Rosewood necks sound different than maple necks. SRV used big thick strings and tuned his guitar half a step down to "Eb." Everything about the construction the guitar changes something.
You can also get Texas Specials Strat Pickups. Also Use the tone knobs that come with the guitar.

2. The Amplifier. SRV had many amps all chained together. I use a Peavey Delta Blues. It has a big old 16" speaker. I really like it. When you buy an amp bring your guitar with you. When buying a guitar use the amp you use at home. Amps play a big part in how you sound.

3. The last thing, and something you have little control over, is the way you play. We aren't Eric Clapton, Hendrex or SRV. Each person's attack is different. How you strike the strings; how you bend a note; how you do vibrato and how you phrase your playing effects everything.
I guarantee you that if you saw Eric Clapton playing in front of you and he stopped; handed you his guitar, you would sound different than him. You'd wonder why, too. A player's touch is unique to them and hard to mimic perfectly. If you list to SRV and Hendrix, you might surprised to find that they actually sound different. Watch how these guys play. In my opinion, no other guitar brings out a person playing style and sound like Fender Stratocaster

In the end you will sound like you. Instead of trying to sound like someone else, hone your sound. I tell you, no one sounds like me and I like it that way.

I hope this helps.

Paris

Excellent points that always need repeating. After years and years of absorbing others' tones and trying to imitate, I'm finally finding MY own sound is evolving, and I'm really happy with what I get. Now if only my skill level would increase...

Ive never really worked on sounding like someone else and Ive been playin for about 35 years. I was playin some last night and for the first time in along time was very happy with my sound. I don,t know why but it was there.

Tone is in the fingers...

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I remember an interview I saw with Keith Richards many years ago, and he said "You could give me Segovia's guitar and you'd still know it was me playing it."

Excellent post.

Chasing after another player's tone instead of yours is a dead end road.

_________________
2006 Fender AVRI 70s Stratocaster: Natural Ash | Sovtek MIG 60 & A No Name Cabinet | Pedals & Junk

Actually much deeper. Tone comes from the heart!

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

tone being in the hands is something i
see on here a lot and i totally disagree with that.
its the device's we use that bring us tone, not our
fingers.
we can copy a players tone all day with great results.
its his/her technique that will trouble us for yrs to come.

The other thing to remember is that you've never actually heard a guitarist on with no external influence, until you've stood next to their amp whilst their playing it. Even at gigs your hearing the PA, room, engineer's take on how things should be. Never mind recordings, where you've mic', placement, board, mix, mastering to add to the equation as well. What you hear on a CD is very different to how someone sounds.

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No no and no

man you got that right.

I remember a comment from Carlos Santana that I read years ago,he and his brother were talking about how there were so many really good guitar players around and Carlos told him,"yeah,but you put them all on the radio and their own mamas can't even tell them apart."
You have to find your own voice if you can.

Never was a truer word spoken!

I've never once listened to Segovia and wondered if it was Keef!

Cheers - C

thats because their style and technique is so different.

Gosh, ya think?

Gridlok

lol my point was that it has nothing to do with "tone".