Who has the MOST Recognizable Guitar Sound?

[freddyfingers]

If its only a few notes , then it’s BB King. Very distinct. At the same time, no one sounds like Jerry Garcia. But there are not that many recordings of him on guitar on other peoples music.

 

[sgarnett]

Knopfler for sure, and I love the album he made with Chet. Oddly, I’ve never seen him perform, despite being one of my favorite musicians for decades.

For recognizing a single note, BB King, who I saw multiple times.

 

[capnhiho]

Leo Kottke

 

[mrfixitmi]

+1 for George Harrison

 

[Glaw]

Some good choices but more recognizable than Jimi friggen Hendrix or that very distinct Santana sound, I think not. It’s not recognizable it’s most recognizable. Just my opinion.

 

[wabash slim]

I have to go with a lot of the folks you have all mentioned. I'll add Martin Barre', Leslie West, and Jim Messina.

Expanding to bass guitarists:

Lemmy
John Entwistle
Chris Agnew (Rezillos - really fun player that nobody knows of)

Lee Sklar

 

[PBO Blues]

My votes - one well-known, the other not so much.

Mark Knopfler



(The guy shown in the video isn't playing lead!)

((A dirty thought: In the lyric "How come I get a hard time honey when it comes to you?" replace time with on. )

Sonny Landreth (who I'm seeing in April)

Knofler jumped immediately to mind and you're spot on with Landreth.
Jimmy Vaughan (easier than his brother who has dozens of imitators), Eric Johnson, Santana, and B.B. are close on their heels.

I swear, I can identify an artist/band more quickly by a guitar lick than a voice. My wife doesn't understand that at all.

 

[afire]

All have been mentioned, but the standouts to me would be Knopfler, SRV, James Burton and George Harrison on slide.

 

[Runamok]

Bonnie Raitt.
Albert King.
Ronnie Earl.

 

[HypotenusLuvTriangle]

Larry LaLonde of Primus.

 

[WingZero]

Tom Morello hands down.
If you hear something weird, its him, if you hear way too much whammy pedal, its him, if you hear guitar sounds you've never heard before, its him

 

[hcsterg]

Santana.
Chuck Berry.
Hank Marvin.

Maybe some others, yes, but these three above for sure.

A+!

 

[Back in Black]

Rick Beato discusses whose guitar sound is most recognizable.



Whose guitar sound can you most quickly recognize, even on songs you don't know?

DMT,

All very distinctive for sure, but I really think we all started paying attention to that ''special'' guitar sound when Roger, then, Jim McGuinn appeared on the scene.

So much more than just loud noise!

Attached a nice early photo of Roger and Ric!

HNY,

BIB.

 

[GlenP]

Molly Hatchet!

 

[Trash Kidd]

Billy Duffy… The Cult. Instantly recognisable.

Same applies for Johnny Thunders..

 

[Midlifecrisis71]

I will throw in Slash, instantly recognisable.

 

[Lucky Jim]

Hank Marvin anyone?

Yep, just one note is all it would take. It could be no-one else.

 

[Gregor]

For me it has to be Chet and BB King.

 

[SAguitar]

I gotta go with the King of the Blues on this one, B.B. King.

 

[r0de0]

Duane Eddy.