I always preface my posts on topics like this with comments about my newbie and bedroom player status so everyone knows I have no experience playing in bands, cover or otherwise. It’s an interesting topic and even though I am not nearly as adept as all of you playing wise it does bring back memories of many hours of being a consumer. Huh you ask?
Let me explain.
I’m no spring chicken, and I remember in my youth stacking up the 45’s and playing them endlessly for hours on end wondering “how did they do that?”. I was exposed to all kinds of music as a child as my mother was a classical and Motown fan and my father was more traditional country and classic rock and roll. No, I’m not talking the Stones, Led Zep, or The Who but Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Chuck Berry etc. In those days there was no worldwide media or internet where you could hear any song at any moment. You heard a song on the radio and saved your pennies to buy 45’s and LP’s. What does this have to do with the topic you ask?
Let me explain.
Those were times when the electric guitar was booming onto the scene. The British invasion was taking root and stars were on the rise. Every one of the future rock gods who created “their sound” did so the same way consumers obtained their pleasure with the music. They bought the 45’s and LP’s and played them over and over wearing out the vinyl and needles. Go revisit some of the articles about Jimi, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Jeff Beck, etc. and they all say the same thing. I had my cheap 25 dollar (enter brand here) guitar and tried to emulate Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Robert Johnson etc. It was not so much the sound either as it was the playing style. They couldn’t sound EXACTLY like their heroes because the equipment was not readily available to them. They often talk about how they eventually could play the songs note for note. In other words, they learned how to play.
The amps and guitars of the 40’s and 50’s were becoming readily available to the players. At this time the gear started expanding. More guitar companies popped onto the scene. Amps were expanding boundaries and becoming more innovative. In other words, new sounds were becoming available. And many up and comers created “their sound” at this time. But really, how many are there that you can hear a couple notes or strums and state “oh that’s so and so”. Not a whole lot when you consider the numbers who have tried. It was a time in music where history, style, technique, and technology all merged and some iconic “sounds” were created in the process. New ground was broken almost daily.
The technology was also finding its way to the consumer. Home stereo units, yes STEREO were becoming more common, TV’s were finding their way in to the average users homes. It was the mass media explosion of the times. One must not forget about the recording side of this topic either, innovative techniques were being incorporated and a lot of experimentation was happening. It became much bigger than what could be heard over a simple transistor or car radio. This was a transition time for these artists where they went from trying to emulate their heroes note for note to creating new and “mind blowing” sounds.
Nothing has changed. It’s all circular. The only difference is that now it’s so much more saturated. We have the internet where you get the latest 10 seconds after it’s created. People have amazing technology at their fingertips in their bedrooms. I have gone from stacking 45’s to having a recording studio in my home and I am just Joe average.
So while I can see where players today want to emulate and even copy their heroes note for note just like their heroes did before them, especially when playing in a cover or tribute band, I also see somewhat of laziness or lack of motivation to break new ground like our guitar gods did in their day because we as enthusiasts have this technology that our stars have and can actually reproduce their sounds quite easily in our own homes and get satisfied with that.
I personally think, with the technological innovations we are seeing produced today that we are very much on the brink of a “new sounds” era just like our mentors were decades ago. The saturation of the internet definitely makes coming up with something unique much more difficult to accomplish but for every thousands of guys trying to copy Eddies sound to a T there are many more that will take it, expand on it and take it their own direction. And with all the innovative gear that is being created, it’s not a matter of if but when the next “your sound” will be produced. Heck, if I ever learn this damn instrument, it could be ME!!!!! :shock
Yes, I rambled again. My bad....
