What makes rock musicians sound like they sound is often times the equipment they use.
Rock music is chock full of figures that have left their mark on the genre. Each era has produced rockstars that are larger than life. Let’s start with guys like Slash from Guns And Roses and James Hetfield from Metallica.
Considering their status as legendary musicians, it isn’t at all surprising that fans have been trying to emulate their style — and to a greater extent their sound. If you’re one of these people, then you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of the artists from some of your favorite bands and the equipment that they use.
If you want to know more about this, read on for a quick run-through of the equipment that your favorite bands have used throughout their careers!
Slash – Guns N’ Roses
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If you’ve ever picked up an electric guitar, then it’s safe to assume that you know who Slash is. During his time with Guns N’ Roses, Slash created the most memorable guitar riffs that defined the ’80s.
Slash’s identity as a guitar playing is obvious on tunes like “Welcome To The Jungle” and “Sweet Child Of Mine”.
While obviously ostentatious as a person, Slash’s guitar playing is precise and crisp. Slash is a technical master. While he isn’t known as a shredder, he is one of the most fundamentally sound guitar players of his era. His guitar of choice is the Gibson 1959 Les Paul. This is not really surprising as Slash has always been a Gibson guy. The guitar’s flexibility compliments Slash’s guitar playing really well. The 1959 Les Paul has an amplified tone range that can adapt to the player like very few other guitars can.
James Hetfield – Metallica
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There may be no other band that’s more synonymous with the metal genre than Metallica. James Hetfield delivers a unique and interesting approach to vocal performances on each album for a genre primarily driven by screaming vocals.
James Hetfield used the Shure SM7B during recording sessions. The Shure SM7B is considered one of the most dynamic vocal microphones out there, as it’s a mic that emphasizes the natural qualities of the sounds that pass through it. And you hear this natural sound ring true in many of the songs that he recorded for the band. Tracks such as “Master of Puppets” further emphasize the sheer power and range of his singing voice.
Flea – Red Hot Chili Peppers
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The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most important acts in modern American rock music. The band’s unique blend of funk and rock elements revolutionized the genre and have earned the them a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame published on Billboard. While all of the band members’ musical contributions are pivotal to the band’s unparalleled success, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Flea’s bass playing is a pretty significant reason for their popularity.
Given Flea’s aggressive style, it’s no surprise that he is heavily influenced by the West Coast punk sound. He combines this with his aggressive slapping technique, giving the bass both string and percussive qualities. His guitar of choice for his unique style of playing is his trusty 1961 Fender Jazz Bass. This is the guitar he used for the Californication tour and for the recording of Stadium Arcadium. The bass features warm and rich tones and is incredibly responsive, which is perfect for Flea’s high octane bass playing.
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Written for growinuprock.com by Ranz Jakeman