PRESENCE - Volume 25
Inspiration For Guitarists
I just got back from a week with my dad out in California. My dad—who wasn’t a musician himself—was deeply embedded in the music world during its golden years. In 1969, he moved to San Francisco, where he began working in record stores. What followed was a career that had him rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names in music.
He was there at the birth of rock legends:
He saw Led Zeppelin on their first tour
David Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust tour, before anyone knew who he was (in a club that held a couple thousand people but only had a couple hundred in attendance)
The Band early on when Robbie Robertson had such stage fright that he had to leave the stage after just a couple songs
Steely Dan’s first live show, opening for the Doobie Brothers, with T. Rex as the headliner
Pink Floyd at the iconic Winterland Ballroom
Frampton Comes Alive (he was there for the concert that ended up being one of the biggest live records of all time)
Even Prince’s Purple Rain tour
What struck me the most was how much these iconic performances were shaped by the limitations of the gear available at the time. They all had pretty simple rigs. Today, we’re surrounded by a world of high-tech equipment designed to give us tons of options. But back then, bands were often limited by what they could get their hands on. They didn’t have the luxury of multi channel amps, modern pedals, digital effects, or even the kind of modeling gear we have today.
And yet, these limitations forced them to get creative with their sound—resulting in tones that still stand as some of the most iconic in history. Think about Led Zeppelin’s raw energy, the cutting-edge distortion of Bowie’s early sound, or the textured, ambient tones from Pink Floyd. These weren’t accidents. They were crafted with what was available, and those “limitations” became part of their signature sound.
Which leads me to a lesson that I believe still holds true today: Sometimes, less is more. When we overcomplicate things with too many effects or gadgets, we often miss the essence of what makes our tone unique. The best guitar sounds were born from working within gear limitations—and today, we can learn a lot from that.
My Gear Advice:
Now, I know we’re all tempted by the latest and greatest gear, but here’s the thing: you don’t need a mountain of pedals or a wall of amps to get a great tone. Obviously there is no one solution for everyone because we all have a different idea of what our ideal tone is, but here are my suggestions for a place to start.
To me the most flexible setup starts with a good clean amp. A good clean amp is a great platform for a good overdriven sound by adding a pedal or two.
Fender style amps (it doesn’t have to be a Fender brand amp, just based on a Fender style circuit) are a solid choice. So many pros go this route (myself included).
The Fender Tone Master series is a great choice. These are lightweight digital amps that are very simple and recreational the sound and experience of the classic Fender amps from the 50s and 60s.
My favorite amps are my 2 Oldfield Club Masters that I have owned for many years now. They are hand built amps based on classic Fender style circuits.
As for pedals I suggest keeping it fairly simple-
A Drive Pedal or 2 (I use 2 Timmy Pedal models, one set low gain and bright for my neck pickup, one set high gain and dark for my bridge pickup)
A Delay pedal for epic, soaring sounding solos (I like the MXR Carbon Copy)
A Reverb Pedal (only if your amp doesn’t have built in Reverb)
A LOOPER pedal, the greatest practice tool (I like the simple ones like the Boss RC-1 or the TC Electronic Ditto)
Some sort of Modulation pedal to give you swirly sounds with some movement (Chorus, Phaser, Uni-Vibe, Flanger, or Tremolo - I mainly use Harmonic Tremolo now as it is like a combination of Tremolo and Phaser)
I also use a Compressor pedal at the very beginning of my chain to smooth things out a bit. This effect is quite subtle so I’m not recommending that everyone should have one, but I really like how it enhances my tone.
While that may seem like a lot there are many options available that give you all of that in one package.
I use a Line 6 HX Stomp for all of my live gigs and my YouTube videos. It has all of the above effects and has some fantastic Fender Style Amp Models built in.
If you are on a tight budget you really can’t beat the Boss Katana or the Line 6 Catalyst. These amps model several classic tube amps and have effects built in.
At the end of the day, simplicity is key. Instead of chasing endless gear options, focus on getting the most out of what you have. Really get to know your setup and how to make it work for you. The best sound often comes from mastering your tools, not constantly seeking new ones.
If you’re unsure where to start, look at the gear choices of some of your favorite artists. Many of them achieved iconic tones with surprisingly simple rigs—it's about how they played, not just what they played through.
So, dial in your tone, experiment within your limits, and trust that the right sound will come with time and practice. Keep it simple, and let your playing shine through.
-Dustin