Choose your worst 80's album/amp tone.

[gtr31]

Although I am not sure it 80s
Neil young live has the worst tone I
Have heard ever on any recording
Gorilla flatulance through an Am
Radio

For glam probably poison

 

[Racerxrated]

OU812...every time I listen I need to fool around with tone/equalization. Sounds so freaking thin...


another bad one is that band with that song cult of personality...Vernon Reid guitarist I think. Ugh...

As much as I love EVH tone, 5150 and OU812 were terrible imo.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Joe Satrianis early stuff. Surfing with the Alien etc. Sounds like a Line 6...

This was the album that came to my mind. Pretty sure he used a Rockman on it. It also sounds like a Boss DS-1 into a Crate in some places.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Worst Everything.

Worst guitar solo ever, Thanks Kerry King.

 

[1meanplexi]

Not sure if it falls into the 80's thing but....the dude from April Wine.

 

[sytharnia1560]

W.A.S.P. - Last Command and generally Randy Pipers tone full stop

 

[KissMyAmps]

I'd like to submit Styx as some of the most terrible and dorky guitar tone of all time.

 

[Distored]

The production on Ozzie's first two albums is pretty weird, i always thought.
At the time it wasn't though. Yes, they recorded two albums at once which is kind of bizarre.

 

[Distored]

Satriani made me hate electronic drums.
And I love the Cars..

 

[ghosty999]

The Def Leppard Hysteria tone was pretty thin and weak, I guess it suited the Mutt Mix but could of been fuller. They probably spent too much time on the 64 layered backing vocals haha.

Iron Maiden No Prayer for the Dying recorded 89/90 had a garbage tone. They had just moved recording to Steve Harris's barn.

On the Racer X topic, the first albums squelchy fizzy thing that was going on annoyed at first but I grew to quite like it. It's really harsh sounding and not very liquidy which sounds cool with Pauls fluid playing.

All subjective ofcourse....

This is coming from the guy who disslikess AC/DC and Pantera's tone

 

[Racerxrated]

The production on Ozzie's first two albums is pretty weird, i always thought.
At the time it wasn't though. Yes, they recorded two albums at once which is kind of bizarre.

Not a fan of Blizzard tone, but I like Diary.

 

[Mudder]

The Def Leppard Hysteria tone was pretty thin and weak, I guess it suited the Mutt Mix but could of been fuller. They probably spent too much time on the 64 layered backing vocals haha.

Iron Maiden No Prayer for the Dying recorded 89/90 had a garbage tone. They had just moved recording to Steve Harris's barn.

On the Racer X topic, the first albums squelchy fizzy thing that was going on annoyed at first but I grew to quite like it. It's really harsh sounding and not very liquidy which sounds cool with Pauls fluid playing.

All subjective ofcourse....

This is coming from the guy who disslikess AC/DC and Pantera's tone

You mention Pantera. I don't know anyone who dials in their rig to sound like Dime but those songs just crushed. I suppose it just shows that song writing, performance, and swing/vibe is really what matters.

 

[romanianreaper]

I completely disagree about Mindcrime! I love the guitar tones on that.

Thank goodness someone else chimed in! I was like WTF?!! I loved the tones on Operation Mindcrime, especially when "Speak" starts up.

L.A. Guns debut has some horrible tones, so I definitely agree with that one. Sounds like a punk album.

Megadeth's first album is pretty rough to listen to.

 

[geetarmikey]

I defended Operation Mindcrime above, but someone mentioned the lead tones and I'll agree with that - weak link there for sure; way too fizzy!

I've NEVER heard an Iron Maiden album with a tone I like, studio or live; it's just not heavy enough for a "heavy metal" band, too muddy, no definition and never enough attack.

 

[ghosty999]

The Def Leppard Hysteria tone was pretty thin and weak, I guess it suited the Mutt Mix but could of been fuller. They probably spent too much time on the 64 layered backing vocals haha.

Iron Maiden No Prayer for the Dying recorded 89/90 had a garbage tone. They had just moved recording to Steve Harris's barn.

On the Racer X topic, the first albums squelchy fizzy thing that was going on annoyed at first but I grew to quite like it. It's really harsh sounding and not very liquidy which sounds cool with Pauls fluid playing.

All subjective ofcourse....

This is coming from the guy who disslikess AC/DC and Pantera's tone

You mention Pantera. I don't know anyone who dials in their rig to sound like Dime but those songs just crushed. I suppose it just shows that song writing, performance, and swing/vibe is really what matters.

That is true! Pantera aren't my thing but I guess I should respect the fact they wrote enduring songs that people loved regardless of tone!

 

[ghosty999]

I defended Operation Mindcrime above, but someone mentioned the lead tones and I'll agree with that - weak link there for sure; way too fizzy!

I've NEVER heard an Iron Maiden album with a tone I like, studio or live; it's just not heavy enough for a "heavy metal" band, too muddy, no definition and never enough attack.

I love Maiden, I love their tones, but I agree they have gone garbage recently. This is the last "good" tone I heard from Maiden:

 

[Racerxrated]

I defended Operation Mindcrime above, but someone mentioned the lead tones and I'll agree with that - weak link there for sure; way too fizzy!

I've NEVER heard an Iron Maiden album with a tone I like, studio or live; it's just not heavy enough for a "heavy metal" band, too muddy, no definition and never enough attack.

Mindcrime is a decent Marshall tone, and Iron Maiden NOB, POM and Poweslave are nice Marshall nmvs with a boost. Pretty basic stuff, but I like it. That's why I always say a vintage Marshall and a boost can be great. And keep in mind that Maiden were heavy metal like Priest was heavy metal...early 80s. Soon enough heavier bands came along, but for the early 80s they were heavy.

 

[geetarmikey]

I defended Operation Mindcrime above, but someone mentioned the lead tones and I'll agree with that - weak link there for sure; way too fizzy!

I've NEVER heard an Iron Maiden album with a tone I like, studio or live; it's just not heavy enough for a "heavy metal" band, too muddy, no definition and never enough attack.

I love Maiden, I love their tones, but I agree they have gone garbage recently. This is the last "good" tone I heard from Maiden:

What is it you like about their tones on the classic albums for example? Just trying to understand it as I don't hear it!

That Wickerman clip was ok, maybe it sounds a lot beefier live?

 

[shredhead7]

I thought that many of the records listed here were great in their time. I thought that Mindcrime was amazing when it came out. My favorite QR is still Rage, but Mindcrime's production and tones were better (still are). As to Mr Big, the chorus sound was such a big part of 1988, that it sounded huge when it came out. With that said, Paul's tone on Street Lethal is still my favorite.

 

[ghosty999]

I thought that many of the records listed here were great in their time. I thought that Mindcrime was amazing when it came out. My favorite QR is still Rage, but Mindcrime's production and tones were better (still are). As to Mr Big, the chorus sound was such a big part of 1988, that it sounded huge when it came out. With that said, Paul's tone on Street Lethal is still my favorite.

Atleast tones where super distinct back then! Albums where audibly so different back then, take 2 albums from 80s and there will be a high chance the drums, guitar etc will all sound distinct.

I find rock albums like the stuff Frontiers release has a very "samey" sound to them. Hard to tell bands apart until vocals kick in.