Why so many "copyists"?

Quote from londonjeepster

I have noticed that a lot of fellow Kemperists seem to be obsessed with "nailing" the tone of other usually famous guitarists rather than creating their own sound,is that fair comment? is this due to the (in my view unwelcome) proliferation of covers bands these days? or is it just for the fun of sounding like their heroes?
i do realise that the economic reality these days is that sometimes playing covers is the only way to get gigs so maybe that explains it?
personally i have always used my own sound,for better or worse!

Some famous players have spent countless hours in creating some inclredible guitar tones, sometimes by sheer luck. Some times it's easier to stand on the shoulder of giants than to struggle on your own, but to those who have the time, patience and will I say go for it! Some of my favorite guitarists have very similar tones so as long as I get in the ballpark it's all good.

Quote from londonjeepster

I have noticed that a lot of fellow Kemperists seem to be obsessed with "nailing" the tone of other usually famous guitarists rather than creating their own sound,is that fair comment? is this due to the (in my view unwelcome) proliferation of covers bands these days? or is it just for the fun of sounding like their heroes?
i do realise that the economic reality these days is that sometimes playing covers is the only way to get gigs so maybe that explains it?
personally i have always used my own sound,for better or worse!

it is a lot of fun to play your favourite riffs, solos so close to the record. playing covers is not the only way to get gigs nowadays. however, if you want to get paid at all from playing live music now then covers are the main way to get paid. people enjoy the classics more than unheard original local music

You started to play guitar because you liked the sound of a guitar, no? Why the heck did you copy another guitarist? Couldn't you have started to play music on a completely new and never heard instrument like a plastocarbonized bungazinga?
Yes, that comparison isn't perfect. But basically I can judge if I like a specific sound and try to get close to it, while still making my own music. At least that's what I think about it.

I think men just have fun trying to come up with the same tones they hear on the records, then take their shirts off and play in front of a mirror to a backing track while doing a few leg kicks exposing their groin area due to the worn out material from the friction....

I agree with the OP.

The first thing i did with my new KPA was to try and find a tone that would best serve some lines that were running through my head at the time - preferably a tone that could not be (easily) replicated.
It was a fine balancing act with Mudrock's Bogner profile with the clarity on 10 but i ended up with something gorgeous and i still use it today.

Interesting question, indeed!
My approach and my band's approach to making music is to cover others music. But not because to make money, rather to play something we would like to play. We're trying to get as close as possible. Over time the "cover" wears off and it becomes our interpretation. A good example is "don't let me be misunderstood". Here Animals, Santa Esmeralda, and Costello performed different interpretations. We cover more in a way of Costello, but it slowly transforms. After 2nd verse I do a solo over the bars of 2 verses which ends with the chorus (refrain?!). Another example is how we reworked "soldier of Fortune". It transformed totally into a different interpretation. Although I'm usually impressed by the original solo work of Mr. Blackmoore, here I feel I can do it better. I play the solo every time a bit different, because I have not memorized it (You know I'm an old guy). I know, I have to come up with the track, but I don't not have it as file ATM. I try to deliver sometime soon.
Why we do not write our own music? Lack of time or honestly spoken maybe more lack of talent... Now about the sound. I like it smacking fat, juicy, screaming, whining, articulated, dominating and so on. I do not know or never really learned how to do it, so I've chosen as a base Santana, EVH, Brian May, Bonamassa, and a myriad of more heroes . From there on I can (could if I know how to do it) go in different directions and find my clean sound, crunch, rhythm, lead, boosted lead and so on. The sound is more like a step child, I would love to handle it better, but I'm so occupied to manage the playing that there is little energy left to deal with the tone.
Of course these notes just rumblings of a hobbyist.

When I was initially learning guitar, my goal was indeed to sound as much like my heroes as possible. But the more experienced I became I realized that it was more the technique of the players which defined the "tone". Eddie Van Halen's brown sound isn't interesting without his acrobatics behind it. These days I have no desire at all to try and match tones. If I want to sound like a specific player for whatever reason, I study that guitarist's techniques. Check this out for a great example of how much technique rather than simply tone defines a player. Tone in and of itself is extremely overrated, especially these days with tools like the Kemper available.

And BTW, I have no disrespect for those in cover/tribute bands. When I was a kid I used to turn my nose up at those in cover bands. Well as an adult I work in a cube and dream of playing guitar all day while 2 of the guys I knew growing up who played in cover bands make their living playing music (one in a a professional tribute band, one as a studio guitarist whose toured with Kelly Clarkson among other things). If I had to do it all over again, I'd drop the stupid snobby attitude I had and keep an open mind to all opportunities one can have as a guitarist.

Look at piano players: before the concert the organizer will have a piano tuner come and he will take care that it is well tuned and all of it's components are working well. That is how it is done with many acoustic instruments - a craftsman takes care of the sound and the musician can focus all his energy on style and tone. Somehow the electric guitar is different in this respect.

Few guitarists can afford to pay a specialist who can setup and maintain the whole combinaton of guitar, pedals and amps. So normally you are quite left alone in choosing and arranging all those impedances and gainstages and other electronical factors that make up a good sound. In that situation copying a sound of your hero can help for a while.

Will_Chen's video post is great for showing us how important style and tone are besides the sound. With the KPA it will be much easier to have a good sound and focus more on your tone and style. I am curious if and how this will change the guitar music to come?

Copying can be fun, as was said before. And that includes studies of the respective guitarist's technique as well.
I love my instrument, the guitar, and I love what so many great players have done with it technically and tone- wise. I have a dep appreciation for all that.

OTOH, for me personally, it is also very important to develop my own style, bring the music out that's waiting inside (at least I hope so ).
So one crucial point in my musical activities and exercises is writing original music.
This is where I get the most kicks from.

Hey that's an interesting thread. so much has been said - and rightfully so - that i just want to share my way:

• As an exercise (i have students who welcome this when i show i can play it) i try to come as close as possible to the original, if i cover a song.
  sometimes i succeed 99% (high water everywhere, JB), sometimes 90% (Ariel, Rainbow), sometimes not at all. (Steve Vai - Crying machine).
  Although i can play every single note and understood the feeling of it and use the same amp as vai did (a good carvin legacy profile of andi) i sound
  not nearly as inspired, but i wont give up so soon anyway.
• when i play my own songs, i take a profile i like and that sounds good to me on that day with that guitar and - bang - forget all about political
  correctness or whatever, it has to rock and i have to feel it and SURPRISE!!: that's when it sounds best and as geraldo.

my 2 cents ...

I play in a tribute band, so....

Plus, I think most people play guitar for recreation, in all senses of the word, regardless of whether they're playing modelers or traditional gear.

Quote from londonjeepster

this may be an extreme example but can you imagine what Hendrix would have done with a Kemper,would he have tried to recreate the sound of players that had gone before or would he have created something new? think we all know the answer to that.
anyway as long as people are getting pleasure from whatever sounds they are making with the Kemper then thats the main thing,rock on.

Interesting example, especially considering the ability to mimic that the KPA offers.

First of all, there was but one Hendrix. Most the tools available to him were also available to any pro player of the day yet most chose the well traveled road. Secondly he had absolutely no issues covering others music. In fact it was common practice for pros to cover others music back then. He didn't view it as trying to make it his own (though of course he did) but rather paying tribute to great music. Finally, Hendrix didn't strive to be outside the box. But simply wanted to realize the sounds in his head. History has deemed it legendary, but for him it was just him being him.

I guess it depends on what your guitar goals are... If you're seeking to make a living from music, you're probably going to want to have a signature tone. If you're just a hobbyist trying to get good, what difference does it make?

For me, there is one player who has the tone and the aggressive playing that appeals to me. I am, for all intents and purposes, trying to emulate his style... at least for now, and the foreseeable future. But, I bet every guitarist starts off in this direction before ultimately finding his 'guitar self.' I think you have to get to a certain level of competency to reach this self-actualization though.

Jeepster,

You are usually a force for good - were you in a bad mood about something else when you wrote these posts?

I think most of guitarplayers are (at first) learning by listenening to great guitarists. Trying to get the feel, the expressions, the licks and riffs, their style. For this it is helpful to have a similar sound- or at least more fun.

Quote from londonjeepster

can you imagine what Hendrix would have done with a Kemper,would he have tried to recreate the sound of players that had gone before or would he have created something new? think we all know the answer to that.

Honestly, no! Believe it or not, I really cannot guess which answer you are suggesting. Could be both, no?

Quote from paults

You are usually a force for good - were you in a bad mood about something else when you wrote these posts?

Talking about copying is not bad per se. As long as it is not disrespectful towards cover bands.