Who do you base your tone on? (Page 1 of 2)

Gibson Les Paul -> Ceriatone 2550 (Jubilee clone) -> 2x12 with Scumback M75s. Very happy.

I base my tone on finding one I can get some old school grind but still clean up to a nice warm tone with my guitars volume control.  I also like to keep the treble in check a bit.

I won't lie - I still chase good tone with new amps and guitars on occasion but I have come to realize something during the process.  I seam to always sound the same no matter what gear I use.  Sure there's a difference between my Strat and my Les Paul or my Fender and THD amps but I find that I seem to always find my way to a similar tone by adjusting my pick (or bare fingertip) attack and my guitars volume and tone controls till I find my familiar - and to me anyway - most pleasing tone.  This shouldn't surprise me of course because all my favorite guitarists sound like themselves whatever they play.
I find it comforting that while I still have much to do on the technique side of things, I no longer worry about chasing the next best tone.

That being said (lol),
my current favorite, at home only set up is:
Les Paul Historic R8 > Tube Screamer > Z.Vex Box Of Rock >Maxon AD999 delay with stereo outs split to THD Univalve (dry) / Fender Champ (wet).  I have also concluded that distortion pedals are a necessary evil at lower volumes like I play these days.

I think its a little more difficult for me, since what I what from my amp rig are different types of tones, including some from Joe, an Eric Clapton type overdriven tweed tone and an Eric Johnson clean tone.

Despite that, Joe's concept with 4 amps and switching system is perfect. Its slightly different in that if I were using the tweed, it wouldn't be combined with any of the other amps, but with the other two amps one would be on.

Joe's use of Whirlwind ABY and Lehle allows any of the three amps to be run with one, or independently of each other.
So far I have a Jet City JCA20 and a Phaez Sibly. Both are Marshall-esque amps and they sound great for an overdriven, crunch tone.

I want to add a 20W 5E8A type tweed circuit amp and a Fender Blackface (something) with a Zendrive for Dumble type tones.

Cabinet wise, I would like to use 2 diagonal pine 212's (about 24" by 24") (planning to build them over the summer, pine from Fender's use of it in the 50's etc and Joe's tone in his effects demo video, he used 2 412s built with pine (if stock) and the tone on that vid is fantastic (obviously ignoring the glaring fact he is using a Strat and different amps to now.) , probably loaded with EVs or something. Right now I'm using a Jet City 112 cab with the stock speaker.

For years I tried to go for certain famous tones including  EVH, Gibbons, some Page tones, Beck, EJ... to no avail and satisfaction really, as I would get close, then I realized it was not my thing.  So slowly but surely, out went the gear, the "amp in a pedal", the superfluous things that were supposed to be "so and so's secret.  I have now come up with a combination that hints at all of the failed efforts, but I think it really is sounding like me after 25 years of playing guitar.  I did learn a lot about gear and how to achieve certain things through the tone chasing war and now I have happily arrived at my own deal.  Is it wrong to try to achieve someone else's tone?  absolutely not.  in the end of the day it is whatever makes you happy, and able to put emotion on to music.

I totally agree with everything you said here.  The difference with me compaired to I'm sure a lot of you is I do not consider myself a musician.  For 13 years I've played guitar and to be honest tried very hard to do things by the book.  But I know very little about theory, and could care less btw.  I'm all about having fun with it but I'm a guitar player, not a musician.  The difference being a musican knows what they are doing and can talk to other musicians about all things music and be on the same level.  I know how to play songs and play a little by ear, but nothing you'd say "That guy has it together" there for I'm comfortable saying I can play with musicians as a guitar player but thats where I'm drawing the line for myself.

Playing covers I need to produce a range of tones to suit the particular song being played, although I try not to stray too far from my ideal.  Having been influenced greatly by the likes of Santana, Beck, Trower and Gilmore in the early days and more recently Joe, I think I am more likely to opt for a creamy sustained lead sound.  I've always loved the bell-tones of a Strat, but also really liked the Les Paul and particularly stuff like Free, Frampton and Humble Pie.  I guess my aim is to get near to an amalgam of those guys.

I've been using a Strat (with S-1 switching) for years - it's so versatile.  However, with the purchase of my JB LP studio goldtop and then an Explorer Pro, I am more and more finding my home with Gibsons.  I would LOVE to own a '59 re-issue LP and an ES335!

Amp-wise I really love my Fender Blues Deville.  A lot of guys dismiss them because they're considered too clean, but I've got a secret weapon in the back of mine - a vintage Tom Shulz attenuator set just right to give me a little more bite on the amp.  With either my Fulltone Fulldrive 2 or my modded handwired Tubescreamer, I get the most delicious tone.  Always get compliments on my tone - even if my playing is off!  lol

Happy?  Oh yes. (:

Hendrix, Bonamassa, Philip Sayce, SRV/KWS, Eric Johnson, David Grissom, Mike McCready, Neil Young, Black Crowes

With my marshall 50/25 2553 and a selection of pedals I can get in the ballpark of those.

I go for Eric Johnson, Joe B, and some Michael Schenker tones.  Volume issues prevent me from using a cranked Marshall.  I get approximate tones using a Blackface Fender Bassman into a Marshall cab with a Fulltone OCD (V3).  Throw in some delay (Keeley DD3), reverb (Digitech Hardwire), and some chorus (Analogman) and I can get in the ballpark at a reasonable issues.  For lead tones, I hit it with a BK Butler Tube Driver or a Tubescreamer.  I have been through a ton of amps and these old hand wired Fender heads are hard to beat for the money. I am pretty content at the moment, but we all know that doesn't last long.