Spaced Out (Check this Out)

[Tone Slinger]

This, to me, has most of the elements of "Great Rock Guitar". Michael hasnt peaked yet, ( He's but 20)but gives you a good Idea .Like Blackmore , but with better tone, and a true "Rock'n'Roll" sensability. Sorta like Ace Frehley on Steroids. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W-Ib8GZrII

[NitroLiq]

Like Blackmore , but with better tone...

[OdgeUK]

He has a lovely touch and feel, but to me, the tone is just the sound of a Gibson neck position through an old Marshall. Beautiful, but not unique in this case.

And as for it being anywhere NEAR Blackmore in terms of tone.....well.......

[Tone Slinger]

I liked Blackmore's tone only when he switched to his neck pick-up. His bridge tone was feeble as was all his rhythm riffs. I respect Blackmore's use of classical and "exotic" scale idea's, which preceded both Schenker's and Roth's (Blackmore is 10 yrs older than those two), but the later two clearly took his his stuff a bit further IMHO. As I said, Schenker was only 20 in that clip, his tone and vibrato were still developing, although his intentions were already in full force, as demonstrated in that clip. Too those who actually think Blackmore has good tone(I know its unique, only that doesnt mean good), I would say "Listen to Roth and Malmsteen".I do think that "Is anybody There" off "Bent Out Of Shape" is the best I've ever heard Blackmore play.

[NitroLiq]

I don't know man. Schenker's a great melodic player but tbh, I've never heard anything remarkable about his tone...just standard humbucker through a marshall. Blackmore...."Made in Japan" and "Burn"...what can I say? Tone-wise, he's more recognizable, IMO....maybe it's just his style...his vibrato and staccato way of picking....maybe the strat tone. *shrug* It's all good, though...like what ya like.

[Tone Slinger]

I think that Schenker was fully identifiable as early as "Lipstick Traces" although by "Force It" there was no question about it. I do agree about the classic Gibson/Marshall type tone, as that was the foundation of Michaels tone, but he managed to get the fullest, roundest mid frequncies out of that set-up cause it was "In his hands and head". I do like Blackmore, but at times, his tone and lead licks had a very "Country" sounding twang to them(Other strat players didnt-Hendrix,Bolin etc) I like a bit more saturation in guitar tone than what Blackmore got. But its just an opinion, 'cause it's all good.

[yngwie308]

I can see what Billy is trying to say,Richie's earlier work has some what countryish type bends in between his exotic modal work,even using the snakecharmers scale!!Don't forget Ritchie like many others of his era in England were influenced by skiffle music,English type rockabilly,Lonnie Donagan and Billy Fury,amongst others.Also the English guitarist Big Jim Sullivan was/is a big influence on many a early British rocker,Google Big Jim,a top session player who also played with the very early Tom Jones on his BBC tv show.
As far as Schenker vrs Blackmore,there wouldn't be the opportunity for Micheal in the same way if it wasn't for the groundwork in rock ,set by Ritchie and Deep Purple.I think they are very different,almost apples and orange,Micheal being straight melodic rock,Ritchie was always bored with what he played and wan't shy to show it while he was playing!
Yngwie(gratuitous Malmsteen reference ) learned everything by Ritchie but became bored and decided to play his guitar as a violin,so he used Ritchie as a great stepping stone to new stuff,so let's not sell Ritchie short for all his influence!!
Here is a link to BJS's website:
http://www.bigjimsullivan.com/History.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk3lFJbDYTk
Yeah Big Jim was one of the pioneers
yngwie308

[Tone Slinger]

I agree, and would throw in Black Sabbath as another ground breaking/frontiering type band.