Steve Howe.

[Diego]

Don't think I've ever listened to anyone who could play as good as him,
while sounding as bad at the same time.
Man does he have a bad taste for tone IMO.

I think he could make a 335 with flatwounds sound twangy, thin and piercing.

While playing the **** out of it and making us all look like amateurs.

[bluesbend]

The man is truly great.


The bassist ain't bad either.

[Funkfingers]

Steve Howe is responsible for two of my all-time favourite spine-tingling guitar moments.

I kind of understand what you mean about his guitar tone. Howe often toured with a bunch of Silverface Fender Twin Reverb combos. I have a horrible feeling that he might have had their infamous Master Volume push-pull distortion circuit pots in the "on" position.

[Beerman]

I've seen Yes (the original group) twice and he is amazing. He's in his own world.
I've seen the latest incarnation of Yes and have heard snippets of their new cd and must say, all the guys have aged poorly..... and I'm being nice.

[Mincer]

Steve goes through periods of great tone and then terrible thin piercing tone. Lately he has been playing into Line6 amps with Yes and Asia, and he actually sounds better than he did with the Fenders. BTW, the new Yes cd (and the newest Asia cd) both feature great tones.

[bluesbend]

[cohara41]

Saw Yes live in the late 70's and his acoustic solo was just stunning. He should of done more that. Fingerpicking supreme....

[Diego]

I've seen Yes (the original group) twice and he is amazing. He's in his own world.
I've seen the latest incarnation of Yes and have heard snippets of their new cd and must say, all the guys have aged poorly..... and I'm being nice.

I'm surprised. This song from their new album really is kicking my ass, hard:



And Howe's solo at the end is pure art! Nice tone too.

[Mars Hall]

Although his solos are arranged, they sound as if they are improvised.

[GoldenVulture]

I'm surprised. This song from their new album really is kicking my ass, hard:



And Howe's solo at the end is pure art! Nice tone too.

Err! Being a really old Yes fan, that sounds like yes Lite to me and what a rotten mix. Way too much percussion and unbalanced. keyboards too loud Guitar too soft, bass too soft and undefined. The whole mix sounds really sloppy.
As for the dynamics of the track, " Into the Squall " says it all. It evokes about as much a storm image as Party by Loionel Ritchie.
Badly titled track.

[ginormous]

Here's how Steve Howe:

Chops: Steve, more!
Tone: Steve, stop. Seriously. Enough.

[Kosh Naranek]

Guitar tone in the 70's was largely "Crank the treble"! It wasn't until the first Boston album that most of us discovered that a mid-boosted tone with a crisp but not ear-piercing high end sounded cool.

"Into the Squall" - The envelope follower effect on the bass brings to mind sections from their "Tales from Topographic Oceans" album. Quite cool. But I'm with Golden Vulture. I don't think it's bad but it's largely a pop song that could just as easily be a hit by Asia.

[jalguitarman]

I have to say I love his playing but I have never thought about the tones he goes for. As I think about it i must say many times the tones he uses don't really please my ear.

[Bass_Medic_05]

The bassist isn't bad either lol!

[GoldenVulture]

The bassist isn't bad either lol!

YES!

[telemoder]

Does anyone have a picture of his Telecaster?

[Mincer]

I know his Tele has a gibson pickup in the neck, and a 3 way switch where an LP's would be.
BTW, the band I was in 20 years ago used to play lots of Yes, including Heart of the Sunrise, Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper.

[Jakek5150]

When I saw Yes live last year, I'm pretty sure he was playing through a Line 6 DT50. The tone was OK, but I think it balanced out well with the bass and keyboards.

[Bass_Medic_05]

Does anyone have a picture of his Telecaster?

I couldnt resist lol!

[Mincer]

I'd go more with Mr Burns.