Tom Morello-too many effects?

anonymous278347457 · #1 09-08-2006, 12:57 PM

Ive always been a fan of RATM and audioslave, and I remember a couple years ago(before I started playing bass) I was talking to a friend at school about tom morello, then this random guy from the year above just comes up to me and says:

"tom morello sucks!, he uses way to many effects to cover up for his crap playing"

So I just said OK and carried on talking to my friend,

but since i started playing bass(2 years now) ive realised that tom morello does use LOADS of effects, however cool they are they seem a bit unnecessary some times.

anyone else think this?

By the way, this thread isnt having a go at tom morello(I think he fits well with the stuff he plays), im just talking about his (over)use of effects

Trevorus · #2 09-08-2006, 01:00 PM

check this out...

http://guitargeek.com/rigview/124/

spectorbass83 · #3 09-08-2006, 01:02 PM

The new song "The Original Fire" by Audioslave has what I like to call the "donald duck" guitar solo...its actually irritating.

Aside from this I think Morello is unique and a fantastic player - name one guitar player that Tom Morello sounds like?? You can't. He's got his own sound and his own style..That's hard to get!

badstonebass · #4 09-08-2006, 01:03 PM

Morello does use a lot of effects. It seems to make up for a lack of lead guitar skills. It does not however hide the fact that he is a good songwriter.

If he likes using them.....he's successful using them....and they sound cool.....who cares. I think the work he has done with Audioslave is some of the best music coming out these days. I am sure Chris Cornell has something to do with it though because I never really like RATM.

**baba** · #5 09-08-2006, 01:03 PM

I loathe Morello's solos because of the effects. Bleh and triple meh.

jimb213 · #6 09-08-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badstonebass

Morello does use a lot of effects. It seems to make up for a lack of lead guitar skills. It does not however hide the fact that he is a good songwriter.

there was more traditional guitar soloing on the 1st RATM record. He's got the chops.

Jimbo · #7 09-08-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

there was more traditional guitar soloing on the 1st RATM record. He's got the chops.

+1 tom can play

i love his use of effects--it shows some expression. he could play the guitar like everyone else but instead he makes his guitar sound like himself. not enough players of any instrument make their own unique style, IMHO

Mitchell Royce · #8 09-08-2006, 02:00 PM

I think Morello seems more inspired in his solos by scratching and cutting(you know, DJ wankery) than traditional guitar playing. Even though I'm not a fan I have to applaud his going into new territory.

superbassman2000 · #9 09-08-2006, 02:28 PM

he hardly uses any effects compared to most guitar players...i think with his solos, the appeal is more in the creativity and originality and experimentation that he is doing. He can easily play the crazy prog riffs, as there is plenty of evidence in many songs from RATM to audioslave.

dancehallclasher · #10 09-08-2006, 02:55 PM

He really doesn't use many effects, he just has this genius intuition of how to combine them in inventive ways. And why focus only on solos? He usually has straightforward rhythm sounds and he is a tight rhythm player.

But yeah, if you don't think he can shred check out the first record.

Gard · #11 09-08-2006, 02:59 PM

Morello definitely has a unique and interesting approach, he's very musical, and creative. I like what he does, especially now that he actually has a vocalist to work with.

Kronos · #12 09-08-2006, 03:04 PM

As much as I'm not a fan of either RATM or Audioslave, I have to give him props. He's very creative. Effects or not.

Clay_Bass · #13 09-08-2006, 03:08 PM

Does Doug Wimbish suck? He plays bass and has 2 huge pedal boards. Definatley not, in fact hes a huge influence on me and many other people around and gets loads of work. Same goes for tom. I really enjoy everything Ive heard of his same thing goes for Doug.

Spector_Ray · #14 09-08-2006, 03:50 PM

Although I'm not a fan of RATM and am somewhat a fan of Audioslave(because of Chris Cornell), Tom is not of the ordinary. I would love to go back and hear some of the comments from "traditional" guitarists of Eddie Van Halen. In no way was he from the school of ordinary guitar playing. Not comparing Tom's playing to Eddie, just saying Tom's doing different things with the guitar.

Oh yeah, he used too many effects, but that's Tom.

Baryonyx · #15 09-08-2006, 04:02 PM

I wouldn't say Tom uses too many effects, but he hasn't done anything really new with them for a while and his trickbag has become something of a cliche now. Maybe for once, convention wouldn't be so bad...

**MAJOR METAL** · #16 09-08-2006, 04:08 PM

I think at this point it really is his tradmark sound.

labgnat · #17 09-08-2006, 04:51 PM

rage against the machine was one of the best bands ever, audioslave is eh so so

tom is 2nd on my top 3 list of guitar players, his creativity outshines most by a gigantic margin

SundanceChile · #18 09-08-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

he hardly uses any effects compared to most guitar players...

Agreed.For those complaining, keep in mind that Bootsy uses more effects then Tom Morello, or most any guitarist for that matter. Anyone willing to rip on Bootsy?

gribuski · #19 09-08-2006, 05:20 PM

I think Morello is an exceptional player. The effects aren't a cover-up for his lack of technical ability. I've heard several live recordings, and he really is able to shred...he just doesn't. I think his best attribute is his rythym guitar playing. His use of effects is super-creative, and as someone pointed out no one sounds like him. I have yet to even hear anyone adequately pull off Morello solo in a Rage cover.

I'm a huge Rage fan (not so much Audioslave...even though I'm a massive Soundgarden fan....weird). But, look at Timmy C, Tom and Brad. I don't think any of those guys would get a "holy crap that guy is the best _________ I've ever freakin' seen!" I'm sure Morello would get his share of "What the hell is that guy doing?!," but still.

They are all incredibly, incredibly solid. I'm pretty sure they could play anything they wanted, but musically those guys have no ego. They sure write cool riffs, and they play within the song. End of story. I think they're the best rock "band" around...they're so tight.

And, tell me how many guitar players (of varying skiil levels) you've seen play that have way more actual pedals that Tom (from the GuitarGeek link). Think about that. Its not the size of the pedalboard, it's its motion in the....well, its all in how you use it.

Now I'm gonna go rock out to Evil Empire.

I-Love-Ratm · #20 09-08-2006, 06:14 PM

Anyone who says Tom can't play go listen to the solo in "Know Your Enemy" and then go suck a lemon!