I'm not the biggest Oldfield fan, but his tone could possibly be my favorite after that of Gilmour. I could recognize Oldfield a mile away. I think his uniqueness and style are incredible. Prior to clicking this thread I would never have guessed that'd I'd be seeing the words "medicore" and "awful".
You're right. Seriously, I can't understand how anyone can say that. I think you have to not know him at all to say he's a mediocre guitarist. You can not like him, but you can't say he's not amazing, IMO
In this thread, we're not concerned with his playing abilities, but with his tone.
And what I was really referring to was his lead guitar tone, which can be found in albums like Tubular Bells and Ommadawn.
Worst sounding guitar I've ever heard. Tinny and ruinous for me.
Joined: March 27 2011
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 21:45
POTA wrote:
I'm not the biggest Oldfield fan, but his tone could possibly be my favorite after that of Gilmour. I could recognize Oldfield a mile away. I think his uniqueness and style are incredible. Prior to clicking this thread I would never have guessed that'd I'd be seeing the words "medicore" and "awful".
You're right. Seriously, I can't understand how anyone can say that. I think you have to not know him at all to say he's a mediocre guitarist. You can not like him, but you can't say he's not amazing, IMO
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 20:56
I'm not the biggest Oldfield fan, but his tone could possibly be my favorite after that of Gilmour. I could recognize Oldfield a mile away. I think his uniqueness and style are incredible. Prior to clicking this thread I would never have guessed that'd I'd be seeing the words "medicore" and "awful".
Joined: March 27 2011
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 20:45
The Dark Elf wrote:
Mista-Gordie wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
Progosopher wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
I consider Mike Oldfield to be a mediocre guitarist.
Yeah, but what about his tone? For me, I think it is a really good one that is unique and easily identifiable. He's not the greatest of guitarists, sure, but nobody else sounds quite like him.
Yes, he is a banal guitarist with excellent tone.
You think that a banal guitarist can have a great tone??? seriously. A good guitar sound is the only thing a mediocre guitarist can't produce, because it takes a lot of time. Mike Oldfield may seem to be a mediocre guitarist because he often plays simple guitar parts, but he's one of those guitarists that gives more importance to the guitar effects than the technical aspects, and I think it's the most important thing. For me Oldfield is one of the 5 best guitarists ever
Posting note: The insertion of a "winking" emoticon indicates the presence of sarcasm.
As far as being among the 5 best guitarists ever, I would have difficulty including him in a top 100. Too many great guitarists for Oldfield to be in such a discussion.
Maybe he's not one of the best the best technically, but he's still great, and I think the feeling is even more important than the technical skills. That's why he's one of my 5 favourites ever
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 20:22
Mista-Gordie wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
Progosopher wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
I consider Mike Oldfield to be a mediocre guitarist.
Yeah, but what about his tone? For me, I think it is a really good one that is unique and easily identifiable. He's not the greatest of guitarists, sure, but nobody else sounds quite like him.
Yes, he is a banal guitarist with excellent tone.
You think that a banal guitarist can have a great tone??? seriously. A good guitar sound is the only thing a mediocre guitarist can't produce, because it takes a lot of time. Mike Oldfield may seem to be a mediocre guitarist because he often plays simple guitar parts, but he's one of those guitarists that gives more importance to the guitar effects than the technical aspects, and I think it's the most important thing. For me Oldfield is one of the 5 best guitarists ever
Posting note: The insertion of a "winking" emoticon indicates the presence of sarcasm.
As far as being among the 5 best guitarists ever, I would have difficulty including him in a top 100. Too many great guitarists for Oldfield to be in such a discussion.
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
Joined: March 27 2011
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 20:07
The Dark Elf wrote:
Progosopher wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
I consider Mike Oldfield to be a mediocre guitarist.
Yeah, but what about his tone? For me, I think it is a really good one that is unique and easily identifiable. He's not the greatest of guitarists, sure, but nobody else sounds quite like him.
Yes, he is a banal guitarist with excellent tone.
You think that a banal guitarist can have a great tone??? seriously. A good guitar sound is the only thing a mediocre guitarist can't produce, because it takes a lot of time. Mike Oldfield may seem to be a mediocre guitarist because he often plays simple guitar parts, but he's one of those guitarists that gives more importance to the guitar effects than the technical aspects, and I think it's the most important thing. For me Oldfield is one of the 5 best guitarists ever
Joined: February 28 2005
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 17:05
I presume we're talking about electric guitar? And are we going to accept that Oldfield's guitar tone is the same throughout one recording, let alone over the forty years he's been recording?I'm not sure about that: in his early years, in keeping with his symphonic/folk ambitions, the tone is a little rougher, underproduced (for Oldfield). His pop years are characterised by a smoother tone - syrupy, his detractors might say.
It also helps to recognise that Oldfield is the epitome of melody-based composers. He's rightly revered for sweet melody lines, making many think he's nothing more than a saccharin new age composer (though I'd argue his earlier works are much more than this). I suspect because of this for many people his guitar tone sounds sweeter (and therefore poorer) than it actually is.
As for the climax to 'Ommadawn Pt 1' I think it is a perfect summation of what's come before. No, he's not as good at it as, say, David Gilmour, but he manages to make his guitar sound like it's reaching for the note, not hitting it easily. It's a common rock device and Oldfield does it superbly (an even better example is Gilmour's solo in 'Shine On Pt VI').
I think the OP poll question should have been 'Does Oldfield's guitar tone enhance his music?' I'd say yes.
Joined: March 08 2006
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 03:43
Bantam19 wrote:
I think it's for the most part pretty awful. The tone of his electric at the climax of Ommadawn Part 1, for example, is basically the only thing detracting from an otherwise flawless track.
I'm afraid I do not agree. Oldfield often annoys me, but that particular climax is just the way it should be.
Still, I think I know what many of you are getting at: when Oldfield plays electric guitar solos, he often sounds "boxed in", it seems as if he's playing some kind of toy guitar. (Steve Hackett tends to have similar problems.)
If you want to hear Oldfield at his freest, I suggest the following two tracks:
1. "First Excursion", a five-minute collaboration with David Bedford. Here Oldfield's guitar really "opens up" and the music really breathes. It's ecstatic music, similar to early Terje Rypdal. (The track can be found on BOXED and on ELEMENTS).
2. "Whatevershebringswesing", the title track to the eponymous Kevin Ayers album, a delicate love ballad. Oldfield provided a longish electric guitar solo which he recorded before he got famous (I think); for my money, it's the most beautiful thing he's ever done.
Joined: September 07 2007
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Posted: April 30 2011 at 03:14
stonebeard wrote:
OBJECTION!
Hmm, Let There Be MORE Light is far better!
Edited by Gandalff - April 30 2011 at 03:51
A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon!
I hope you mean this post rather as a guilefulness.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon!
Joined: February 01 2011
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Posted: April 29 2011 at 22:03
Progosopher wrote:
The Dark Elf wrote:
I consider Mike Oldfield to be a mediocre guitarist.
Yeah, but what about his tone? For me, I think it is a really good one that is unique and easily identifiable. He's not the greatest of guitarists, sure, but nobody else sounds quite like him.
Yes, he is a banal guitarist with excellent tone.
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
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Mike Oldfield's Guitar Tone
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Mista-Gordie wrote:
For me, I think it is a really good one that is unique and easily identifiable. He's not the greatest of guitarists, sure, but nobody else sounds quite like him.
