Sure, a powerful guitar chord may be soaked in testosterone, and be the ultimate in power, but who here prefers the - perhaps - 'gentler', 'slicker' sound of 80 synthesisers, current synth music to guitar-dominated rock? I.e. Tears for Fears, Gazebo or Devo over the Smiths/Van Halen.etc. Would you prefer to see less riffin', and more synth-computerised accompaniment in mainstream music?

I would take The Smiths over Tears for Fears or Devo any day of the week, but I don't actually have a preference for guitars or synths. Kate Bush has some pretty synth-heavy music from the '80s, and she's my favourite musical artist. I guess I think it just comes down to how effectively the instruments get used.

Synths are the best. Guitars are good too though.

I don't have a preference. I love both when done well.  It really depends on the artist. Pseudo Echo for instance were great as a synth band. Then they went and tried to make their sound "more rock", for fear of "being labeled as a poofy synth band." It didn't work for me.
I have always felt that Queen sacrifised some of their uniqueness, when they began using synths in the 80s. In the 70s, they relied on the genius of Brian May, whose layered guitar sound could emulate just about every instrument of the orchestra.
On ELO's 1980 release, Time, Jeff Lynn mentions that he used a synthesizer to emulate a guitar sound on the track, "Another Heart Breaks". An interesting idea, but why not just use your guitar, thinks me. :D

I don't have a preference. I love both when done well.  It really depends on the artist. Pseudo Echo for instance were great as a synth band. Then they went and tried to make their sound "more rock", for fear of "being labeled as a poofy synth band." It didn't work for me.
I have always felt that Queen sacrifised some of their uniqueness, when they began using synths in the 80s. In the 70s, they relied on the genius of Brian May, whose layered guitar sound could emulate just about every instrument of the orchestra.
On ELO's 1980 release, Time, Jeff Lynn mentions that he used a synthesizer to emulate a guitar sound on the track, "Another Heart Breaks". An interesting idea, but why not just use your guitar, thinks me. :D


Yeah, I hated it how so many great classic rock artists like Queen tried to fit in with the times and create cheesy, over-produced synth-based music. Bowie is probably the best( or worse!) example of this. But overall, I would like to see more 'spartan' sounding synths - ala early Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon blended with guitar music. In general, I'm just sick of the dominance of the guitar-bass-drum-vocals set up, and like to see bands using unconventional instruments/using their instruments in unconventional ways.

Depends on the way they're used.

Best Guitar-dominated Sound (My Opinion)- April Wine, Whitesnake

Best Synth-Dominated Sound (Again, My Opinion)- Devo, Gary Numan

Best Bands Who Knew How To Do Both: The Tubes, Big Country

Worst Bands Who Totally Boofed On This: Whitney Houston, John Ottway

Personal Preference: Bands Who Use Traditional Instruments In Unique Ways (Big Country's 'bagpipes' guitar, Whitesnake's bass playing w/a violin bow)

Depends on the way they're used.

Best Guitar-dominated Sound (My Opinion)- April Wine, Whitesnake

Best Synth-Dominated Sound (Again, My Opinion)- Devo, Gary Numan

Best Bands Who Knew How To Do Both: The Tubes, Big Country

Worst Bands Who Totally Boofed On This: Whitney Houston, John Ottway

Personal Preference: Bands Who Use Traditional Instruments In Unique Ways (Big Country's 'bagpipes' guitar, Whitesnake's bass playing w/a violin bow)


Yeah, like how some guitar virtuosos can extract almost any sound imaginable out of the humble guitar.

Best Guitar Virtuoso: Joe Satriani!

(Long Live the Hordes of Locusts!)