I can't tell you how many bands around this scene are led by a guitarist with a vision. My own latest cover band project included. Thankfully, it's not my vision, it's the front man. I'm his hired gun...lead guitar guy. I love it - kinda takes the pressure off 'leading' the band. But, as I'm sure you already know, some of us are just inherent leader types and tend to start bossing people around from time to time
My previous cover band was all my vision, but luckily, I was smart enough to surround myself with excellent musicians. Great. Band. And a great brotherhood of friends having fun playing stuff they like for their friends, family and strangers getting married or having a party. Great. Band.
I have to point out that I never set out to be the leader or to push my vision. It was just natural me being the guitar player and heavy metal being guitar based music n all that I fell into that role. It became cemented then as soon as I began to record the band because then I guess I became the producer as well (never quite sure what the hell a producer is BTW). Also part of the reason I'm with the guy's I'm with was because they were the only ones interested in what I wanted to play. I didn't chose the best guys around, it was/is more of a case of sticking with those who would stick with me and were reliable. Obviously if they were terrible it wouldn't have worked. Sometimes I wish I could hire and get new guys in and out but it's not realistic, the choices are limited by A) where I live, B) The style of music I play C) Other issues from money to transport to dedication and work ethic.
I agree with your comment about guitars playing a part too. As we have already discussed, I buy cheap guitars (usually Ibanez) because they're made well and have cheap electronics - which I'm going to change anyway. I feel like my guitars are tinny in character because I have my bass turned so high in my preamps. The tinny guitar cuts through the mix like a midrange, while I keep pumpin' the low end to get my chugga chugga on. Could have something to do with the tones I get, but I gotta tell you, my Classic Rock tone is very similar to your new MP-1. Plexi-esque, like a HOT Marshall on a summer day
So you think that new MP1 sounds Plexi esque also? Well that's good
So that was a Tokai Custom Edition strat with it's stock pickups (from 1988) running into my Boss GT5, then using its vintage OD set with zero drive, bass+20, trebel 0, level 45, I boost the general MP1 tone, the MP1 is in the moveable loop in the GT5 (I run 4 cable method), then the output of the MP1 runs back into the GT5, then I stuck on a little low end boost on the GT5 EQ and then the GT5 Reverb. This is then routed through my EPSI cab sim (runs on speaker impulses), then into my multi track recorder.
You know the same seller was selling a classic, and it actually went for £30 cheaper than this MP1. I so nearly bid on it man, but I've been biased toward an MP1 over a Classic. On the day of the auction I was reading about the classic trying to convince myself to go for it (also because I wanted something I already don't own) but yet I kept reading the same thing that the MP1 sounds nicer. So I buckled and bid on the MP1. About 4 mins after this the Classic ended it's auction and someone bought it for £125. Now I like that price better than £155 which I paid for the MP1 but hey the MP1 sounds great and seems in good condition (although I noticed it doesn't always turn on on the first go, I have to look into that issue).
Perhaps I will get a Classic some day and MP2, currently though they are on the backburner.
Let me hear some metal using your Classic man if you don't mind? I will also bare in mind that even if the MP1 seems to be spoken off as sounding better than the classic (ceetainly from all the things I have read on the internet), I realise that sometimes it just depends on how you use a piece of gear and people get great results from different equipment, so I would never write off a Classic at all!