I'd have to agree that the player IS the tone, as I've never been able to sound anything but the way I sound, no matter what guitar I'm playing. You do tend to get tired of the same tone after a few decades, but if it's the thing that distinguishes you from other players, then it has to be a good thing, I guess. I often get players asking me "how do you get that tone?" and I have to reply "I can't help but get it?".

I do use the slide though, so that instantly trade marks me as player. Slide sounds are REALLY individual, because there are so many ways of getting the sound out of the string: the vibrato, string gauge, metal/glass slide, attack, tuning, intonation, etc.

Here's an example of that slide sound (will stream):

http://thatllteachyou.com/mp3s/rock_ballad.m3u

This was a track that a certain Jim Heidinger posted as a backing track at another forum. A few of us overdubbed a solo part. This was done on my Strat, a Boss Overdrive pedal, straight into the computer.