As a music producer searching for a unique sound would find it is better to win in the curve. The majority of the flavor doesn’t come from what you use but how you use it. The objective is to create a musical masterpiece that is difficult to replicate. This is normally done with sound selection or sound creation. An array of melodies helps too but the way a signature sound has been sculpted shows creative authority.
The good thing about creative authority while producing is control. Knowing what each knob or button does under various settings gives a producer a skill set that translates to other media forms as well. Also learning what various signal processing sounds like helps when studying music of others.
In all music you will learn that curves is what gives life and character to sound. From the curves created with velocity changes to the curve of the simple stereo shaper, all of it matters so always remember to win in the curve.
