My Beliefs on Guitar Tone

[NLD09]

My only real observation of "tone" is that most people who go looking for it are the ones who lose it somewhere in the process. Most players get in their own way.

 

[Steve_Karl]

I can only guess at what others experience and can really only speak for myself.
My tone has never been lost, but it has evolved and mutated a lot since 1965, as has my awareness of it, and self.
I'm just finding more connection with the instrument.

And also, it's interesting (to me at least) to discover that my black korina body "feels" more tight and crunchy, less resonant, than my mahogany, when unplugged and just playing it on my lap. Oh ... but of course with a fresh set of earplugs. The plugs allow me to listen more with my whole body and they also attenuate the pick noise to a level where the tone of the wood becomes more obvious.
This is where I find "comfort level" to come under the microscope but I enjoy the close observation and the consequent discovery.

 

[mayfly]

Sarcastic?  Just look at this link.... fully supports that knobs make a difference

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/07/astronomically_overp.html

I really need to find the group of people who buy that stuff...

... and sell them stuff...

 

[Superlizard]

Left-handed bodies and necks tend to sound far better than their right-handed equivalents...

Truth.    :laughing7:

 

[Superlizard]

Ignore what I previously said... here's the actual unadulterated truth about tone for all y'all:

Tone is a modeling amp on the solid state Gorilla amp setting thru an emulated sh!tty speaker... played over your sh!tty pc speakers.

Now that's tone.

 

[Jusatele]

For me tone has always been about technique(picking accuracy, speed, fluidity, chord accuracy, timing, pressure and position of fingers etc). Yeah good gear makes a big difference.

I have had an Epiiphone LP since I first started playing guitar ten years ago. Same pickups everything, played through the same amp and pedals. When I first started my tone was horrible, now with the same guitar and setup my tone sounds sweeter and smoother.

this is one of the most important post of this thread.
Technique, can overcome equipment,  What I mean is you can buy the best of anything,but unless you know how to use it, you still just have a beginners guitar.\
Practice is the key, and practicing proper technique is where it is at, just because Jimi Hendrix did it does not make it correct, the tried and trued techniques are what will.
but like he said, the same guitar and amp ten years down the road sounds sweet.

I really like Bass amps for their clean clear tone, I always have one around and play though them a lot at home, all my practice I do with no effects, just a bass amp, I think that helps me practice technique, so that when I play with effects I am not sloppy and covering it up, but using the effects for their job.

 

[AndyG]

I have always believed that good tone is what you like, and what you want to hear.  As far as things affecting a guitar's tone, I believe that every part, every decision makes a difference, relative to what the final style dictates.  Are you going to hear the difference between a poly and a nitro finish if you plan on playing Slipknot covers?  Probably not.  But you might hear the difference the body wood makes in high-gain situations like that, and pickup choice will make a huge difference.
I've said this in several other threads, that "the perfect tone" is a myth .... if the player likes it, then it is good, because that is what he/she wants.  If it fits the style of music you want to play, it is good.  If, when you hit a single note or chord on the guitar, and you get goosebumps, it is good!.    :rock-on:

 

[Jusatele]

Andy, I have to agree about the perfect tone.
And here is another thing, the perfect distortion. I think we all look for a different form of distortion, I like my tone to be up front and my distortion to be this nasty crack that gives the tone taste, some what like the Tres Hombres ZZ top tone, but later albums I do not like their distortion. Others like the full soak distortion up front with the tone fighting to come through.
Yes perfect tone is a individual thing.

 

[m4rk0]

I
My Gorilla amp sounds just as good as your vintage Marshall.
...maybe even better.

hahahaha, that is like saying that your Agile is as good as a gibson!!!  :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

 

[Superlizard]

I
My Gorilla amp sounds just as good as your vintage Marshall.
...maybe even better.

hahahaha, that is like saying that your Agile is as good as a gibson!!!  :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

My Agiles are as good as a Gibson - I can say so because I've owned both.   :icon_thumright:

SCHWEET:

 

[Cagey]

I
My Gorilla amp sounds just as good as your vintage Marshall.
...maybe even better.

hahahaha, that is like saying that your Agile is as good as a gibson!!!  :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

Except an Agile IS as good as a Gibson. Often better. And when you consider the price differential, they're a LOT better. If somebody gave me a new Les Paul Custom for free, I'd put it on eBay immediately. Then I'd take the proceeds and buy an Agile AS-1000, a Rivera Fandango, build another Warmoth Strat, and spend whatever was left on beer, cigarettes, and loose wimmin <grin>

 

[m4rk0]

I
My Gorilla amp sounds just as good as your vintage Marshall.
...maybe even better.

hahahaha, that is like saying that your Agile is as good as a gibson!!!  :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

Except an Agile IS as good as a Gibson. Often better. And when you consider the price differential, they're a LOT better. If somebody gave me a new Les Paul Custom for free, I'd put it on eBay immediately. Then I'd take the proceeds and buy an Agile AS-1000, a Rivera Fandango, build another Warmoth Strat, and spend whatever was left on beer, cigarettes, and loose wimmin <grin>

I know, I was just takin the piss..
in fact, I don't know, I never owned either a gibson or an agile....

 

[Superlizard]

I know, I was just takin the piss..
in fact, I don't know, I never owned either a gibson or an agile....

You should get an Agile AL-3000 or higher model.

Do it... do it.

Doo eet.

 

[m4rk0]

I know, I was just takin the piss..
in fact, I don't know, I never owned either a gibson or an agile....

You should get an Agile AL-3000 or higher model.

Do it... do it.

Doo eet.

I can't.. I am saving up for a gorilla amp!

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Except an Agile IS as good as a Gibson. Often better. And when you consider the price differential, they're a LOT better. If somebody gave me a new Les Paul Custom for free, I'd put it on eBay immediately. Then I'd take the proceeds and buy an Agile AS-1000, a Rivera Fandango, build another Warmoth Strat, and spend whatever was left on beer, cigarettes, and loose wimmin <grin>

I've spent a lot of money on guitars, basses, amps, beer, cigarettes, and women.  The rest I just wasted.

 

[Cagey]

Ain't that always the way? <grin>

 

[Jusatele]

I do not think I have ever wasted money on guitars, learned a few expensive lessons,but never wasted money on guitars.
Now women,I have wasted a few bucks on them

 

[Cagey]

Now women,I have wasted a few bucks on them.

No kidding. I'm thinking next time I meet a woman I don't like, I'll just buy her a house right up front and avoid the whole marriage rigmarole. It'll be cheaper and easier <grin>

 

[Jusatele]

Now women,I have wasted a few bucks on them.

No kidding. I'm thinking next time I meet a woman I don't like, I'll just buy her a house right up front and avoid the whole marriage rigmarole. It'll be cheaper and easier <grin>

works for
me
while your at it buy her a few diamonds and let her claim half your retirement plan also

 

[hannaugh]

You guys have it all wrong.  You're supposed to marry a woman who is already rich.