Tone equation. Is it the amp? The guitar? The pickups? The wood?

alligatorbling

alligatorbling

Well-Known Member
I have been on a tone quest for many many years now. I have discovered many wonderful tones along the way. But what is the most important piece of the puzzle when creating "tone" ?

Im gonna go out on a limb here and say its the amp and speakers.

You can take a custom shop les paul that costs 1000s but if your playing it though an amp thats not up to par, its not gonna sound all that great.

That said, you can take a budget guitar and play it though an exceptional amp and youre going to get really good tone.

People say its the wood and the pickups.... im not saying its not, because it is... to a degree.

to find the pinnicle of tone all these things come into play.

but im one to say the amp is the main component. it is after all the piece that actual produces the sound. The speakers are just as important.

Id say the pickups are the next in the equation. A set of good pickups though a good amp is going to sound great. you could take a ply wood chineese guitar, and if you have a balanced set of pickups with a good amp, you gonna get great tone.

so is the wood even important. i think so too. but wait i thought i said it was the amp?

its a rabbit hole i tell ya!

So whats your take on it?
 
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Its simple -- you sound like you--
Eric Clapton SOUNDs like EC -- dont matter give him a 50.00 Squire and a 10 wat amp-- he will sound like him

Ace Frehley SOUNDS like Ace ---

BB KIng could play a Ukulele and SOUND like BB KING---

I sound like utter rubbish on a 50.00 squire through a 25.00 used peavey amp--or a 5,000 les paul through a Marshall Silver Jubilee-- (ive tried its true) -- I sound like me (depression sets in about now) -- :(
 
There will be some inherent resonance in the guitar itself, but with an electric guitar the amp is the voice.
Most amps will amplify, but to do it well and with high fidelity is an art.
 
i agree... to a point. the tools do make a difference though. for example, EVH is gonna sound like himself on any rig ... to a degree..... what about eruption played though a telecaster on the bridge pickup going into a twin reverb. that would sound ... different.
 
alligatorbling said:
i agree... to a point. the tools do make a difference though. for example, EVH is gonna sound like himself on any rig ... to a degree..... what about eruption played though a telecaster on the bridge pickup going into a twin reverb. that would sound ... different.
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That would be bright and piercing.
But that's why there are tone knobs on things.
 
to answer the original question/post-- without "dicking about" (sorry its my thing)

IT is a rabbit hole--- for sure-- and many have been lost down it for years (anyone seen a mirror) and some get so tangled up in the "tone" and how or what gets THAT TONE they forget to learn how the FOOK TO PLAY -- which ultimately is the REAL tone-- now where did I leave that MeL Bay book I got in 1980 ..........
 
i should have put a disclaimer in the original post.... im a total tone nerd/tone chaser. i get off on the subtle nuances of rigs.... my quest will never be complete lol
 
I found all the tones I can handle in my Helix and Kemper...so many that I forgot to play guitar and just twisted knobs all day for hours on end.

Then I realized what I was doing and pulled back from tone chasing...
 
alligatorbling said:
i should have put a disclaimer in the original post.... im a total tone nerd/tone chaser. i get off on the subtle nuances of rigs.... my quest will never be complete lol
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your in the RIGHT PLACE then, welcome -- there is punch and cookies over by the basketball goal/..... :)

note the forum name --- we are here chasing tone baby :)
 
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