Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: JDC on August 30, 2007, 05:18:05 PM

Title: definition of good tone
Post by: JDC on August 30, 2007, 05:18:05 PM
I don't have golden ears but I think they are getting better, tone is obviously a subjective thing and down to personal preference

but in order to improve my tone I was wondering if anyone had a good definition of what good tone actually is

maybe I'm asking the impossible, lol
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: ToneMonkey on August 30, 2007, 05:20:21 PM
Maybe you are talking the impossible, but have a listen to The Black Keys and Frank Zappa.  Nasty ass tone, just the way I like it  PDT_007
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Crazy_Joe on August 30, 2007, 05:39:42 PM
You can't define good tone, it's completely personal preference.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: _tom_ on August 30, 2007, 05:57:54 PM
This. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fKn5iZ-skZY)

For rock at least, theres nothing better than that.

edit - actually, the tone on the live album If You Want Blood, You've Got It is probably a bit better.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Elliot on August 30, 2007, 06:20:39 PM
Tone that expresses something more than a string of notes - Like the evil of Geezer Butler's bass on NIB or the ethereal sound of Peter Green's LP on Black Magic Women.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 30, 2007, 06:31:49 PM
A definitive sound imo.

Bad tone doesn't stand out, it blends, and merges into the background - good tone stands out from bad, and makes you want to listen to it.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Kepu on August 30, 2007, 06:45:42 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
A definitive sound imo.

Bad tone doesn't stand out, it blends, and merges into the background - good tone stands out from bad, and makes you want to listen to it.


Have you listened to some black metal bands? :lol:
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Bainzy on August 30, 2007, 07:21:57 PM
It makes you grin from ear to ear when you play a chord on your guitar  8)
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: WezV on August 30, 2007, 07:32:52 PM
Quote from: Bainzy
It makes you grin from ear to ear when you play a chord on your guitar  8)


Bainzy has got it in one!!! Its the sounds that make you smile, or grin in an evil way if you are so inclined :twisted:
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Twinfan on August 30, 2007, 07:50:07 PM
Tom was close, it's actually this:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=H1iR2Wi3u5o

I love the tone Angus has when he starts playing at 7 seconds in...
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: plastercaster on August 30, 2007, 07:59:30 PM
The E chord in this riff sends chills down me spine.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tc0WRGZZOsM
youtube isn't as good as the record, but it has a real "roar" to it, which is my perfect tone.
I LOVE this band.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Davey on August 30, 2007, 08:26:07 PM
currently, i'm obssesed with the tone on Opeths Serenity Painted Death (when the chugging starts at 1:30) godlike.

though a SWEEEEET rock tone is the rythm guitar on AC/DC Thunderstruck
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: dave_mc on August 30, 2007, 09:20:22 PM
personal preference, but in my opinion, eric johnson, and for the rockier stuff, EVH.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: WezV on August 30, 2007, 11:33:37 PM
this does it for me, although as always - sounds better on the record than youtube.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMLU_pLjME
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Kilby on August 30, 2007, 11:56:08 PM
Quote from: WezV
this does it for me, although as always - sounds better on the record than youtube.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMLU_pLjME


Hmm to me the guitar tone on the original Chris Isaak is a tone from heaven.

Though I'd like to hear a higher quality version of that one, as the singers voice sounds interesting.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: shaman on August 31, 2007, 12:34:47 AM
...YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU HEAR IT......hark...!!
seriously, its that simple....that whole devilish grin thing does it for me :twisted:  :twisted:
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: WezV on August 31, 2007, 09:45:39 AM
Quote from: Kilby
Quote from: WezV
this does it for me, although as always - sounds better on the record than youtube.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMLU_pLjME


Hmm to me the guitar tone on the original Chris Isaak is a tone from heaven.

Though I'd like to hear a higher quality version of that one, as the singers voice sounds interesting.


yeah, chris isaaks probably is more 'perfect' and over produced too.   But i dont really go for perfect music, its the extra dissonance and dirt that i really like about this!  Giant drag are the perfect post grunge kinda band for me, i think they split up though.  Saw them at reading a couple of years ago and that girl really has a very dirty mind, gotta love it!  

Oh, and she plays a nice gretsch and i have always been partial to the sound of a filtertron pickup - dont suit most of the guitars i make though.  although i did have a email form TV Jones asking if they could steal some pictures of my TV jones equipped guitars for their website.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 31, 2007, 10:38:47 AM
Quote
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMLU_pLjME

 the guitar tone on the original Chris Isaak is a tone from heaven.
[/quote]


+1 was a nice sound- haunting!

I like some of the tones on this classsic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6QK0xG3mfo

And heres tons of stuff from Brian May,
Gary Moore,
Santana,
Michael Schenker ,
Matthias Jabs (Scorpions ) on Blackout album.
George Lynch on Under Lock and key
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Philly Q on August 31, 2007, 12:03:32 PM
There are so many great guitar tones!   Some that immediately spring to mind for me would be Leslie West, Gary Moore, Robin Trower, Warren Haynes, Schenker/Scorpions, Paul Kossoff, AC/DC, Ritchie Blackmore, Richie Kotzen, Ty Tabor, Tony Iommi, Roy Buchanan, Robben Ford, Chris Whitley, the guys who played on Matthew Sweet's albums (Robert Quine, Richard Lloyd, Ivan Julian).  

I especially love huge, fat, sustaining sounds like early-ish Santana and Dave Meniketti's solos on Y&T's Black Tiger and Mean Streak albums.  And I have a fairly obscure album by a band called The Mother Station with Gwin Spencer on guitar - she has some of the most awesome, fat guitar tones I've ever heard.

All this confirms JDC's original comment at the top of the thread that "tone is obviously a subjective thing and down to personal preference".  :lol:
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: PhilKing on August 31, 2007, 12:39:37 PM
Chris Isaak uses a Harmony with Gibson mini-humbuckers, however they are a special build for Harmony and have 3 & 3 screws (like Fender HB's).  I have one in the neck position on my Tele.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Woogie on August 31, 2007, 12:42:31 PM
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6B7LOpiKP-Q


My ideal tone for blues ;)
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: _tom_ on August 31, 2007, 02:05:09 PM
On the subject of good tone -   http://www.myspace.com/interstateblues  

Looks like he's using a 5150, at least live. I never thought I'd like the sound of a 5150, everyone says theyre buzzy and cr@p, this just proves it all wrong if thats indeed what he was using for the recordings.. can anyone confirm if thats a 5150 doing low gain stuff or not?
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: WezV on August 31, 2007, 02:33:46 PM
Quote from: Kilby

Though I'd like to hear a higher quality version of that one, as the singers voice sounds interesting.


Better quality one on myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/giantdrag  

the way i see it chris isaak one has the great intro and all but gets a bit dull for the rest of it.  the giant drag one has some nice dirty powerchords droning along which make it more my kind of thing
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 31, 2007, 03:16:29 PM
Santana and Satch.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: Woogie on August 31, 2007, 03:18:38 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Santana and Satch.


Satriani does bring thick lashings of channel island pwnage, that is true.
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: JJretroTONEGOD on September 01, 2007, 05:13:40 PM
The I like my tone sweet, aka SMALL amps, BIG sound, blues style, because it's right for my guitar/pickup combination. You cant beat a 5 watt class A amp, even when playing live! It IS loud enough before you say it isnt, you just connect it to a cab and mic it up DIR. lol
Title: definition of good tone
Post by: QS-Nalle on September 02, 2007, 08:52:18 PM
Quote from: _tom_
This. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fKn5iZ-skZY)

For rock at least, theres nothing better than that.

edit - actually, the tone on the live album If You Want Blood, You've Got It is probably a bit better.


AMEN Brother!!!!!