What makes a guitar sound loud?

[bamboofrog]

Hi All, I apologise if this is a stupid question, but I am very new to the electric guitar.

I was testing out a few amps the other day and the owner of the store commented that my guitar sounded very loud. His exact words were: "like being hit in the face with a brick"  :D

I own an Indie Custom Shape with stock humbuckers.

So I wondered what makes a guitar sound loud? Obviously if you crank up the amp, but what is it about the guitar? Is it the pickups, construction, wiring? Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

[noodleplugerine]

Firstly, the resonance of the strings, varies depending on size and how they join to the bridge/machinehead and over the nut. Fewer coils around the machineheads will mean better stability, and less energy lost, so more sustain and louder resonance. Lubricating the bridge saddles will also produce the same effect.

Then the resonance of the woods, varies with the way the bridge joins to the body, and the way the neck joins to the body, and the tonal properties of the wood. Tighter joins will increaes sustain, and make a louder resonance.

Then the distance of the pickups from the string, and how the pickups are joined to the body. Closer to the strings = more sensitive to the strings movements = louder. Tighter to the body = more permeable to the resonance of the body = louder.

Then the properties of the pickups themselves, larger dc resistance = louder.

Then the resistive properties of the wiring/cables and effects you use.


Have I missed anything?

[Elliot]

As above - as an example I have 3 strats - one is baswood, the other two are alder.  One of the alders is just so much louder than the other two - despite being the same shape, the same dc rating of pickups and having the same paint on it.  Likewise the basswood has tremendous midrange - it is also quite quiet through an amp, but very resonant.  Hence it sounds fabulously rock with Apaches which bring out the top end and leave the mids in place.

[bamboofrog]

Blimey, that's quite a list. I never realised that there were so many factors that could effect the tone, sound and volume of your guitar.

Thanks for the info

[noodleplugerine]

Ah ofcourse - The woods themselves are totally unique!

It's important when buying a guitar to learn its tap sound, put your ear to it and hit it, gives you a good understanding of the resonance of the wood without interference from the string and electronics properties.

[Roobubba]

Incidentally, our band has been described as "like being in a really good car crash". Not on topic, but thought I'd share that anyway :)

Welcome to the fourms!

Roo

[JJretroTONEGOD]

Hi All, I apologise if this is a stupid question, but I am very new to the electric guitar.

I was testing out a few amps the other day and the owner of the store commented that my guitar sounded very loud. His exact words were: "like being hit in the face with a brick"  :D

I own an Indie Custom Shape with stock humbuckers.

So I wondered what makes a guitar sound loud? Obviously if you crank up the amp, but what is it about the guitar? Is it the pickups, construction, wiring? Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

it's the pickups, some are wired to a higher output than others, and yours will be louder than a normal guitar.

Woods are not louder, they simlpy differ in tone, not output, unless you get into semi acoustic electric guitars, a completley different breed, or acoustics, I presume that you meant solid body?

[bamboofrog]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes it is a solid body. So a change of pickups will effect the volume as well as  the tones produced. I might have to have a think about a change of pickups.

[noodleplugerine]

Hi All, I apologise if this is a stupid question, but I am very new to the electric guitar.

I was testing out a few amps the other day and the owner of the store commented that my guitar sounded very loud. His exact words were: "like being hit in the face with a brick"  :D

I own an Indie Custom Shape with stock humbuckers.

So I wondered what makes a guitar sound loud? Obviously if you crank up the amp, but what is it about the guitar? Is it the pickups, construction, wiring? Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

it's the pickups, some are wired to a higher output than others, and yours will be louder than a normal guitar.

Woods are not louder, they simlpy differ in tone, not output, unless you get into semi acoustic electric guitars, a completley different breed, or acoustics, I presume that you meant solid body?

Some woods definitely are louder than others.

Density and structural properties all play a part.

You get some big booming resonant planks, and some shoddy lifeless planks too.

[Elliot]

That's my experience too.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Some guitars are definitely louder than others.

It is all down to how all the pieces go together and interact with each other.
Different pieces of wood soak up certain frequencies and reinforce others due to their own resonant frequency.
And sometimes when you put several pieces together you get lucky and the reinforcement  of those frequencies continues.

But you can have a too loud guitar
Sure it hits you in the face and it has a loud tone - almost like a brass instrument such as a trumpet or trombone, but it isn't always the most versatile or subtle guitar.

Some guitars that are like this are great for playing leads and solos though - they really cut through the band  mix - again not unlike a horn section

[bamboofrog]

I am really pleased with the guitar, it is solid mahogany with a maple cap and is very resonant. Sometimes the tone can be a bit full on, but I hope that some better pickups would rectify this.

Thanks for the replies all, Felineguitars I may have to pop across and have a guitar consultation. :)

[Lew]

Maybe the amp went to 11

[Twinfan]

One factor that hasn't been mentioned yet is treble frequencies.  In my experience, if you're guitar/amp combination is putting out a lot of treble it's really going to 'cut' and will therefore sound loud.  This is because your ears are much more sensitive to higher frequencies than lower ones.  Lower notes are more 'pleasing' to the ear.