Share your Secrets of Tone

[nfe]

Really what I'm getting at I suppose, is that in a thread called "Your secrets of tone" people were talking about the cost of gear as a factor, or at least phrasing it as such, and I think that's quite silly, not to mention discouraging to folks without many pennies.

So why are you so anti-spending money on gear, nfe?  If you don't believe in that kind of thing why are you on a boutique pickup makers forum?  You're preaching to the wrong crowd...

I'm not. Not at all. It's just that quite often folks (not just yourself, like) insinuate that expense is like a badge of quality, and I don;t think that's at all true.

[gwEm]

Really what I'm getting at I suppose, is that in a thread called "Your secrets of tone" people were talking about the cost of gear as a factor, or at least phrasing it as such, and I think that's quite silly, not to mention discouraging to folks without many pennies.

So why are you so anti-spending money on gear, nfe?  If you don't believe in that kind of thing why are you on a boutique pickup makers forum?  You're preaching to the wrong crowd...

sometimes dave and ben can come across as massive gear snobs sometimes i must admit ;) but clearly they aren't spending money for moneys sake - look at daves epiphones and his post about the cheap tonerider pedals, and ben just brought an agile and recommended a cheap fuzz box recently. the comment: "Buy the best gear you can afford." could hardly be argued with! the follow up "More often than not, the expense is justified." well, that could be considered more controversial certainly.

"Buy the best gear you can afford." means trying loads of stuff out and making sure it is the best first :) obviously no one means just buy the most expensive stuff because its the most expensive and so it must be the best... clearly it may not be. there are some cheap tone gems out there - and thats one of the points of this forum.

while i agree with dave and ben, the casual observer could interpret stuff in a pretty bad way thats for sure. i reckon thats happened here.

edit: recently i brought 2 mesa boogie 1x12 cabs, even if they were secondhand my wallet winced with pain.. but they have been the single biggest improvement in my tone for years

[Twinfan]

Thanks for the post, gwEm.  I don't intend to come across as a gear snob, so many apologies to everyone on the forum if I do  :oops:

I'm not sure if this proves anything or not, but as well as the Modern Eagle I own and play:

Chinese Standard Squier Strat
Chinese Classic Vibe Squier Tele
Korean Epiphone SG
Gordon Smith SG

Nothing snobbish about any of those guitars I don't think?  I've defended and recommended Squiers and Epiphones on this forum on several occasions, and would do so again.  I've recommended and use the Tonerider pedals and Cleartone cables too.

I've played and owned a lot of gear, and I guess what I'm trying to do is pass on some of that learning to others as it might help someone get to what they're looking for quicker and cheaper than it did for me.

As an aside, that's two 'warm' discussions I've been involved in over the last week or so isn't it?  I'd better step back and chill out for a bit.......

[dave_mc]

EDIT: lol, just had a thought- is "practice more!" really a secret, anyway?  :lol:

I've worked in many a guitar shop, and I'm off back to work in one soon, hearing folks play all day every day, and on that experience, I actually think it is  :lol:

hahahahahaha :D

while i agree with dave and ben, the casual observer could interpret stuff in a pretty bad way thats for sure. i reckon thats happened here.

definitely. dave's great, even if i do keep him going a little about buying new guitars all the time (not that i can talk :lol: ). ben too. :)

[Ted 'N' Leo]

Thanks for the post, gwEm.  I don't intend to come across as a gear snob, so many apologies to everyone on the forum if I do  :oops:

Absolutly not TF! I think you're just a guy who has the money, and if you have it, why not get good stuff? Theres nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

I actually got the Squier CV Tele on your recommendation (and after a play through in GuitarGuitar), and its a fantastic guitar i might add.

As for the Expensive gear vs having the chops. Its a bit of both i think, obviously you need to practise to be good, but it also helps to have gear which inspires you to play. Otherwise you'll just get pissed off at what you're playing, and be unhappy with the sound. And i'm sure we've all been there at one point.

[Will]

:lol: guys, its a saturday night!

Although you lot make me feel simple, Les Paul, boost, Marshall > Sidewinders. I like it! Play what you like, and its nice if you have the variety to suite the song to the perfect gear.

[Vilches3]

I do 42 squat thrusts...........put a glass of orange juice on my amp and I exclusively and i mean EXCLUSIVELY use Dunlop picks! the green ones!

[Dmoney]

i apply 240v from the main to my passive pups. that gives you some extra output to drive your amp and to set fire to your internal organs. which is awesome if you cant afford real pyrotechnics. on the other hand. fireworks are pretty cheap... and its ALWAYS funny to throw them around inside venues during other bands sets.

[_tom_]

I've found that with my Laney at low gain, p90s work better. I think its because the laneys quite stiff and so are humbuckers, so the looseness that p90s have sort of evens it out :)

Twinfan, I'd ignore nfe, I swear he just goes in threads to start arguments :P

[AndyR]

I find my tone always reaches its zenith approximately 5 minutes before I have to stop playing (dinner's ready or needs doing, time for bed, going out, in-laws just about to arrive, whatever...)

Anyone else find this? If only we could distill that "5 minutes to go vibe" and put it in a spray, a roll-on, an effects pedal, or something... :lol:

[broken cord]

Good expensive gear, years of practice/playing, a rockin wardrobe, an amp that goes to 11 & Blue M&M's.  Gotta be Blue! :lol: :lol: :lol: 8)

[ChunkyMunky]

A raw bit of passion in your playing is what can set yourself out I find. Nothing sounds more sucky than someone who is just not fussed when it comes to playing.

Having a strong passion and enjoying what you do can add more on tone if that makes sense? :P

[hunter]

A raw bit of passion in your playing is what can set yourself out I find. Nothing sounds more sucky than someone who is just not fussed when it comes to playing.

Having a strong passion and enjoying what you do can add more on tone if that makes sense? :P

That's a very good point. Indeed that's a view I share with you 100%

[Dmoney]

i think you need a feel and understanding of what genre or whatever you're trying to pull off. Ive watched my friends who are more technical than me try and copy what i do and it sounds aweful. not that im aweful sounding to being with, there doesnt seem to be anything organic about they way they go about playing.

i dont play about with pick choices, or changing strings every 5 mins. i think there comes a point when you know what sound you want, and you know how to drive amps etc... and that knowledge makes it easier.

Ive turned up to gigs where ive had to string, tune and set up an amp for the guitarist for a support band because he had NO idea how to do any of that, but he could just about play. thats it! crazy!

i think there must be a difference between people who listen to, break down, and analyse music, rather than those who just consume it and carry on.

[hamfist]

i think you need a feel and understanding of what genre or whatever you're trying to pull off.

Excellent point Dmoney. Very, very important.

Not so much about tone, but about achieving a musical, and convincing rendition of pretty much anything at all.