What is your tone philosophy?

[Philly Q]

So a crash course in electromagnetic induction wouldnt help out then?

Oh god, not another science lesson like that X-ray/crystallography/whatever thing you did with Roo.....

[AndyR]

So a crash course in electromagnetic induction wouldnt help out then?

Nah, that would spoil it :lol:

[the prince of shred]

So a crash course in electromagnetic induction wouldnt help out then?

actually id find that interesting too, but at the end of the day ma ears are the ones who call the shots ..... ;)

[MDV]

So a crash course in electromagnetic induction wouldnt help out then?

actually id find that interesting too, but at the end of the day ma ears are the ones who call the shots ..... ;)

Darn tootin. But its nice to understand how the sound your ears just heard was made.

[the prince of shred]

that it is , but itud probz fry my brains trying to understand....  :gne: as i dunno the first thing about... electronics or physics or w.e.  :roll:

[Prawnik]

"pragmatic". That's my tone filosofolly.

"It depends on the guitar, amp, and type of music I am trying to make" is another way to put it. I guess all my guitars but one get heavy pure nickel strings and high action, but beyond that, it depends.

Maybe I need a more developed philosophy? Does Tim sell them?

[Keven]

I like Mids :D

that's about it really. good pick attack response. good not honky mids. Alnico magnets mostly. vintage type but with a hot twist. Neck and bridge for leads, depends on the tone needed.

good mids give you a loud tone without turning the amp to 11. and that's good on the ears.

[Prawnik]

I like Mids :D

that's about it really. good pick attack response. good not honky mids. Alnico magnets mostly. vintage type but with a hot twist. Neck and bridge for leads, depends on the tone needed.

good mids give you a loud tone without turning the amp to 11. and that's good on the ears.

Good point. I like mids as well. I don't like hollow-sounding or scooped mids. I like big, ballsy midrange.

So why do I play so many Strats again?

[BlackMetalVenom]

What style do you play?
Hrmmm....I suppose it would have to be a coagulation of Melodic Hard Rock/Melodic/Technical/Progressive/Fusion Metal.

Do you like high-output or low-output pickups (and which magnets)?
I've only had experiences with high output, but have been aching to try some Emeralds or VHIIs.
Other than that, somewhere in between I reckon.

Do you boost with a pedal for leads?
Never; it's all about amp tone and distortion.   :)

Which pickup (bridge or neck) do you use for rhythm/lead?
I rarely use the neck (CS) for anything other than rhythm and love the full bodied sound of the middle position for both humbuckers.  I tend to switch from middle to bridge (HD) in-between solos however, as it brightens up the sound for a certain section.

Any other general thoughts?
I'll usually have my gain around 6-7, max at 8, lowest at 4 for noodling and tend to favor "woody, organic" tones as opposed to most of the nonsense I hear in various metal genres.   :?
Other than that.... Anyone care to help a poor fellow out with some gear?  :lol:

[hunter]

What style do you play?
=> Everything. From clean to extreme. If I do lead work I am quite old school, I like to play dirty with lots of slide-downs on the bass strings à la Gary Moore. When I get fast, it's a hit & miss :O)

Do you like high-output or low-output pickups (and which magnets)?
=> I like Vintage Hot. I prefer Alnico typesm but I also love the MiracleMan in my Edwards LP custom. I prefer Humbuckers for everything.

Do you boost with a pedal for leads?
=> I tend to boost my amps for heavy rhythm only, and it's with tube screamer to tighten up the bass. so this means boosting for less, rather than for more. Beware this is happening with models in the Axe FX.

Which pickup (bridge or neck) do you use for rhythm/lead?
=> I hardly use my neck pickups, unless it's clean stuff or blues.

[LP_LOVER]

My tone philosophy ends with this 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black Beauty) -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvYxqyNazXQ.

[Denim n Leather]

Have a good time, all the time.

That's my philosophy, Marty.

[HairyChris]

Time to laugh at the Luddite:

What style do you play?
Metal, mainly, with a side order of kinda-stoner.

Do you like high-output or low-output pickups (and which magnets)?
High. Purposely went AlNiCo on my last guitar to fatten out Mode 3 of my Diezel Einstein. However I do think that the Cold Sweat bridge is about the best pickup made, but isn't as entertainingly psychotic as the Warpig.

Do you boost with a pedal for leads?
Er, leads? Well, usually not boosted but I suppose that I should. Footswitch on my amp's knackered so I can't use the lead channel anyway!

Which pickup (bridge or neck) do you use for rhythm/lead?
Bridge for everything. Changing pickups whilst playing confuses me.

Any other general thoughts?
Find a sound that seems OK. Leave it. I'm not a tweaker. I'm pretty sure I EQed my old Mesa during the first week I had it & left it at the same settings until I retubed it <2 years later.