[allthumbs]

http://www.penmachine.com/musicpages/guitartone.html

[knight46]

Is that the reason that I can't play like Slash?

[Stratrat]

Great article, AT. It just shows how many variables there are to the elusive "tone".

One thing it alludes to several times but doesn't directly mention is that tone is even more elusive because it's so subjective. Every guitarist has "that tone" in their head, and I doubt it's exactly the same for any two of us. You could spend years and untold dollars finding "your" tone, only to find that many others consider it like red-hot darts being shot through their eardrums. I love that sweet, chimey Fender clean and/or a slightly hairy tweed sound, but a metal guitarist would recoil in horror at the first note.

I don't gig - but I've often heard it said amongst gigging guitarists that the vast majority of the audience couldn't care less whether you were playing through a high-end Dumble or a miked SS Crate practice amp. They're there to party, dance, socialize and hear the music - most of them don't know anything about "tone" and aren't paying attention to it anyways. If your cover version of "Freebird" sounds somewhat close to the original, they aren't concerned with whether you're getting your sound via a Squier guitar through a solid-state modeler, or a 50's original custom-shop axe through a hand-wired PTP all-tube vintage amp head with boutique-built "true bypass" FX pedals.

Lastly, it's funny how so many guitarists will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars cycling through various amps, effects, guitars, etc. looking for their tone, and not paying enough attention to the cheapest, most effective source - their HANDS. As I start to improve as a guitarist, I'm finding truth in the saying that "tone is in the fingers".....playing through the same guitar and amp I started out with, I find that I don't sound the same as I did eight months ago - or even two months ago! Even though I've been a victim of GAS and the "tonequest" myself, and have spent thousands on guitars, amps and effects in less than a year, I still drag my little solid-state Peavey amp out once in a while and play through it as a reminder. I HATED that thing when I first started playing - couldn't get a good tone out of it to save my life. Now I find that while it doesn't sound anywhere near as sweet as the stuff I'm playing through now, I don't hate it like I did then and can actually get some usable sounds out of it. Has the amp changed? Not a bit. Have my fingers improved my "tone"? Well, I still don't consider myself a "good" guitarist, but there's definitely a noticeable difference between then and now.

Sorry for the long-winded post - just some stuff that pops into my head when I think about "tone".

[allthumbs]

Great post Stratrat. I have friends at both ends of he spectrum. Some swap amps, guitars and Fxs on a regular basis while others keep it as simple as possible.

[Stratrat]

Yep. I'm at a point right now where I'm pretty satisfied with what I've got....time to quit worrying about any gear besides upgrading the "knob holding the guitar".

[eddiez152]

Super posts and discussion.

[6string]

So what exactly did happen when "Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan sounded when they physically swapped playing the exact same guitar, run through the same amp, live in the studio." anybody know?

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by 6string

So what exactly did happen when "Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan sounded when they physically swapped playing the exact same guitar, run through the same amp, live in the studio." anybody know?

The link goes to a snippet of the song in the iTunes music store, and the snippet isn't long enough to tell. I've never heard the whole song, but the outcome is predictable enough based upon the context of the article - Stevie Ray sounds like Stevie Ray and Jimmie sounds like Jimmie, even though they're playing the exact same equipment.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by 6string

So what exactly did happen when "Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan sounded when they physically swapped playing the exact same guitar, run through the same amp, live in the studio." anybody know?

Listen for yourself. Hear the difference in tones between the two playing the same guitars. That is what is meant by tone is in the fingers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN185plVQLA

[6string]

I guess its like if I borrow Tiger Woods golf clubs I'll still never be able to play golf.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by 6string

I guess its like if I borrow Tiger Woods golf clubs I'll still never be able to play golf.

Both Jimmy and Stevie are great players. The way their fingers move the strings determines the tones they can get out of a guitar. That is the lesson.

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by 6string

I guess its like if I borrow Tiger Woods golf clubs I'll still never be able to play golf.

LOL...funny you should mention that, because golfers have a similar affliction - always spending money on the latest clubs, balls, etc. in an effort to improve your game. The results are exactly what you'd expect (and identical to the guitar world) - if you don't put the practice time in, you're not going to see much improvement in your game from the technology alone. There's a golf saying that goes "it ain't the arrow, it's the Indian", which we could apply to the guitar world too (and probably a lot of other sports/endeavours).

[6string]

I wonder if I could get Liz Phair to do a duet like that with me.

[6string]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Both Jimmy and Stevie are great players. The way their fingers move the strings determines the tones they can get out of a guitar. That is the lesson.

The touch directed by the heart.

[AEngland77]

Some people can take the worst guitars on the market and make them sound like angels (hopefully). But I suppose it is all about preference: you should do what you want to do and enjoy what you are doing. Taking people's advice along the way is helpful and it can possibly help you find what you are looking for.