Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

[Gamera]

I relearned this over the weekend when I had a few friends over for a party in the tiki lounge. One of the guys is another guitar player and was anxious to try out my new Genz Benz El Diablo. I explained to him that I was happy with the amp overall except I was having some difficulty dialing in some snappy Strat tones and artificial harmonics were more difficult than on other amps. He picked up my Strat, plugged into the El Diablo, let it warm up, then strummed a couple chords and fired off a couple quick licks. Aw snap, there it was...the elusive snappy Strat tones. Immediately I was able to hear things in the amp that I had never heard before. I don't know if it was his technique or the fact I was being less critical and analytical since I wasn't playing it but it was all there.

As the evening progressed it kinda turned into a noisy free-for-all with everyone stepping up and trying their hand with my guitars, amps, and even a theremin. And while I got a little nervous and insisted on helping the more tipsy ones, overall it was a real treat listening to all my gear played by others. I tend to play a lot of the same stuff and while it can be fun I sometimes find myself in a rut and lose interest. It was fun to listen to all the hidden potental laying and waiting in all that gear and I learned a couple things I could apply to my technique as well. Just goes to show how important people are in the overall gear equation and why some folks can't get bad tones out of cheap SS amps.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Good post Gamera.

I tend to modify my playing to an amp to try to get the best out of the amp.

I'll play a little smoother and hold notes and chords a bit longer in a trebly amp and adjust my pick attack in a harsher manner and squeeze a note harder in a smoother amp. It really depends on what an amp calls for.

You may have also have a possible answer as to why some find an amp "just not quite there" and others find that same amp "just right" (insert 3 bears comment here).

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

I think you need to re-post pictures of the Tiki Lounge for those who haven't seen it.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

i think it's hard sometimes to hear all the tones you get with your equipment when you're playing. if you record your practice or something, then later you can go back and listen to it and hear things you normally don't catch when you're playing in front of the amp.

of course there is a difference in tone due to playing style, type of pick, etc..., but i think people capture the same overall tone. i've often thought someone sounded better on my equipment that i did, but after going back and listening to recordings, i could hear that i sounded just as good or better. another thing is that if i take a few days off and come back to my gear, it all sounds better to me than it does after playing hours daily for a couple of weeks.

 

[lex666]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Yeah, that was the point I was trying to make in another thread.

I have a friend I jam with who can make just about any crappy piece of gear sound good. He plays a different style than me, I mostly play metal - while he plays blues and classic rock. Its also great to hear a different tone and style coming thru your amp, and not just those metal riffs I crank out everyday.

Thats why I truly beleive tone is not just in the gear, but in the fingers too.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Those moments when you can both play and appreciate what you are hearing are rare for me (and probably everyone else) and it's always cool to really be able to enjoy both your playing and your gear.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Seriously, i want to see this Tiki Lounge now.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

I have a friend I jam with who can make just about any crappy piece of gear sound good.

Reminds me of the story where someone heard Yngwie warming up backstage and thought he sounded great. He looked to see what he was playing through and it was a cheap Crate SS amp.

Seriously, i want to see this Tiki Lounge now.

Ask and ye shall receive.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

I love:

1) The white-sparkle Kustom PA

2) The way the kick-drum stuffing is color-coordinated with the velour upholstery on the bar.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

i see that el diablo sitting majestically in the corner

 

[Gamera]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

i see that el diablo sitting majestically in the corner

When I jam with "the band" the other guitarist plays mostly rhythm and sings so it's important that both myself and the drummer on the other side of the room can hear him. He uses the Marshal Valvestate pumped through the Marshall 4x12 and both Kustom 4x12 vertical cabinets in the corners of the room. The Kustoms are faced away but still help deliver what he's doing. Prior to the El Diablo I had a heck of a time competing with all that with my Fender Stage 160 2x12. Sometimes I'd mic it up but I'd still have to crank it to be heard. And cranking SS amps beyond a certain point just delivers noise. Now with the El Diablo's single 12" speaker I can easily compete with his twelve 12" speakers. Plus it delivers a heavier, beefier tone than he can get with the Marshall. Kinda amazing what tubes can do.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

1) The white-sparkle Kustom PA

That thing evidently dates back to the mid 60's and it's in amazingly good condition. Must be that "Durable U.S. Naugahyde." And they were right, it hasn't stiffened, cracked, and it's still soft and luxurious.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

...but mostly it's just COOL.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Oh yeah, I forgot it was you who had that awesome jam room. What a peaceful and vibey room that is!!!

The more gear I've had, the more I realize it means nothing. I'm sometimes more happy playing through my $400 Valvetronix head/Bogner cab than I am playing through a $4000 Bogner halfstack and $3000 Matchless. It's not the price, it's the way it reacts to the size of the room.

You can't buy years of practice, note choice, finger control etc. You only get that the hard way.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

I lack the talent to make my gear sound great. A friend who sets up and works on my Strat would plug it into his Fender Super Sonic and make it sound like the best and sweetest Strat in the world. He'd hand the guitar back to me with everything set the same and I'd play and be amazed at the difference.

He really knows how to work the guitar's volume and tone controls, and that alone makes a huge difference in tone compared to my playing. I need to start twiddlin' the knobs!

 

[lastwinj]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Good post Gamera.

I tend to modify my playing to an amp to try to get the best out of the amp.

exactly. play to the strengths of the amp, and your own. its a perfect example of the amplifier being an instrument, and not just a sound reproducer.




and yes, it is fun to hear others play on your gear. can give you insight into what you may be needing to do to improve your playing.

germ

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Don't discount talent when searching for tone.

Love the tiki lounge.

I have a couple of good friends who are killer payers, and it's always great to hand them a guitar and see what they do with a rig. One is great with amps, and the other is some kind of pedal-whisperer. I swear you can hand him a turd with a 9v battery clip stuck in it and he'll make it sound like Jeff Beck. It's very cool to see what someone else will do with gear and just to see what differences there are between sets of hands.