Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
OK. So what do you need to know to help you get this going?
OK. So what do you need to know to help you get this going?
Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
- Thread starter BloodRose
- Start date
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Soundclick or such would be easier than Utube.
I'm 60, it's not hard.
Don't suppose you've ever been to Australia, have you Rick ?
Soundclick or such would be easier than Utube.
I'm 60, it's not hard.
Don't suppose you've ever been to Australia, have you Rick ?
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
I'd love to go to Australia! What a beautiful country. I've got Eucalyptus & Brachychiton planted in my yard (popular in California, but rarely done in Florida), and even have some Australian tarantulas.
I opened up accounts in Soundclick and Soundcloud on the weekend (never heard of either before). I've got a friend emailing me some songs we recorded together last summer. Once I get those, I have no idea what to do next. If I could see someone do posting clips, or walk me through it, I'd be fine. I'd have put up clips of my playing sooner, but I'm a slow learner when it comes to technology (never did figure out how to set the timer on my VCR).
I'd love to go to Australia! What a beautiful country. I've got Eucalyptus & Brachychiton planted in my yard (popular in California, but rarely done in Florida), and even have some Australian tarantulas.
I opened up accounts in Soundclick and Soundcloud on the weekend (never heard of either before). I've got a friend emailing me some songs we recorded together last summer. Once I get those, I have no idea what to do next. If I could see someone do posting clips, or walk me through it, I'd be fine. I'd have put up clips of my playing sooner, but I'm a slow learner when it comes to technology (never did figure out how to set the timer on my VCR).
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Fun thread!
Experience and personal opinion aside, this argument, like most, can be settled with a basic understanding of PHYSICS.
1. A pickup transduces the sound of the vibrating string into electrical potential.
2. The string, being physically connected to the body and neck, transfers some of that kinetic energy back to the guitar itself (and to the player's hand, and the air surrounding the string, of course).
3. Newton's third law of motion tells us that the guitar is sending a corresponding force back into the string, which we can infer would affect the string itself and how it vibrates.
4. Therefore, the guitar itself, and not just the string, affects the output of the pickup.
I figured this was pretty much common knowledge amongst all but the most inexperienced guitarists. It's pretty much self-evident that acoustic tone affects electric tone, but I guess some people just don't get it.
Put it this way: if the guitar itself made no difference, we'd probably all be playing plastic guitars, or whatever the cheapest material that meets the structural requirements of a guitar is.
Fun thread!
Experience and personal opinion aside, this argument, like most, can be settled with a basic understanding of PHYSICS.
1. A pickup transduces the sound of the vibrating string into electrical potential.
2. The string, being physically connected to the body and neck, transfers some of that kinetic energy back to the guitar itself (and to the player's hand, and the air surrounding the string, of course).
3. Newton's third law of motion tells us that the guitar is sending a corresponding force back into the string, which we can infer would affect the string itself and how it vibrates.
4. Therefore, the guitar itself, and not just the string, affects the output of the pickup.
I figured this was pretty much common knowledge amongst all but the most inexperienced guitarists. It's pretty much self-evident that acoustic tone affects electric tone, but I guess some people just don't get it.
Put it this way: if the guitar itself made no difference, we'd probably all be playing plastic guitars, or whatever the cheapest material that meets the structural requirements of a guitar is.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Don't forget that the pickup moving also induces sound. If you were to have a string not moving but you oscilate the pickup next to it you would get a signal.
The direct consequence is that vibrations you can feel in the body (chin on Strat horn) are directly translating to sound changes even without the wood doing anything to the string. It also means that floppy pickup mounts have an effect.
Don't forget that the pickup moving also induces sound. If you were to have a string not moving but you oscilate the pickup next to it you would get a signal.
The direct consequence is that vibrations you can feel in the body (chin on Strat horn) are directly translating to sound changes even without the wood doing anything to the string. It also means that floppy pickup mounts have an effect.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
I always check everything out unplugged, put my ear up to the body and neck, flex the neck with some "deep bends". If it passes all that then I'll plug it in, but 99% of the time the **** I'm looking at needs new pickups at the very least.
One other observation, the more I do my own setups and play crap pieced together from random junk, seems to me setup matters more than wood type, or even construction type. Seems to me just about anything can sound good, if it's setup well. A LP cannot necessarily sound like a strat or vice-versa, but they both can be very resonant (even if they're plywood), or very dead.
I'm just saying I think more is made of wood type than the actual impact.
I always check everything out unplugged, put my ear up to the body and neck, flex the neck with some "deep bends". If it passes all that then I'll plug it in, but 99% of the time the **** I'm looking at needs new pickups at the very least.
One other observation, the more I do my own setups and play crap pieced together from random junk, seems to me setup matters more than wood type, or even construction type. Seems to me just about anything can sound good, if it's setup well. A LP cannot necessarily sound like a strat or vice-versa, but they both can be very resonant (even if they're plywood), or very dead.
I'm just saying I think more is made of wood type than the actual impact.
G0lden
New member
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Maybe the issue here is that some guys play their electrics fairly clean and really notice a good sounding "acoustic" electric guitar. Where as others may play with massive distortion and odd effects on their electrics and don't like what clean / acoustic guitars sound like. Heck, they may even hate acoustic guitar sounds (whether from an electric or acoustic guitar).
Maybe the issue here is that some guys play their electrics fairly clean and really notice a good sounding "acoustic" electric guitar. Where as others may play with massive distortion and odd effects on their electrics and don't like what clean / acoustic guitars sound like. Heck, they may even hate acoustic guitar sounds (whether from an electric or acoustic guitar).
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
I don't think anybody is saying that the wood (or whatever the guitar is made of) doesn't have an affect on the tone. We're talking about the difference plugged in and unplugged (same wood, same guitar, same hardware, same electronics).
I don't think anybody is saying that the wood (or whatever the guitar is made of) doesn't have an affect on the tone. We're talking about the difference plugged in and unplugged (same wood, same guitar, same hardware, same electronics).
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Steve Vai says that when he taps on the neck of an unplugged guitar and listens to the "note" it produces, and then when he taps on the body of that guitar and listens to that "note", that if they're the same note, then the guitar is usually a really good sounding guitar.
Steve Vai says that when he taps on the neck of an unplugged guitar and listens to the "note" it produces, and then when he taps on the body of that guitar and listens to that "note", that if they're the same note, then the guitar is usually a really good sounding guitar.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Wow, never heard of that one before, interesting.
Ok, here's my take. Pickups can, depending on design/construction, affect the tone of a guitar to a pretty huge degree. We all know how it is to install the wrong pickup and have the guitar sound like crap, then install the right pickup and have it sound like a totally different instrument. I am also very very familiar with the fact that the right pickup can offset or compensate for some attribute that the guitar lacks in or has too much of acoustically, making a guitar that sounded thin or shrill (not enough lows or too much mids) sound like a totally different instrument.
One such guitar will indeed not sound great unplugged but as long as the wood isn't dead but it's only a matter of the wrong EQ for the player then it can, with the right pickup, sound "WOW" when plugged. I believe this is the case with most of those "crud unplugged, WOW plugged".
A DEAD-sounding guitar now, that's a different matter, you can only do so much to polish a turd...
Wow, never heard of that one before, interesting.
Ok, here's my take. Pickups can, depending on design/construction, affect the tone of a guitar to a pretty huge degree. We all know how it is to install the wrong pickup and have the guitar sound like crap, then install the right pickup and have it sound like a totally different instrument. I am also very very familiar with the fact that the right pickup can offset or compensate for some attribute that the guitar lacks in or has too much of acoustically, making a guitar that sounded thin or shrill (not enough lows or too much mids) sound like a totally different instrument.
One such guitar will indeed not sound great unplugged but as long as the wood isn't dead but it's only a matter of the wrong EQ for the player then it can, with the right pickup, sound "WOW" when plugged. I believe this is the case with most of those "crud unplugged, WOW plugged".
A DEAD-sounding guitar now, that's a different matter, you can only do so much to polish a turd...
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
+1. Pu's add EQ and 'tone' so does an amp's tubes and speaker. There's variables all along the signal path that color the sound one way or another. Sometimes they can fill in what's missing.
+1. Pu's add EQ and 'tone' so does an amp's tubes and speaker. There's variables all along the signal path that color the sound one way or another. Sometimes they can fill in what's missing.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
A pickup can't create harmonics and frequencies that don't exist in the vibrating string in the first place. It can emphasize and diminish what's already there, but if the string isn't producing that noise, the pickup will not send it down the wire.
This is true with any piece of guitar gear aside from the guitar itself. Every electronic portion of the signal chain, from the pickup to the speaker cone, can only boost or cut what the string is doing.
A pickup can't create harmonics and frequencies that don't exist in the vibrating string in the first place. It can emphasize and diminish what's already there, but if the string isn't producing that noise, the pickup will not send it down the wire.
This is true with any piece of guitar gear aside from the guitar itself. Every electronic portion of the signal chain, from the pickup to the speaker cone, can only boost or cut what the string is doing.
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Interesting input here guys.. Thanks!! Just something I want to add: This particular guitar hasnt been played much. I noticed last night as I was pounding on it some more, the sound is starting to open up and ring alil better
Interesting input here guys.. Thanks!! Just something I want to add: This particular guitar hasnt been played much. I noticed last night as I was pounding on it some more, the sound is starting to open up and ring alil better
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
I wanted to add a couple more thoughts. A) normally Id prefer to try before buying as obviously that is the way to do it.. However, if no local stores carry a particular model, you have to order, sight unseen. B) Next and I think more importantly. Apparently, this guitar needed a break in period too.. My wine red trad impressed me at the store.. So much, I couldnt stop thinking about it and had to get it. But, I will say, it has improved a ton and is a beast now. This blue one has warmed up a ton over few days as Ive played it pretty exclusively, so hopefully it'll continue to improve. This makes me wonder if more gibsons are like this. Alot of trashing going on about new Gibsons from opinions we get trying them in the store.. Maybe they need some break in.. ? Just sayin. Hopefully, blue will continue to soften up and improve!
I wanted to add a couple more thoughts. A) normally Id prefer to try before buying as obviously that is the way to do it.. However, if no local stores carry a particular model, you have to order, sight unseen. B) Next and I think more importantly. Apparently, this guitar needed a break in period too.. My wine red trad impressed me at the store.. So much, I couldnt stop thinking about it and had to get it. But, I will say, it has improved a ton and is a beast now. This blue one has warmed up a ton over few days as Ive played it pretty exclusively, so hopefully it'll continue to improve. This makes me wonder if more gibsons are like this. Alot of trashing going on about new Gibsons from opinions we get trying them in the store.. Maybe they need some break in.. ? Just sayin. Hopefully, blue will continue to soften up and improve!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
From what I've seen, guitars in music stores usually get plenty of play-time and most are probably broken-in. All you have to do is look at the fingerprints all over them; they can rival the FBI data base.
From what I've seen, guitars in music stores usually get plenty of play-time and most are probably broken-in. All you have to do is look at the fingerprints all over them; they can rival the FBI data base.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
Breaking in a guitar isn't about how much play time it has on it, it's about how old it is.
That said, and I'm sure I'll get blasted by some guys for this...
Guitars covered with poly finishes do not age and because of that almost never really break in...
Breaking in a guitar isn't about how much play time it has on it, it's about how old it is.
That said, and I'm sure I'll get blasted by some guys for this...
Guitars covered with poly finishes do not age and because of that almost never really break in...
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
LOL!!! true.. but many may not have much proper playtime.. Besides, I could be completely off my nut.. (def been told that a few times). I just know that my Accoustic (of course) my LP trad pro def got better with more play.. The trad pro went from being very nice to flat out awesome.. Just sings now.. Thats even unplugged.. My Blue standard was plinky and kinda lifeless. Ive been FIGHTING myself on whether to keep or sell it, since it sounds good plugged up.. But, all the sudden its gotten warmer and deeper sounding (accoustically), it sustains better, it vibrates in my hands and feels more alive. So naturally, it sounds better plugged up too! I hope it continues to improve.
LOL!!! true.. but many may not have much proper playtime.. Besides, I could be completely off my nut.. (def been told that a few times). I just know that my Accoustic (of course) my LP trad pro def got better with more play.. The trad pro went from being very nice to flat out awesome.. Just sings now.. Thats even unplugged.. My Blue standard was plinky and kinda lifeless. Ive been FIGHTING myself on whether to keep or sell it, since it sounds good plugged up.. But, all the sudden its gotten warmer and deeper sounding (accoustically), it sustains better, it vibrates in my hands and feels more alive. So naturally, it sounds better plugged up too! I hope it continues to improve.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
I don't know about that ... my '94 Strat seems to sound better and better every year, and it's got one of the thickest finishes I've ever seen.
I also don't agree that age is more important than playing time, but again, I only have my own experience to go by there.
I don't know about that ... my '94 Strat seems to sound better and better every year, and it's got one of the thickest finishes I've ever seen.
I also don't agree that age is more important than playing time, but again, I only have my own experience to go by there.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Hmm.. Guitar sounds like crud unplugged, WOW plugged...??
There is a certain amount of change that comes along in a guitar the more it is played...things settle and whatnot but a speaker changes in tone and volume a bit when it is broken in, a solid wood acoustic guitar does the same...I have yet to own a poly covered guitar that changed a huge amount over a span of years.
To be completely upfront, I own several guitars covered in poly and like them so I'm not a nitro snob but as far as a guitar breaking in and making significant sonic changes as it gets older I'd say that IMO it's more likely to happen to a nitro painted guitar than a poly or some other thick plastic like finish.
There is a certain amount of change that comes along in a guitar the more it is played...things settle and whatnot but a speaker changes in tone and volume a bit when it is broken in, a solid wood acoustic guitar does the same...I have yet to own a poly covered guitar that changed a huge amount over a span of years.
To be completely upfront, I own several guitars covered in poly and like them so I'm not a nitro snob but as far as a guitar breaking in and making significant sonic changes as it gets older I'd say that IMO it's more likely to happen to a nitro painted guitar than a poly or some other thick plastic like finish.
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