Re: I guess I'm just an unsophisticated boor
I don't post here as much as I lurk. I guess I get intimidated. I read the comments about pickups, body wood, magnets, etc. and frankly to me it sounds like Frazier and Niles Crane discussing wines. Hard to relate.
Ask until you understand. You'll get your questions answered. But in return, you need to look at old threads on wood, magnets, pots, & caps, and PU manufacturer's tone charts. If the desire is there, it will start to make sense.
I started wiring 4 years ago, no idea what I was doing (I joined this forum this year) or what a humbucker was. Two books helped me a lot (StewMac carries them): "How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great" and "Guitar Electronics for Musicians."
All we're doing to dialing in the tones we want, usually based on certain songs & players. Evaluate what tone you have now, and what you want to change. If you've been reading the forum for more than a month or two, you'll see the same topics getting rehashed over & over, with an occasional new idea popping up. The fastest way to learn is to do start doing this stuff yourself, on a cheap guitar or HB. You can't absorb much if you're not actually hands-on. Try some things, make some mistakes, and ask questions. That's all we do, and before long, we're self-proclaimed know-it-alls who disagree with half the other guys on the forum (this is where the entertainment factor comes in). Loosen up, learn, & have some fun. And your guitars will start sounding a lot better. What have you got to lose?
