I just had a "duh" moment.

Artie

Artie

Peaveyologist
Over the last few months, I've noticed how much I love the pup combos I've tried. Everything sounds killer. Even my Squier Affinity Strat upgrade.
As I'm hammering some chords on my EPI LP Custom, (with PATB's), and reaching for the "gain" control, on my Bogner, something occurs to me. "Bogner".

Prior to this, I've been playing through my Johnson J-Station, Line6 Pod, H&K 60-watt SS amp, (which is wonderful), et al. Those all sound "cool".

I think the "Bogner" is the missing link. I think the amp matters. Sorry guys for being so late to the game. I think I get it now.

Amp 1st. Then guitar/pickup/etc. mods. :notworthy

(May I now hang out, (in the back of the room), of those who "get it"?)

Artie
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

It's pretty counter intuitive, it's like being told that the PA system determines how good a singer's voice will be.

What is scaring me at the moment is that I think I like my Mustang IV 2x12 combo more than my Marshall 2x12 combo. That's not supposed to happen.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

I've had it work both ways. I think anywhere you can up the quality in your signal path you will sense a degree of difference. Back in the day I was tone-struggling with Yamaha / cheap-strats through a Randall or Crate. I scraped enough to get a Les Paul Standard and I had that night-and-day feeling similar to what you described - where I felt I finally got it and it was the guitar that mattered, because the Les Paul lent strong consistency and tone no matter what I plugged it into - it was recognizable and made 'that sound'. Shortly after I bought my JCM900 and went to the next level of 'I got it.' It's kind of like a recipe. You can substitute some ingredients and not notice so much, but there are some key ingredients that define the difference between a meal and a mistake.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Yea, sometimes you gotta just lay the cash down. So I've heard. I'm starting to believe it, actually. I'd like to apply some chords to some real amps one of these days...

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Amp = 50%
Pups = 30%
Guitar = 10%
Player = 10% (but sometimes it's the magic 10….)

Great amp + crappy guitar = pretty ok
Amazeballs guitar and crap amp = crap
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Technique IS the most important part of your sound. Then it comes all the rest.

I don't agree with Aceman saying that 10% of your sound belongs to the player. A crappy player will sound like crap wherever and whatever he plays.
A good player can make a Cort m-200 and Marshall MG15 sounds awesome.
 
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Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Aceman said:
Amp = 50%
Pups = 30%
Guitar = 10%
Player = 10% (but sometimes it's the magic 10….)

Great amp + crappy guitar = pretty ok
Amazeballs guitar and crap amp = crap
Click to expand...

I disagree.

Many evenings I've been playing and thought, damn that sounds good! Many evenings I've been playing and though . . . nothing's right. It's too bright, too bassy, doesn't seem to flow well, the gain isn't where I want it, the effects are too obnoxious. Often these nights include the same amp, guitar, pickups, and effects.

The player accounts for well over 50%.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Tone is in the hands! A great player can make cheap equipment sound good, a bad player can make expensive equipment sound crap.

Yes, a better amp will help with sound along with pickups and the guitar but its how you play it. With the right EQ and setup then anything can sound good, its about using your hands and ears.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

I chased nice electrics for many years and got a few nice ones that I'd never part with now.

Then, I started investing in better amps, or at least different ones, being less of a bargain-hunter and more of a "something that works GREAT" guy...

It then hit me: the amp does make a world of difference. I have 3 nice heads right now and couldn't be happier no matter what guitars I plug in them.

Wish I had this revelation long ago but I guess I wasn't "mature" enough. Guitars are cool and flashy and nice I guess. Amps are your foundation.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

I think when you play lead lines, single notes played fast with lots of inflection, then gear matters less and the player matters muuuuch more (but Dimebag Darrell proves it still matters). But then when you're chugging power chords through the versus, that's when gear matters more and the player matters less. You can't hide the true tone of the rig under artful playing when you're playing chords wide open with no palm muting.
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Aceman said:
Amp = 50%
Pups = 30%
Guitar = 10%
Player = 10% (but sometimes it's the magic 10….)

Great amp + crappy guitar = pretty ok
Amazeballs guitar and crap amp = crap
Click to expand...

More like

Player 50%
Amp 25%
Guitar, chords, pickups, yadda yadda 25%

Hack Player + Crap gear = crap
Hack Player + Killer gear = crap
Killer Player + any decent guitar and any decent amp = GREAT
 
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Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

I'm not sure what amazing balls look or sound like, but I know what great amps are. :laugh2:
 
Re: I just had a "duh" moment.

Surgeon said:
Wish I had this revelation long ago but I guess I wasn't "mature" enough. Guitars are cool and flashy and nice I guess. Amps are your foundation.
Click to expand...

This is easy enough to understand. Decent guitars can be found cheap. Good amps seldom can.
My Bogner cost more than any other guitar I own.
 
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