Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

[Masta' C]

Barring the human factor (playing ability, attitude, etc.) and external influences on the signal, such as pedals, cables and amplification...What basic element(s) of an electric guitar contributes greatest to how a particular guitar will sound?

Please pick the top 3 most important considerations in your own opinion.

NOTE: Please do not vote for more than 3

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

I didn't even read that you're supposed to pick three, so I pick Pickups, pots, and put one more down for wood.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Yes, Pigbacon, do you have something you'd like to share with the class?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Nothing but my enthusiasm for the glory of the scientific method.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

This is clearly an "opinion" piece to see what people "think". Got a problem? Don't vote...

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Lighten up.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Says the one throwing around the sarcasm. Did you vote in the poll yet?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

I thought you told me not to.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Threads like this are why I don't come here anymore.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Sorry. Too much Diet Pepsi.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

I learned science from a coloring book

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Well, I think we're starting to see some scientific results. I've always wondered about the impact that people feel pots and wiring have on the tone -- does that include capacitor and pot values, or just the overall quality of those components?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Depends on who you ask When someone puts "body thickness" or "scale length", do they mean thin, thick, 25.5", 24.75"...who knows! I guess you'd have to start your own poll to find out. After all, this is not a technical discussion, it's merely an opinion poll.

Think of it like this: If you were putting an electric guitar together from scratch, would you, personally, knowing what you know and without the input of others, consider certain elements, such as the materials, construction, etc., to be more important than others in obtaining your desired timbre/sound/tone/voice of the final product? If so, which elements do you feel contribute more than the others? The poll function is limited to 10 choices, so that is why you only see the options above.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

This poll is invalid.
1) No Rob Option.
2) You have omitted THE most important factor - the strap!!!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

This poll really is awesome.

The data you gather here will be conclusive, indeed.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

And yet, that's just your opinion. A 4-bolt hardtail Strat is equally valid. It doesn't have to have a 6-screw trem.

A maple-bodied Strat sounds different from an Ash-bodied Strat or an Alder-bodied Strat or a Mahogany-bodied Strat.

Since only a handul of the general population know first-hand what the "classic Les Paul tone" is, old-growth Honduran mahogany is inconsequential. A Duncan Distortion in a 1958 LP will sound the same as if it were in a 2013 LP.


And he's already stated 3 times this is an OPINION poll, NOT a SCIENTIFIC RESULTS poll.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Ok.

Sorry. Only read the OP and the f-u. . Will oblige.

And fwiw, if you think a 2013 LP with a DD will sond the same as a 1950s les paul.witha DD you are tone deaf, never played any old les pauls or use so much gain it wouldn't matter. Thats's my opinion :bigthumb:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

Dang, a boy can't even post a poll anymore without people throwing stones and coming under fire for what are clearly not scientific methods.

I was just curious where people's heads are at as far as what elements of a GUITAR (not player skill or "fingers", not the amp, etc.) are the most important factors in achieving that "perfect" sound we all imagine in our heads. There's no "right" or "wrong" answer here. It's just a rough outline of what people "think".

The poll system limits the choices to just 10, so my options were limited. Plus, if I was interested in a "scientific" research study, I'd go to a lab, not a forum.

If you feel the available selections don't hit on what YOU consider the most important element(s) of the actual guitar in determining its "tone", feel free to post them in the comments, as others have (but be decent about it...sheesh).

 

[CTN]

Re: Most Important Factor in the "Tone" of an Electric Guitar?

again, not answering because you left off the quality of the wood used and the quality of the construction (or the workmanship of the people who build it)