My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
- Thread starter CTN
- Start date
Grindspine
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
If I'm happy with my tone then is there even any point to getting anything else?[/QUOTE]
If you're happy with your current setups, KEEP THEM.
If you want to experiment with other pickups, make friends with other guys who have those pickups, jam with them, and try their guitars through your amp!
But seriously, if you're happy with your tones, stick with your current setup. There will come a time in the future where you might need a pickup that just has a little more, something. That'll be the time to search.
For the time being, just spend your time playing and enjoying the sound!
[/quote]
If I'm happy with my tone then is there even any point to getting anything else?[/QUOTE]
If you're happy with your current setups, KEEP THEM.
If you want to experiment with other pickups, make friends with other guys who have those pickups, jam with them, and try their guitars through your amp!
But seriously, if you're happy with your tones, stick with your current setup. There will come a time in the future where you might need a pickup that just has a little more, something. That'll be the time to search.
For the time being, just spend your time playing and enjoying the sound!
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Well, sure if you take something that was meant in jest as if it were serious, it's bound to sound pretty dumb! :nana: Honestly, Eddie said it in jest, I thought it was funny because it was over the top so I sig'd it, and I posted it here at an attempt at humor. So if the humor didn't come across, then I'll simply say that my effort was a "swing and a miss."
In fairness, I provided no context for it, so here it is. Eddie was giving a promotional speech to a group of music shops about one of his new EVH models a year or two ago. He was just going on and on about how great it sounded and that it was just incredible. After that he says, "And what until you hear the one coming out next year!" Everyone started to chuckle at that. Eddie cracked a grin and as he shrugged his shoulders said, "Hey, if you're happy with your tone, kill yourself!" It was part salesmanship. The other part was that if you are closed off to anything coming out as possibly being better, what's the point of continuing the hobby. Like I said, it was meant to be taken seriously. So if it didn't come across as me trying to crack a joke, then that's on me.
To be serious, I am a little envious. I have a few guitars that may never reach the point in which I feel the tone cannot be improved upon. Enjoy it!
Can't say I disagree. I have a couple that I didn't start out wanting to upgrade. But like you, the day came when it had to happen. :banghead:
Well, sure if you take something that was meant in jest as if it were serious, it's bound to sound pretty dumb! :nana: Honestly, Eddie said it in jest, I thought it was funny because it was over the top so I sig'd it, and I posted it here at an attempt at humor. So if the humor didn't come across, then I'll simply say that my effort was a "swing and a miss."
In fairness, I provided no context for it, so here it is. Eddie was giving a promotional speech to a group of music shops about one of his new EVH models a year or two ago. He was just going on and on about how great it sounded and that it was just incredible. After that he says, "And what until you hear the one coming out next year!" Everyone started to chuckle at that. Eddie cracked a grin and as he shrugged his shoulders said, "Hey, if you're happy with your tone, kill yourself!" It was part salesmanship. The other part was that if you are closed off to anything coming out as possibly being better, what's the point of continuing the hobby. Like I said, it was meant to be taken seriously. So if it didn't come across as me trying to crack a joke, then that's on me.
To be serious, I am a little envious. I have a few guitars that may never reach the point in which I feel the tone cannot be improved upon. Enjoy it!
Can't say I disagree. I have a couple that I didn't start out wanting to upgrade. But like you, the day came when it had to happen. :banghead:
darthphineas
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Hold on to the ones you know and trust and try out some of the ones you are interested in. Some of the ones on your list are ones I never thought I'd be interested in, yet somehow or another they ended up in my hands and they worked out well. But I still have the old trusted models in standby mode should the need arise.
Sent from my armored space station using Tapatalk on iPad
Hold on to the ones you know and trust and try out some of the ones you are interested in. Some of the ones on your list are ones I never thought I'd be interested in, yet somehow or another they ended up in my hands and they worked out well. But I still have the old trusted models in standby mode should the need arise.
Sent from my armored space station using Tapatalk on iPad
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
If you've never tried any of the parallel axis models, I think that's an interesting pickup innovation that doesn't get enough attention. It really does something magical to the tone, and you either love it, or it's not your thing, but I don't think anyone could hate it.
If you've never tried any of the parallel axis models, I think that's an interesting pickup innovation that doesn't get enough attention. It really does something magical to the tone, and you either love it, or it's not your thing, but I don't think anyone could hate it.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
This gentleman hit the nail on the head. It's great to get your guitars dialed in, a major accomplishment, and you understandably don't want to mess with them, so the solution is obvious: always keep an eye out for a great deal on another guitar, or two. It keeps you sharp and up to date on things, and it's good for the economy (the patriotic angle). Not having owned Seth's yet is reason enough on it's own to get another guitar.
This gentleman hit the nail on the head. It's great to get your guitars dialed in, a major accomplishment, and you understandably don't want to mess with them, so the solution is obvious: always keep an eye out for a great deal on another guitar, or two. It keeps you sharp and up to date on things, and it's good for the economy (the patriotic angle). Not having owned Seth's yet is reason enough on it's own to get another guitar.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Heh, I really don't need any more guitars right now.
I find it a challenge to allot equal playing time to the three i have right now. Soon, when the Polaris is all done, I'm sure I'll have even more of a challenge.
I think I'm just gonna shut my yapper and just play/write/record until i'm blue in the face, so I can actually use these amazing tone tools for what they were intended.
Heh, I really don't need any more guitars right now.
I find it a challenge to allot equal playing time to the three i have right now. Soon, when the Polaris is all done, I'm sure I'll have even more of a challenge.
I think I'm just gonna shut my yapper and just play/write/record until i'm blue in the face, so I can actually use these amazing tone tools for what they were intended.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
I bought 2 Melody Makers (V and Explorer) for this (~$200 each), because all the electronics including the jack are on the pickguard, so I can just loosen the strings and lift the whole package out. (have to cut a custom guard to get around the stopbar, but had to do that anyway to do a PUP swap)
I bought 2 Melody Makers (V and Explorer) for this (~$200 each), because all the electronics including the jack are on the pickguard, so I can just loosen the strings and lift the whole package out. (have to cut a custom guard to get around the stopbar, but had to do that anyway to do a PUP swap)
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
They need wiring stuff done or what Randy? perhaps we can get together and have a soldering party.. Some tea (Jeager (sp?))and cookies.. And burn some wires.. haha
Must be nice...
I've got more guitars that don't work than do...
They need wiring stuff done or what Randy? perhaps we can get together and have a soldering party.. Some tea (Jeager (sp?))and cookies.. And burn some wires.. haha
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Venture into the other great mysteries of the musical world.
Build a simple tube amp. Build a digital delay or Big Muff clone. Learn the ukulele (don't knock it 'til you've tried it). Do what I'm gonna do next and build an acoustic. Build and learn to play a banjo (see ukulele). Build a complicated tube amp. Experiment with mixing piezo and magnetic pickup impedences and then tells how you did it coz I'm stumped.... Become a bassist until you realise why you chose the guitar (about 5 minutes then...)
Venture into the other great mysteries of the musical world.
Build a simple tube amp. Build a digital delay or Big Muff clone. Learn the ukulele (don't knock it 'til you've tried it). Do what I'm gonna do next and build an acoustic. Build and learn to play a banjo (see ukulele). Build a complicated tube amp. Experiment with mixing piezo and magnetic pickup impedences and then tells how you did it coz I'm stumped.... Become a bassist until you realise why you chose the guitar (about 5 minutes then...)
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Sure but why does he have to? I mean people keep giving all these suggestions for things you could do but why if your happy? Why not just play music why does it have to involve gear tinkering.
Sure but why does he have to? I mean people keep giving all these suggestions for things you could do but why if your happy? Why not just play music why does it have to involve gear tinkering.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Ain't got a wife. It's the songwriter/musician talking, not the forum-addicted gearwhore.
Ain't got a wife. It's the songwriter/musician talking, not the forum-addicted gearwhore.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
If you have reached the end of your quest, and achieved your goal, now you must teach. :notworthy
If you have reached the end of your quest, and achieved your goal, now you must teach. :notworthy
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
I just figure that happiness (in this context) soon leads to complacency and then boredom. He may love the sounds now but in a few months he could pick up his number one and not be happy with it because its become normal and mundane to him. Learning something new stops you from being bored and opens up possibilities and broadens your mindset.
Understanding WHY something works is so much more fulfilling than just understanding THAT it works. Hence my suggestions of venturing into the other aspects while he still finds his tone to be at its best. That way he can learn what tweaks affect what sound without battling a terrible sounding instrument at the same time.
I just figure that happiness (in this context) soon leads to complacency and then boredom. He may love the sounds now but in a few months he could pick up his number one and not be happy with it because its become normal and mundane to him. Learning something new stops you from being bored and opens up possibilities and broadens your mindset.
Understanding WHY something works is so much more fulfilling than just understanding THAT it works. Hence my suggestions of venturing into the other aspects while he still finds his tone to be at its best. That way he can learn what tweaks affect what sound without battling a terrible sounding instrument at the same time.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
man, I have done more tweaking, tinkering, building and experimenting in the 17 years that I have played guitar than most guitarists do in a lifetime.
If I was getting bored of playing guitar, I can see that what you said might make sense. But I'm not bored of playing now, nor do I ever get bored of it. I'm just satisfied with my tone. I'm glad I don't have to go chasing a sound in my head anymore, because all my guitars are capable of making the sounds I want them to. Boom. End of story. Onwards to some serious music-making without distractions.
man, I have done more tweaking, tinkering, building and experimenting in the 17 years that I have played guitar than most guitarists do in a lifetime.
If I was getting bored of playing guitar, I can see that what you said might make sense. But I'm not bored of playing now, nor do I ever get bored of it. I'm just satisfied with my tone. I'm glad I don't have to go chasing a sound in my head anymore, because all my guitars are capable of making the sounds I want them to. Boom. End of story. Onwards to some serious music-making without distractions.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Just be done man. I've not changed my amp or guitar setup in 8 months. And my pedals I have only removed stuff, not added anything. I'm happy with my sound and everything now and feel much more at ease with music.
Just be done man. I've not changed my amp or guitar setup in 8 months. And my pedals I have only removed stuff, not added anything. I'm happy with my sound and everything now and feel much more at ease with music.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: My quest for tone is over. Or is it?
Sorry I know i quoted you (maybe I shouldnt have) as there were many who offered suggestions on what to tweak not just you, so please dont think I'm picking on you but to arrive at this conclusion you have to make some pretty heavy assumptions. Yes he may get bored in the future he may change his mind but maybe not there is no evidence to say he will and if he does its not like he cant just start tone chasing again. You make the assumption that he doesnt know why his guitar works for him. This is a pretty big assumption from what I can gather just from his posts here I think he knows why he likes what he likes very well I dont think its a mystery to him. In reality right now is the time to focus on music making, specifically cause he isnt distracted by tweaking.
I know from my own experience 5 years or so ago that I was happy with how I sounded and I really quit tone chasing. I stopped reading websites and magazines I didnt even go into the local music store and look I would go about once a year and stock up on strings and picks and leave. Then I moved over seas and I couldnt take a guitar with me so there Iam in Beijing one of the largest cities in the world and now I get to go guitar shopping. With a blank check to get something new so I started poking around websites again and fiddling with stuff as I basically recreate my set up but for 220v. For me all the fiddling and tweaking ive done in the last 3 years since I moved over seas has done nothing but reinforced that I know what works for me and what I like. Its not such a bad place to be in
Sorry I know i quoted you (maybe I shouldnt have) as there were many who offered suggestions on what to tweak not just you, so please dont think I'm picking on you but to arrive at this conclusion you have to make some pretty heavy assumptions. Yes he may get bored in the future he may change his mind but maybe not there is no evidence to say he will and if he does its not like he cant just start tone chasing again. You make the assumption that he doesnt know why his guitar works for him. This is a pretty big assumption from what I can gather just from his posts here I think he knows why he likes what he likes very well I dont think its a mystery to him. In reality right now is the time to focus on music making, specifically cause he isnt distracted by tweaking.
I know from my own experience 5 years or so ago that I was happy with how I sounded and I really quit tone chasing. I stopped reading websites and magazines I didnt even go into the local music store and look I would go about once a year and stock up on strings and picks and leave. Then I moved over seas and I couldnt take a guitar with me so there Iam in Beijing one of the largest cities in the world and now I get to go guitar shopping. With a blank check to get something new so I started poking around websites again and fiddling with stuff as I basically recreate my set up but for 220v. For me all the fiddling and tweaking ive done in the last 3 years since I moved over seas has done nothing but reinforced that I know what works for me and what I like. Its not such a bad place to be in
