Question for everyone: Talk Tone

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Somewhere along the line...I still just sound like I always has done.
Regardless of what I play through.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

The biggest improvemet for my tone was improving my TECHNIQUE!

Why would you want a $4000 guitar if you can't play it, hehe

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

They're the same thing?

Nope, but George L's are, in essence, a replica of the same design Bill Lawrence created in the 80s (and yes, BL started it all).

 

[MVI]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Lose the pedals....crank up the amp.....discover tone.

I played a gig last night where for the first time I was playing exclusively with tube overdrive. The amp was my modified Blues Junior with my 73' Strat and Greco Les Paul Custom.

The soundguy came up to me and said "Jesus....that sounds great!" I was kind of in awe; it was the least hassle I've had setting up gear and the most fun I've had playing in a long time.

Alot of pedals try to recreate the sound of an overdriven amplifier. Why go with a second-rate when you can have the real deal?

+1
OK, so I don't get out a lot. I gigged like twice years ago when I had some time to play guitar. I'm getting back now. I like to play with the smallest possible tube amp, cranked to a decent level that doesn't just blow the thing out. I have a 5W amp just to get that pushed tube sound (home studio) without getting someone from the next zip code calling the cops on me.

+1 on really heavy picks too. Bass picks or dimes are nice. Replacing the strings constantly works wonders.

 

[Willis]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Nope, but George L's are, in essence, a replica of the same design Bill Lawrence created in the 80s (and yes, BL started it all).

I've heard they're good quality cables, and I also heard that there were fake ones or something that gave them a bad reputation (maybe just during the 80s.. not sure). Where do you order them from?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

11's tuned to Eb, Heavy Fender picks, bone nut, and Duncan Custom 5, Seths, Surfers, and Chubtone 63 strat pickups. Unfortunately, my new band is in standard tuning, since there's a Hammond B3/keys, so I've had to go back to E.

Playingwise, the best improvement in tone is to play with authority and dig in.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Compared to new guitars and amps changing pickups is a relatively small outlay, and tone-wise that can really be the difference between something sounding terrible and something sounding great.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

For me the few things that have helped my tone are:
1. Lessons. You can learn so much from an accomplished teacher.
2. Practice. Don't waste your money if you are not going to practice. Practice is the single most critical thing to do that will greatly affect your tone!

I know you were probably looking for a gear related response. I have those also but IMO its all about making music!!

 

[tone4days]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

practicing at band volume whenever possible ... it sucks to practice at low volume only to take that knowledge to rehearsal and realize the the technique you worked out doesnt translate identically at louder volume ...

cheers
t4d

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

The biggest improvemet for my tone was improving my TECHNIQUE!

Well said, my scandanavian friend! IMO, any guitar can sound cool when a good player is shakin' it.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

i'm a big fan of anything that will help keep a guitar in tune no matter how much you bend the strings or pound on them...so graphite nuts and saddles and locking tuners are some of my favorite little mods to do...as for strings and picks, i only use D'Addario XLs of different gauges and derlin .88mm picks. also goot pots (CTS) and caps (orange drop) do seem to make things a bit clearer.

-Mike

 

[Artie]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

$1.65 for a toggle switch to split a humbucker. I can't imagine a more dramatic cost/tone ratio.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Lots of little things...

I use 1mm BRAIN picks. Basically a smooth, nylon pick with a cat's tongue grip section. I used to use the Dunlop Tortex picks, but the texture of the pick did something to the string attack I didn't fancy. I switched months ago to the BRAIN picks and haven't looked back.

Any time I'm playing through an amp with EL34s, I switch them out to JJ's. I recently re-tubed my RK's entire power section with three distinct pairs of power tubes. I'm using the GT6L6 R's, GT6L6GE's, and blue JJ EL34's, respectively. This seems to give me the widest, most musical assortment of tones in that particular amp.

George L's cables, exclusively. More out of convenience than tone, but they do sound nice.

I used to subscribe to the "heavier strings = better tone" philosophy and used 12's for years, but I've recently switched back to 11's and actually prefer the tone of the thinner strings.

Pretty much it as far as little things... I'm now going to read through this entire thread to pick up some tips.....

 

[Dankerella]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

A $119 tube PA with a 7868 power tube. I realized that it's the most superior tube for me if there is such a thing. And of course, is long out of production. This little lunchbox amp made me understand that I don't need to have overdrive to have a great tone, or to inspire me to play well. It really made me re-think tone, overdrive/distortion, and tube types.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Actually the biggest improvement was not gear...but that I just decided to play and worry about notes and how to play them, and not about what I was playing on and through.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

a metronome and picking every single note, in time.

 

[B2D]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

D'addario strings and Sperzel locking tuners... no matter how good the tone is, if it's outta tune it's gonna suck no matter WHAT you're playing through. Plus I find if you intonate the strings just right you get this cool shimmering sound when all the harmonics line up just right.

 

[Armotron]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Yikes....I forgot, sorry bro.

I've only put them on my Dean Hardtail so far, becaue I'm not done swapping pups on my LP's....don't want to waste the $9 strings. I really, really like the feel of them. They are smooth and slinky. They are so smooth and slinky in fact that I may go back to 10's in them on all of my 24 3/4 scale guitars. Bending is so much easier and smoother. I bought the vintage, which are pure nickel, and they may even be a tad too smooth. Next time around I'll buy some of the rock strings, which are supposed to be a tad brighter.

If they last half as long as I expect them to, they'll be worth every penny. I can get many months out of a set of EB Hybrid slinkies. As a comparison, I've had my Goldtop a little over 2 weeks now. I put the set of Dean Markly strings they sent me with the guitar on when it arrived. They are already oxidized and turning that blackish grey in spots....and I only have about 3 hours of total play time of them....yuck. They also feel rough and sticky.

I highly recommend trying a set of the Snake Oils. Start with the Rock set if you like a brighter sound.....the vintage is smooth, smooth, smooth. Might be just right on a strat though.

Thanks Jeff, ill probabally get 1 Rock and 1 Vintage to try em out and see which i prefer, hopefully theyll last as long as they say they do? I still got some more sets to go through before the next purchase though. :burnout:

 

[jimmy]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

I would say my Picks.

The picks I use really help picking-wise and help give me that 'mean tone.'
Other than that, I would say everything else just comes from playing and trying stuff over and over again.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Question for everyone: Talk Tone

Well, here's the strings and pics i use:

-Rotosound 10-46. I've never heard such a responsive, brilliant, glassy string before. It just has that deepness. I find them a bit metallic sounding, but hey, atleast they don't sound wooley *gross*

-Carbon Nylon pics with a Marijuhana leaf printed on them. Not sure what brand, hehe . They are just the rigth size, something between a Jazz 3 and a standard dunlop, but they have a beautiful, sligthly rough egde that lets you manipulate the tone much better than with other picks i've tried.

-My own, homemade electronics mods. I've designed a system that lets you turn the tone control into a bass cutting device with the flick of a switch, with two variable cutting frequencies, just by turning the knob. I also made a very simple mod, that bypasses the tone and volume controls when they are at max, for a more cutting tone. It's switchable, so you can have that volume control mellowness that's accosiated with 250K pots if needed .

Cheers!
-Erlend