Sound or Feel?

[Watroba]

I'm currently shopping for a high end guitar, and this certain question keeps coming to mind.

Do you feel that you should choose a guitar more on its sound or its feel? Do you buy a phenominal sounding guitar that is fairly bulky and doesn't play quite so fast in hopes of getting used to it? Or, do you buy a guitar with smooth playability and tight feel but lacking tonal qualities?

Overall, what do you think is the more crucial quality, a guitar's tone, or it's comfort and playability? Please, no "both"'s, I'm aware that each is important.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Sound or Feel?

If you don't like the sound, you can do something about it, like changing PUs or strings or even the bridge. If playability is bad, you're stuck if it is a glued on neck or you can change it if it is bolted on but there is no garantee and it may be very costly. I'll get one that plays good but sounds at least half way decent. If it is a high end guitar, there is no reason why you can't demand both. I expect that on any guitar I buy.

 

[mnbaseball91]

Re: Sound or Feel?

I sort of go with feel, but in a different sense than what you mean. A guitar with a crappy setup (aka most guitars in stores) might seem awfully unplayable, but give me an hour and a tool kit and I can turn it into something pretty decent at the worst, and an awesome guitar at best. Sound can obviously be changed quite a bit with new pups, but I find that the sound unplugged is very important. I guess what I look for is a good neck profile, smooth neck finish, a comfy bridge (I almost always rest by palm on the bridge), a well cut nut, even frets, and a good sound unplugged. If it's too noisy in the store to hear it unplugged, as it almost always is, I can get a pretty good indication by feeling the body resonate against my chest. Oh, and looks ARE important.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Sound or Feel?

I know you don't want to hear it, but it has to be both for me. If it's lacking in one area I won't keep it. My Gibson Nighthawk I had sounded awesome but it felt like terd. I've had other guitars in the past that felt great but sounded like poop.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Sound or Feel?

I'm currently shopping for a high end guitar, and this certain question keeps coming to mind.

Do you feel that you should choose a guitar more on its sound or its feel? Do you buy a phenominal sounding guitar that is fairly bulky and doesn't play quite so fast in hopes of getting used to it? Or, do you buy a guitar with smooth playability and tight feel but lacking tonal qualities?

Overall, what do you think is the more crucial quality, a guitar's tone, or it's comfort and playability? Please, no "both"'s, I'm aware that each is important.

It depends. If the problem is something you can fix, then it's not so bad.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sound or Feel?

if it is really a high-end guitar, you shouldn't have to compromise on either. If you pay a lot for the instrument, there should be no need to change the pickups, switches, etc. Buy *exactly* what you want, that is the beauty of a high-end guitar.

 

[Watroba]

Re: Sound or Feel?

Bump.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Sound or Feel?

Feel is the main priority, but as a strat user, I can play any strat and be quite satisfied with the playability (MIM's all the way up to MIA deluxes). If the guitar feels good and resonates nicely then it's a keeper.

Don't buy a guitar that's too heavy, though. The LP's with the richest mids are the mid to lower weight ones.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Sound or Feel?

if it is really a high-end guitar, you shouldn't have to compromise on either. If you pay a lot for the instrument, there should be no need to change the pickups, switches, etc. Buy *exactly* what you want, that is the beauty of a high-end guitar.

Nailed it.

 

[big_black]

Re: Sound or Feel?

if it is really a high-end guitar, you shouldn't have to compromise on either. If you pay a lot for the instrument, there should be no need to change the pickups, switches, etc. Buy *exactly* what you want, that is the beauty of a high-end guitar.

Yup. Why would you spend $1500+ and compromise anything.

 

[pac112]

Re: Sound or Feel?

Yup. Why would you spend $1500+ and compromise anything.

+1.

keeping to your question, i check out the feel then the sound.

 

[Rotten Guitar String]

Re: Sound or Feel?

Definately feel.
I can't play very well on an axe that doesn't feel right to me but I can play far better if it sounds like ass and feels comfortable.
I put my playing ahead of my tone, so I would never compromise feel for tone.

Besides, ANY guitar can sound good through the right setup.

 

[beandip]

Re: Sound or Feel?

I actually dont go for one more than the other. But the one thing I do search for is vibe. I'm geared towards Strats and Teles, and vintage style at that. But if I pick up a Ibanez Jem777 or something like that, and it's got the vibe I'm looking for, then I guess I'm gonna be standing on stage lookin like a d*ck, but hey, it's got vibe. Feel, I can change, sound I can change, but you cant expect too much vibe out of a new guitar. I know what I'm trying to say, but it dont wanna come out.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Sound or Feel?

....Overall, what do you think is the more crucial quality, a guitar's tone, or it's comfort and playability? Please, no "both"'s, I'm aware that each is important.

Sorry, but IMO Both is the only correct answer... if either isn´t perfect, you have to pay more to get the guitar the way you want it.. then I might as well have one custom built from the get go... that´s what luthiers are for....

Either both are REALLY close to what I´m looking for or I keep looking... there´s no need to compromise, you just have to be willing to spend enough to get a decent guitar

 

[Boston Joe]

Re: Sound or Feel?

You can eventually get used to the feel of an instrument-- heck if you go from a Les Paul to a Telecaster, it's a given-- unless of course it just never vibes. Sound... well, you would have to bring your entire rig down to the shop to test drive a guitar to really know if the sound works for you.