Tips on improving clean tone?

[vejiita]

aside from using heavier gauge strings? what else can i do to get a better clean tone w/ just guitar---amp

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

A good 6L6 pair?

I mean, you're not giving me much info to go on here lol...

 

[serizawa]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

I don't think using thicker strings will necessarily make your clean tone better--it'll just make the response and volume somewhat different.

The best way to start would be to put all the knobs on your amp at 12 'o clock. From there, dial in every knob in accordance to how you want things to sound.

I always go back to this technique whenever trying to come up with a new sound.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

What guitar? What amp? How about speakers. Cables or wireless? Using your fx loop? How LONG are the cables? (makes a difference!)

No pedals, right? A nice chorus can work wonders with cleans too...

 

[ginormous]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Like all other tonal things, "clean" is relative. Do you want "sparkling drop of spring water", or "scrape some poop off the bottom of your shoe before you walk in"?

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Tip #1: Buy a Tube amp with a Blackface Voiced clean channel (or just a BF fender).
Tip #2: Add just a splash of spring reverb.
Tip #3: Get an ES-335 (or similar guitar)
Tip #4: This ones the most important....don't suck at guitar.

Really you can probably skip most of those steps. As long as you got #4 goin for ya. A good guitarist can make any guitar through any amp sound great clean. Where as a ****ty guitarist, can make the best guitar through the best amp sound ****ty.

So there you go. Thats your answer...quit dicking around on an interweb forum, and start playing your guitar.

p.s. Your welcome

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

A good 6L6 pair?

I mean, you're not giving me much info to go on here lol...

So.....did you do it yet?

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

aside from using heavier gauge strings? what else can i do to get a better clean tone w/ just guitar---amp

Turn the amp off while you practice.

Work the guitar's tone and volume controls more while you play with the amp on.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Turn the amp off while you practice.

Work the guitar's tone and volume controls more while you play with the amp on.

+1 practicing unplugged helps ya learn how to really squeeze the sounds you want out of the guitar. When ya can play not plugged in, and get a good sound, it'll translate better plugged in (clean or dirty).

Also, semi-unrelated...I suggest practicing standing up if you wear your strap lower than the guitar sits on you when sitting down. Its important to be strengthening the muscles/get down your technique in the same way you will normally be playing (I rarely see people sitting down on stage). No point in getting all lazy and practicing sitting down, only to stand up and clumsily fumble through a song cause your not as used to playing that way.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Try playing with your fingers instead of a pick
Watch derek trucks play and try to sound like him (easier said than done)
Sell your guitar and get a cello or a tenor saxophone
Go to the top of mount Kilauea and give an offering of human fingernails to the yogi on top

Really, you'll have to give us more info for us to give you more specific advice...

 

[Baltar]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

check that your signal cable isn't plugged in the other way around.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Change guitar pick. Always made the most difference/buck to me.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

don't suck at guitar, practice unplugged, dial in from 12^, etc. all good suggestions. for what you're looking for though(which is a better country tone IIRC), you might be looking for a compressor.

 

[shawkey]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

cool trick when recording,open a track and record unamp'd electric,blend to taste, aaahhh.

 

[Chas]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Try playing with your fingers instead of a pick
Watch derek trucks play and try to sound like him (easier said than done)
Sell your guitar and get a cello or a tenor saxophone
Go to the top of mount Kilauea and give an offering of human fingernails to the yogi on top

Really, you'll have to give us more info for us to give you more specific advice...

Your right about that!! been trying for 10 years now!!!!

 

[Bludave]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Questions:

What guitar(s) do you play?

What amp(s) are you using?

What environment are you looking to play in? (Home, gigs, small rooms, large rooms. etc.)?

Clean is easily obtained with a high wattage amp, like a Fender Twin (80W with 4 6L6 power tubes)

Single coils are generally easier to keep things clean, but this does not mean you can't get a good clean tone with humbuckers. I find an amp with power (50W or more) will give you a good pristine tone.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Do whatever Glen Phillips is doing.

 

[Chas]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

Get a Victoria amp for starters or a 57 champ. I agree that most of it is in the touch but a great clean amp helps.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

change your name to Goku?

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Tips on improving clean tone?

So.....did you do it yet?

Sadly no, money's tight my good man. But it's on my to do list before Texas...