Toneless Epi

[DonTV]

I recently bought an Epi LP standard. I also got a line 6 amp to practice with
which I plan on replacing as soon as I can. The guitar actually sounds pretty
good on clean amp settings, and with some gain single note runs on the
treble strings sound pretty good too. Problem is anything played on the bass
strings, chords or single notes, turns into a nasally, honky mess. Aside from
the amp, any opinions on the tone problem and recommendations to fix it?

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: Toneless Epi

You could try tweaking your pickup heights, but I imagine you'll find out that you need to upgrade your pickups.

The Line6 amp wouldn't be my choice, but I'm sure it's adequate for what you're using it for.

 

[Ocifer]

Re: Toneless Epi

If you want serious metal balls, I don't know if the Line6 will be able to deliver the kind of quality bass that you are looking for. However, there are many small adjustments you could try.

-Pickup Height Adjustment
-Pickup Swap
-Raise the action to make sure bassier notes aren't rattling out
-Tweak the Line 6 --often you don't need as much distortion as gain as you think you do.

If you recorded a quick 5 seconds of the sound, maybe we could help a bit better?

 

[subanots]

Re: Toneless Epi

line 6 amps suck. get a good tube amp and you will notice how your guitar sounds better.

you can play cheap old guitars through a nice tube amp and they sound great. play them through a crappy digital turd amp and they dont sound that good.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Toneless Epi

it's weird but i've found a lot of cheaper guitars sound great thru Digital Modelers.... i don't like Modelers in general but i do notice that you don't need a great axe to sound pretty good thru those things...


that being said i wonder if the muddyness described above is just the amp settings from the player... or maybe using the neck pickup with a pile of mids and bass already from the Line 6...

 

[millsart]

Re: Toneless Epi

line 6 amps suck. get a good tube amp and you will notice how your guitar sounds better.

you can play cheap old guitars through a nice tube amp and they sound great. play them through a crappy digital turd amp and they dont sound that good.

Kind of dumb advice if you ask me. Line 6 amps while not my cup of tea can get some nice sounds out of them. So can the Vox modelers.

What about the cost of a "nice" tube amp ? Do you know if a guy who's got a $400 guitar really wants a $1000+ amp ?

Why style of music does he play ? Did you ask ? How much versatility does he need ?

What about noise levels ? Maybe this guy has to play in his bedroom at volume 1, good luck with a tube amp.

Additionally since you by your own admission don't even know what phaser stages mean I don't know if I'd be inclined to really take your word as someone being an expert on amplification.

Lastly, a poor guitar is going to sound poor through any amp. Garbage in garbage out. No amp, tube or not is going to change that.

Do you even own any tube amps ? Your comments sound like a the typical tube fan who's never owned a tube amp because if you did I think you'd find your comments are way off base.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Toneless Epi

While I don't always disagree with what you say, you have the worst attitude ever man...

This board's about being helpful... you're not helping that much.

 

[subanots]

Re: Toneless Epi

canuck :nana:

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Toneless Epi

canuck :nana:

Actually, french canadian is supposed to be even worse...

 

[subanots]

Re: Toneless Epi

mg:
i know nothing about tube amps!!!!!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Toneless Epi

here is an amp you wish you had:

I'd like your amp & pedals. Your guitars, too.

Before you replace stuff, tweak your amp. It's better to spend more time with stuff. Don't be afraid of pedals, either

 

[Oudy]

Re: Toneless Epi

sweet amp and pedal board there subanots

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: Toneless Epi

Kind of dumb advice if you ask me. Line 6 amps while not my cup of tea can get some nice sounds out of them. So can the Vox modelers.

What about the cost of a "nice" tube amp ? Do you know if a guy who's got a $400 guitar really wants a $1000+ amp ?

Why style of music does he play ? Did you ask ? How much versatility does he need ?

What about noise levels ? Maybe this guy has to play in his bedroom at volume 1, good luck with a tube amp.

Additionally since you by your own admission don't even know what phaser stages mean I don't know if I'd be inclined to really take your word as someone being an expert on amplification.

Lastly, a poor guitar is going to sound poor through any amp. Garbage in garbage out. No amp, tube or not is going to change that.

Do you even own any tube amps ? Your comments sound like a the typical tube fan who's never owned a tube amp because if you did I think you'd find your comments are way off base.

:haha:

Good Call:headbang::headbang::headbang:

 

[subanots]

Re: Toneless Epi

I'd like your amp & pedals. Your guitars, too.

Before you replace stuff, tweak your amp. It's better to spend more time with stuff. Don't be afraid of pedals, either

thanks, not a bad collection for someone who doesnt know anything eh?

the thing with my phaser.... i think about getting rid of it, and then i play with it. and i change my mind. i just wish it had one more knob.

 

[subanots]

Re: Toneless Epi

sweet amp and pedal board there subanots

:bigok:

 

[Mephis]

Re: Toneless Epi

I recently bought an Epi LP standard. I also got a line 6 amp to practice with
which I plan on replacing as soon as I can. The guitar actually sounds pretty
good on clean amp settings, and with some gain single note runs on the
treble strings sound pretty good too. Problem is anything played on the bass
strings, chords or single notes, turns into a nasally, honky mess. Aside from
the amp, any opinions on the tone problem and recommendations to fix it?

It's just the amp. Get rid of that thing, for what it costs you could have had a decent amp. I.E. Champion 600 or maybe a valve jr.

 

[ModestCargo]

Re: Toneless Epi

I'm not going to go down the "Line 6 sucks" road here..

I will suggest you replace your pickups though. Epiphone pickups are pretty bad. Muddy, would be the best way to describe them. that honky nasally mess on the bass strings is definitely the pickups.

Edit: And guys he's planning to get another amp - so what's the big deal? Everyone needs a practice amp and I'm sure the Line 6 does the job.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Toneless Epi

I recently bought an Epi LP standard. I also got a line 6 amp to practice with
which I plan on replacing as soon as I can. The guitar actually sounds pretty
good on clean amp settings, and with some gain single note runs on the
treble strings sound pretty good too. Problem is anything played on the bass
strings, chords or single notes, turns into a nasally, honky mess. Aside from
the amp, any opinions on the tone problem and recommendations to fix it?

First off, play the guitar unplugged and hear whether or not its balanced. If you have a really nasally low end going on then you don't need a new amp or pickups.

 

[scottish]

Re: Toneless Epi

if i was placing money id say it was the pups. the asian made epi pups suck really bad...really really bad

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Toneless Epi

I would agree that a pup-swap is probably in order, and as far as playing notes or chords on the bass strings it sounds like you have a case of fret buzz. If the action on the other strings feels good, then you may want to raise the bass side of your bridge up a half turn or so and see how that sounds and plays, and maybe adjust saddle-height a little, too. But after all is adjusted you're going to need to recheck your intonation to make sure it's on key. I raise my pickups to within 3/16" of the bottom of the strings on my Les Paul's.