what is the defintition of british tone?
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
Think early Marshall tones of The Who,Led Zeppelin,Cream,Hendrix...as your British tones...
I think of early Beach Boys,Ventures as a clean American sound by using BF Fender amps...
I think of the british tone as being brighter and more aggressive and cutting in the mids...
The american tones to me are warmer,rounder,mids are scooped,lows are a bit more prominent compared to the highs....
I'm again comparing what I hear between a BF Fender amp and the JMP 50 watt Marshall amp....1 amp uses EL34 tubes and the other 6L6....These are both amps that I own and can make a fair comparison,but there are many many variables here with cabs,speakers,speaker sizing etc.
Think early Marshall tones of The Who,Led Zeppelin,Cream,Hendrix...as your British tones...
I think of early Beach Boys,Ventures as a clean American sound by using BF Fender amps...
I think of the british tone as being brighter and more aggressive and cutting in the mids...
The american tones to me are warmer,rounder,mids are scooped,lows are a bit more prominent compared to the highs....
I'm again comparing what I hear between a BF Fender amp and the JMP 50 watt Marshall amp....1 amp uses EL34 tubes and the other 6L6....These are both amps that I own and can make a fair comparison,but there are many many variables here with cabs,speakers,speaker sizing etc.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
John, I agree with almost every point. Perhaps it's just my perception, but I find "American" tones like the Beach Boys and Venturs much brighter sounding than their British counterparts. I've always heard the "British" tone as being darker, more middy and full, without the clarity of the Fender tones.
All of this is just generalization, as there are specific examples from either camp to directly contradict my statements.
Maybe my ears are messed up, and it's no wonder I can't find the tone I'm looking for! :laugh2:
John, I agree with almost every point. Perhaps it's just my perception, but I find "American" tones like the Beach Boys and Venturs much brighter sounding than their British counterparts. I've always heard the "British" tone as being darker, more middy and full, without the clarity of the Fender tones.
All of this is just generalization, as there are specific examples from either camp to directly contradict my statements.
Maybe my ears are messed up, and it's no wonder I can't find the tone I'm looking for! :laugh2:
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
Most of it stems from the surplus of European and American military tubes after WWII.
Audio techs soon discovered which tubes sounded the best for guitar amp circuits, and European amp companies used what was most available to them....the primary ones being EL-34 and EL-84 (Marshall & Vox).
In America, the same thing applied, and we narrowed it down to 6L6 and 6V6, which Fender built his company around....Peavey and Mesa followed suit.
I kept this description basic, since there's a whole slew of other British and American tubes I'm leaving out.
We both share pre tubes, and they're basically the same. Euro ECC83 = American 12AX7.
That's the primary reason why there's a "British sound" and "American sound."
Most of it stems from the surplus of European and American military tubes after WWII.
Audio techs soon discovered which tubes sounded the best for guitar amp circuits, and European amp companies used what was most available to them....the primary ones being EL-34 and EL-84 (Marshall & Vox).
In America, the same thing applied, and we narrowed it down to 6L6 and 6V6, which Fender built his company around....Peavey and Mesa followed suit.
I kept this description basic, since there's a whole slew of other British and American tubes I'm leaving out.
We both share pre tubes, and they're basically the same. Euro ECC83 = American 12AX7.
That's the primary reason why there's a "British sound" and "American sound."
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
British tone began with the cranked Les Paul through a Marshall...the BLUES/ROCK tone of Eric Clapton in the Bluesbreakers and Cream. That, for me, is where it really started. I know the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds and the Who and all that came earlier, but for me, Clapton was the man who turned his Marshall up to 10 and overdrove the bejeezuz out of it with a Les Paul playing blues. Even Hendrix wanted to meet Clapton when he first came to England.
American blues players got a cleaner tone and for me, we're talking the tones of Mike Bloomfield and BB King...and Freddie King, Albert King and some others.
So, IMO, Clapton's British Blues created the modern rock tone inherited by Van Halen and others and it was Eric Clapton playing the licks of his heroes through a cranked and overdiven Marshall.
And the American tone is tone of Eric's heroes playing through Fender amps and not playing as distorted as Eric was.
Lew
British tone began with the cranked Les Paul through a Marshall...the BLUES/ROCK tone of Eric Clapton in the Bluesbreakers and Cream. That, for me, is where it really started. I know the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds and the Who and all that came earlier, but for me, Clapton was the man who turned his Marshall up to 10 and overdrove the bejeezuz out of it with a Les Paul playing blues. Even Hendrix wanted to meet Clapton when he first came to England.
American blues players got a cleaner tone and for me, we're talking the tones of Mike Bloomfield and BB King...and Freddie King, Albert King and some others.
So, IMO, Clapton's British Blues created the modern rock tone inherited by Van Halen and others and it was Eric Clapton playing the licks of his heroes through a cranked and overdiven Marshall.
And the American tone is tone of Eric's heroes playing through Fender amps and not playing as distorted as Eric was.
Lew
rivera213
Guest
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
British- Trebly & "twangy".
American- Bassy & higher gain.
I personally can't stand "british Tone". It annoys my ears. If you want a british amp tone, Marshalls with EL34 Tubes is the answer. If you want an american amp tone, Peaveys with 6L6 Tubes is the answer.
British- Trebly & "twangy".
American- Bassy & higher gain.
I personally can't stand "british Tone". It annoys my ears. If you want a british amp tone, Marshalls with EL34 Tubes is the answer. If you want an american amp tone, Peaveys with 6L6 Tubes is the answer.
rivera213
Guest
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
Well alot of british guitarists used Fenders, but amp wise (the tube driven), EL34 is for the archetypal british tone which is more treble-enclined & regular gain & the 6L6 is more what i consider american tone which is more Mids & Bass-enclined & higher gain.
Alot of american players wanted the british sound & alot of british players played american guitars so there isn't a definate line that anyone can say is british or american but nowadays i would say EL34= UK & 6L6= US.
Yngwie has a very "british" tone with his Fender & Marshall set-up, but then again- it's an america guitar so essentially there is no defining sound IMO.
It's mainly the playing style.
Well alot of british guitarists used Fenders, but amp wise (the tube driven), EL34 is for the archetypal british tone which is more treble-enclined & regular gain & the 6L6 is more what i consider american tone which is more Mids & Bass-enclined & higher gain.
Alot of american players wanted the british sound & alot of british players played american guitars so there isn't a definate line that anyone can say is british or american but nowadays i would say EL34= UK & 6L6= US.
Yngwie has a very "british" tone with his Fender & Marshall set-up, but then again- it's an america guitar so essentially there is no defining sound IMO.
It's mainly the playing style.
marvar
New member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
Take a look at this page, it helps explain why there is a difference in amps.
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/differences.html
Take a look at this page, it helps explain why there is a difference in amps.
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/differences.html
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
To me, the British idea of electric guitar is that it would fit within a narrower frequency band. It would crank in the midrange, and sit nicely between the bass guitar and the cymbals, but still cut through keys, piano, and other accessory instruments. The American sound takes more liberty with the frequency range, and tends to give the guitar it's full frequency range, regardless of whatever else is in the mix. Almost like piano, where the instrument can cover the whole frequency spectrum by itself.
So the American tone says "I am KING OF THE WORLD!" while the British tone says "I am the king of my defined frequency range.":laugh2: Both can knock you to the floor, but the British tone does it with a crow bar, while the American tone does it with a semi.
To me, the British idea of electric guitar is that it would fit within a narrower frequency band. It would crank in the midrange, and sit nicely between the bass guitar and the cymbals, but still cut through keys, piano, and other accessory instruments. The American sound takes more liberty with the frequency range, and tends to give the guitar it's full frequency range, regardless of whatever else is in the mix. Almost like piano, where the instrument can cover the whole frequency spectrum by itself.
So the American tone says "I am KING OF THE WORLD!" while the British tone says "I am the king of my defined frequency range.":laugh2: Both can knock you to the floor, but the British tone does it with a crow bar, while the American tone does it with a semi.
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S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
I don't think that's all that far off. I always percieved the British tone to be alot darker. As was said, Clapton in the BluesBreakers defines, for me, the best and most obvious points of what it was; warmer, darker, thicker, even muddier at times.
The "twang" to me is the all-American sound; a Telecaster into a Deluxe Reverb or Super Reverb or even a Twin. To me that's the sound that defines "American" for me. There's lots of mids and lots of highs and when you crank it the tone takes on a life of its own and smoothes out, but doesn't really get anywhere near as dark.
I don't think that's all that far off. I always percieved the British tone to be alot darker. As was said, Clapton in the BluesBreakers defines, for me, the best and most obvious points of what it was; warmer, darker, thicker, even muddier at times.
The "twang" to me is the all-American sound; a Telecaster into a Deluxe Reverb or Super Reverb or even a Twin. To me that's the sound that defines "American" for me. There's lots of mids and lots of highs and when you crank it the tone takes on a life of its own and smoothes out, but doesn't really get anywhere near as dark.
flank
New member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
it all depends. To me, the british sound is darker, thick, woolier, and even muddy at times, like you say. At the same time, i think EVH's sound is too bright and twangy.
it all depends. To me, the british sound is darker, thick, woolier, and even muddy at times, like you say. At the same time, i think EVH's sound is too bright and twangy.
cvansickle
New member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
American tone: 6L6 or 6V6 tubes
Brit tone: EL34 or EL84 tubes
That's a start, anyway....
American tone: 6L6 or 6V6 tubes
Brit tone: EL34 or EL84 tubes
That's a start, anyway....
Aden
New member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
thats basically how i differentiate the two. If you can tell the differance between tube types then your on your way
thats basically how i differentiate the two. If you can tell the differance between tube types then your on your way
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
I tend to agree, I think the final definitions of British tone are Blackmore, Iommi, guys from Uriah Heep, Page, May. Some how that took that muddy overdrive and just made it sing so precise, so defined, with every note accented just right. And of course no body does British tone like Laney, sorry had to do this one guys.
James Rock
Active member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
British tone began early 60's (The Beatles, The Who etc) and was big in the 70's (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Status Quo) all other Marshall or Vox users.
American Tone is older from early tweed era fender (Most american 50's guitarists) to the surf sound of the sixties (well everyone knows what surf is like) and then later companies like Mesa/Boogie came along and created the HIGH GAIN american tone whereas Marshalls led the British High Gain Tone (JCM series from 800's to 2000's)
All in all
British : I more brash tone with a characteristic upper midrange peak.
American : A deeper rounder tone with more bass and a peak higher up in the spectrum and less high mids.
But it depends on tubes there is alot of difference between el84 and el34s and the circuitry (pre amp etc) makes alot of difference (some consider the most difference especially if it is as complex as something like a MESA/BOOGIE roadstar).
British tone began early 60's (The Beatles, The Who etc) and was big in the 70's (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Status Quo) all other Marshall or Vox users.
American Tone is older from early tweed era fender (Most american 50's guitarists) to the surf sound of the sixties (well everyone knows what surf is like) and then later companies like Mesa/Boogie came along and created the HIGH GAIN american tone whereas Marshalls led the British High Gain Tone (JCM series from 800's to 2000's)
All in all
British : I more brash tone with a characteristic upper midrange peak.
American : A deeper rounder tone with more bass and a peak higher up in the spectrum and less high mids.
But it depends on tubes there is alot of difference between el84 and el34s and the circuitry (pre amp etc) makes alot of difference (some consider the most difference especially if it is as complex as something like a MESA/BOOGIE roadstar).
James Rock
Active member
Re: what is the defintition of british tone?
And alot of people are saying that it goes against being british cos of non british guitars. Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker were the biggest brands of the 60's and 70's yet they r all american. So i think the american vs british tone only apllies to amps.
And alot of people are saying that it goes against being british cos of non british guitars. Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker were the biggest brands of the 60's and 70's yet they r all american. So i think the american vs british tone only apllies to amps.
