What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

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Steve_R

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What's your opinion? How do we define "warm" tone? I am pretty sure that there are different definitions and that makes it difficult to describe sound with words.

I get confused :D
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

i'd describe "warm" as, when the highs are just a suttle and slightly rounded , and the bass and mids are more emphasised and also slightly rounded and when there is a fullness about the whole frequecies coming out of the speaker with lots of overtones.... if that makes sense...
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

OK I think I'm in line with you guys. I guess I get confused when people use the term with a CC or PGb pickup or some other pickup that is edgy. They are great pickups but I don't think of them as "warm".

Also, I don't think of the popular Celestion speakers as warm (but I like them for rock).
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

Somebody like Curly has a warm sound, my own is more crunchy and more agressive, less warm and has more spikes.
To me it is where the midrange is located and how much open top there is.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

Rounded, full, but still articulate. Not icepicky or harsh.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

I'd describe a tone w/ lots of mids as aggressive and punchy... not warm. If anyone has heard "Down Down Down" by joe satriani... thats warm. Highs are pretty much completely cut , with and average amount of mids, and not boomy lows, but predominantly bassy. Most jazz guitars sound this way in my opinion. some people call this "mushy". I guess it all depends on your phrasing also.

PS - I also do think it's possible for a "warm" sound to be sterile.... Ever heard Epiphone pickups?
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

jetjoe002 said:
I also do think it's possible for a "warm" sound to be sterile....
I'll have to agree. I feel the same way about certain speakers, warm but lifeless.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

More rounded towards the bass-mids and more subtle highs gives you the sound that most consider "warm".
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

I think it can be about the characteristic of the mid-range, not just the amount too. For example, I think plenty of country guitarists have a very warm overdrive tone.

In high gain, I tend to find the Californian sound to have a warmer mid-range sound than the British high-gain sound. Something about the British sound is a little edgier and harder than the Californian sound - thinking about Soldano SLO100s here anyway, not really meaning the nu-metal Mesa sound.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

Steve_R said:
What's your opinion? How do we define "warm" tone? I am pretty sure that there are different definitions and that makes it difficult to describe sound with words.

I get confused :D

Warm is Eric Johnsons lead tones...Santana's lead tones,Gary Moore's lead tones.Richard Betts and Duane Allman also had warm tones...Ritchie Blackmore's lead tone in Smoke On The Water were warm also,as was his early Deep Purple lead tones in general...To me warm is...Rolled off highs,smooth ,rich in lows but articulate,mids working with the lows to create a sense of fullness...I think songs describes better my definition of your question though Steve? :13: A Fender BF amp is warm compared to a Marshall JCM 800 which is cutting and aggressive by comparison..

John
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

I just think of round edges on tones when I think warm. No sharp, biting lows, mids, or highs. I think the CC is warm in my strat, but it could be mid edgy in another guitar.

I also think some pickups can be warm clean, and not warm overdriven, for me that is the PG. Great clean voice, but get's a little spikey overdriven. APH is warm, CC is warm, Seth is warm. All slightly different, all warm.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

i characterize "warm" as something with a less spike in the mid's and treble. something like the JB is what i dont consider "warm", but when compared to a pickup like the X2N the JB would be considered "warmer". and an A2 pro would be considered warmer than the JB. it means that there's not so much presence in the treble and mids. artists like eric johnson, eric clapton have a warmer tone.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

that's tough steve...one man's "warm" could be the next man's "muddy"...?!

to me it rolls the bite off a little...very smooth and resonating...mellow...???
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

Warm, full midrange, not too boomy or icepicky. A warm sound sounds very smooth, a great example of warm sound is a Pearly Gates neck pickup in a les paul through a Marshall with just a little bit of gain, and the mids set on 9, the bass on 5, & treble on 4.
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

neck position of a les paul with just enough bass ommited from the EQ to not have it overdriven at all.. gives you that creamy smooth almost glassy tone to die for with clean leads/ blues leads
 
Re: What's Your Definition of "Warm"?

Hehe ... not cold!!! Sorry couldnt resist

To me its the opposite of bright, a full mid rangey/bassyish sound. Ive always thought of joe Satriani's or slash's tone as typical warm tones.
 
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