WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

[Dave Locher]

I keep seeing pickups described as "uninspiring" around the 'net and I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. Thin, weak, shrill, dull, dark, these are the adjectives that make sense.
Is there any consensus on what uninspiring pickups sound like, or is it just a vague way of saying "I don't like it but I'm not articulate enough to explain why"?

 

[Spyder328]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

In my mind it means a pickup that doesn't have that special something that makes you want to create a new riff and play all day. It doesn't have that special sound that puts a smile on your face. In reality "uninspiring" is all up to the person who is playing it. It all comes down to personal preference :fing2:

 

[Diego]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

The opposite of inspiring, which is entirely subjective. Not much else can be said.
Things don't sound "uninspiring". Things just inspire you, or don't. That's a chemistry, not a tone as such.

 

[Artie]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

I take "uninspiring" simply to mean, it wasn't "their" sound. The sad thing is, too many peeps write off a perfectly decent piece of kit before they even try to dial it in to make it work for them.

But: Some "junk" does exist.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Stock pickups in budget guitars. Passable as "electric guitar" not really acceptable to a connoisseur.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

So somewhere between "lame" and "nice but not my thing"?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Do flat or lifeless mean anything to you? I agree, a lot of terms are odd but in the absence of a recording you have to come up with some description.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

In my experience reading that kind of feedback, I think it means they had a famous recording in mind and it didn't sound like that ...and often they didn't try changing amp and guitar settings, fitting enough to match how the famous recording was done.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

I keep seeing pickups described as "uninspiring" around the 'net and I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. Thin, weak, shrill, dull, dark, these are the adjectives that make sense.
Is there any consensus on what uninspiring pickups sound like, or is it just a vague way of saying "I don't like it but I'm not articulate enough to explain why"?

Is the sensation of "not feel like" playing a certain instrument.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Most of the time it really is: "It is too much work to play this"

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

" WTH does "uninspiring" sound like? "

Amazing. Unique. Four-dimensional, god-like, celestial, a spiritual experience. Something we all strive for but few ever reach. Shedding inspiration and becoming free of such shackles can take years of study, but the end result will be a near-religious experience with absolutely no expectations.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Listening to me play ...

 

[CB434]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Bland or flat, when compared to a pickup that suits the commenters preference. Sort of like a meal that doesn't tickle the tastebuds. Quite a poor description, I agree.

 

[Mincer]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

I think it is more of a 'feel' thing than sound. Essentially, it makes you not want to play that instrument, which is the worst feeling. We all want instruments we can't wait to get back to. Uninspiring ones make us not care if we do or not.

 

[Demanic]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Lack of harmonic content.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Link8417]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Listening to me play ...

I laughed way too hard at that lol

But yeah, it's basically just a sound that doesn't inspire you to play, a sound leaving you wanting more. My dual rail telecaster pickups were uninspiring, but to others they may be very inspirational.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

Thank you, thank you very much. I'll be here all week. :bigok:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

"Uninspiring" is a completely subjective term, but it usually pertains to a lack of feeling or character that connects with a particular player. I like Diego's suggestion of "chemistry" between the player and the instrument and the amp.

For instance, I usually like a pickup that feels "lively" under the fingers...fast response, yet very expressive and nuanced...the more it "speaks" when I manipulate it, the more I will usually enjoy playing it.

Sometimes its a response/output thing, sometimes it's a voicing that just "works" for a given guitar or style of music, sometimes it's both.

Ultimately, you tend to know what "uninspiring" is when you come across it.

If you've been fortunate enough to be inspired by every pickup you've tried, then cheers to you!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

I never describe something as uninspiring because I've trained my ears to be able to hear what I want and what I'm not getting from a certain piece of gear. However, a lot of people who may not be able to do that will describe it as uninspiring because they can't quite put their finger on what they don't like about it. Telling us what they like though will help us be able to pick out something more in line with what they want.

 

[dystrust]

Re: WTH does "uninspiring" sound like?

So somewhere between "lame" and "nice but not my thing"?

For the most part, but generally I reserve the description for something closer to lame.