Getting Good Tone

[dmcguitar]

Just a question on how everyone gets there tone. Most people I believe have amps that are not bedroom volume, so you need to crank it to get a good sound. Also that sound may not work well when with the band. So what does everyone do? Not to mention that after a few minutes of being right infront of the the amp really loud or with the band that ringing in ones ears certainly can't help... and ear plugs would just screw up how you think it sound right?

 

[MusicManJP6]

having a drummer that does not have a heavy hand helps in not having to turn the amp up to scorching volumes.

Quality guitars and amps make it hard to have bad tone IMO!

I usually tweak while in the bedroom and then when practicing with the band or gigging, I do some minor tweaks during sound check...

 

[dmcguitar]

Hmm maybe its inherent to being a guitar player, or maybe I just never think i have good tone... I guess now i have a mesa cab so i can post clips in that rigs and tones sections.

anyone have suggestions for mic placement to have the most "true" sound so i can get some opinions? I know placement can change the sound/ coloration quite a bit. i have an 87 mic.

thanks

 

[Mr_You]

Good paying job, trial and error work, patience, compromise. :lol:

 

[user 7737]

I always search my tone with the band in the rehearsal room... getting a tone alone doesn't mean anything to me... my guitar must sound good with the band, cut trough the mix etc... it needs a lot of time... i have my mesa for 3 month and still not have the perfect sound for me... next w-e i'll have a new cab... i already know that i'll have to search new settings... this is a permanent quest ! that's why it's so fun !

 

[moltar]

A good set of plugs should help hold on to your treble.
link

My amp felt great while I was in a my last band, but alone I've become almost hyper critical. Recording alone without the location to really dial the amp wide open isn't the same. I think good tone for any instrument is helped by not being bashful. Also really dial in so that you mix with your band. The more the band sounds like one pure sound the better.

 

[fishyfishfish]

One of my best friends is a absolute killer guitar player, and his best tip/lesson for me a long time ago was to practice loud. Not over the top, not Spinal Tap, but loud enough to hear what your rig and hands are doing. Bedroom stuff is what most of use/ can do, but when your amp is up, you can hear all the little quirks in your playing. Wrong notes stand out more, pedals that you thought were dead quiet sound like little white noise generators, fast scale runs are laid out in the open sound like pig farts when not properly muted, It's a whole nuther realm. Also learn how to play without effects and lots of distortion. The power supply went down on my pedal board and I had to play with just a cord and an amp. Not the end of the world, but it showed me that I depend on stomp boxes for my sound than the amp and guitar.

 

[satisfied5582]

One of my best friends is a absolute killer guitar player, and his best tip/lesson for me a long time ago was to practice loud. Not over the top, not Spinal Tap, but loud enough to hear what your rig and hands are doing. Bedroom stuff is what most of use/ can do, but when your amp is up, you can hear all the little quirks in your playing. Wrong notes stand out more, pedals that you thought were dead quiet sound like little white noise generators, fast scale runs are laid out in the open sound like pig farts when not properly muted, It's a whole nuther realm. Also learn how to play without effects and lots of distortion. The power supply went down on my pedal board and I had to play with just a cord and an amp. Not the end of the world, but it showed me that I depend on stomp boxes for my sound than the amp and guitar.

i agree with this. i don't use stomp boxes or overdrives and i don't over do my gain and effects. this really helps.

 

[dayn]

tone comes from the soul, the fingers and the gear all in combination. I prefer low wattage tube amps with smooth sounding speakers for no ear fatigue.

 

[JW123]

Hey, youve either got it or you dont.

 

[mikey383]

having a drummer that does not have a heavy hand helps in not having to turn the amp up to scorching volumes.

+1

I've noticed in my new band that I don't have to turn up nearly as loud as my old band. I relate that to my drummer only having one leg, and trying to match his hands to his feet that don't hit as hard, so that his playing is a constant level. My last drummer beat the p!ss out of the drums, making me have to turn my amp up almost twice as loud as I have it now.