who can tell me about getting good tone?

Alright, so I've been playing mainly acoustic music for quite a while now, but I want to start playing electric. It seems all the great players have their own unique tone. Is this just from the guitar/amp combonation or is there more to it than this? I assume there is.

 

what type of music do you play

 

Well, I hate the idea of classifications,genres,sterotypes,ect. but, I guess you could say jamband. I don't know, it's real folkrock based with funk,reggae,jazz,bluegrass,blues,and classic rock influences mixed in.

 

just like ever other band

 

Beside the guitar/amp combination, there are stompboxes and of course your own fingeres and how you use them is very important.

 

There are tones of gadgets out there that will give you the fuzz, or what ever sonic thing you want. But the most important conduit of tone will lie in your own two hands.

You can get the same EQ as any other player out there, but only Jeff Beck sounds like Jeff Beck....

 

Your fingers and hands make up 90 perecent of your tone... though, I feel amplifiers play a larger part than the guitar itself.

ie: Notice that, to most people, no matter what stevie ray vaughan played, he still sounded like himself... even on a National reso., playing slide, any strat, and on his Guild 12 string... but I can tell since I analyze it so much... though, the only time I notice a difference is when he isn't playing Number One... other than that, the only other guitar that's unique enough to listen for without seeing was Lenny... since it didn't have the rosewood fretboard.

Either way, I feel the Fender Strat is the most adaptable, easily repairable, and indestructable guitar there is, for the money... though, if you do buy one, I advise you to either buy a new one and make sure if it's a Mexican (MIM) it has an Alder body... or buy a pre-2000 MIM, just to be safe. Brighter tone = Maple neck/Maple fretboard, Darker = Maple with Rosewood/pao ferro slab fretboard... You should also figure out a budget...

You may be happier with something else, but after owning telecasters, a les paul, and a couple strats, I have to say that they're probably your best deal. Though, '83 or earlier japanese Tokai strats (the loverocks are nice too), are good deals from the Asian market, as well as Agile... a lot of people go with the Japanese strats, as their reputation is just as good or better built than the USA models and the prices were lower, especially during the dark ages of CBS in the 80s with USA Fenders...

 

okay for tone. first off of course your guitar and amp will make a difference. and also if you're playing with or without distortion this will be completely different. but as the others have said it's mostly in your fingers man. you have to try to squeeze every note for everything it's got. don't feel satified with just having a note simply come out of your guitar, you gotta put some love into it all man!

 

your tone is influenced by lots of variables from what kind of pickups are in your guitar what kinda amps your usin. Basically get your gear and find a tone that is pleasing to you. If there's someone you want to sound like find out what gear they use.

 

It's all personal preference... I like Bluesbreaker Combos and strats the most, but alas, I can't afford a Marshall Bluesbreaker, so I just use the setting on my Cyber-Twin.. I don't have to run any effects on it because it has enough overdrive itself.

 

all guitarists really have their own sound. If you look at like Hendrix, Page, pete townshend, zakk wylde, randy rhoads, tony iommi, dave mustaine, and the doors guitarist (forgot his name), they all have their own sound.

 

the best tones are just choosing the guitars and effects you want til it sounds right.
i don't have a constant tone. distortion pedals i don't use so much - i just crank up the volume and hit the strings harder - i'm a classical guitarist mainly, so i have my ways of making things sound lighter/heavier. i use different guitars for different tones also

 

String guage can be another issue.. I like .011s, .012s, and .013s...

 

Absolutely right....although it is always difficult to believe for younger/newer players, who are often convinced effects are the main way to a quality tone. Your style you WILL develop overtime, so stick with it, and do not slavishly copy others. By all means learn the licks and tricks of the masters, past and present, and be inspired, but play YOUR way.:sunglasse

Having played for a frightening number of years, I now rarely - if ever - use efects pedals. I like the pure, clean signal from the P-up to the Amplifier. I use one of the best, pound for pound, hot rod, valve amps ever made; the 1982 Fender Super Champ, designed by Riviera. It can wipe the smile off players faces who have much bigger and newer combos, when they hear what comes out of that small combo.

My guitar - again after years of trying many types - is a 1965 Fender Stratocaster. It is one of the most confortable, versatile guitars to play.

It is also worth mentioning that, ultimately, the style of music you eventually find yourself playing most of, and enjoying the most, will affect your 'tone'. I have had my stint with rock, and now - probably 'cos I am a old fart - play Rockabilly and Blues. I envy you your voyage of self-discovery, and all the experimentation and good times that will involve. Have fun.

 

Effects only cover up your playing... kinda dapens your playing... I only use Wah-wahs and an Ibanez TS-808 when it comes to electric... acoustic, I don't use a pre-amp or anything... goes directly into the amp/P.A.... I currently have two amps. A Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue I got for a steal since I know the owner of the shop well. I use it for my Martin... I also have a Cyber-Twin and I mostly use the Blues Combo on that... (think Marshall Bluesbreaker). I mostly play blues stuff... Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, Clapton, Robert Cray and rockabillyish stuff like Jimmie Vaughan. I also do jazz occasionally... Other than that, I do a lot of folk and folk-rock... anything from Neil Young, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, etc... I do some hendrix-ish stuff as well... Castles Made Of Sand... Little Wing... Hey Joe... etc... I really haven't found anything more versatile than a strat, even though I do own a les paul for when I need to kick it up a notch. I have a Guild 12 string... I like playing a lot of Keller Williams kinda things. I like Tommy Emmanuel, Doyle Dykes, Leo Kottke, etc stuff... as well.

 

Pickups and the kind of and gauge strings you use are all important in tone. That's all up to you, so you can use the kind you like.
The doors guitarist is robby krieger