Why Are Most of Us Guitarist Always Chasing Tone?

[Greazygeo]

I've seen what we would all consider to be great players but with bad tone. But for me if a great player has bad tone I don't really consider him to be great. If he doesn't sound good then I don't want to listen. Listening to music is the reason to create it.
In and of itself, bad tone destroys the pleasure of listening to music. At least for me. That includes not only the guitar but all the instruments that may make up a track.
Anyway......

I guess I really don't understand this part. If the music is good and interesting that's what matters to me. I've never really listened to music for tones, unless it's something production / mix-wise.

Though it does kinda suck if an album has poor production.

K
It doesn't have to be everyones opinion. It's just mine. For me, tone is part of the overall package.

There are so many great players with great tone, so why should I settle for anything less? Especially with gear options these days. There's really no reason for a player to have bad tone, not if their technique is in order.

Dont get me wrong I like to hear good tone and playing. Its just not a deal breaker if they arent at the same time.

 

[Badronald]

I've seen what we would all consider to be great players but with bad tone. But for me if a great player has bad tone I don't really consider him to be great. If he doesn't sound good then I don't want to listen. Listening to music is the reason to create it.
In and of itself, bad tone destroys the pleasure of listening to music. At least for me. That includes not only the guitar but all the instruments that may make up a track.
Anyway......

I guess I really don't understand this part. If the music is good and interesting that's what matters to me. I've never really listened to music for tones, unless it's something production / mix-wise.

Though it does kinda suck if an album has poor production.

K
It doesn't have to be everyones opinion. It's just mine. For me, tone is part of the overall package.

There are so many great players with great tone, so why should I settle for anything less? Especially with gear options these days. There's really no reason for a player to have bad tone, not if their technique is in order.

Dont get me wrong I like to hear good tone and playing. Its just not a deal breaker if they arent at the same time.

Oh I agree with you also. There are some tunes that are so great that the sound and production have to be overlooked.

 

[sparkle**]

the worst part is you probably dial in just about the same "tone" or sound on every amp...
So no matter what you play Or PAY you eventually sound like you....

 

[LP Freak]

the worst part is you probably dial in just about the same "tone" or sound on every amp...
So no matter what you play Or PAY you eventually sound like you....

This is true.^

 

[guitarmike]

the worst part is you probably dial in just about the same "tone" or sound on every amp...
So no matter what you play Or PAY you eventually sound like you....

This is true.^

True. However, using better equipment gets you there quicker and with less overall pain ($$$). A cranked superlead sounds great but it is totally unusable in most homes and clubs. A quality modded one gets you there at livable volume levels which helps you focus on playing better, not on taming a crazy loud amp. I can run my Jekyll and Hyde pedal into my G-Major and then into a EH Mag 44 into a 4x12 and sound like me but I fell better going through an amp.

If you are happy with your rig you play better regardless if you have 1 way or 20 to get your sound.

 

[Zachman]

the worst part is you probably dial in just about the same "tone" or sound on every amp...
So no matter what you play Or PAY you eventually sound like you....

This is true.^

True. However, using better equipment gets you there quicker and with less overall pain ($$$). A cranked superlead sounds great but it is totally unusable in most homes and clubs. A quality modded one gets you there at livable volume levels which helps you focus on playing better, not on taming a crazy loud amp. I can run my Jekyll and Hyde pedal into my G-Major and then into a EH Mag 44 into a 4x12 and sound like me but I fell better going through an amp.

If you are happy with your rig you play better regardless if you have 1 way or 20 to get your sound.

I like LOTS of different sounds, styles, textures etc... One sound that sounds like me, just doesn't cover it. Blues tones, Rock tones, Jazz/Fusion tones, R&B/Funk, etc... Straight ahead w/ all those mentioned, or w/ seasoning (effects, spatialization, etc...)

Mesa/Boogie (Various-- MKIII Coliseum, MKIV, MKI, Rectifier)
Fender (Various-- Twin, Super Reverb, Dual Showman Reverb, Bandmaster, Bassman, Deluxe, Champ)
Marshall (Various-- SLP, JMP, 2203, JTM45, JTM 45/100, 6100) OR Metropoulos, Cameron Atomica, CCV, Suhr PT100, Friedman, Fortin, Bray, Surreal, etc...
Vox (Various-- AC30, AC15, Super Beatle) or /13, Matchless, 65 Amps etc...
Dumble/Fuchs/Two Rock/Ceriatone etc...
Hiwatt, Wizard


Instead of trying to dial in the same sound/tones on tons of different amps (Which is an especially useful skill to possess, when dealing w/ rented backline gear)-- I use different amps for the sound/sounds that they are known for doing best, and utilizing them w/ the properly paired guitar and accessories to act as the canvas for my tone selection. That signature sound (separate from the stylistic thing that many discuss)

Tele, Strat, ES335, ES175, Gretch, Rickenbacker, Les Paul/Twin or VOX or Marshall, or Nylon String Spanish classical acoustic, Gibson J200 Jumbo steel string, etc... very different results

 

[Heritage Softail]

I never hear this conversation at the shooting range. I have a dozen guns. This is a strange musician thing.

Who really gives a fat fuck about how many amps or guitars someone else has. I don't even care if you play em. I do care if someone is easy to deal with and cool. If someone came off quizzing me about having a few amps and guitars, I would be pretty sure no jamming projects would happen with them.

 

['63-Strat]

I agree with lots that's been said.

For many, I do think it's because chasing something tangible like gear is much easier than practicing (and I mean REALLY practicing, not just noodling away on the same licks/songs you've been playing for 20 years). That said, nothing wrong with chasing gear as a hobby so long as you're not talking down to others thinking you're an expert when you can't play your way out of a paper bag. (I'm sure we all know people or forumites like that)

The main problem with chasing tones if you're just playing by yourself at home is that you're never hearing things in a mix. TONS of tones on record that sound PERFECT in the mix would not be desirable tones to many on these boards if they heard them on their own. Posting those tones as clips on here, people would probably complain about things like them not being smooth enough etc. or too middy etc, not enough bottom end, etc. Guitar isn't like piano where it is a full frequency instrument, and it sounds like shit in a mix if you try to make it that way. They way the guitar sounds in a good mix is supported by the kick and bass filling in the low end and the cymbals filling in the high end. Not to mention the HUGE effect the signal chain in recording plays. Great mics into great mic pre's and compressors into a great console? Not to mention the EQing/compression/verb/delay etc. in mixing and mastering. You're just not going to get that out of a single amp, period. And even if you COULD, that would sound like crap in a live mix too. So while it can be fun to chase tones if you're playing by yourself I think the reason so many end up flipping gear all the time is that this pursuit is ultimately *never* going to work precisely because guitar is an ensemble instrument.

I am *very* happy with all my gear. If I had to stick with what I had for the rest of my life I'd still be stoked. That said, I often end up using other gear as the situation demands. Backline cabs that suck, or worse yet, backline amps that suck etc. But as long as we're talking a decent tube amp (or even modellers honestly, I could easily play a gig with the flextone III combos we use at the school I work for if necessary) I can dial in something that will sound good. I agree that really BAD tone (ie piercingly bright tones, super scooped buzzy tones with way too much gain etc. and/or unwanted feedback) can ruin a performance. But that's generally operator error. You can dial in "good enough" tones on an awful lot of different amps IMO.

The audience actually can tell whether something sounds better or worse in my experience but what they really notice and what actually counts is how "professional" a band sounds. Meaning is the singer good? Can they hear everything clearly in the mix? Can they hear the solos? Having a good overall band mix is so much more important than anyone's individual tone unless the guitar tone is so distractingly horrible that it's ruining the mix.

Of course I get that when something doesn't "feel" right you're not going to play your best. But the more experienced guys I know tend to be able to sound good and like themselves through just about any rig and I think there's definitely something to be said very being able to make that work. I would typically prefer to play my full bogner rig. But sometimes that's not practical, and I love doing solo acoustic gigs because of how little gear I need to bring too. An overdrive, wah, delay and tuner and I can probably get by with any rig, often wouldn't even need all of that. I just realized I can have two footswitchable overdrive volumes on my little rivera era fender super champ. I could easily gig with just that and a guitar and I'm sure I will lol.

I mean I do think there's a minimum level of gear that's necessary, too. Little solid state marshall mg practice combos? Eh, no thanks though I'm sure even they could be made to work. But past a certain point we're talking different, not necessarily "better."

 

[Zachman]

I agree with lots that's been said.

For many, I do think it's because chasing something tangible like gear is much easier than practicing (and I mean REALLY practicing, not just noodling away on the same licks/songs you've been playing for 20 years). That said, nothing wrong with chasing gear as a hobby so long as you're not talking down to others thinking you're an expert when you can't play your way out of a paper bag. (I'm sure we all know people or forumites like that)

The main problem with chasing tones if you're just playing by yourself at home is that you're never hearing things in a mix. TONS of tones on record that sound PERFECT in the mix would not be desirable tones to many on these boards if they heard them on their own. Posting those tones as clips on here, people would probably complain about things like them not being smooth enough etc. or too middy etc, not enough bottom end, etc. Guitar isn't like piano where it is a full frequency instrument, and it sounds like shit in a mix if you try to make it that way. They way the guitar sounds in a good mix is supported by the kick and bass filling in the low end and the cymbals filling in the high end. Not to mention the HUGE effect the signal chain in recording plays. Great mics into great mic pre's and compressors into a great console? Not to mention the EQing/compression/verb/delay etc. in mixing and mastering. You're just not going to get that out of a single amp, period. And even if you COULD, that would sound like crap in a live mix too. So while it can be fun to chase tones if you're playing by yourself I think the reason so many end up flipping gear all the time is that this pursuit is ultimately *never* going to work precisely because guitar is an ensemble instrument.

I am *very* happy with all my gear. If I had to stick with what I had for the rest of my life I'd still be stoked. That said, I often end up using other gear as the situation demands. Backline cabs that suck, or worse yet, backline amps that suck etc. But as long as we're talking a decent tube amp (or even modellers honestly, I could easily play a gig with the flextone III combos we use at the school I work for if necessary) I can dial in something that will sound good. I agree that really BAD tone (ie piercingly bright tones, super scooped buzzy tones with way too much gain etc. and/or unwanted feedback) can ruin a performance. But that's generally operator error. You can dial in "good enough" tones on an awful lot of different amps IMO.

The audience actually can tell whether something sounds better or worse in my experience but what they really notice and what actually counts is how "professional" a band sounds. Meaning is the singer good? Can they hear everything clearly in the mix? Can they hear the solos? Having a good overall band mix is so much more important than anyone's individual tone unless the guitar tone is so distractingly horrible that it's ruining the mix.

Of course I get that when something doesn't "feel" right you're not going to play your best. But the more experienced guys I know tend to be able to sound good and like themselves through just about any rig and I think there's definitely something to be said very being able to make that work. I would typically prefer to play my full bogner rig. But sometimes that's not practical, and I love doing solo acoustic gigs because of how little gear I need to bring too. An overdrive, wah, delay and tuner and I can probably get by with any rig, often wouldn't even need all of that. I just realized I can have two footswitchable overdrive volumes on my little rivera era fender super champ. I could easily gig with just that and a guitar and I'm sure I will lol.

I mean I do think there's a minimum level of gear that's necessary, too. Little solid state marshall mg practice combos? Eh, no thanks though I'm sure even they could be made to work. But past a certain point we're talking different, not necessarily "better."

Well put