Dead Tone

[Rich Cohen]

You know, it's occurred to me, and probably to many others, that we often complain about how one guitar sounds against another, and it usually has to do with the tone and the voice, and the power of the sound. Sometimes we remark that the higher end guitar is lacking. Well, let me suggest that sometimes it has to do with the way you attack the strings. In other words, if you don't attack the stings in exactly the same way between the two or three or more guitars that you're trying, you don't give them a chance to respond and defend themselves against your critical senses. For what it's worth....

 

[GGJaguar]

I think there's always some bias with the way I play each model. And I'm sure it's subconscious, but there.

 

[Westerly Wood]

...all acoustics I play wihtOUT a 2.0 mm pick sound lame...

 

[dougdnh]

I may be crazy, but it seems to me that the weather - humid vs dry, etc can affect tone, even on an electric through an amp.

 

[Stuball48]

Type clothing you wear and how much pressure you "hug" guitar with.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Wow, Stuball, that's an interesting take on the question!

 

[DThomasC]

Seems to me, guitars need to be played differently to bring out the best in each.

They're just different. Nothing wrong with that and nothing wrong with feeling differently about them and even treating them differently. Guitars are people too you know.

 

[mike1100]

Oops......wrong thread.

 

[ruedi]

They even response differently depending if you're wearing a moustache or not

Now seriosly: I second the thought that all guitars are different and thus I treat them differently to get the best out of each one. Each single guitar has it's own strengths and sweet spots and wants to be played in a specific manner.

Oh, and the accoustics of the room you play in has a huuuge impact on your tone, even with electrics.

 

[F312]

It's all in the hands of the hands at hand.

Ralph

 

[crank]

Like Mike.... I was thinking Jerry Garcia tone. Which can be quite different depending on the era and rig.

carry on.

 

[gjmalcyon]

And with some (but not all) there is difference between how they sound fresh out of the case (comparatively tight and muffled) versus how they are if they're out on a stand for a couple of days and played frequently.

 

[Rich Cohen]

They even response differently depending if you're wearing a moustache or not

Now seriosly: I second the thought that all guitars are different and thus I treat them differently to get the best out of each one. Each single guitar has it's own strengths and sweet spots and wants to be played in a specific manner.

Oh, and the accoustics of the room you play in has a huuuge impact on your tone, even with electrics.

The room factor is definitely there. While in India, living in basically an all cement structured house, including interior walls, the surround sound I heard from my guitar was sooooo good. Back here with all that dry wall and false ceilings and carpets, the guitar sound practically stays inside of the guitar and struggles to emerge.

 

[Guildedagain]

The strings and the attack and the room, until you go outside, sitting on the ground in the sun, wide open sky with birds chirping, it's "roomier". Can your guitar keep up? Of course, it's all in what we do with it.

Some of the worst pieces of junk you've ever held might have actually been the finest you've ever sounded on a guitar, because you knew that's all you had to work with, and you dug deep and made it work, make it sing. Each guitar has a unique voice, find it, use it, take advantage of it.

Nothin' wrong with a little struggle when it comes to art.

 

[chazmo]

The room factor is definitely there. While in India, living in basically an all cement structured house, including interior walls, the surround sound I heard from my guitar was sooooo good. Back here with all that dry wall and false ceilings and carpets, the guitar sound practically stays inside of the guitar and struggles to emerge.

In college, I used to play my guitar in the dorm stairway. Definitely an echo chamber.

In any case, Rich, try a string change. I don't know if you did that, but it could make a (big) difference.

 

[GGJaguar]

Each guitar has a unique voice, find it, use it, take advantage of it.

Yes, this!! Exactly!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

In college, I used to play my guitar in the dorm stairway. Definitely an echo chamber.

This isn't you by any chance is it?