Search for Tone

Introduction

I'm a fan of small, low-power guitar amplifiers for nailing the tone you want at the volume that your neighbours will condone. I know a lot of people give the cheaper models a hard time, expecting top-end boutique tone out of a cheap Epiphone valve junior hot rod. Well that's not going to happen. There's a point to small amps and this new model, the Kustom The Defender 5W Class A Guitar Amp Head Black may have just found a nice niche. Read more »

Introduction

This is the second article in the Elements of Tone series following on from the first article: Elements of Tone 1: Strings.

In this article, I'll discuss the difference that picks can make to your guitar tone. Read more »

I've had a poll on this site since I started it:

Which is the more important feature of a guitar; tone or playability?

So far, roughly 80% of voters sided with tone and that's also my answer as well. I can do more with a guitar with great tone and awkward neck or body than I can do with an easily playable guitar with awful tone.

However in the last couple of weeks, I've come closer than ever to saying playability is more important. Read more »

Introduction

This is the first article in the Elements of Tone series.

Strings are an underrated component in the search for tone.

The right age

Old strings sound dull. The more distinctive the treble of the guitar (e.g. from a telecaster, stratocaster), then the bigger the difference the age of the strings will make. If you want to hear that clang of the strings against the frets that's so familiar from a stratocaster, then you need new strings. Even on rockier guitars, the strings will make a difference. Read more »

Yet another addition to the small, low-power valve amplifiers. I like the idea of the Bugera V5's power attenuator as I know that 5W is still too loud to crank up in your house if you want to maintain relationships with your neighbours. 1W is a good amount of power and I'm not really sure about 0.1W. Only one way to find out, I need to go and find one of these to try. Read more »

More Detail on the kit involved

Some more detail on the components mentioned in DIY Guitar Spec and following on from deciding to build my own guitar. Read more »

Background

I've mentioned before about wanting to build my own guitar. This is my current specification. I'll update it as I build the guitar and I've no doubts that it will change as I start to draft it out.

If you've got any thoughts about what I'm trying to build, let us all know in the comment below. Read more »

I know this isn't about tone, but having a well-tuned guitar is incredibly important. I've played with enough guitarists with out-of-tune guitars and it's scary how many of them couldn't tell. I think a lot of it has to do with placing so many effects in the signal chain that they can't identify the original sound. First thing I've always suggested to them is to get a good chromatic tuner, at least a Boss TU-3. Read more »

I know the tone and feel of the guitars I regularly play and I've noticed a gap. I know what tones I'm looking for and I can't find a production or boutique model guitar with those tones. I don't want to alter the guitars I already have, I'm happy with them as they are and I really don't like the idea of devaluing them with a modification. So I'm left with a few options: Read more »