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.

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.

Introduction

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

Strings are an underrated component in the search for tone.

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.

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.

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:

Following on from the gifts for rock or blues guitarists, here are some general present and gift ideas for guitarists. With some of the presents, you may have to figure out if they play an acoustic or electric guitar, most of these are best for electric guitars.

Following on from the Best Guitar Equipment article featuring the top-of-the-range in guitars, amplifiers and accessories, this article takes that concept a step further and showcases some of the guitars and amplifiers even further up the scale. I guess some of these fall more into the category of collectibles rather than instruments and it's a shame that many will not be played to their full.

This showcases the top-of-the-range in guitars, amplifiers and some accessories including effects and even straps. Some equipment has reached legendary status to the point that nothing else will suffice. It's that equipment that I started this list with, e.g. a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, especially 57 or 56 reissue. That's how the list started, then it grew into a list of guitars, amps and accessories that show the strengths of each manufacturer.

I've been playing a Gibson Les Paul Standard as my main guitar for about 6 years now. For years before that, I'd always leant towards stratocaster-type guitars (in fact, my guitar was an Eggle LA Pro rather than a Fender). I found myself getting into playing heavier music and having to play through overdrive and hi-gain sounds on a more frequent basis. A strat of any type wasn't going to fit the bill, so I went looking for an additional guitar.