Guitar Sound
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Sound is such a subjective thing. What appeals to me may not appeal to you; but music is like that anyway isn't it? Nevertheless, there are some common preferences among musicians with regard to sound, and some steps one can take in finding how to get a ‘good sound'. Here are some suggestions:
• Inexpensive can be good, but don't buy lower-end junk. Whether it's the guitar, the amp, or effects we're talking about, it's just not worth ‘saving' a few hundred bucks, if you get an unsatisfying piece of equipment as a result. You won't be saving anything. Instead you'll be wasting a whole lot more.
• Change guitar strings regularly. Strings lose their tone quite quickly, and rust can destroy your strings after just a few hours of playing, especially if you don't wash your hands before you play! New strings will last me for two services on Sunday, and then a rehearsal during the week. By then the strings are no good. To economize, I might use them for another service or rehearsal. ( I know – it's disgusting!) Obviously not everyone will be willing to spend that much, but to me it's necessary to enjoy playing. But change strings often, and get it right here – at the very source of your sound.
• Be sure to ‘set-up' your guitar and amp before you play. Check the settings for volume and EQ (i.e. Bass, Middle, Treble.) on the amp. As a guide, set everything on 5 and adjust from there. Be sure to start with a clean sound, and with all effects switched OFF. Does the amp have channel switching? Using one of them for distortion? Set the levels for both channels. Most good amps will have a separate EQ for each channel. After setting the clean sound, add the distortion and check your set-up again. Too loud? Fix it! Too muddy? Add a little treble, or reduce the distortion, or whatever. Too sharp? Afraid you'll slice the head off that brother in the front row? Roll the treble off a bit! Etc.
• Know your guitar! Make sure you know the different sounds of your pick-ups, and their various combinations. Select pick-ups/sounds suitable for what you are playing; e.g. maybe clean and warm for a worshipful melody, or maybe use the sustain and singing quality of a mild distortion instead. Clean and trebly for a funky type of rhythm, etc. Also select the right pick-up for the distortion sound you're looking for. For clean sounds I prefer to set my guitar volume to maximum for optimum sound. The volume can be adjusted at the amp, and I just find the tone better with the pick-ups wide open on 10. Yet with distortion I like to use the guitar's volume control to fine tune the amount of distortion.
• Don't overdo the effects! Many people love to use gadgets and gizmos; everything from Distortion, Chorus, Delay, and Multi-effect units, to sea-sickness-inducing Vibratos and Flangers! And dreadful, inappropriate combinations of the above!! Far from improving their sound, these ‘stomp boxes', especially the cheaper ones, make them sound like they're either under water, deep in quicksand, or extremely sick and about to die! The natural sound of the guitar is completely lost. Get a good clean, un-effected sound first! Then add any necessary chorus, reverb, etc. Remember, a good sound comes from a good basic set-up, and your own hands, heart, and mind – not from effects!
• If you do use pedals, or even rack-type effects, check the settings on these too. Most effect devices have controls for ‘Volume', and some even for ‘Tone'. However, they might be disguised with a sonically cooler name. For example, the term ‘Volume' might be redundant in terms of some effects like distortion. The device may instead say ‘Level'. Some effects might even say ‘Gain' and refer to the volume level. Adjust these funny little knobs, so that when you ‘stomp' you won't be starting the Great Tribulation! Listen to how they affect your tone and then compensate. Best bet? Keep it simple.
• Buy good quality, noise-free leads and cables.
• Don't eat too much.
Take time to figure things out. It will be much easier to get a good sound once you know your equipment, and have become accustomed to using it properly. You'll be plugging in and getting a good sound quicker than you can say “Teh tarik, kurang manis”! May God bless your musical endeavours!
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© 2004 Bernard McDonagh
Email : author@gsus.biz
http://www.gsus.biz
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