cukaracha Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 I was just wondering what are the real factors that affect tone. For instance, a pieced-together guitar vs a factory made one, assuming everything down to the screws are the same. Technically if the body is made of the same material, then there shouldn't be much difference in tone right? Or how about a Ibanez GRG that has modded pickups and hardware to match a similar RG. Would these sounds close to each other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 This generally sparks an interesting debate. Where's the popcorn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Every tree sounds different. That short answer is yes if you build a guitar to factory specs then they are gonna sound very close. When you start swaping things out its gonna sound differnt. Now the questio. Is how close and how different are they gonna be. If you swap out a trem for a hard tail bridge your gonna notice quite a bit of difference but say a set of locking tuners probably won't do much. Wood tone is tricky I will say different woods do effect tone but you can sub some woods without changing much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Just don't use brass screws...those things will kill your tone.I also don't like plastic inlay dots because they make me play funny. And whatever you do make sure you have the wood blessed by a priest...bad spirits can invade your guitar and then it will only play Silverchair...and one band playing Silverchair is enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Workingman Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Just don't use brass screws...those things will kill your tone.I also don't like plastic inlay dots because they make me play funny. And whatever you do make sure you have the wood blessed by a priest...bad spirits can invade your guitar and then it will only play Silverchair...and one band playing Silverchair is enough. But remember that you have to have the right kind of priest for the music you are playing. If you use the wrong priest all you solos will come off like the do re mi song from the sounds of music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripthorn Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Just don't use brass screws...those things will kill your tone.I also don't like plastic inlay dots because they make me play funny. And whatever you do make sure you have the wood blessed by a priest...bad spirits can invade your guitar and then it will only play Silverchair...and one band playing Silverchair is enough. But remember that you have to have the right kind of priest for the music you are playing. If you use the wrong priest all you solos will come off like the do re mi song from the sounds of music. This is true, unless it is blessed by Judas Priest, then it will rock, but only after midnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Os Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 It goes ever further beyond the 'tree' tree rule. Two boards cut from the same area of a tree can even sound different. Density... Q... Moisture... Hardness... Grain orientation... it just depends upon how 'micro' you wanna get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 This is true, unless it is blessed by Judas Priest, then it will rock, but only after midnight. And there will be no life to the sound 'til you are wearing leather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 if he gets it blessed on any day but Sunday, he'll be breakin the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 cukaracha, Let me help you out. You're not getting many straight answers because this is a topic that gets covered often. Try searching the forums for "wood tone." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 I was just wondering what are the real factors that affect tone. For instance, a pieced-together guitar vs a factory made one, assuming everything down to the screws are the same. Technically if the body is made of the same material, then there shouldn't be much difference in tone right? Or how about a Ibanez GRG that has modded pickups and hardware to match a similar RG. Would these sounds close to each other? It's easier to figure out the things that don't affect tone from the smallest item upwards. Start at the pickup selector switch cap and work backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cukaracha Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I'm sure there are many many 'micro' factors that affect tone, but how many of these subtle nuances can actually pass a blind test? I read the basswoods of different grades produce different tones. But since wood grades are generally determined by their color and grain (correct me if I'm wrong), how accurate a gauge is this? Kinda like racism, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I'm sure there are many many 'micro' factors that affect tone, but how many of these subtle nuances can actually pass a blind test? I read the basswoods of different grades produce different tones. But since wood grades are generally determined by their color and grain (correct me if I'm wrong), how accurate a gauge is this? Kinda like racism, no? It's tough to say. I think it depends on whose ears are listening. But I would say that most guitarists couldn't tell the difference between, Basswood, Alder, Mahogany, and Rosewood...at least in terms of sound. Did you ever see the movie, "The Red Violin?" There's a scene where they have violinists play a bunch of old violins, and while the artists are all quite sure they're correct, they're almost always wrong. It plays out in real life with guitars too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cukaracha Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I was just thinking, do luthite bodies age at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 The tone conversation usually goes like this: OP: What is tonewood then? First poster brings something about wood type and other things based on years of experience of good wood and historical examples. Second poster brings science to the table and quantifies things that are verifiable and repeatable based on observation. Third poster crosses his chest and talks about voodoo for ages whilst vacillating between whether it is real or not and that you just have to take it on faith. First poster laughs this all off amiably and moves gently back and forth on the rocking chair, secretly laughing at the debate. Third poster points out that Jimi's guitars were all imbued with some strange moonbeam powered harmonic spackulators. Moderators simultaneously doe facepalms. Second poster asks for citations. Fourth poster jumps in and says "nice 1, ROFLLOLARSE" adding nothing to the conversation. Third poster pours more fuel on the fire with anecdotes and circumstantial "evidence". First poster grumbles something about running out of whisky and buggers off back into the house. All conversations about guitar tone are merely variations on this theme. Always have and always will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I was just thinking, do luthite bodies age at all? Probably more than me.. But less than your average Redwood tree... Much more so than Dogs or Hogs, and way way more than three Tree Frogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I was just thinking, do luthite bodies age at all? Probably more than me.. But less than your average Redwood tree... Much more so than Dogs or Hogs, and way way more than three Tree Frogs ****played with a Bo Diddly beat***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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