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The Musician Forums => Guitar Central => Topic started by: Al Nico Five on July 05, 2012, 09:37:57 PM
Title: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Al Nico Five on July 05, 2012, 09:37:57 PM
well is it, or is the primary sound from the guitar?
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: pualux on July 05, 2012, 09:43:51 PM
:x
hehe
50 50
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: TKTS on July 05, 2012, 09:48:17 PM
I disagree with paulux. Para sakin.. Much of what you hear from an electric guitar/amp combo is the amp. A mediocre guitar can sound spectacular through a great amp. A great guitar will absolutely sound bad through a bad amp. Just my 2 cents
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: alvinratsim on July 05, 2012, 09:54:04 PM
I disagree with paulux. Para sakin.. Much of what you hear from an electric guitar/amp combo is the amp. A mediocre guitar can sound spectacular through a great amp. A great guitar will absolutely sound bad through a bad amp. Just my 2 cents
This. More than 2 cents
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: teleclem on July 05, 2012, 10:02:41 PM
Think about it. A nice guitar through a crappy amp would most probably lose out to a crappy guitar through a really nice amp.
It's definitely not 50/50 for me (in favor of the amp).
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: lolwat on July 05, 2012, 10:13:14 PM
2 cents ko rin.
Especially during overdrive, most of the timbre produced is from the amplifier, with the guitar's played notes serving only as a sort of "stencil" and guide as to how the amp will make a sound. As far as this info is concerned, the amp can also be rightfully considered a musical instrument in its own right. :)
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: inigo on July 05, 2012, 10:23:54 PM
Amp. Case in point: Jack White's opening scene in It Might Get Loud.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: cayle on July 05, 2012, 10:28:53 PM
It's not 50/50. It's a right combination of the two, but not a 50/50 ratio. The amp really contributes a lot to the sound.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: mojoefly on July 05, 2012, 10:40:45 PM
After playing around the entire country many times over, using every type of amp in every scenario, I can tell you, the amp is mainly responsible for producing a good to great to the best tone possible. My main axe is my fender Am deluxe strat with lr baggs. My guitar has sounded cheaper then the lowest of the low end brands through some amps I played through. Imagine playing a FLAC track through speakers used by pedicabs in Divi? hehe.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: pualux on July 05, 2012, 11:19:03 PM
the choice of what guitar you use is important in my opinion...kaya 50/50
seriously do you see paul gilbert with a jazz box?
do you see steve vai seriously playing a les paul?
if we didn't care for guitars then hell let's play death metal with laptsteel guitars
*******
I think I'm just viewing this from another paradigm....
from what I gather from your statements, brand pinaguusapan niyo...
I'm referring to the kind of guitar not the quality or brand....
******** ending note: 50/50 pa din
take away the amp the guitar won't be heard
take away the guitar the amp will remain silent
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Al Nico Five on July 05, 2012, 11:40:00 PM
let's add another angle to the discussion.
which is easier/more difficult: to get a classic Vox tone from a Fender or to coax a Les Paul tone from a Telecaster?
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: mojoefly on July 05, 2012, 11:59:37 PM
well is it, or is the primary sound from the guitar?
for electric guitar tone, it's more amp-dependent. for acoustic guitar tone, more guitar-dependent. simple reason is that electric guitar tone is not just about the wood. it's a summation of everything. unlike acoustic guitar tone, it's really all about the wood.
acoustic guitar amplifiers are geared towards projecting the unamplified sound of the acoustic. the more natural they sound, the better.
electric guitar amps, on the other hand, have their own unique character. Fender, Vox, Marshall, etc. - each will have a distinct sound.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: pualux on July 06, 2012, 12:23:30 AM
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: kernelsalonpas on July 06, 2012, 02:20:57 AM
more of the amp. which is why i always look into amps more than guitars nowadays. :)
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: gandydancer123 on July 06, 2012, 02:59:00 AM
Quote
A mediocre guitar can sound spectacular through a great amp. A great guitar will absolutely sound bad through a bad amp.
this one sums it for me...but a cool looking,oozing with attitude geetur would greatly help...after all its all just electrical signals coming from your guitar...so the amplifier "renders" those electrical signals for you producing that rich, full, beautiful sound... :-P :cute: siguro its more 60 amp/40 guitar..in my opinion
which is easier/more difficult: to get a classic Vox tone from a Fender or to coax a Les Paul tone from a Telecaster?
With the amount of signal processors made available since the emergence of the first stompboxes, one can now coax, at the very least, useable Fender, Vox, Marshall or even Boogie tones from an amp from a different brand through specially-voiced pedals, or modify the tonality of pickups to a certain extent in order to mimic the sound of other pickups, again through special stompboxes. However, unless your specific amp/guitar has such functions built-in, it would be unreasonable to expect them to sound like something they are not.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: MrGobots on July 06, 2012, 04:27:25 AM
50% your OWN... tone meaning the way you play, the tone in your head, the way you dial in to get that tone in your head, and your overall technique
25% guitar... guitar translates your tone into a signal, how your original tone goes to the amp depends on how the guitar "interprets" this.
25% chain and amps... this determines how you hear the other 75%. how not what.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: teleclem on July 06, 2012, 04:54:00 AM
I certainly wasn't implying that the guitar didn't matter (nor did the others, I think).
yeah haha forget what I said, I overreacted lol
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: stringman on July 06, 2012, 06:15:21 AM
The reason why guitar players cuss about the venues amp.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: brandey on July 06, 2012, 08:15:46 AM
For me, the guitar is more important. Im more of a strat guy. As long as i can get my hands on any strat type axe (hss or sss) i could nail my basic tone on any amp or any fx pedals.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: vitek on July 06, 2012, 08:42:28 AM
My vote goes to Amp especially high end amps :-D
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: maxi_musikero on July 06, 2012, 08:52:03 AM
This gave more weight on a tube amp purchase for me. :eek:
i found myself on the same road before. i chose the tube amp over the semi-hollow. no regrets. :-D
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: ryechua on July 06, 2012, 02:32:12 PM
i'd like to say both but unfortunately, i agree it's the amp. in audio reproduction, the last stage plays the most important part. sabi nga nung iba, maganda nga ang source mo pero supot naman ang tunog ng amp, balewala rin. this is taking style and technique out of the equation - purely based on sound amplification/reproduction.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: kernelsalonpas on July 06, 2012, 03:18:39 PM
so if most of us agree on the amp, why are there more guitars being bought and sold than amps? just a question :)
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: rowley75 on July 06, 2012, 03:31:23 PM
so if most of us agree on the amp, why are there more guitars being bought and sold than amps? just a question :)
guitar GAS is stronger than amp GAS? at least for me. lol. imo, you can get a good clean, low gain and high gain sound from one amp but you can't get the feel of a shred guitar from a 50's neck lp, a quack of a strat from a lp, a twang of a tele from a rg. anyways, each of his own opinion.
btw, my question for you naman....
nasa pinas ka na? hahahaha! masyadong late tone party bukas. 9pm....:( hindi ba pwede 1pm nalang? :cry:
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: nepenthe on July 06, 2012, 03:38:42 PM
guitar GAS is stronger than amp GAS? at least for me. lol. imo, you can get a good clean, low gain and high gain sound from one amp but you can't get the feel of a shred guitar from a 50's neck lp, a quack of a strat from a lp, a twang of a tele from a rg. anyways, each of his own opinion.
btw, my question for you naman....
nasa pinas ka na? hahahaha! masyadong late tone party bukas. 9pm....:( hindi ba pwede 1pm nalang? :cry:
may curfew ka tol? :-D
BTT: amps.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: rowley75 on July 06, 2012, 03:41:14 PM
wala pero maaga kasi lakad ko sa sunday e. hahaha! knowing pete and mark. hanggang madaling araw yan. hahaha!
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: MrGobots on July 06, 2012, 03:50:03 PM
If its the amp then why can we still appreciate good guitar tones on youtube?
I know you dont get to hear and experience the actual tone, but why can we still a good approximation through varied computer speakers on sound clips, youtube, etc?
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: nepenthe on July 06, 2012, 03:53:10 PM
If its the amp then why can we still appreciate good guitar tones on youtube?
I know you dont get to hear and experience the actual tone, but why can we still a good approximation through varied computer speakers on sound clips, youtube, etc?
I found this thought similar to FM55's point in a thread not long ago, I wasn't able to recall the exact answer to this though (no, im not FM's minion)
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Skybox on July 06, 2012, 04:35:20 PM
I agree (for now) that the amp contributes more to the tone than the guitar.
The question in my head right now though is, in a gig with 12 bands playing, why do some guitarists sound better than others even though they're playing through the same crappy amps..
Can a great sounding guitar make a cheap amp sound good?
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: rowley75 on July 06, 2012, 05:39:57 PM
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: kernelsalonpas on July 07, 2012, 01:51:00 AM
problem: no roadie. solution: hire one. :-P
problem: no muscles. solution: gym.
:-(
just messing around
seriously, so if amps have more impact, which gives us reason to buy em, but end up tired from bringing them (for practical reasons mentioned here), does it mean that the amp is not used to its true potential and may mean that buying amps is not worth it?
for me, i have a serious boner for amps more than guitars and would always balance my gas. 1 guitar : 1 amp at a time, or alternately. medyo matagal nga lang talaga bago makabili :oops:
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: plugzzzz on July 07, 2012, 07:38:57 AM
more on electronics(amp) specially kung your into heavy gain stuff di mapapansin yung guitar mo... pero kung you playing acoustic syempre more on guitar and talent...
why more guitar gas??.... kasi madaling makabili ng decent sounding amp kesa sa guitar na tyambahan yung makukuntento ka sa tunog....
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: teleclem on July 07, 2012, 09:07:22 AM
why more guitar gas??.... kasi madaling makabili ng decent sounding amp kesa sa guitar na tyambahan yung makukuntento ka sa tunog....
Interesting insight. I agree. Sa guitars, may added factors pa na kailangan tama yung feel, playability, and maybe even looks, on top of the sound.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Mapz182yo! on July 09, 2012, 01:06:35 PM
It's more on the amp bro, kc imagine mo gtara with emg pups and you run it through a js schindler amp hindi pure na pure ang lalabas na output compared to a more decent amp such as marshall, fender, mesa boogie etc.. :wave:
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: rowley75 on July 09, 2012, 01:42:47 PM
seriously, so if amps have more impact, which gives us reason to buy em, but end up tired from bringing them (for practical reasons mentioned here), does it mean that the amp is not used to its true potential and may mean that buying amps is not worth it?
for me, i have a serious boner for amps more than guitars and would always balance my gas. 1 guitar : 1 amp at a time, or alternately. medyo matagal nga lang talaga bago makabili :oops:
siya nga pala. bakit mas mahal ang mahal na gitara(i.e. 59 burst) kaysa sa mahal na amp(i.e dumble)? :eek:
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: kernelsalonpas on July 09, 2012, 01:55:15 PM
siya nga pala. bakit mas mahal ang mahal na gitara(i.e. 59 burst) kaysa sa mahal na amp(i.e dumble)? :eek:
baket? kasi mura lang ang budget para sa cheeseburger ni Howard Dumble. :lol:
hmm, good question... old wood? iconic? for the vintage strats nasa 25k naman ang starting nila so mas comparable to amps. yang 59 lang naman ang lumayo... :-\
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: rowley75 on July 09, 2012, 02:02:08 PM
baket? kasi mura lang ang budget para sa cheeseburger ni Howard Dumble. :lol:
hmm, good question... old wood? iconic? for the vintage strats nasa 25k naman ang starting nila so mas comparable to amps. yang 59 lang naman ang lumayo... :-\
yung broadcaster at nocaster din malayo. hahaha! may nakita akong '57 na strat nasa $60k din e.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: nathanmanansala on July 09, 2012, 02:10:20 PM
yung tunog sa nakikinig, yes.
yung sarap para sa tumutugtog, no, its the other way around.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Al Nico Five on August 01, 2012, 07:32:31 AM
TONE IS IN THE AMP. I swear and live by this. if only I realized earlier, then I wouldn't have spent so much on pedals =))
But pedals are fun! :lol:
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: firemodel55 on May 13, 2018, 06:08:28 AM
Let me try to answer this tough question:
Level 1: If you are after the correct timbre -- mainly its the amp and more likely the speaker cabinet qualities and speaker. After that, its your pickups and the design of your guitar in terms of construction, wood, hardware and strings.
Level 2: If you are after expressiveness -- mainly its the guitar specifically the unique marriage of distinct pieces of wood. After that, its enhanced by the responsive qualities of the amp and the speaker cabinet.
Level 3: Great expressive guitar and 'tonefully' touch sensitive amp with correct speaker combination. This is the ultimate set up. Unfortunately, very few get to this level. I would say in Manila only less than 10% get to level 1. At level 2, less than 5%. At level 3, thats me and a few others. :)
Honorable Mention: Pedals are indeed fun but detrimental to the whole sound. So, use sparingly in combination with your Level 3 set up. What I mean by sparingly is one or two pedals in front and one or two pedals in the FX loop (either modulation, delay or reverb) and make sure you can switch it out.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Ralph_Petrucci on May 15, 2018, 10:50:30 AM
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: pallas on May 15, 2018, 04:35:42 PM
I’ve owned EL84s for a long time and still do but when I got hold of an Orange Thunderverb and heard big KT88s and that bass response coupled with a great attenuator....awesome.
But this is just from a guy playing in his bedroom. No experience playing with big glass valves live.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: guitaricci on May 15, 2018, 05:49:06 PM
is it more about the amp than the guitar? based on what i've owned and what i've played....yes :)
But then again, if you plug in a great sounding guitar that is set-up perfectly to your taste to a glorious sounding amplifier eq'd to your specs...all bets are off.
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: Stoop on May 18, 2018, 11:22:00 PM
If i can only invest generously on one thing i will always prioritized amps and a great speaker cabinet. I mean if I get enough funding it will probably most likely go to a bogner shiva/ecstasy and their amazing OS 2 x 12 cab. That is IF I have that kind of moolah. Pakiramdam ko kasi kayang buhatin ng matikas na amp ang so-so na gitara kesa sa so-so na amp tapos top of the line na gitara
Title: Re: Simple question, is it more about the amp than the guitar?
Post by: pallas on May 19, 2018, 04:50:16 PM
If i can only invest generously on one thing i will always prioritized amps and a great speaker cabinet. I mean if I get enough funding it will probably most likely go to a bogner shiva/ecstasy and their amazing OS 2 x 12 cab. That is IF I have that kind of moolah. Pakiramdam ko kasi kayang buhatin ng matikas na amp ang so-so na gitara kesa sa so-so na amp tapos top of the line na gitara
Agreed.
Tone monster amps coupled with just standard guitars set up properly would be good enough.