So what makes USA's "sound" like they do?

[RacerX]

I'll back up rjohnstone; he really does sound like shit!
























J/K dude

[rjohnstone]

i'll back up rjohnstone; he really does sound like shit!

J/k dude

[Acesofbelkan]

The "tone is in the fingers" claim is nonsense... Listen to the characteristics of the sound. First, don't IMPROVISE when you pick up the guitar, Unless you can replicate that during your comparison. If you're playing a pentatonic solo it's going to sound pentatonic no matter what the fuck you play it on; but if you listen to how the NOTES are sounding through the amplifier, it's a different being. That's the tone, which some people apparently can't hear. I'll tell you this, If I play through each of my amps with the same guitar it will all sound completely different to me. If I switch guitars on the same amp it will still sound different. It's not in the hands, that's just your flavour of guitar playing, not your tone.

I totally agree with this. Everyone always says that the tone is in your fingers. But who sounds better, me through a 10 watt walmart store bought amp or a marshall stack?

You're not gonna tell me a 10 watt walmart crap amp sounds the same as a england made marshall if the same player is playing it are you??

If thats the case why have EQ settings on a amp? Amps should just have on/off switches and just say "to hell with EQ's, its all in the fingers" :think:

People confuse a persons playing style/habits with tone.

[GCSHREDSHED]

its not just one thing, its the whole package from wood, fretboard, hardware, pu, bridge, construction, glue, finish............ect...ect.....ect....

[DV8]

yeah, and the best bananas come form Iceland.

[Frigo89]

I totally agree with this. Everyone always says that the tone is in your fingers. But who sounds better, me through a 10 watt walmart store bought amp or a marshall stack?

You're not gonna tell me a 10 watt walmart crap amp sounds the same as a england made marshall if the same player is playing it are you??

If thats the case why have EQ settings on a amp? Amps should just have on/off switches and just say "to hell with EQ's, its all in the fingers" :think:

People confuse a persons playing style/habits with tone.

Walmart amp = Marshall



I don't think that a country of origin makes a guitar sound better the deciding factor is the quality of builder.

I could build a guitar from scratch, but it's not gonna be as good as a USA Jackson, or a Japanese ESP or a whatever, that's because I no guitar making skills

[BC Jackson]

...I was also pleasently suprised to find that my SL2H doesent have that ugly and horrible grounding screw sitcking through the trem cavity by the claw..

I HATE that thing. I had an early 90's SL1 that didn't have that and I've never seen it in any other guitar...except my 2002 Jackson SL2H. I saw that and my first thought was "someone has been mucking around with this thing!" When I found out it was ground I felt better but still think its overkill!

[drychlik]

Best Sound Live

The best guitar sound you are going to get live is to not have your amp facing forward! Turn the amp around and face the speakers away from the audience. Get the sound from the monitors and the sound guy will not have to compete with your amps volume. Then you can start to hear your guitar in the mix.

[charvel750]

...
If thats the case why have EQ settings on a amp? Amps should just have on/off switches and just say "to hell with EQ's, its all in the fingers" :think:

People confuse a persons playing style/habits with tone.

Some of the best amps out there didn't have tone controls. Old Fenders, Gibsons, and other tube heads had a volume and maybe a "master" tone control. Killer tone that way. It's all in the fingers, bottom line.

[john.w.lawson]

I use the same setting on every cover that I know how to play(which are very few)I use the volume and tone on the guitar and other than that! I have very cheap pre-amp and play on a clean channel of a cheap old amp.But like Rick my playing sucks, more than likely much worst : )

[Larz]

To me, and many others obviously, its a mix of both talent and equipment.

Yngwie will sound like Yngwie with any gear, but there's a reason prefers to use his vintage duck/custom shops and custom pickups and whatever other guitars and tube amps he chooses to record and play live with.

You'd know it was him but it just wouldn't sound nearly as good through a made in china strat knockoff and a 15W Marshall MGD FX.

[Acesofbelkan]

If I play through a 15 watt crap walmart amp, Ill get crap tone.
If I play the same thing through a well built amp with great tone it'll sound better.
It's not "ALL in the fingers". What you play through matters.
Lets not confuse great playing with great tone here.