# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 100
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1982 "2011-09-06T02:44:19Z")
**CB** , just thinking about this a little… You always set the pickup volume really low? Can we approach it from the other direction? Perhaps the low volume is causing the muddy – I don’t know how, something with cheap pots or capacitor brands or something. Just for fun, start with the guitar volume up all the way, tone up all the way. Amp drive very low, like 2. Amp volume obviously low since you don’t want to blow your brains out – start from zero with all those other settings (guitar 10, guitar tone 10, drive 2) and work your way up until it’s just kinda loud. Now, play that blues rhythm you’d mentioned – it’s probably pretty harsh, but in what direction – too warm, too trebly, some of each? Start adjusting either the volume or tone downwards, and work your way. Less volume control = less warm/harsh, less tone = less brittle/trebly. Adjust a bit, play a bit, adjust a bit. Look for a sweet spot that sounds good, see what you find. What I’m wondering is if guitar-volume=2 (plus whatever guitar-tone was set to) is a trouble spot, eating your tone. Some instruments require a whole different approach. Try it out, let us know. I may be barking up the wrong tree, but your instrument isn’t going away instantly, so let’s push the boundaries a little. Start from an obviously wrong spot from your regular approach rather than from your comfort spot, and go from there. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1983 "2011-09-06T02:58:53Z")
Missed the edit: also please use reverb = 0 while you play with my guidelines above. Take reverb completely out of the equation for now, as it can mess with your ability to judge brightness/muddiness. Add the reverb back if you find tone you think is interesting and might benefit from it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1984 "2011-09-06T04:06:48Z")
Gah, I’m sure you figured this out CB, but how egregious of me: “If you have several other guitars whose tone you [del]don’t[/del] like through the same setup, and this one where you don’t, then yes, it’s time to move on.” ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1985 "2011-09-06T11:22:27Z")
A really good [NPR report](http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/08/31/140090116/why-gibson-guitar-was-raided-by-the-justice-department) on the raid on the Gibson factories last week. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1986 "2011-09-06T11:57:39Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > A really good [NPR report](http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/08/31/140090116/why-gibson-guitar-was-raided-by-the-justice-department) on the raid on the Gibson factories last week. Wow - that feels scary. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1987 "2011-09-07T17:43:43Z")
[Link to thread on Acoustic Guitar Forum](http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227123) - a fellow playing an original Stradivarius-built guitar. Small - sounds like a baritone ukelele. [Link to thread on The Gear Page](http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=947851) - why guitarist Eric Johnson, he who can tell what brand of batteries are in his effects by the change in tone, is the Chuck Norris of guitar tone…a few pages of silly, but some of them are pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1988 "2011-09-08T04:14:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > [Link to thread on Acoustic Guitar Forum](http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227123) - a fellow playing an original Stradivarius-built guitar. Small - sounds like a baritone ukelele. It looks like that thing is eight strings in four pairs, like a mandolin. It sounds lovely. > [@](#): > > [Link to thread on The Gear Page](http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=947851) - why guitarist Eric Johnson, he who can tell what brand of batteries are in his effects by the change in tone, is the Chuck Norris of guitar tone…a few pages of silly, but some of them are pretty funny. I didn’t realize Eric Johnson is a subject of ridicule. Because he had basically one decent debut album but an outsize reputation? No clue. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1989 "2011-09-08T10:03:33Z")
Five pairs, squeegee. It’s a five course guitar, as typical for the early 1700s. As far as Eric Johnson, the man is just that good. But he also has a reputation for being insane in regards to how finicky he is about his gear. He’s never met an audiophile myth he doesn’t like. That saying, how about listening to him breakdown his own rig. [http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20110906/1629/Rig\_Rundown\_Eric\_Johnson.aspx](http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20110906/1629/Rig_Rundown_Eric_Johnson.aspx) (Shiny new video, at that.) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1990 "2011-09-08T12:13:21Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Five pairs, squeegee. It’s a five course guitar, as typical for the early 1700s. > > As far as Eric Johnson, the man is just that good. But he also has a reputation for being insane in regards to how finicky he is about his gear. He’s never met an audiophile myth he doesn’t like. > > That saying, how about listening to him breakdown his own rig. > [http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20110906/1629/Rig\_Rundown\_Eric\_Johnson.aspx](http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20110906/1629/Rig_Rundown_Eric_Johnson.aspx) > (Shiny new video, at that.) That’s basically right - really, really respected as a player, but his comment about batteries has become a real tone-snob meme… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1991 "2011-09-15T11:42:59Z")
[20 photos of guitars](http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/Sep/GALLERY_The_Richard_Gere_Guitar_Collection.aspx)being auctioned by Richard Gere. Really amazing stuff. The electrics speak for themselves - the 1960 Les Paul’s auction estimate of \<$100,000 seems pretty funny. But that 1931 Martin D-28 - apparently it is the first guitar designated as a D-28 in Martin’s books (prior to that, their first rosewood dreadnaughts were either special orders or prototypes called D-2’s). ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1992 "2011-09-15T14:03:43Z")
I’ll be in my bunk… ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1993 "2011-09-15T14:04:59Z")
You got the same article I did. What do you think about the amps? Also, man, one of Albert King’s Flying Vs, those strats. Mr. Gere has taste. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1994 "2011-09-15T14:07:16Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > You got the same article I did. What do you think about the amps? Drool-worthy, to be sure. Pretty much every piece of gear was good, desirable stuff - very much a tip of the hat to Mr. Gere. I would be very interested to hear if he can actually play. After hearing so much about Conan O’Brien’s guitar jones, I was interested to hear him - he played on the last NBC show and I have heard him a couple times since then. Unfortunately, he is more enthusiasm than chops. But bless 'im for having fun with it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1995 "2011-09-15T20:09:50Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Drool-worthy, to be sure. The amps seem pretty reasonably priced compared to the extreme nose-bleed territory of the guitars. $3000 for the most expensive one. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1996 "2011-09-15T20:12:31Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > The amps seem pretty reasonably priced compared to the extreme nose-bleed territory of the guitars. $3000 for the most expensive one. I hear you, but those are pre-auction estimates, and typically low-balled, often by a lot. I mean, that 1960 Sunburst Les Paul estimated at less than $100,000? Unless it has been refinned and has a repaired neck break and replaced pickups, I would be stunned if that didn’t go for $200 or more; maybe the economy has brought 'bursts down a bit from their highs, but the highs were more in the $300 - $400,000 range. I don’t know my amp values, but a 60’s blackface Deluxe Reverb goes for over $2,000 these days… ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1997 "2011-09-15T20:51:46Z")
Fretboards don’t smell like shit, do they? ============================================ # Sorry, but y’all thought it, didntcha??? I just saved ya the trouble. =============================================== Q ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1998 "2011-09-15T21:07:11Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I don’t know my amp values, but a 60’s blackface Deluxe Reverb goes for over $2,000 these days… Man, I wish I’d hung onto that '65 blackface Pro Reverb (I think that was the model name) that I’d had as a teenager, obtained for $150. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/1999 "2011-09-15T21:07:50Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Man, I wish I’d hung onto that '65 blackface Pro Reverb (I think that was the model name) that I’d had as a teenager, obtained for $150. Yes, yes you do 😉 All part of the journey, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2000 "2011-09-15T21:08:13Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Fretboards don’t smell like shit, do they? > > ============================================ > > # Sorry, but y’all thought it, didntcha??? > > I just saved ya the trouble. > > =============================================== > > Q I take it this is a Gere quote or something? Or Conan? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/2001 "2011-09-16T10:34:18Z")
Hamster joke, I think. Sorry, Quasi. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=99) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=101)