Guitar players often talk about achieving the ‘sound in your head’. We all know what they mean. Inside every guitarist’s mind is an archive of beautiful, soul-satisfying sounds that are based on some of the world’s great recordings. But here’s the thing – tone, as experienced by the guitarist doing the playing, isn’t just a sound. Every time you play a note, there’s a feedback loop going on between your gear, your fingers, and your mind.
We’ve probably all had a moment during a gig when you just aren’t feeling good about your sound. The result? You don’t play as well because you just aren’t getting into it. But if your ears are hearing something they like, you start expressing yourself with more conviction. So far, so good.
But there’s more to it than that. It’s not just the sound but the feel of how the notes come out that gets our creative juices flowing: some players’ styles require a fast attack and for each note to be crisp and clearly defined for them to give their best. Others, like the old-time blues guys, prefer lots of sag and crunch. It’s like the difference between drawing with a crisp ‘H’ pencil and a soft, smudgy ‘B’. You can draw wonderful pictures of both types, but they suit different types of artists.
Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve