Originally Posted by: jvieth30Hey guys, I've been playing for about 2 years now. I can play some decently advanced things, but I'm just not satisfied with the quality of the sound. I do have a super cheap piece of junk fake strat, but I'm not sure if the bad sound is due to me or the guitar. Can anybody hook me up with some pointers on how to clean up my sound?

When you're not plugged in, does the quality of your playing sound decent? The point is, if you feel that you are not struggling with the playing aspect unplugged, then you focus on equipment. All amps do is amplify what you're already doing. If your playing is sub-par to your ears without be plugged in, no amount of equipment will take care of it.

However, you said that you said that you can play some decently advanced things. This makes the assumption that you are solid and are then just in that transition where the dynamics of tone are becoming important to your ear. You are probably just not satisfied with the ability to make noise like when you started but now that you can execute some licks, you need equipment that keeps up a little.

Sound right?

If I were to suggest, I would heavily focus on a quality guitar first. It's the first piece in the chain and if it's junk, you're shot. Go play lots of instruments. Be a pest at the local store (sorry folks at stores...). Play stuff until you find that guitar that sings for you. As others said, tone comes first from you through the guitar. Very true and most any good guitar will do a little singing for you if you have some skill.

Pick ups. to me, are important. I struggled with the pick up thing for a long time (5 years). I tried Duncan Distortions, JB's and so on. I stuck with EMG's (in the 80's). The point is that the system is really a chain and you fill in each link as you go until you find home. I assume you read guitar magazines. You read about guys that have chased tone for decades and they have a tone you dream of already...It's part of the disease.

My point is that you want to spend time building what becones your tone. Don't expect that you will walk in and by a bunch of stuff and have found your ultimate tone. It's constant tweaking but very fun. It's like an addiction in many ways. Chasing the tone dragon, so to speak.

To me, last is the amp. I would say that despite what I said, upgrade to a new, small combo right away at the same time you get a new axe. After that, work towards you tone via the guitar and then work on the ultimate amp. Having a great guitar and friendly pick ups makes getting the end all amp much easier. The amp doesn't have to own the output solely since the guitar is providing a great source of output.

Just some thoughts.