Weirdest Issue ever???


stratmanjimbo
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Joined: 02/23/12
Posts: 254
stratmanjimbo
Registered User
Joined: 02/23/12
Posts: 254
04/11/2019 10:23 pm

This is truly bizarre........I readily admit to this. However, even with an assortment of amps (old yet nice Laney, Fender and even a new Boss Katana-50 someone recommended to me) and nice guitars.......a Tele and a Strat along with an ES-335 semi hollow body......when I plug in and amplify my playing......even on the solid body guitars......rather than nice settings with tone and bass and reverb with some bite of overdrive or even clean.......and accentuating the sound........I actually prefer how I sound unplugged over amplification!!?? It just sounds tinny to me and artificial and I don't believe it's my equipment but it could be and I'm open to any/all suggestions and recommendations to get past this dilemma! I used to never play electric without plugging in and obtaining some decent level of volume and tones/effects but now I just want to play sans anything but the solid wood/frets and strings on my guitar........rhythm and soloing.......and obviously this ain't normal or shall get me very far!! HELP!! Jim C.


# 1
manXcat
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Joined: 02/17/18
Posts: 1,476
manXcat
Full Access
Joined: 02/17/18
Posts: 1,476
04/12/2019 12:13 am

Hi Jim!

If you have a Katana 50 - you don't mention the specifics of the other amps, and it sounds "tinny" .. "and artificial" to you, it's [u]not[/u] your equipment.

Whilst I appreciate we all have tonal predilections, it might (?) be time to have your hearing full range audio booth tested and assessed by a medical specialist. Although presbyacusis usually affects high range first, you might have loss due acute damage or disease affecting and distorting your perception of tonal range?

Pickup selection switch dependent to a degree, IMPE traditional Tele, Strat and ES-355 will still have a uniquely characteristic sound at the same setting on an any amp other than perhaps a something very basic like an 'everything sounds the same' Frontman 10G. To say you prefer their tones (?) unplugged vs amplified on either the solid bodied Strat or Tele is [u]definitely[/u] abnormal.

Semi-hollow body, the jury is out as they do sound sweet unamplified, but double vintage PAF like humbucker class are IME also definitely more finicky to configure at the amp end to obtain other than their strongly characteristic tone - which, one either likes or doesn't. Either way, preference is all of them plugged in for me.

I have all two of those guitar configs (Tele & Strat) and several amps (specifically Blackstar ID:Core 40 similar to Katana 50, and Fender Champion 100x2) which might replicate what you're referring to BTW, and I do have a double PAF humbucker tool although it is a solid body LP.

How do you find the tones of your acoustics amplified? I like mine both ways, but amplified offers greater versatility, and I know where the volume knob is and what it's for where subtlty is required.

I would have suggested trying different and new strings, but old or screwed strings alter the tone to dull or lifeless with inability to hold tune or other buzzing or tonal distortion issues rather than tinny IME which is the opposite of what you're reporting. Personally I never cease to be amazed at the discernible auditory difference between [u]fresh[/u] and [u]tired[/u] strings.

Digressing a moment, in my observation [u]most[/u] people who aren't playing professionally, including me when a neophyte, leave their strings on their guitars too long whether through procrastination or reticence to pay for them. I buy in bulk now x10 sets per gauge/type of uncoated D'Addarios in each of x3 gauges/types for both electrics (x2 gauges) and acoustic (x1), and change strings frequently. By buying this way online when the price is right, strings become a very affordable consumable. Acoustic strings are slightly more expensive, but so far I manage on about 30 sets of .9s, .10.s and .12s across my guitars, which is costing me around AUD$220 (USD$155) per annum. Cheaper than playing golf or squash regularly or even my annual gliding club dues.


# 2
stratmanjimbo
Registered User
Joined: 02/23/12
Posts: 254
stratmanjimbo
Registered User
Joined: 02/23/12
Posts: 254
04/12/2019 3:12 am

I appreciate the input and good points on that steady stream of new quality strings........although changing strings to me ranks right below flossing and taking out the garbage on a frozen miserable evening..........a necessary evil!! I can appreciate your point about my hearing........which incidentally hasn't been checked since grade school and please don't ask when that was........however, the flip side is this: I have what i believe is the finest sounding acoustic guitar on the planet. I mean it..........47 year old Martin D-35 with finish cracks galore and in need of a great cleaning and other things like probably a neck set......but I'd gladly match its tone against anyone.......not just bragging......it really does sound phenomenal and would in anyone's hands. Also.....the tone I hear from many artists including on G.T. like Tom Finch or Dave or Mike......I hear this tone and think to myself how wonderful it would be to match that........isn't that a song??? I really believe it's something else............and I'd hate to shell out 4 plus figures for one of those tube boutique amps or that Kemper Profiler unit but........I need something to get grounded and actually can't wait to plug in and utilize a gret sounding system with classic rich tones.........I feel if I can hear the difference .....and I can........then I need to make a change. By the way........this is not some ad for Bugera amps but......believe it or not the closest I've come (sans reverb which is another subject as I need to get my hands on an authentic and versatile unit) to this is my.........get this.........$99 tubed Bugera practice amp!! Pure unadulterated tone and great performance for under a Franklin!! Jim C.


# 3

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