do EB guitars have thier own sound?

[RocketRalf]

It IS ridiculous. Les Pauls also are signature guitars, ever wondered where their name came from? of course we all knew that. I wonder if people would play it less had Mr. Paul's signature featured on every headstock.

[GuitarHack]

It IS ridiculous. Les Pauls also are signature guitars, ever wondered where their name came from? of course we all knew that. I wonder if people would play it less had Mr. Paul's signature featured on every headstock.

Ha-ha, slight and temporary hijack:

Probably 2003 or so, I was playing a Wolfgang in a guitar store, trying out an amp (the WG was closest thing they had to an Axis, and I knew how they compared). This teenaged kid comes up and starts trying to tell me I should play a Les Paul, Les Pauls kick ass, have I heard Slash, Les Pauls rule, blah blah. I thanked him for his input, politely told him I knew what I was doing, and expected him to go away. He keeps going on about LPs, then looks at the Wolfgang, and says, "Oh, Van Halen's guitar, what's he done lately?" I said "I don't know, what's Les Paul done lately?"

Kid said "Huh?", and he then left me alone. The owner and I chuckled after he left, we both figured out the kid didn't know Les Paul was a person

The fact that Les Paul made new music and gigged well into his 90's only detracted a little from how clever I felt...can't let the facts get in the way of a good comeback!

[pjc812]

This thread caught my attention.

I've recently gotten into Brad Paisley. I got his album called "Play" from the library. On this album, there is a track titled "Cluster Pluck" (brilliant title). This track features some of Nashville's finest, including Albert Lee.

I was able to pick out Mr. Lee's tone immediately during the track, despite never having actually heard him. I knew he plays EBMM.

To comfirm my assumption, there is a track before that I didn't catch that introduces everybody who is playing, and they each play a lick.

So, yes, EBMM do have a distinct tone IMO.

[isaactmeyer]

I agree that i can hear lee's tone seperated from others.. anyone know what amp he plays?

[bkrumme]

I agree that i can hear lee's tone seperated from others.. anyone know what amp he plays?

AFAIK, he plays some Fender amps as well as vintage Music Man amps.

[banjoplayer]

OMG a neverending thread.
where´s the answer. does the sound come from guitar or fingers. was the egg or the chicken first... or both?

[JMB27]

Late to the party .... so let me go back to the question at the top of the thread: Do EBMM guitars have their own sound?

Yes, imho they do.

From the various guitars that I've played over the years, both EBMM guitars and non-EBMM guitars .... and from the various amps and other toys that I've had the opportunity to play thru .... and even from some of the comments I've had the pleasure and displeasure of hearing from other players and bar patrons over the years ....

EBMM guitars do have a sound of their own and I'm glad that I own a couple and get to play 'em out on a semi-infrequent basis.

cheers always, eh

Joel
p.s. favorite set-up right now? Super Sport HH thru Flying Dragon, BB Pre-amp and CMAT Mods Deeelay into Dr Z Remedy w/ 112 and 210 cabs

[raybies]

I too make mine sound bad , But with enough practice, I have the ability to make them sound worse.

[azazael]

I too make mine sound bad , But with enough practice, I have the ability to make them sound worse.

[bprendie]

Tone is the most important aspect of playing even if your a limited player, if you have a great tone you will get peoples attention. I have really been bitten by the EBMM bug the last few years and it has been like discovering guitars all over again as I just love what this company is producing.Isaactmeyer if you have some home recording equipment try laying down two or three tracks using your EBMM guitars and then what you feel sounds right and let others have a listen but dont even mention tone just say which takes you think sound better as you are going to get an unbiased opinion. Maybe the answers will surprise you.

I couldn't agree more. I don't consider myself to be the best player, but I have been told I have a very distinctive tone - regardless of my guitar/amp setup. I guy I used to play with years ago heard me recently one night and as soon as I took my first lead he commented "yup, there's Bob."

One night I was at a jam and I had to use another guy's rig. His rig sounded fizzy and tinny to my ears, but I plugged in anyway. In my hands and a Korean Epiphone, the rig sounded full and fat.

I truly think that as mentioned before - so many people chase "guitar hero's" tones and never find their own voice.

Lets face it, an EBMM Luke could sound indistinguishable from a $99 Squire if its run through 10 distortion pedals and a $99 peavey amp with the gain on 11. I used to play with a guy who did that - one day he finally asked me how to get a "good" sound. He cranked down the distortion, and realized his technique didn't work for the tones he wanted - so he's getting there now.

Also mentioned above - the SM signature model is one of the most unique sounding guitars I've ever laid my hands on. The different range of possibilities gets me excited just writing about it.

Cheers guys
Bob

[mico]

Les Pauls, Strats and Teles have classic sounds because someone have made an impact with that tone. What comes to mind is Claptons "Woman" tone or Jimi Hendrix. The ironi of this is that they created their tone by breaking the rules, not by copying what had been done before. Clapton did not sound like Les Paul and Hendrix did not sound like Buddy Holly. So by striving for their tone (instead of your own) you're doing the oposite of what they did.

I was at this consert where a local band played. The guitarist had a SRV type of sound, and his lics where very SRV inspired. The band played great, but because of the sound I couldn't resist comparing them to SRV/Double Trouble. And of course that is unfair, against SRV many of us wil suck as guitarists. It just reminded me of how important it is to chase YOUR sound, not someone elses.

[denny99]

for years i thought all guitars sounded similar in some strange way. I then realized they sounded similar because of me (the player). So while guitars do have their own sound so do we

+1 !!!

[Hendog]

This is an interesting topic.

I think there are guitars that sound great due to woods. Like a Les Paul or a PRS McCarty.

These thick mahogany bodys and necks have a wonderful warm, full tone. Match that with a Maple top and you have one amazing sound (and a great look).

But there is nothing like the quality and playability of my JP.

It would be neat to have both in one guitar. JP BFR??? Maybe I should get one...

[Jack FFR1846]

I would have to say that there isn't a unique "Musicman" sound. Each guitar made by Musicman has it's own sound. And each is very different from the next.

As far as unique guitars...Line 6 Variax is unique in my opinion (I just sold mine). They use electronic manipulation (a microprocessor) to simulate any guitar you want, pretty much. You want to play a strat, hit the switch. A Les Paul, hit a switch. Same with their acoustics (what I had). Want a jumbo body acoustic, turn the dial. Want a small body parlor guitar, turn the dial.

If my band leader wants a strat sound, I'm on the Al with the bridge/mid setting on. He wants a tele, I'm again on the Al with middle or neck position all by itself. It doesn't quite match a strat or tele because I don't have the noise and hum unless I pull the battery to shut off the silent circuit.

Each of my musicman guitars sounds vastly different from the next. I'm not one to collect 25 Al SSS guitars. Heck....I'd like to get an Al HH, but feel the Axis would have to go if I did get one, because although they are very different wood wise, they'd be too close for me to justify keeping both. (waits for F'ing to throw something at me....we've had this discussion).

I have to answer an earlier question, just because I'm a wise axis super sport sometimes. What's a Les Paul? It's a guitar rejected by Fender and then dropped by Gibson. (they brought it back only because the "vintage" market was created by people looking for old Les Pauls and they were smart enough to see that).