brokenvail
Well-known member
Ok guys what's more important comfort or tone? I have played guitars that son't always fit me like a glove if you know what I mean but it had the tone so suck it up. What do you guys think about comfort vs tone.
- Thread starter brokenvail
- Start date
DaPatrooch
Well-known member
No matter how much I may like the sound, if it doesn't feel good in my hands, then forget it. Luckily, Ernie Ball has the tone AND the feel!
petruccirocks02
Well-known member
I think that comfort is just as important as tone. My JP's sound amazing, but if they didn't feel right I wouldn't play them, but thats simply not the case. Haha. They have the comfort, tone, looks, etc.
-Phil
-Phil
Jack FFR1846
Well-known member
There can even be trade offs for keeping some weight off the shoulder. EVH....after playing a Les Paul later in his career said "no wonder Jimmy Paige is always hunched over".
I've been splitting playing duties between my Axis (or supersport) and my old Guild archtop or a semi-hollow I just got. Partly because I'm looking for a hollow tone in a particular song, but the lightness is dramatic. Having an 8 year old guitar player made me far more focused on weight. Sub 1's and Silos are pretty light as well.
jack
I've been splitting playing duties between my Axis (or supersport) and my old Guild archtop or a semi-hollow I just got. Partly because I'm looking for a hollow tone in a particular song, but the lightness is dramatic. Having an 8 year old guitar player made me far more focused on weight. Sub 1's and Silos are pretty light as well.
jack
ScoobySteve
Well-known member
I make no compromises with tone. None. I grew up classically playing Piano and Trumpt and got whacked many times for "bad posture"
Though guitar is slightly different, I still feel comfort is a non-issue. I just feel personally that it should be the musician whom manipulates the instrument, not the other way around. Dunno, my two cents, haha.
Though guitar is slightly different, I still feel comfort is a non-issue. I just feel personally that it should be the musician whom manipulates the instrument, not the other way around. Dunno, my two cents, haha.
GHWelles
Well-known member
It has to have both, or it gets frustrating over time.
edrod
Well-known member
I would go for comfort, there are other ways around to try and get a decent tone. This is one of the reasons why I am so happy with my JP. It was the tone and it feels perfect. I have small hands so there are guitars that are just too big for my fit not that I have much to choose from.
marantz1300
Well-known member
I want both. I will put up with a bit of discomfort for great tone though. Something that feels great but sounds awful, no way.
Eilif
Well-known member
Tone is more important. After all, it's a musical instrument--it's function is to produce sound, which we all want to be good.
However, comfort is also important, because an instrument with godly tone but is not comfortable just won't be played as much or possibly even as well. (Discomfort can prevent the human body from performing at its peak.)
So there must be some balance between the two. The fulcrum will be different, depending on the particular guitar and the particular player; it can shift more towards tone, and it can shift more towards comfort.
However, comfort is also important, because an instrument with godly tone but is not comfortable just won't be played as much or possibly even as well. (Discomfort can prevent the human body from performing at its peak.)
So there must be some balance between the two. The fulcrum will be different, depending on the particular guitar and the particular player; it can shift more towards tone, and it can shift more towards comfort.
mikeller
Well-known member
That's why I play EBMM - get both without compromise!!!!
banjoplayer
Well-known member
both for me, that´s why I play EBMM. For some special sounds, guitars with more tone than comfort are ok, but for the overall use both has to fit.
In terms of whats more important I would say tone. However both tone and comfort are linked as if you aren't comfortable playing a particular guitar then it will affect you tone.
This is the prime reason I sold my axis as I couldn't get used to the lack of forearm contour and it influenced my playing.
This is the prime reason I sold my axis as I couldn't get used to the lack of forearm contour and it influenced my playing.
Astrofreq
Well-known member
How you look is most important.
bkrumme
Well-known member
If it's comfortable, but the tone sucks, no way.
If the tone is awesome but it's uncomfortable, maybe.
If the tone is awesome and it's comfortable, then definitely.
I will make some sacrifices for tone in the studio where it REALLY matters. Not that it doesn't matter live, but you gotta get the very best in the studio.
Being a former LP player, I can tell you that comfort while on stage will trump tone every time. I would always start shows with the Les Paul because it sounded so good, but I'd switch to something else after one or two songs because my shoulder was being tortured by the weight of the thing. Since then, I've switched to primarily 7 strings and I couldn't be happier with my BFRs. They're light enough to play for an entire show and they have tone out the wazoo...plus the piezo is a nice bonus.
If the tone is awesome but it's uncomfortable, maybe.
If the tone is awesome and it's comfortable, then definitely.
I will make some sacrifices for tone in the studio where it REALLY matters. Not that it doesn't matter live, but you gotta get the very best in the studio.
Being a former LP player, I can tell you that comfort while on stage will trump tone every time. I would always start shows with the Les Paul because it sounded so good, but I'd switch to something else after one or two songs because my shoulder was being tortured by the weight of the thing. Since then, I've switched to primarily 7 strings and I couldn't be happier with my BFRs. They're light enough to play for an entire show and they have tone out the wazoo...plus the piezo is a nice bonus.
GHWelles
Well-known member
You must play a Jackson Randy Rhodes V
agt
Well-known member
For me, if the tone isn't right, nothing else matters. I'm fighting with my gear, I'm distracted, and it shows in my playing. That applies to guitars, amps, pedals, room acoustics.
When my tone makes me happy, everything else -- even difficult licks or wide finger stretches -- seems effortless. Everything falls into place and I can fully enter "the zone".
Luckily, with EBMM guitars, I have both tone and comfort.
When my tone makes me happy, everything else -- even difficult licks or wide finger stretches -- seems effortless. Everything falls into place and I can fully enter "the zone".
Luckily, with EBMM guitars, I have both tone and comfort.
paranoid70
Well-known member
Tone is the most important. Alot of that is due to your amp as well. I have two Fender amps, one is awesome and one is 'meh. The same EBMM guitar played out of one amp gets much much better tones than when played out of the other.
Comfort is a big thing too, so maybe a close second. I have determined that at this point all new guitar acquisitions must have a contoured body and no Floyd Trem. I found that the way I have to position my hands to play those types of guitars make it much more uncomfortable to me.
Let's just say that the Silhouette is the perfect combo of tone and comfort. I think the 25th would also fit the bill nicely too.
Comfort is a big thing too, so maybe a close second. I have determined that at this point all new guitar acquisitions must have a contoured body and no Floyd Trem. I found that the way I have to position my hands to play those types of guitars make it much more uncomfortable to me.
Let's just say that the Silhouette is the perfect combo of tone and comfort. I think the 25th would also fit the bill nicely too.
Last edited:
ScoobySteve
Well-known member
LOL That would've hurt my feelings a few years back, haha.
But a note on tone, you can just look at classical instruments. They are designed, first and foremost to be completely dynamic in tone and sound. There are "compromises" in its construction in order to manage the players comfort, rather we adjust to the instrument in order to play it properly. I guess its kind of a motiff I've grown up with. But when I practice guitar at home I still catch my self putting the guitar perpendicular to my thigh, on a backless stool, with a foot-stand.
But it's a moot point anyways, the Morse feels amazing to me, so it doesn't really matter with EBMM guitars.
Depends for me. If I'm playing mainly rhythm guitar then I can live with a little discomfort if the tone is there. If I'm in a lead situation I really need to have a guitar that I can play very well comfort-wise, even if that means a tone trade off.
I love the Axis tone and style, but when I'm playing with my other band where I handle the lead stuff I tend to prefer something like an Ibby. It just suits my hands more for that kind of thing. I physically can't play some things on the Axis that I can on the Ibby. A JP is probably something that would work for me, but I don't have one of those.
I love the Axis tone and style, but when I'm playing with my other band where I handle the lead stuff I tend to prefer something like an Ibby. It just suits my hands more for that kind of thing. I physically can't play some things on the Axis that I can on the Ibby. A JP is probably something that would work for me, but I don't have one of those.
