do EB guitars have thier own sound?

[isaactmeyer]

I own multiple guitars. I will start with my petrucci musicman, Prs mccarty, tele, strat, 335, les paul etc..

I love how my petrucci and prs plays.. but for some reason i always feel like the tele and les paul for a recording purpose has a more unique sound better for recording. They dont play nearly as well but have a better sound.

Now i am not at ALL bashing EB guitars.. i love my petrucci.

So i guess my question is what unique sound quality does the eb guitars have?

Does anyone agree or disagree with my thought?

 

[aleclee]

As a longtime PRS guy, I've often heard the same said of PRS. My take about most such comments is that most benchmark recording were made with Strats and LPs. Consequently, those are more likely to sound "right" since the tone we're often seeking is based on those traditional instruments.

 

[TNT]

Good question!!

Lots of time our ears are acclamated to a "certain" sound we here over the years, and sometimes associate "that" sound with a "good" sound (whether it is or not).

However, so much is involved in a sound from wood, to pickups, to amps it is almost endless possibilities to capture a sound.

I have my own choice of DiMarzio pickups that are not found on factory guitars (for my sound). So, I choose a guitar "mainly" for quality,feel and fit.

Which I think EBMM guitars certainly have a unique sound, a definite feel, an unmistakable look and an exceeding excellent quality - one of my very top choices!!

 

[Colin]

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

 

[Slingy]

The one EBMM that has a very distict and famous classic sound unlike no other is the Stingray bass. Often copied and rarely replicated. I think the EVH/AXIS was very unique for its time too, possibly one of the first guitars to use a basswood body with a maple top which is also copied to death.

 

[ScoobySteve]

As a longtime PRS guy, I've often heard the same said of PRS. My take about most such comments is that most benchmark recording were made with Strats and LPs. Consequently, those are more likely to sound "right" since the tone we're often seeking is based on those traditional instruments.

This. I perception of what sounds are constituted as "right" varies largely on how we were introduced into music and the standards we applied from out experience with them.

It's never been said truer, to each his tone.

 

[isaactmeyer]

interesting thoughts.. which Eb guitar do you guys think has the most distinct sound?

 

[Colin]

interesting thoughts.. which Eb guitar do you guys think has the most distinct sound?

the 25th

 

[Smellybum]

the 25th

totally with you colin, I go a stage further, can't think of a guitar in the last 15 years that's had a unique sound like this...

 

[B2D]

As a longtime PRS guy, I've often heard the same said of PRS. My take about most such comments is that most benchmark recording were made with Strats and LPs. Consequently, those are more likely to sound "right" since the tone we're often seeking is based on those traditional instruments.

Agreed... there's a reason Fender, Gibson, Marshall, Vox, etc always come up as reference points and standard go-to's in the studio. Their sounds are familiar and identifiable.

When it comes to tone, I think that "better" is subjective and varies from person to person. Objectively, there's no "better", just "different.

 

[Pablo]

totally with you colin, I go a stage further, can't think of a guitar in the last 15 years that's had a unique sound like this...

Hmm... that's quite a bold statement. Regardless of what you might think of them, something like a Parker Fly sounds decidedly more unique than the 25th.

With that said, I am of the firm belief that the musician makes the music and every instrument sounds as unique as the musician playing it... sounding tree-hugging as I may, I am obviously aware that certain pieces of gear yield specific tonal qualities, e.g.: a Les Paul is a Les Paul is a Les Paul...

Cheers

Eske

 

[the24thfret]

I agree that the 25th has the most unique sound, but the JP model also has a very distinct tone to my ears, especially the latest incarnation with the CL and LF pickups.

 

[Jimmyb]

I make all of mine sound bad.

 

[Smellybum]

Hmm... that's quite a bold statement. Regardless of what you might think of them, something like a Parker Fly sounds decidedly more unique than the 25th.
Cheers

Eske

lets look at something like the fly - in terms of design - stiking, contemp. - and a real breakthrough - but in terms of sound- Carbon Fibre - errrr - no....unique yes, but tone character? -no....

Show me anohter solid body sized semi acoustic/chambered guitar with 15 sounds that's been released in the last 15 years and I'll retract it - I originally thought - Les Paul 'lite' series -with m3 electrics, - zion did a guitar with 8 microswitches in 92 but they were wildly unpopular - what about a 513 - good but double the price of a 25th - This isn't a fanboi post this is an objective view from a guitar collector -

I know you all think I'm some crackpot hill billy who lives out in the middle of nowhere playing guitar but ass naked- but I do think about stuff before posting!!!

Anyway back to my crystal meth and barn dancin' with ma sister....yeeeeehaaawwww

 

[Pablo]

lets look at something like the fly - in terms of design - stiking, contemp. - and a real breakthrough - but in terms of sound- Carbon Fibre - errrr - no....unique yes, but tone character? -no....

So essentially, the 25th is not the most unique guitar of the past 15 years, but your favourite guitar to come out in 15 years...

Cheers

Eske

P.s.: Whilst drugs will eventually out of fashion, playing guitar in the nude never will - I can imitate Pete Townshend without using my arms!!!

 

[straycat113]

A very valid question with answers that I totally agree with. A Les Paul straight into a Marshal is as staple a classic rock sound as a Strat into a Fender amp for blues, and both have been done a million times so we associate those tones with some of the greatest music recorded and usually a guitarist with what outfit he used.

But as far as what is right that is a personal choice, and if it sounds right to you then it is. The greatest band IMHO is The Beatles and George Harrison being one of the most underated lead players ever. Bottom line is he played for the song and has so many brilliant licks and riffs I think it is just taken for granted. But the Beatles never went for the obvious choice and cut albums with Rickenbackers, Gretsch, Fenders, Gibsons and Epiphones besides just as vast an assortment of different amps. So the tones were constantly changing but the music was always great.

When Vanhalen came on the scene all of a sudden a million guys were trying to cop his style and TONE. Till this day I am amazed that there are guys out there 30 years later trying to cop his sound to a tee. The Bottom line is it is the year 2010 and the music buisness is in shambles and people are waiting or looking for the next big thing to save us from this Hiphop and Sugar Pop music that is shoved out there.

I do not believe it will be done on what most of us consider classic tones. I hang a few hours in my friends guitar store about 3 times a week and always ask the kids that come in for lessons to show me what they have in the gig bag. I am usually surprised but not really anymore that they have a high end guitar and to keep it real it is hardly ever a Fender or Gibson. Even after playing single coils for over a decade, when I went to buy a guitar with humbuckers I thought I would leave with a Les Paul but I wound up with an EBMM EVH. Not because I play in that style because I dont though I am a huge fan but because it felt and sounded right and I did not want to go with the obvious after hearing what that guitar could do.

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.

 

[Smellybum]

So essentially, the 25th is not the most unique guitar of the past 15 years, but your favourite guitar to come out in 15 years...

Cheers

Eske

P.s.: Whilst drugs will eventually out of fashion, playing guitar in the nude never will - I can imitate Pete Townshend without using my arms!!!

Smelly has left the building....

 

[fbecir]

I am not a specialist, I just own a few guitars but I am sure of one thing : when Steve Morse plays, I always know it's him. I don't know if it is his technique, his guitar or the combination of both but his sound is unique. If you listen to all the collaboration Steve did in the past (for instance with Marcel Dadi), you always know when Steve plays even if he plays with several other players.
OK, Steve is unique, and I am sure that the guitar he designed has a part of his soul. Thus for me the Steve Morse Signature has definitely its own sound.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I would say that it's all depends on the guitarist too

a good guitarist will have is unique sound whatever guitar he will use.

I think you always come back to Gibson/Telecaster cause it's the sound you want to hear even though you like EBMM more. Well this is how I understand it

it's also the sound you found and lots of record so naturally you want to reproduce the same

I like to be diffrent and this why I love my EBMM guitars and Basses

 

[isaactmeyer]

So there is alot of great feedback. I mostly agree with it all..

So if strat/fender amp is classic sound

and les paul/marshall is classic sound

What will it take to get a EB/ ? amp to be a classic sound...