Bowks
Well-known member
About half a century of playing, boh recorded and live, which is what it has taken for the aforementioned classic sounds to become a benchmark for the majority of guitarists.
- Thread starter isaactmeyer
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About half a century of playing, boh recorded and live, which is what it has taken for the aforementioned classic sounds to become a benchmark for the majority of guitarists.
the24thfret
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What's a Les Paul?
isaactmeyer
Active member
Only the most famous guitar in the world probably... No offense to EB... hopefully not for long..
aleclee
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- Sep 26, 2004
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- 252
Depends on whether you're looking to cop the classic sounds of the past or create the classic tones of the future...
Kaloyan
Well-known member
I'd say that the Luke has a very very distinctive tone. Most of you probably would refer their arguments to the fact that his phrasing is so unique that makes you feel 'familiar' with the sound of the guitar but from the perspective of the initial question - absolutely unique.
robelinda2
Well-known member
Its all in the fingers.
Albert lee sounds like no-one else, i'd say that AL is very distinctive.
Albert lee sounds like no-one else, i'd say that AL is very distinctive.
I totally think EBMM guitars have their own sound. To me I hear the absolute best tonal characteristics of both Gibson and Fender. But on a completely higher level. I can always tell when Im hearing someone using a EBMM. They all seem to have a tone that is bright but not piercing. Warm and full but not muddy. Always having a really great very pleasant sounding clarity. After I first heard of EBMM guitars years and years ago, I thought that its gotta be the fact that several of the models they make use Dimarzio Pickups. But after some further investigation, I saw that even though they used Dimarzio often, they were not always the same model of pickups. Then I saw and played a Luke. Completely different brand of pickups and they were active as well. And it did still have that tonal quality. I believe that its due to several things. The main ones being....
1. Quality of the parts being used. If you build a guitar with ply wood and duct tape and refrigerator magnets its not gonna sound good. Actually it might not make any sound at all.
2. Craftsmanship- If you cut corners or just dont care how it turns out or are just in it for the money and the honeys its gonna have problems.
3. The brass tremolo block. Out of all the guitars Ive owned (which is around 80 at the moment) or played. All the best sounding/harmonically rich/sustaining/mojo having/resonating and lots of other really cool things that guitars can have was that they all had brass tremolo blocks. I actually proved my theory late on 09. I had a company called KGC make me what they call a Mega Mass Brass Block to replace the stock steel one that came on my 2007 Fender American Deluxe Strat. And BAM! Instantly I had all the cool harmonics as well as extra sustain and lots of other really awesome things it didnt have before. It had more of an impact tonally than upgrading from steel saddles and a plastic nut to the Graphtech saddles and nut but not quite as a dramatic as a pickup swap from say going from Dimarzio PAFs to EMG 81s.
1. Quality of the parts being used. If you build a guitar with ply wood and duct tape and refrigerator magnets its not gonna sound good. Actually it might not make any sound at all.
2. Craftsmanship- If you cut corners or just dont care how it turns out or are just in it for the money and the honeys its gonna have problems.
3. The brass tremolo block. Out of all the guitars Ive owned (which is around 80 at the moment) or played. All the best sounding/harmonically rich/sustaining/mojo having/resonating and lots of other really cool things that guitars can have was that they all had brass tremolo blocks. I actually proved my theory late on 09. I had a company called KGC make me what they call a Mega Mass Brass Block to replace the stock steel one that came on my 2007 Fender American Deluxe Strat. And BAM! Instantly I had all the cool harmonics as well as extra sustain and lots of other really awesome things it didnt have before. It had more of an impact tonally than upgrading from steel saddles and a plastic nut to the Graphtech saddles and nut but not quite as a dramatic as a pickup swap from say going from Dimarzio PAFs to EMG 81s.
RocketRalf
Well-known member
To me the guitars of the future are in the vein of the Axis and the JP. The Axis has already been replicated and imitated everywhere, while the JP is a subtle variation of it in construction, but very different outcome due to the pups. Every time I hear a JP I know what it is, and to me there is an inherent tone that I can't help but associate with John Petrucci. That's why I wouldn't play one stock. The latest signature pickups seem to be a real hit, people are comparing them favorably to EMGs and BareKnuckles.
I believe we won't ever see another such widely used classic guitar/amp combo because 1)There are so many other choices now and 2)It's becoming more fashionable to sound different. But if I had to pick one classic of the future I'd definitely say JP+Boogie Mark II-V. Funny, the Mark II is actually quite an old design!
I believe we won't ever see another such widely used classic guitar/amp combo because 1)There are so many other choices now and 2)It's becoming more fashionable to sound different. But if I had to pick one classic of the future I'd definitely say JP+Boogie Mark II-V. Funny, the Mark II is actually quite an old design!
isaactmeyer
Active member
oh good call.... a JP+Boogie Mark II-V is a great combo.... I like that alot
Dante
Well-known member
ir's funny how much it goes under the radar, alot of people are already using JP BFRs as their goto axe, in a sense that was previously not applied to EBMM guitars. but in general, because so many of them are sig axes, some ppl don't want to be associated to the name on the headstock, which is ridiculous but whatever. 99% still dream of having their own sig 
imho, i think the JP, the luke and morse have very strong tone characters. of the non-sigs, the 25th is probably going to take the cake.
a reason why the EBMM sound is so hard to define is because they never rest on their laurels and whenever EBMM or an artist thinks the axe needs something, it gets changed.
imho, i think the JP, the luke and morse have very strong tone characters. of the non-sigs, the 25th is probably going to take the cake.
a reason why the EBMM sound is so hard to define is because they never rest on their laurels and whenever EBMM or an artist thinks the axe needs something, it gets changed.
RocketRalf
Well-known member
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.
of course we all knew that. I wonder if people would play it less had Mr. Paul's signature featured on every headstock.
GuitarHack
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- 981
It IS ridiculous. Les Pauls also are signature guitars, ever wondered where their name came from?
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
Well-known member
Back from a long absence
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.
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
Active member
I agree that i can hear lee's tone seperated from others.. anyone know what amp he plays?
bkrumme
Well-known member
AFAIK, he plays some Fender amps as well as vintage Music Man amps.
banjoplayer
Well-known member
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?
where´s the answer. does the sound come from guitar or fingers. was the egg or the chicken first... or both?
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
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
mico
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- Joined
- Nov 24, 2004
- Messages
- 47
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.
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.
