Tone searchin'

[peterd79]

i'm an avid Musicman fan as are most of us... and i have gained a few other f brand guitars over the years to facilitate some of what i'm asked to do... and only because it was specifically asked for a specific type of guitar to be played.

I had to borrow a G guitar this morning for a specific tone that i wasn't able to get with my musicman guitars...

i'll be asked to have that tone more often -

Would the logical choice be a Reflex or an Armada?

I currently have a 20th and a Silo Special (both stock) the 20th is close but just need a bit more... and looking for an excuse to get a new guitar...

 

[ozzyrules]

Reflex does it all. I've never played an Armada.

 

[lock-ny]

Def check out the armada, its the right scale length and it gets pretty heavy..I played one once and It played great, I think you really need a set neck 24 3/4 scale length to get close so that's my vote,,others will chime in and disagree Im sure..lol

 

[Dr. Rock]

Would the logical choice be a Reflex or an Armada?

As much as I love the Reflex tone, it doesn't quite match a Les Paul, so maybe try an Armada. First the tone woods are different: Reflex is rich, but not as deep and boomy as an all mahogany LP. Second, Reflex is chambered, giving a subtle but noticeable undertone that some have described as 'more presence', but to me I'd say it is more airy. Third, you have the bolt on neck and scale length difference that was already mentioned.

I would like to see more posted and hear more about the Armada though.

 

[BUC]

I have both. (Disclaimer, for the rest of the post, when I say Reflex, I'm referring to my 25th anniversary. I also have a Gamechanger Reflex that can tonally do pretty much anything.)

I agree with everything that Dr Rock said.

The Reflex doesn't really sound like anything else. Sometimes more tele than anything but that's just one small corner of it's world. The neck p/u in series is pretty full and still articulate like a LP, and I think the middle positions of both the Reflex and the LP can be similar enough for most uses. The bridge PU's on the Reflex are a bit brighter than some guitars and don't really remind me of a LP.

The Armada though is pretty spot on for that kind of thing. The difference in scale I think has some subtleties in tone that you don't notice until you play one. It definitely feels more like a LP in your hands if that's the kind of body and bridge you're used to. The strap buttons are closer to where a LP is so it hangs on you more like a LP.

For most live uses, I defy anyone to really say a Reflex can't do LP stuff. No one in the audience is going to walk out the door if you play some Zepplin on it (I do it all the time). If you're in the studio and really trying to capture some specific detail of a tone, then maybe you might find something a Reflex can't do. To my ear, the Reflex does a better job on the LP side of the spectrum than the stratocaster side. As I was saying, anytime I try to dial in "strat" on my Reflex I end up in Tele territory. Honestly, that's just a stone's throw away so I don't want to get all up tight about it. The Reflex covers more tonal ground than the Armada by far, but the Armada does have some magic mojo in it. Not to mention the Armada looks totally badass.

Looking at the two guitars you already have, I would say the Armada would do more to broaden your sonic repetoire, BUT you literally can't go wrong with a Reflex...and a gamechanger is even more flexible than that.

 

[BUC]

Def check out the armada, its the right scale length and it gets pretty heavy..I played one once and It played great, I think you really need a set neck 24 3/4 scale length to get close so that's my vote,,others will chime in and disagree Im sure..lol

The Armada is lighter than most LP's. I've never really thought of it as a very heavy guitar. My Y2D is much heavier. My RG3120 (Mahogany body, maple top) is heavier. The Armada feels big though.

I do agree about the scale length though!

 

[peterd79]

thanks guys...

Im a musicman guy through and through... and as mentioned and glad it didn't turn into a which is better thread...

SO THANK YOU...

just trying to get closer to that LP sonic spectrum that im fining that I really like... and my rule of thumb is get the guitar you want it to sound like... ie a tele, strat, lp, etc... don't get a LP and try to make it strat like by splitting the coils mentality...

so I think i'll start persuing the Armada and saving up...

I played one at NAMM in January but didn't feel it was a great environment to really dedicate my time to testing...

I know I liked what I saw and played... but wasn't really looking for that tone at that time

 

[t_rod]

I've played the armada once and it was gobs of fun. The neck wasn't shred fast like I usually prefer, but it made me want to just wiggle the hell out of every fretted note so I didn't care to go fast. Massive tone machine, and better than any LP i've played.

 

[lock-ny]

When I said the Armada gets heavy I meant tone lol, the Armada I checked out was actually very lightweight!

 

[BUC]

When I said the Armada gets heavy I meant tone lol, the Armada I checked out was actually very lightweight!

Oh, well I totally agree with that!

 

[Exodus5]

I hope this doesn't step on EBMM toes, but why not get a G to get the G sound? That being said, I'd say the Armada will be the closest.

 

[peterd79]

I hope this doesn't step on EBMM toes, but why not get a G to get the G sound? That being said, I'd say the Armada will be the closest.

Thats usually my take on things... you want a certain tone get that specific guitar... they're fine guitars; however, i'm just finding that the quality of certain manufactures have not been able to keep up quality that EBMM has... i love the company and want to give my hard earned money to those who are working hard to keep quality top priority... THUS EBMM...

 

[Exodus5]

I agree on the quality issue but I personally believe G has been doing better the last couple of years. I had a Gary Moore Tribute (2013) that was just about perfect.

 

[BUC]

OK, I have to ask, what is the exact kind of tone you're looking for, without mentioning types of guitar. Use musical analogies.

The reason I ask is frequently, what people think is a LP type sound actually isn't. The classic example's being the first couple Led Zepplin records and a lot of ZZ top. Recorded mostly on telecasters.

So, without using the name of a guitar, what type of tone are you looking for?

 

[peterd79]

OK, I have to ask, what is the exact kind of tone you're looking for, without mentioning types of guitar. Use musical analogies.

The reason I ask is frequently, what people think is a LP type sound actually isn't. The classic example's being the first couple Led Zepplin records and a lot of ZZ top. Recorded mostly on telecasters.

So, without using the name of a guitar, what type of tone are you looking for?

couldn't agree more...

I do have a tele and a gretsch that i use from time to time - but my main guitars are the 20th and a Silo Special.

The Silo is snappy and very vintage single coil sounding... but can get down and dirty with the right amp and pedals...
the 20th is a bit thicker tone wise and but not really heavy - granted it can certainly get there with a pedal or two...

I guess what i'm looking for is a really thick and present guitar with a lot of bite and sustain - just really dynamic and lots of character and note definition like i get from my other mm guitars...

 

[BUC]

couldn't agree more...
I guess what i'm looking for is a really thick and present guitar with a lot of bite and sustain - just really dynamic and lots of character and note definition like i get from my other mm guitars...

You could definitely use those same words to describe the way my 25th Reflex sounds.

One of the biggest things I like about the Reflex is with the hollow body, it has more acoustic natural sustain than any guitar I own. It's capable of a wide variety of tones and does a lot of what you are saying.

Since you are a Silo and 20th owner, the Reflex won't feel that foreign to you. The Armada feels very different at first. I'm getting used to it but the first week I had it, it just didn't feel natural or familiar to me since most of my guitars are flat tops with the strap buttons pretty far forward. The difference in scale makes pitch bends both feel and sound different.

Get both. GC has a great return policy. It would be almost impossible to find a store that had both in stock. If you lived in AZ I'd say come on over and give'em a spin.

 

[Magic Jason]

I own an AL HH and I love to play "Les Paul stuff" on it! Of course it isn't the "same" sound.
But it's so much better and refined to me!
The AL has everything I like in a Les Paul (balls & attitude) and none of the things I hate ( weight, looks, neck, weight, sh***ty tuners, weight) plus superb build quality and unsurpassed playability!