comfort vs tone

[fatoni]

am i the only person who thinks tone comes from comfort? have you ever walked into a guitar store and heard somebody with monster tone and then you come to realize hes playing a $100 guitar into a 10w solid state practice amp?

 

[RocketRalf]

If I had to, I would find a compromise with a slight preference towards tone. But I don't have to

 

[ScoobySteve]

am i the only person who thinks tone comes from comfort? have you ever walked into a guitar store and heard somebody with monster tone and then you come to realize hes playing a $100 guitar into a 10w solid state practice amp?

I agree to a certain extent..... Though at a certain level of playing quality gear DOES show. This is why we love EBMM!

Quality in order of importance (in my opinion anywhos)

1. Player
2. Guitar
3. Amp
4. Gear

 

[ShaneV]

I'll have to agree with Scooby Steve and say tone > all. My JP is so easy to play, but it's my SS I keep coming back to because it just sounds like pure rock and roll turned up to fifty.

 

[brokenvail]

Great points guys. I lean towards tone. I like many other wish there where some meater necks with a bit more width in the EB line but their necks are far from something that is unplayable. My ASS is not the most comforatable guitar to play but it rocks. My SS feels great but its tone is very diff than the ASS. I really want an SS with Piezo but I keep wondering if maybe I should jut get a non rosewood ASS.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Great points guys. I lean towards tone. I like many other wish there where some meater necks with a bit more width in the EB line but their necks are far from something that is unplayable. My ASS is not the most comforatable guitar to play but it rocks. My SS feels great but its tone is very diff than the ASS. I really want an SS with Piezo but I keep wondering if maybe I should jut get a non rosewood ASS.

No arm contour and flat tops shouldn't really be any problem for people who started out on an acoustic.

Especially a classical guitar..... The antithesis of comfort.

 

[spychocyco]

Well, obviously, both.

For me, though, the feel of the guitar is the most important thing. I've got short, stubby fingers, and the neck has got to be right for me. If I pick up a guitar and strum a few chords, and it doesn't feel comfortable, I'm not even going to plug it in. There's no point. My wife looks at me funny sometimes when I pick up a guitar and put it back on the rack without even playing it because it just feels wrong, but if it's not comfortable in my hands, it doesn't matter how good it sounds.

I decided I'd have an Axis one day before I even plugged it in. When I wrapped my hand around the neck of the real deal for the first time, it was like a lightning bolt striking. Luckily, I now have my Axis, and I'm incredibly happy with both the feel and sound, so no problems.

 

[Hendog]

I want both. I have a Les Paul that I cannot live without because I cannot get that sound anywhere else, but it is uncomfotable as hell. That is where Music Man comes in. Great versatility and amazing comfort!

 

[mightypudge]

When choosing an instrument I consider many factors such as feel, playability, tone, versatility, appearance, durability, etc. Now that I am approaching 40 my priorities have shifted a bit. I want a guitar that sounds and looks great, but I am primarily about feel and playability. I also find durability important as I want something that feels substantial and will last a long time. Versatility, while nice to have, is just not that critical to me these days as my cover band years are well behind me.

For the record, I find my EBMM JP6 BFR to be a well-balanced instrument. It exceeds my expectations in terms of feel, playability, looks, and tone. In terms of versatility to meets my needs perfectly. So while it may not offer as many tonal options as the EBMM 25th, I find it perfect for what I do.

It's nice to have found a guitar that can be all that, and a guitar company that just seems to "get it."

 

[Astrofreq]

You must play a Jackson Randy Rhodes V

Nope, but I do want an Explorer at some point.

 

[ShaneV]

Nope, but I do want an Explorer at some point.

I had an explorer once (technically it was an "E2", made out of walnut- which is an awful idea) and had looks for sure, but failed horribly in terms of both comfort and tone (lesson for today: don't buy a cool looking guitar that you get a great deal on thinking you can make it play and sound great, you probably can't). Last I heard the new owner of that guitar was in California .

 

[Sweat]

Both are important but tone is the number one thing, can work around the rest. After much searching finding the 25th to be the key to both, comfort and tone, the 25th is a bandwagon worth jumping on

 

[Jerrick]

For me they both work together. I have picked up guitars, they feel nice, but when I plug it into an amp, and I get some crap sound, that ruins the feel for me. Its still playable, but the tone it has makes it feel weird to me.

Then the other way around happens a lot. The guitar doesnt fit me the best, but the tone I get with it is amazing, and when I have good tone, I feel a lot better on the guitar.

So I guess tone is more important to me, cause after I have tone I have feel, even when the guitar doesnt feel good. Its weird, but thats how it works for me. =p

 

[Stratty316]

I look at it this way, BP ruined it for me!!! I love my 96 Axis because it feels so amazing, has amazing tone and plays like nothing else... I wanted "that strat sound" to compliment the Axis and eventually found the tone in a brand "F" CS but could never get into the guitar because it didn't ever "feel" right... so I sold it. Now I am gonna buy a Silo Spec with singles or an AL so I can get have both. I also love the tone of the JP guitar, but the neck is way different then my Axis and therefore don't think I would play one long term. (I like the neck a little fat and chunky like the Axis... hmmmm wonder if I could get BP to make me a silo spec with an Axis neck.... oh that would be nice!!) So I guess tone is very important... but it has to be comfortable and have some mojo to be worth it for me.

 

[agt]

a silo spec with an Axis neck.... oh that would be nice!!

There were SSS Axis Sports made approximately 10 years ago. You might want to keep your eyes open for one.

Also HSS Axis Sports which appear for sale a bit more frequently.

 

[thiscalltoarms]

its a complex interaction between the two- especially in the studio. On one hand, tone on tap is god in this distinction, but if the comfort (or lack thereof) holds back the groove, then no go. But, generally LP's are ok sitting down in the studio.

but live, I've never made it through a set with an LP, and I likely never will. toon heavy for a 45 minute set, let alone a 2 hour set. i get frustrated enough with an 8 pound SG after 2 hours.