Getting THAT tone.

[madmax1012]

we all know that you can't get the perfect tone without a Dumble. christ, haven't we been over this? the fragile upper harmonics and electrons guys. jeez

[fungalattack]

great topic.
when i hear someone with a great sound, i think only that they have a great sound. i'm not interested in doing what someone else has already done. i admit that i am very much influenced by zappa's middy honky sound and it has creeped into my playing but it wasn't intentional, it's just an honest influence.

IMO your tone is in your fingers and head. the means to get it out will always change due to us being humans with emotions, and emotions change...eventually everyone worth their salt will get there or realize it's there and recognize it.
i feel 'personal tone' is more about the notes and the "eyebrows and attitude" used to get them across. i noticed long ago that i sound like me using anything. there is always a comfort zone and that comfort zone is 'your' tone. diff gear reacts differently and that in turn creates a conduit from your 'person'.
i sound like me unplugged and know in my head where it's going to take me. of coarse there are always happy accidents that happen with volume and that will never change for those that experiment, which we all do. but at some point you'll realize that "you" mos def have a sound...it's already there, you just have to keep trying other means to get it out so it remains inspiring. when we use different colors, the notes and mannerisms involved are from your head & heart.....it's who you are so while it's may sound diff at that moment, you'll soon realize the similarities between the past and the present....it's just colored differently.
those who don't follow will be the ones that lead...and the ones that realize their personal 'tone' faster.
at least that's what i think....

You put that very nicely. I definitely feel that I have my own sound regardless of what equipment I play on. I try to play around on different type instruments and see what sounds good at that moment in time with what I have. It is interesting to think of tone as coloration of your playing.

[Chankgeez]

Now can we talk about phrasing?

[fungalattack]

Now can we talk about phrasing?

like how you shape the notes? like slurred or staccato?

[Chankgeez]

Now can we talk about phrasing?

like how you shape the notes? like slurred or staccato?

Yeah.

[theavondon]

I've been going for kinda a plank plank clank bwaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh kind of sound. I think I'm getting there.

[adrianlee]

I've been going for kinda a plank plank clank bwaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh kind of sound. I think I'm getting there.

stainless stell strings?

[theavondon]

I've been going for kinda a plank plank clank bwaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh kind of sound. I think I'm getting there.

stainless stell strings?

mhm.

[D.o.S.]

great topic.
when i hear someone with a great sound, i think only that they have a great sound. i'm not interested in doing what someone else has already done. i admit that i am very much influenced by zappa's middy honky sound and it has creeped into my playing but it wasn't intentional, it's just an honest influence.

IMO your tone is in your fingers and head. the means to get it out will always change due to us being humans with emotions, and emotions change...eventually everyone worth their salt will get there or realize it's there and recognize it.
i feel 'personal tone' is more about the notes and the "eyebrows and attitude" used to get them across. i noticed long ago that i sound like me using anything. there is always a comfort zone and that comfort zone is 'your' tone. diff gear reacts differently and that in turn creates a conduit from your 'person'.
i sound like me unplugged and know in my head where it's going to take me. of coarse there are always happy accidents that happen with volume and that will never change for those that experiment, which we all do. but at some point you'll realize that "you" mos def have a sound...it's already there, you just have to keep trying other means to get it out so it remains inspiring. when we use different colors, the notes and mannerisms involved are from your head & heart.....it's who you are so while it's may sound diff at that moment, you'll soon realize the similarities between the past and the present....it's just colored differently.
those who don't follow will be the ones that lead...and the ones that realize their personal 'tone' faster.
at least that's what i think....

Pretty much.

[bigchiefbc]

great topic.
when i hear someone with a great sound, i think only that they have a great sound. i'm not interested in doing what someone else has already done. i admit that i am very much influenced by zappa's middy honky sound and it has creeped into my playing but it wasn't intentional, it's just an honest influence.

IMO your tone is in your fingers and head. the means to get it out will always change due to us being humans with emotions, and emotions change...eventually everyone worth their salt will get there or realize it's there and recognize it.
i feel 'personal tone' is more about the notes and the "eyebrows and attitude" used to get them across. i noticed long ago that i sound like me using anything. there is always a comfort zone and that comfort zone is 'your' tone. diff gear reacts differently and that in turn creates a conduit from your 'person'.
i sound like me unplugged and know in my head where it's going to take me. of coarse there are always happy accidents that happen with volume and that will never change for those that experiment, which we all do. but at some point you'll realize that "you" mos def have a sound...it's already there, you just have to keep trying other means to get it out so it remains inspiring. when we use different colors, the notes and mannerisms involved are from your head & heart.....it's who you are so while it's may sound diff at that moment, you'll soon realize the similarities between the past and the present....it's just colored differently.
those who don't follow will be the ones that lead...and the ones that realize their personal 'tone' faster.
at least that's what i think....

Very fucking well put

I totally agree with this. I have completely overhauled my rig in the last year. Completely different basses, different amps, different cabs, at least half of my pedals are different. And yet, my band-mates still think I sound like me. Now, granted, they definitely like my new tone better than my old one, but it's definitely still me. The main core of my sound is mostly in my picking technique and my rhythm sense (which is that I tend to stay just a fucking tiny little tad ahead of the beat, which my drummer has gotten used to and plays to it now).

[snipelfritz]

Now can we talk about phrasing?

like how you shape the notes? like slurred or staccato?

Yeah.

Also dynamics over a single phrase.

[Chankgeez]

Now can we talk about phrasing?

like how you shape the notes? like slurred or staccato?

Yeah.

Also dynamics over a single phrase.

That too.

[masked elwood]

fuck man...i've thought about this topic to excess throughout my music life.

yea...i always thought of phrasing as the "eyebrows and attitude" of the notes being played.
we all play the same notes.....something need to happen to differentiate my notes from yours.

[D.o.S.]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qkD4bw-bs4[/youtube]

[DarkAxel]

All of this I know, of course. By it'll never happen I mean i'll never to be able to play like him.

he has this strange way of playing ..
it really sounds like his guitar is talking
after 20 years I still cant get over it

a lot of that is in the phrasing i believe

i just don't get his slide skills... so jelly

also i've got too low action to make playing with slide sound so good on my guitar i guess