Comments on: String Gauge http://www.tyquinn.com/2009/string-gauge/ Music Theory for Guitarists Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:45:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: brian duvall http://www.tyquinn.com/2009/string-gauge/comment-page-1/#comment-289 brian duvall Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:24:52 +0000 http://www.tyquinn.com/files/?p=14#comment-289 Thanks so much for the quick reply. That is kind of the answer I was expecting. And since it isn't factory there are more possibilities or I should say issues. I think that now I have become more educated in what I want as far as tone, which is Zepps live performance on How The West Was Won. That will be hard with the 57's since you can' t easily split them. But you are right, I am hooked and would love to make another guitar. For now I may take it in to a pro and have it looked at it and play it. But thanks again for your advice. Thanks so much for the quick reply. That is kind of the answer I was expecting. And since it isn’t factory there are more possibilities or I should say issues. I think that now I have become more educated in what I want as far as tone, which is Zepps live performance on How The West Was Won. That will be hard with the 57′s since you can’ t easily split them. But you are right, I am hooked and would love to make another guitar. For now I may take it in to a pro and have it looked at it and play it. But thanks again for your advice.

]]> By: Ty Quinn http://www.tyquinn.com/2009/string-gauge/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Ty Quinn Sun, 03 Oct 2010 02:16:49 +0000 http://www.tyquinn.com/files/?p=14#comment-288 Hmmm... There are a whole range of possible reasons that you aren't getting the tone that you are after - though a Blues Jr with 57 Classics would normally sound anything but tinny and synthetic! :) That sounds like potential for a lovely warm blues/rock sound. Without being able to actually see and play the guitar, the best I can do is offer a few educated guesses and suggestions. Also, it might help if you are able to describe the sound you're getting a bit more. Try playing it unplugged with your ear against the body or near the strings. Can you hear anything at the source that, when processed with gain, might create the tinny sound that you are describing? Listen for fret crash, buzzing, listen to the bridge/tuners/nut/trem springs etc make sure that nothings' vibrating. If you are pretty happy with the sound that the guitar is producing acoustically then it'd be worth double checking your wiring, experimenting with pickup height (high pickups can potentially choke the strings), finding out whether the tone issue occurs in all pickup positions/control settings to the same extent - though I'll admit I'm clutching at straws at this point. Does the same tinny sound occur on every string above the 12th fret, or just one or two of the strings? This would point to a setup issue - fret levelling, bridge height, neck relief etc. Level frets would be the first thing that I'd check. Let me know if you think of any other symptoms/info that might help. Now that you've built your first one, you'll be hooked! I can't wait to get a chance to put together my second guitar! Kind regards, Ty Hmmm…

There are a whole range of possible reasons that you aren’t getting the tone that you are after – though a Blues Jr with 57 Classics would normally sound anything but tinny and synthetic! :) That sounds like potential for a lovely warm blues/rock sound.

Without being able to actually see and play the guitar, the best I can do is offer a few educated guesses and suggestions. Also, it might help if you are able to describe the sound you’re getting a bit more.

Try playing it unplugged with your ear against the body or near the strings. Can you hear anything at the source that, when processed with gain, might create the tinny sound that you are describing? Listen for fret crash, buzzing, listen to the bridge/tuners/nut/trem springs etc make sure that nothings’ vibrating. If you are pretty happy with the sound that the guitar is producing acoustically then it’d be worth double checking your wiring, experimenting with pickup height (high pickups can potentially choke the strings), finding out whether the tone issue occurs in all pickup positions/control settings to the same extent – though I’ll admit I’m clutching at straws at this point.

Does the same tinny sound occur on every string above the 12th fret, or just one or two of the strings? This would point to a setup issue – fret levelling, bridge height, neck relief etc. Level frets would be the first thing that I’d check.

Let me know if you think of any other symptoms/info that might help.

Now that you’ve built your first one, you’ll be hooked! I can’t wait to get a chance to put together my second guitar!

Kind regards,

Ty

]]> By: Brian D http://www.tyquinn.com/2009/string-gauge/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Brian D Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:01:53 +0000 http://www.tyquinn.com/files/?p=14#comment-287 Forgot to add 25-3/4 scale length. Forgot to add 25-3/4 scale length.

]]> By: Brian D http://www.tyquinn.com/2009/string-gauge/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Brian D Sun, 03 Oct 2010 00:59:25 +0000 http://www.tyquinn.com/files/?p=14#comment-286 I have a question of tinny, synthetic tone. I built my own guitar almost from scratch. I didn't tackle building the neck, so I bought one online and it came with rather large frets. I installed 57 classics because they have such a warm tone. But when I crank up the gain and play the higher frets (12 and up) it is pretty tinny and synthetic. I am not sure if it is the amp or something else. My first guess is the frets, possibly the short distance between. My second guess is my amp. I have two, a solid state Crate and Blues Jr. Unless my 57's weren't meant to be pushed like, stock Gibsons or Semour Duncans, I can't pinpoint the problem. Since I built it I just chalk it up to experience, but it is a good learn process for achieving the tone I am looking for. Can you help? I have a question of tinny, synthetic tone. I built my own guitar almost from scratch. I didn’t tackle building the neck, so I bought one online and it came with rather large frets. I installed 57 classics because they have such a warm tone. But when I crank up the gain and play the higher frets (12 and up) it is pretty tinny and synthetic. I am not sure if it is the amp or something else. My first guess is the frets, possibly the short distance between. My second guess is my amp. I have two, a solid state Crate and Blues Jr. Unless my 57′s weren’t meant to be pushed like, stock Gibsons or Semour Duncans, I can’t pinpoint the problem. Since I built it I just chalk it up to experience, but it is a good learn process for achieving the tone I am looking for. Can you help?

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