Guitar/PU's Or Amp/Effects- Which Gets You Closer To A Desired Tone?

[spawnofthesith]

Everything’s important (and matters god dammit) but -to me- the amp matters the most.

Tons of amps out there that get me where I want to go tho

 

[Whizzinby]

Pretty sure a vintage strat with an Unberschall will do the brootz more effectively than a 7-string with EMG’s through a Jazz Chorus.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Had to go with guitar/pu's. If that base doesn't feel right and respond how I want then I'm not getting what I desire.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Pretty sure a vintage strat with an Unberschall will do the brootz more effectively than a 7-string with EMG’s through a Jazz Chorus.

It’s not like you could tell the difference in a blind test

 

[Whizzinby]

It’s not like you could tell the difference in a blind test

 

[la szum]

Isn't it awesome that we don't have to choose, and these either/or dualities are not ever a mirror of reality?

 

[Gearzilla]

Pretty sure a vintage strat with an Unberschall will do the brootz more effectively than a 7-string with EMG’s through a Jazz Chorus.

Agreed, however I’m also pretty sure a vintage Tele through an Uberschall will do a better twang than a 7-String through a Jazz Chorus or Fender style amp.

 

[metropolis_4]

It’s always been amps/effects for me.

For many years I had nothing but this Strat and I had to find ways of getting all the sounds I needed out of it.

Other than modern metal stuff any heavier than Dream Theater I can’t think of any styles I haven’t performed live with this guitar.

I once did a “history of the electric guitar in modern music” lecture and performed examples from the ‘40s - ‘00s and did the whole thing with just this.

 

[Stone]

do the brootz

Something new ill add to my lexicon
such a cool saying

 

[Gearzilla]

 

[TSJMajesty]

I know certain settings, or styles of music, can bring out the nuances of a particular guitar, but I'd have never known Wolfgang Van Halen played an ES HB just by listening.

 

[Sleezy E]

Pickles/knobs

I prefer dill with my sliders....

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Varies. I think it depends on what the key contributor(s) was/were for a tone.

Hands. Always. Serious. Never.

 

[Gearzilla]

Hands. Always. Serious. Never.

 

[Byrdman]

I voted for Amps/Effects. IMLE (In My Limited Experience), I have a SC guitar and a HB Guitar, and I pick the one that gets me in the ball park, but my modeler and amp puts my ass in the seat. I imagine as I get better, my hands, strings, cab choice, mics, etc. will be the beer in my hand to enjoy the game better.

 

[ejecta]

In my experience the biggest tone drivers are the pickups/guitar hardware and cabinet/speakers then the amp a close third in line.

 

[Bob Zaod]

It's funny I just saw this thread when I made an observation last night of how much I notice everything changes with different pups. Some days I love my X2N Dimarzio and some days I love the Duncan Invaders and they are totally different pups, with the only shared thing being they are both high output passives. Really dig the 490's I have in my SG too though. All depends on my mood. I have developed complete disdain for just about every generic stock pup I have played through.


So to answer the OP's question, for me lately it's been guitar/effects.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Amps/effects.

However, the feel is important to me too for what I do, and in that case it’s amps/effects/pickups.

I keep switching off of an EMG81 and going right back to it. I’ve had numerous things in my #1 just trying different things out and nothing works as well with my rigs as that pickup.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Agreed, however I’m also pretty sure a vintage Tele through an Uberschall will do a better twang than a 7-String through a Jazz Chorus or Fender style amp.

The cleaner the tone, the more important the guitar/p.u. I mean, we all saw that Glenn Fricker vid, right?

 

[Gearzilla]

I mean, we all saw that Glenn Fricker vid, right?