The search for Tone
I have an Ibanez RG350 (H-S-H). Not the greatest guitar, I know, but he, it's my best one 
it plays smooth and once I get better I'll consider a really good guitar.
The tone of the rg is metalish. Now my question. How can I adjust the EQ to get some of the sharp edges away and add more warmth. The tone now is edgy, sharp, I want it more 'round'.
I have a gnx4. I guess I just need to play around with it, but I could use some pointers for starters. thnx.
it plays smooth and once I get better I'll consider a really good guitar.The tone of the rg is metalish. Now my question. How can I adjust the EQ to get some of the sharp edges away and add more warmth. The tone now is edgy, sharp, I want it more 'round'.
I have a gnx4. I guess I just need to play around with it, but I could use some pointers for starters. thnx.
Comments
Maybe I'm trying to achieve something which is not possible. The sound of the rg is characteristic metalish. The tone-knob can make it brighter or darker, but what I look for is a combo of both (I guess). I like to keep the brightness, while adding warmth. Do you know what I mean?
So I thought maybe I should drop some highs on the gnx4 eq's add some mids/lows, but wonder if there're magical frequencies to alter.
There is great info on EQ (and other things) at:
http://codekinesis.mine.nu/articles/BookOfDar.html
Or you can replace your pickups, maybe.
But all in all, by the GIGO principle, the natural tone of the guitar has a telling effect on the overall sound. Some possibilities for correcting your stated issue include adjusting or changing pickups, changing strings, adding a weight on the headstock, and making sure the guitar is properly set up. It's important to zero in on the source of unwanted tones to eliminate it.
Of course, playing technique is a primary source of tone, so examine carefully your fret hand and picking style, and see if adjustments there make a difference. For example, I noticed that some noises that I first thought were inherent in my guitar were eliminated by improving my muting technique (this especially makes a difference if you're playing in a key where open string notes are not in the early overtones, for me it was G# minor). Since you're not too far along the guitar-playing field, changing your technique may be part of the solution.
- Ilia
Go to a radio shack or electronics supplier. Buy a couple of these..
.022 mfd Metal film type capacitor
.047 mfd Metal film type capacitor
These caps are wired in parallel with the pickups. Mylar film are better than disc type and have greater noise rejection of dc. If you have them already on the guitar, simply take one of these caps and tack it right over the location of the original. If there are no caps, follow the hot lead of the guitar pickup wire..one will go to the pot casing, the other most likely to the center terminal. Compare the sound of each value. The higher the value, the lower the tone. In this case, the .047 is the higher of the 2. Most commonly found are .01,.022, .047 on most Ibanez guitars. Again, some have no caps which means the pickups operate full bore. Tacking these caps in, playing, and determining what you like is good method. Substitute the values. Another trick is how caps are connected changes the value. If you attatch the caps leads right to eachother or \"stack\" them, you will add the values. In this case...047+.022 ( which will reduce the tone even more). If you add them in series..( one leg ties to another; both leads on opposing ends are then used to connect to the pot. In this case it will be slightly less than .022. and the tone will be brighter
Formula :
Caps in parallel Cap Value= Cap 1 + Cap 2
ex: .047 +.022=.069 mfd
Caps in series Cap Value= Cap 1 X Cap 2 / Cap 1 + Cap 2
ex: .047x.022 / .047+.022 = about .015 mfd
Using these two caps can give many differences in tone possibilities. It's cheaper and not that hard to do.
.
MT
Interesting, for some reason I always thought that was a natural property of certain strat models.
- ilia
- Ilia
and another question. While I was checking the cap on the tonedial I checked my pu's as well... b/c I don't think they are that good.
Here's a pic:
Neck PU reads: Gotoh. No. I H 3
Bridge PU reads: Gotoh. No. I H 4
can't read the sc pu.
The tonecap seems like a .022 to me b/c it reads : 2a22rj.
I've been reading some on the internet, and I do understand modding the tonecap now (I think). I also looked for the PU's...I didn't find that much on these pu's, but I think they are dead cheap and kill the sound a lot. Would it be possible (and wise?) to change one PU (I'm thinking of the neck PU) for a more brighter HB?
(I have taken more pics (also close-ups) so if you are interested I can post them here aswell)
its very easy to use and gives me that extra push over the cliff... you know cause once your at 10 all the way up where have you got to go? nowhere thats where ...with the BBE mine can go to 11! LOL
I've replaced the .022 with a .047 cap, and yeah I can notice the tone difference quite a lot. I have to play around with a bit more to judge it better, but my first impression is that it even cuts the highs too much, mudding the tone a lot. In the end I think it's my PU's who are the weak link in the chain.
So I have to consider spending more money on upgrading my current axe or.... saving that money and sell my rg350 (should be able to land me ~$175 again) and spend that on a new axe (Ibanez SA type).
Thnx for thinking with me
Keep rockin'!
Stew-Mac
HTH,
Tod
But now...I have to look for a new guitar. And I'm not really that expierenced with all the different types of guitars out there. I liked the Ibanez for its neck. I also have a LP-type, but it's a bit too heavy at the head for me, doesn't stay stable if I don't support it with my left hand.
I'm looking for a guitar that has the tones of:
-mark knopfler/dire straits, love those warm tones.
-Slash's sound
-Heavier stuff like Nightwish, Dreamtheater.
Does such a versatile guitar exist? My budget in $ is around 500-850. Any suggestions?
(btw, I know there're a lot of sites discussing this, but there are too many of them, and I have read quite a few but it doesn't really give me a good opinion.)
I like strats (and copies of) because they are light, well-balanced, comfortable, available in countless configurations, and have a parts selection second to none.
Look around for a new or used good quality Korean strat copy (solid wood, good neck). They're cheap, and with the money you save, you can upgrade as you please. If you put in pups comparable to standard Fender and Les Paul, you'll have a very versatile guitar.
You can always take it to a music shop and see if they can find something with thier VU meters, osciliscopes and other such stuff. It's really hard for us over the internet to understand what you are looking for in tone or to hear exactly what is wrong. Talking to someone face to face would probably be better. A good tech can plug your guitar in for a few seconds and play your guitar and probably tell you what the problem is for free if he is nice.
MT
I got mine years ago used, They were asking $1300, I traded $800 labor on a concrete job I did. It is worth over $1800 I would guess??
But, I can get all kinds of sounds out of it without my GNX1
I sold my ibanez...ordered a new one online, hope to receive it this coming week. PRS style guitar with two HB which can be split with a push-pull pot.