Members Gravity Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 Between these two options, what do you think has a greater effect on tone? From my experience, the amplifier has the most dramatic affect. The amplifier is the cake. But once you get the right amplifier, finding the right pickup to compliment said guitar through said amplifier is the icing on the cake. How about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members melx Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 Between these two options, what do you think has a greater effect on tone?From my experience, the amplifier has the most dramatic affect. The amplifier is the cake.But once you get the right amplifier, finding the right pickup to compliment said guitar through said amplifier is the icing on the cake.How about you? yeah, amp for sure...otherwise we would all have great tone for the price of a new pickup:lol:a good amp is essential for good tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roygbiv Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 I'll be dumbfounded if someone votes pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 I'll be dumbfounded if someone votes pups.I have a hunch that this really isn't a poll, but rather a cleverly disguised test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members leopardstar Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 I have a hunch that this really isn't a poll, but rather a cleverly disguised test. +1 and i for one, refuse to take part in this trollathon, i'll watch though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Let It Burn... Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 play a guitar with crappy pickups through a great amp, and it shall sound less crappy, but still not as good as a guitar with sweet pickups through the same amp. I'm confused Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members andyng Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 The amp. The guitar amp is like the body of your entire guitar setup. Compromise that and you will lose the main component which brings your pickups, effect pedals, and guitar all together. It is crucial to choose a good amp. Do visit http://guitareffectssecrets.andy-ng.com/13/guitar-amp-explained/ to learn more about the many types of amp available... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ROOK_07 Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 amp 100% that's why i chose marshall (super cheesey brand boost) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gravity Posted July 21, 2007 Author Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 +1 and i for one, refuse to take part in this trollathon, i'll watch though No, no trolling here. I just see lots of threads from people asking about pickup swaps only to find out that they are playing through a so-so amp. I stated my opinion. I just wanted to see what others thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gravity Posted July 21, 2007 Author Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 I have a hunch that this really isn't a poll, but rather a cleverly disguised test. Test of what exactly? You and your conspiracy theories. QUICK !!!! LOOK BEHIND YOU !!!! psyche Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members process.sherpa Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 Definitely the amp, just like the speakers make the most difference in a stereo system. Even if you have great components and electronics, if you have crap speakers it'll still sound like crap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bumrunner Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 I'd say amp, but one interesting thought came to my head. Exempting crap small practice amps with uber-gain and rubbery sounding cleans, single coils vs. hums might have a pretty drastic effect on your sound. That said, nothing a little shindiggery on your volume and tone knobs and your EQ can't work it's way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JoeyJoJo Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 (the rhetorical question that has been in the back of my mind for the last 4 years, every time someone mentions changing pickups) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted July 21, 2007 Members Share Posted July 21, 2007 Between these two options, what do you think has a greater effect on tone? From my experience, the amplifier has the most dramatic affect. The amplifier is the cake. But once you get the right amplifier, finding the right pickup to compliment said guitar through said amplifier is the icing on the cake. How about you? Fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 Test of what exactly? You and your conspiracy theories. And you probably think Kennedy was shot by a lone gunman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mister natural Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 Fingers & if you don't believe me; I'll take you outside - I'll kick your ass and I'll still be right :=) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Noise... Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 The amp. No matter what pickups you have, the amps character will still show through. A good example; Just because you have EMG's, it won't turn your Fender Twin Reverb into a metal amp. At least, not without help from a pedal or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reuben Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 Fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DADGADammit Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 +1000 fingers but, since this is a bull{censored} post, i'll give a bull{censored} answer: yes its the {censored}ing amp, you {censored}ing amp forum asshole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 Quick test: play a Strat and a 335 through a Twin. They'll sound exactly the same because the main tonal signature you'll hear will be that of the Twin. Then play the same two guitars through a Marshall. They'll also sound exactly the same because the main tonal signature you'll hear will be the Marshall's. Right? Or ... uhhh ... Go on, enlighten me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GarysBlues Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 Amp for sure.............but don't sleep on Good pups either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 To state the obvious first - there's always going to be a fair bit of tonal difference between, say a humbucker and a Strat single coil. But... In my experience of different amps and different Strat pickups, the amp has a far, far bigger impact on overall tone than the brand of pickup - even taking into account the fact that some have more/fewer windings than others, use different types of magnet, employ a noiseless design, etc, etc... There really isn't that much to a traditional pickup, all things considered - it's a fairly simple device (pickup manufacturers want us to believe differently, of course ). With amps you have to consider the various permutations of: pre-amp design, power-amp design, type of components, type/brand of tubes, size/type of speakers, cabinet wood, cabinet size, etc, etc... Quantitatively speaking, changing pickups from one brand to another makes about the same difference as changing the amp's tubes from one brand to another. Now, swap the whole amp and you're talking big changes..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 To state the obvious first - there's always going to be a fair bit of tonal difference between, say a humbucker and a Strat single coil. But... In my experience of different amps and different Strat pickups, the amp has a far, far bigger impact on overall tone than the brand of pickup - even taking into account the fact that some have more/fewer windings than others, use different types of magnet, employ a noiseless design, etc, etc... There really isn't that much to a traditional pickup, all things considered - it's a fairly simple device (pickup manufacturers want us to believe differently, of course ). With amps you have to consider the various permutations of: pre-amp design, power-amp design, type of components, type/brand of tubes, size/type of speakers, cabinet wood, cabinet size, etc, etc... Quantitatively speaking, changing pickups from one brand to another makes about the same difference as changing the amp's tubes from one brand to another. Now, swap the whole amp and you're talking big changes..... This whole argument - 'amp' vs 'pickup' - is based on a flawed premise, as Alec points out above. An amp is a complex assembly of many interacting factors (you can radically alter an amp's sound and response by changing speakers or tubes), whereas the PU is only one aspect of another complex assembly: the guitar, in which wood, electronic components, construction methods, hardware and finish all play their part. If we reframe the question to 'amp vs guitar', it gets a lot more sensible. Muddy Waters was once quoted as saying that even if he forgot his guitar and had to borrow one at the gig, he'd still have his sound as long as his Super Reverb was there. So let's propose two hypothetical scenarios: 1) You're summoned to a jam or recording but your car breaks down and you have to use public transport. You can schlep your guitar (and a pedal or two) but you have to leave your amp. You phone ahead, and you're told that (if it's a live gig) someone will loan you an amp and (if it's a session) that the studio has Amplitube, GuitarRig or some such available for you to use. 2) You're booked for a gig/session, but for family/soclal/dayjob reasons you have to originate from somewhere other than wherever your gear is. You arrange with a friend that he'll pick up your stuff and move it to the job, and you'll meet him on the set. Unfortunately, when you get there, you discover that he misunderstood, thought you already had your guitar with you, and he's only brought your amp. Luckily, the studio has a guitar there or, if it's a gig, the guitar player in the other band is willing to loan you his spare. In which of these situations would you rather NOT find yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wrathfuldeity Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 But what if you had to barrow somebody elses fingers, because you cut them off in a woodworking accident and had the same guitar, pickups and amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walfordr Posted July 22, 2007 Members Share Posted July 22, 2007 I'd choose the amp since public transport is so unreliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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