macken_nz

Asking the big questions today.. forget tone and lace sensor pickup swaps.. it's all about that silky shine of that beloved instrument most of us fumble to even play.

Oh no i'm hating again.. such intolerance.

Next time I will talk about middle pickup strat pups i swear

16 hours ago, davie said:

I'm not sure if I remember how the tele sounded exactly. It was probably 10 years ago. lol

But one thing I noticed in my jazz bass is that the brass saddles give more of a humming quality in the higher overtones, which imo made the attack sound more defined.

Have you ever considered using Graphtech Tusq? Its a very interesting material. It's probably the one material that maximizes overall tone. I use both Tusq saddles and nut in my Yamaha 'strat', which is my main tracking electric guitar. It's originally a budget guitar, but I made it more usable with some custom mods.

That's interesting and no I haven't bothered to investigate tusq.. So many options in materials can make one dizzy but it's good to hear you like the changes with your cheaper instrument.

6 hours ago, daddymack said:

before you go spending all that time and money trying for a brighter tone, try changing the bleed cap...

IMHO, the tonal differences between brass and steel are negligible, and the overall acoustic tone of the instrument is dependent on other factors, like string diameter, nut material, top mount vs thru mount, body wood...but once you plug in, that mostly goes out the window, and it is all about the p-ups, the pots and the bleed cap. Because that is the filter you are putting the acoustic tone through.

If my opinion makes me an 'average guitarist' in your opinion, well, that is your opinion...

I disagree. I believe the most important factors are the bridge termination points and type of saddles and the type of body wood that is used for the bridge transfer resonance. I can hear the difference clearly with all my guitars unplugged and the only difference to them is the bridges and body woods.

The nut material similarly makes a difference yet unlike the bridge it obviously only terminates the open strings therefore has a marked lesser effect on the tone.

For example my tele custom and deluxe sound dramatically different acoustically and the only factor of difference between them is that one has an ashtray bridge and steel barrel saddles and the other has a standard 6 saddle bent steel design. This acoustic sound quality is just mostly amplified by the pickup and although subtle changes in pups and caps and pots can alter things the inherent tone remains the same to my ear which is the acoustic resonance coming through. 

I can't determine how much of a factor the ashtray bridge makes and what part is the saddles to be fair but from memory the slab steel tele's don't sound as twangy to my ear. I'd love to get to the bottom of things and have the money(and nerdiness) to do these tone comparisons for myself at home and really establish what is going on tonally with these material factors. maybe one day when I am a bigshot with megabucks

Anyhow, I wasn't suggesting i'd be going ahead with any changes as I love the tone of the steel saddles and remember the youtube comparison video featuring a substantial difference in tone that a bright cap change, although pronounced, will not acheive a similar sound.

Nice little dig at the end there.. I obviously offended you at some frivolous comments made to your mate Grant and you intend to use your authority to come down hard on dissent in the ranks. I even got a 'Disarm' personal email from you which was something special to my heart. Look at me mum?! I'm making troubling comments to bedroom guitarists! i'm flying mum i'm flying! seems there's a fragile bunch here that are very precious about some silly and fun taunts.. I thought you were made of sterner stuff megatron.

I'm 100% sure I will get banned for this outspoken rant because people in power have only one option in their little brains.. control and dominate. Good times here though.. Some of you guys are truly insightful and not temperamental to the point of childishness.

Do it daddy mack.. end it.. finish me because I named your boy grant as a child.. such critical abuse that you obviously take personally given your final statement. 

Gooooo Intolerance!

72 custom I still love you.. goodbye everyone!   

47 minutes ago, davie said:

I used to own a tele. I think I had both steel and brass saddles on it at different points. I think brass saddle might give the guitar a slightly brighter attack. I had the 3 saddle version, which looks nice aesthetically especially with brass, but the intonation wasn't as accurate as guitar with 6 saddles.

I also switched the saddles on my jazz bass from steel to brass. It definitely changed the attack, it is brighter sounding to me.

That's interesting to hear you consider the brass brighter. I thought the steel may have been the brighter material. I remember the youtube test video comparison and not expecting much difference but was surprised to hear quite a substantial difference in the material. 

When you consider that the saddles are the point where all the string vibration transfers through it can be a very important part in the tone. The nut is the other point but obviously it only transfers the vibration from the open strings and not the fretted ones.

I used to think graphite was the way to go due to it's durability but I've heard how the tone's high frequencies are significantly cut with this material. 

I agree brass looks nice though.

Along with speaker choice, the bridge saddles can have a big impact on tone yet the average guitarist(grant harding) will mostly consider pickup or amp changes above the former.. which is a bit short sighted in my aggressive and hate filled opinion  

Thanks for your input man.. I really like your view points.

1 hour ago, gardo said:

Since tone is purely subjective and you say it’s perfect right now there is no reason to change saddles

Yeah if it works it works.. Part of my brain is curious at the difference though. 

Any thoughts on the tone difference of the two materials?

16 minutes ago, Mikeo said:

I have 2 RI tele's and one has brass saddles and one has steel.

I have played the sh@t out of the 62 RI with steel saddles.

It's my go to axe for 35 years.

The ash tray cover for the 52 is sitting in the case.

 

So tell me.. What difference do you notice between the two teles?.. Are they the same body and neck woods?..

I bought a mexican fender tele custom(wow that's a mouthful) and it sounds about the most tele like thing i've heard before.

It's the 1st one i've owned without the 6 saddles. I think the ashtray bridge makes it sound different too. You can hear it unplugged which is a pretty good test I reckon. I compare it to my deluxe with the 6 saddle bridge and it really has a classic twang to it compared to the deluxe with the same maple fingerboard and alder body.

I tried a few G&L's out 1st and then lastly the custom and remember thinking that the tele had more of a classic twang to it.

Alot of people prefer the brass saddles but I can't see myself bothering to change as it sounds perfect to me.

From memory a youtube video comparison emphasized the steel ones being the most bitey.. I think the brass were a bit more muted but I may be wrong.

Thoughties?..

Grant can go eat some crayons though as he blocked me for annoying him. Not child like at all. I will pray for him

18 hours ago, badpenguin said:

You know, I don't know if it's the sh!tty day at work talking, but you really come off as an condensing a$$. "Poop"? Really? Music you don't like is poop, and yet others are "artistic" (Are you the same one who worships at the house of Blackmore? Shudder.... He had his 15 minutes of fame 40 years ago.)

If someone disagrees with your high and mighty opinion, you tell them to write in crayon. You insult people, and their opinions, and bitch about how people come to this forum and ask about pickup changes. This forum was BUILT by those people! What gives you the right to insult those people?

 

Mods, if I stepped over the line, I apologize, but sometimes things need to be said.

I'd say poopy day at work and you harbour some severe resentments about people having opinions.

I wouldn't say i am insulting.. well maybe to grant but I found him to miss the point on the topic I was getting at and i'd argue he was the instigator in being abrasive. And please don't call me childish for saying he started it. It's simply a valid point to make.

I never said my opinion was high and mighty, I try to be insightful about art and the guitar. The blackmore is god was an obvious tongue in cheek commentary on claptons overwhelming popularity compared to ritchie. 

We all have different tastes and I just tried to celebrate mine. I have a huge number of heroes in the field and the language of poop was used to provoke and stimulate responses in an otherwise sterile environment about gear and little else.

You obviously have been so greatly offended by these assertations which is pretty childish and sad.

Have you thought about working on your personality?

Maybe post a tune of your own and we could strike up a real conversation?

phillip philington - YouTube

4 hours ago, 1001gear said:

Came across Roll the Stone. Hits the spot - although I'm not sure which one. 🤣

wow thank you so much for the compliment.. I've recorded that one several times but that's my favourite of the bunch.. Just an old cassette four track recording from 2014 but seems to hav e something the more polished ones don't. 

21 minutes ago, davie said:

This is an interesting topic. Although I started playing guitar since I was a teenager, I hardly prioritize being "technical". I play more based on vibe and feeling rather than complexity or virtuosity. My philosophy when it comes to performing music, is to serve the song or music first, and not necessarily for making the musician look good. To me its about using fewer notes but also the most appropriate notes to taste, not playing as many notes as possible. I don't really consider electric guitar as my primary instrument these days, but I do occasionally have electric guitar parts and I try to apply this philosophy in my own songs.

Thanks for your articulate and informative response here Davie  

"the most appropriate notes to taste" that sums up alot of what I think I was trying to go for. Well Said champ.

But that Grant Harding guy..

2 hours ago, mrbrown49 said:

Only listened to a couple, but there's some good stuff there.  Well done.

Thank you.

Nice tunes. I wish more people would post instead of asking what new pickups to purchase etc..

2 hours ago, mrbrown49 said:

Dude i just asked you to keep it civil and you came back with,

"Well he started it"

Pretty childish. 

Let it go.

I was stating a fact. You can't just call that childish and claim a victory. Are their no adults here with brains apart from that one dude?..

Here's two valid points. 

1) You are defending another persons comments that you aren't directly involved in. "Let it go"

2) You cherry picked one line from my argument to make a point and refuse any further discussion. "pretty childish"

You are defeated. And where's your post of your music?.. cough up before you groan on.

1 hour ago, Grant Harding said:

Not a child at all

4 minutes ago, mrbrown49 said:

Post some of your art.

You miss the point.. Please refrain from replying.

Your feeble attempt at dialogue just irritates.

I feel for your ex girlfriend.

But sure here you go champ..

phillip philington - YouTube

Your turn..

There's a distinction between a guitarist & an artist. It's usually defined by a substantial audience but not always.

It's no coincidence these virtuoso players simply don't have the fan base or critical praise of a true artist and they mostly go ignored by the general public and tend to only be appreciated by other players.

There seems to be some confusion about what an artist actually is and what constitutes "ability" in terms of artistic output.

Sadly as a guitarist myself I find the majority of players simply miss the point of an instrument as a voice for the soul and tend to focus on technique or gear acquisition over a real personal statement.

The forums here are a prime example of this and the fragile emotions which rattle around when an attempt is made to make a valid point on some wider ranging topics than wide range humbucker choices.

If guitarists wish to really move forward and the instrument to flourish again then a more open mind on this subject is demanded to make that happen.

Personally I think this instrument is dead.. dead like the jazz instruments of nearly a century ago. Things come and go and we all need to embrace that and look to the future where the song is paramount and virtuosity is redundant.

Guthrie Govan can go heave a weasel.

How are those crayon drawing working out Grant?.. Oh that's a good one mate!! You're really improving! hardly any outside the border!

FUggin guitarists 

8 hours ago, Grant Harding said:

I've got 2 amps BTW.

Two amps too many me thinks. Have you thought about selling them on and moving your focus onto something more in line with your ability?.. Maybe crayon drawings would satisfy Lil grantie poops?..

Annnndddd Go!!

14 hours ago, mrbrown49 said:

*yawn*

Grow up.  

You're the one with the childish two word response.. I articulated my response. Maybe learn to write some words that have multiple syllables?.. I believe in you xx

8 hours ago, Grant Harding said:

Well said! I'll work on my talent. Nice guy. 

Thanks Grant. Your lack of talent is caving you in.. You should work on that

1 hour ago, 1001gear said:

So difficult to peg an individual's ideals. You look to the world of art and you find a bunch of psycho babble for aesthetics, and no solid craft or abilities. My criteria of art starts with "the artist can draw". Without that, only the descriptions - or confusion have even the possibility of merit. Same for musicians, shop keepers, world leaders blah blah...

Thanks for your articulate response here.. I can tell you have insight which in my short time here I can tell is all too rare.

1 hour ago, mrbrown49 said:

No need to be insulting.

 

Go listen to aphex twin and cool off a bit.  Throw a little boards of canada in there too.

If I were you i'd look at who threw the 1st stone before labelling my behaviour as insulting. And telling someone to cool off is the worst sort of insult ansd says more about the person unable to articulate their point. You need to cool off I tinks

From fragile man..

"You think Guthrie Govan is mediocre poop"

"I don't think we can move forward from here, champ."

"responding to people about legit guitar stuff" 

"now it's facebook here"

I'd argue that this one is intolerant and insulting. He described my posts as not 'legit'. Then got so upset he whined about not being able to reconcile a difference in stylistic choices. Criticized me for not liking Guthrie.. really?.. that guy?.. unggh

And the worst is how he ragged on my favourite site FB.. How dare he. He sounds like a child and I wonder how he gets through a day without losing it about something insignificant.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I will check out boards of canada.

3 hours ago, Grant Harding said:

Sure thing.  As you were...

Hard work here it seems.. The ridiculousness of your offence here considering the redundant posts made on this forum makes you appear fragile.

I'm so sorry I didn't embrace your mate Guthrie.. He's way too conventional despite his technical ability.. No real statement to be made and another example of why modern guitarists are poop. Maybe spend the time on amp #12 & #9 reminding yourself why you've hoarded such a silly amount of equipment your lack of talent can't endorse.

What a joke..

15 hours ago, Grant Harding said:

You think Guthrie Govan is mediocre poop and Blackmore is God. I don't think we can move forward from here, champ.

My posting used to be mostly responding to people about legit guitar stuff. Now it's facebook here.

Again i'm just sorry to have an opinion. I will attempt to be more legit in the future.

Goo Aphex Twin!

47 minutes ago, 1001gear said:

See if this does anything for you...

Now that is amazing! Thanks for posting you made me forget about pootube guitar channels and lighten up

48 minutes ago, 1001gear said:

I quit weed in the 70s. Rock has been dead eve since.

Sounds like you are dead inside. Try finding something new..

Hatred is a bit strong. I'd say more tired and dissapointed than anything.

Forgive me for stating an opinion on mediocrity.. How dare I really.

What you posting about these days champ?..