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Topic starter
14/02/2007 6:25 pm
Hmm, I'm not even sure that title is right. Here's the thing. I've been playing the Squier 51 a lot lately, because it is much easier to play for long periods than my accoustic and I can turn it down and not bother the neighbors, but it just doesn't sound nearly as good. I realize that it won't sound the same, but the electric sounds kind of twangy and thin like there isn't enough low end. I don't really know enough to explain it properly. What I want to know is, is there an easy, inexpensive way to modify it to get more low end sound from it? Or some adjustment I could make to the guitar or the amp that would help? I'm pretty clueless about the amp but I've played around with the different settings and am not really satisfied with any of them. I also tried all the different setting on the guitar itself, and on some I can't really even tell what the difference is. I did put on better and slightly heavier strings, which helped some, but not enough. Any suggestions?
14/02/2007 6:29 pm
First and foremost, does your amp have EQ settings (knobs marked Low, Mid, High)? If it does, first try turning the low knob up a bit and the other 2 down a bit. Then try an EQ pedal if that doesn't work. Or maybe adjusting the pickup height if the sound is "thin." I'd let a pro do that though.
Also, the 51 is a lot like a Tele which is famous for it's twang sound. Having not played one I don't know quite what it sounds like, but I think the twang isn't going away.
"How could you possibly be scared of being bad? Once you get past that, it's all beautiful." -Trey Anastasio
Topic starter
14/02/2007 6:47 pm
First and foremost, does your amp have EQ settings (knobs marked Low, Mid, High)? If it does, first try turning the low knob up a bit and the other 2 down a bit. Then try an EQ pedal if that doesn't work. Or maybe adjusting the pickup height if the sound is "thin." I'd let a pro do that though.
Also, the 51 is a lot like a Tele which is famous for it's twang sound. Having not played one I don't know quite what it sounds like, but I think the twang isn't going away.
No, it doesn't have an EQ knob. It is a Roland Micro Cube. The knobs are Tone, EFX, Delay/Reverb, Gain, Volume, and the one with the Accoustic, JC Clean, Black Panel, Brit Combo, Classic Stack, R-Fier and mic settings. So you think an EQ pedal would help?
I'm not sure twangy is right word after all. Being a mandolin player, I am used to a certain amount of twang. This just sounds very thin and maybe a bit high pitched I guess. It would probably help if I could explain it better, huh?
14/02/2007 7:16 pm
Which pickup are you using? Obviously the humbucker unsplit is the one your going to want to use.
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Topic starter
14/02/2007 7:26 pm
Which pickup are you using? Obviously the humbucker unsplit is the one your going to want to use.
Um, not sure but I have tried them all. Is the humbucker the bridge pickup? (I did say I was clueless with the electric :) )I usually have the selector knob on 2 and the volume knob pushed down, which I THINK uses both pickups. Occasionally, for certain things I use put the selector knob on 3, volume knob down, which I THINK uses just the bridge pickups. None sound full enough to me, though.
14/02/2007 8:17 pm
you're probably not going to get a great sound out of a micro cube, regardless of the guitar. the speaker is just not big enough or powerful enough to push the air necessary to get a deep, rich tone.
14/02/2007 11:04 pm
I'm ok with the sound but I'm like mm as far as not being able to tell the difference on the settings...they all sounded the same to me. :shock:
15/02/2007 11:40 am
if I understand your post you are having to play at low volumes.
that alone will alter the tone capabilities of your equipment.
an amp turned very low, a guitar turned very low in volume just does not produce a big enough signal for things to sound right.
a simple solution would be to get an effcts pedal. a simple overdrive pedal will boost your tone w/o high volumes.
Topic starter
15/02/2007 11:54 am
if I understand your post you are having to play at low volumes.
that alone will alter the tone capabilities of your equipment.
an amp turned very low, a guitar turned very low in volume just does not produce a big enough signal for things to sound right.
a simple solution would be to get an effcts pedal. a simple overdrive pedal will boost your tone w/o high volumes.
That could be it because I had it up loud for the first time yesterday to record something and it did sound better. I don't usually play at that volume though. Don't want to annoy the neighbors. Well, the one neighbor who blows his horn at 5:30 every morning I wouldn't mind annoying :evil: but not the others. So with the overdrive pedal, I would get a better sound without it needing to be loud? That sounds like something I need, since one of the reasons the electric gets played more than the accoustic is because my accoustic is so loud. I've seen the pedals of course, but there are so many different kinds and I have no idea what half of them do. Overdrive pedal is what I need though? I'm not playing hard rock stuff.
15/02/2007 1:15 pm
a simple overdrive pedal can be set for just a mild boost. it will add a bit of sustain and grit to the sound. a little goes a long way , even if you want clean sound.Boss OD 1 is an inexpensive yet reliable pedal. anything that says distortion would be too much for you.
with a pedal you can set the tone, have some nice sustain all at low volumes.
15/02/2007 1:40 pm
Your tone knob is the EQ: turn it all the way down for less treble. However, no electric guitar will have the richness and fullness of an accoustic guitar, which is why virtually no singer/songwriter who plays solo uses an electric guitar. As soon as you play with a band, where a bass-guitar will take care of the low end and other instruments fix the thinness it sounds much better.
15/02/2007 1:59 pm
For playing at very low volume, it'll sound a lot better if you boost both bass and treble quite a bit. Google up the "Fletcher-Munson Curve."
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
15/02/2007 9:54 pm
When i first got my epi Les Paul the money was tight so i just got a real small Marshal stack practice amp.. sounded like ****. Got a set of good headphones and it sounded great and the neighbors aren't a problem. I still use a pair of remote studio's late at night.
KSblu
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