Dunno - here's Mark Knopfler making a Danelectro sound like something much more upmarket...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUMyPXCF ... re=related

Cheers - C

For sure. But hold on - what happened to all the talk of tonewood and its vital contribution to tone?

That Dano is made out of Masonite (particle board) and Formica, for flip's sake! The pickup is a single bar magnet. Ace electrics and one piece ash bodies be damned...!

All I'm saying: it definitely wouldn't sound that good if I was playing it...

Cheers - C

But you take my point? When Big Jay starts telling me a cardboard guitar will "sound very similar" to a solid ash/alder one - well, my world just shook on its axis!!!

(Even though Mark Knopfler just demonstrated that it can indeed be true...)

Cheers man - C

Ha! Well for starters, those three clips comprise a very succinct and nicely made argument. Thank you for that, and for the enjoyment I've had listening through them.

(To your frustration no doubt) you know you're not talking to someone with an evangelical position on this subject. (So let's not bother worrying about the amps that each of those examples was played through.) Tiresomely, I think there's elements from each "side" that are right.

For instance, I can use the playing of Mark Knopfler to support exactly opposite positions. On the one hand: a number of his I like to play along to is Speedway at Nazareth (Sailing to Philadelphia album). Not that I'm out to copy someone else's tone, but I couldn't help noticing that I just could not get that rich saturated sound with my Strat, come what may. I mentioned it on a thread here and speculated that he might be using an ES335, given that he is pictured with one on the album artwork. Forum user bluestube replied that the track was in fact recorded with a Les Paul, and Mr bluestube has a high tendancy to get the stuff he says right so I don't doubt it.

And whadayaknow? I can get very close to that Speedway sound using my Les Paul (not right on the money, no doubt, but close enough). So there's a case where the gear crucially controls the final sound. 1 - 0 to the "gear is tone" side.

On the other hand: I've seen Knopfler play live through every kind of guitar and amp, and his infidelity to FX units is legendary. Somewhere or other I've seen him do Sultans on a Danelectro too, as well as the Pensa-Suhr, a Tele and a LP. And with my eyes closed I'm damned if I could say which guitar is being played on which occasion.

Privately I think Knopfler is on a mission to say to the world: "It's me you are listening to, not a bunch of gear."

And I think he's right. As much as anyone I can think of, Knopfler sounds like Knopfler regardless what stuff he's using.

1 - 1: score draw.

My thoughts - for the little they are worth.

Anyhow. Now I might listen to that first Clapton track again...

Cheers - C

I look for "bang for the buck" in my amp and pedal choices. Not saying I go cheap, because to a certain extent you really do get what you pay for. What I'm talking about is getting more "oomf" than you actually pay for compared to similar items.

Example: My Phaser is a BYOC clone of the old phase 90. I've played it and an original side by side, through the same set up and I can't tell the difference. My BYOC kit was way less money.

Example: My amps are Carvin's. Over the years I've owned or played most of the "big boys" in the tube amp marketplace. Some of the high dollar rigs do sound a bit better, but not for the price difference. Amps at similar price points don't sound as good and sure aren't built as well.

Try stuff out and see what sounds good to you. My favorite OD pedal is still and old yellow DOD Overdrive, and if memory serves they weren't considered all that cool back when I bought it. But I liked what it did.

No signature pedal, amp, or guitar is going to make you sound or play like your hero, and honestly who really want's to just be a copy of another player no matter how great they are. All the "Legends" created their own sound, we should all strive to achieve the same.

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Anyway, Jay. I don't feel I got the applause from you I required for this effort:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... 5&start=45

- C

Since the "Tone Wood Snobery" seems to have dwindled, what about the "Intonation Freaks". That's right I'm talking about all you maniacs that obsess over your guitars intonation!

Yes it needs to be done well.
No it doesn't need to be perfect.

I will even go so far as to suggest that if your guitars intonation makes that great a difference in your playing, then perhaps you need to spend more time in the woodshed.

Now if you're intonation obsessed because your just OCD then I forgive you.

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"