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Post subject: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 7:25 pm
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I know this is a stupid question, but what does it mean (sound like) when they say a pickup tone is: quacky, or glassy, honky, or harmonics?

I know what fuller, fatter, warmer, articulate, hotter, thicker means.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 8:53 pm
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Best way to find out is to check youtube, Search "stratocaster quack ". There 's a good youtube video of Robert Cray in which the quack is very audible.


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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 10:35 pm
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All of those terms are quite literal descriptions of the sounds.

quacky - like a duck (not a sick duck though)
glassy - like the sound from tapping a glass, like high notes on a piano
honky - like a horn
harmonics - overtones

Don't forget sleepy and dopey. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:32 am
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Tone is subjective,each person hears what he hears,those terms have been thrown around so much they're accepted by lots of people,to me there's no "quack",in the in-between positions,it makes more sense to describe the sounds like you did at the end of your post...fatter,warmer,thicker,etc.
I have aways hard a hard time describing sound,but I know that my tone is clean,warming up into the early stages of breakup,with plenty of sustain. :D


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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:46 am
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I agree...
I've just taken for granted that the "in-between positions" are quaky... maybe because I don't hunt ducks. :lol:

The closest you'll get to pup sounds is either thru the manufacturers site (best) or Youtube ( not the best ).

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:45 am
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tyronne wrote:
... maybe because I don't hunt ducks. :lol: ...


Ever step on one? :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:52 pm
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Ate one... :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 2:30 pm
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The best example of Quack (although it's more of a Cluck) is Sweet Home Alabama.
I usually think of Gilmour when I think Glassy sound, but there are probably better specific examples.


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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 2:44 pm
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eddie_bowers wrote:
The best example of Quack (although it's more of a Cluck) is Sweet Home Alabama.
I usually think of Gilmour when I think Glassy sound, but there are probably better specific examples.

Yep,Ed King had that tone nailed!


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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 2:50 pm
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I don't think there is anything more silly than the nonsense descriptions we put on guitar sounds that don't describe anything at all.

Glassy, warm, fat...

bum to em all

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:26 am
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oldguy101 wrote:
Best way to find out is to check youtube, Search "stratocaster quack ". There 's a good youtube video of Robert Cray in which the quack is very audible.


That's about the best way. Describing sounds is rather difficult... Grab a strat and take a listen...

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Post subject: Re: Stupid question on pickup tone descriptions
Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 3:54 am
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Well, I guess i found at least ONE useful term to describe "quack"??

Quack means "nasal", like when you speak and press your nose shut with 2 fingers. That's what it sounds like in Strats with 3 single coils and you use the "in between" positions #2 and #4 on the 5 way selector switch. Most Strat players prefer that sound but not all of them.

(i.e. with Texas Specials the middle PU alone is my(!) favorite for dirty blues rock)

In fact, there's no way around to just go and play a strat in all 5 positions and LISTEN CAREFULLY to understand, what happens with the tone.
Since we humans have no terms/words for sound colorations, we must compare them to other things we know to describe the character of a tone.

Since most experienced players use the same few terms you'll learn pretty fast, which term means which tonal character/coloration.

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