I think I'm pretty much on the other end of the spectrum from
gearheads, but I see this differently.
I agree that your touch is the most important thing. But, being a
great electric guitar player means that you're playing an instrument
which begins with body and ends with the dispersion of sound to your
audience. Every link in that chain is important. Sure, some may make
more difference than others, but they all count. Playing great is the
sum of a seemingly endless series of details. And, in the end, you'll
have to pay attention to every one.
The fact is that some setups sound better than others and getting
great sound is important. I wouldn't wait until some arbitrary time
in the future to think about it. The sound of the instrument will
change the way you play. It's a feedback loop, not a one way system.
Having said that, I think it's important to be focused in the effort
to improve your sound. I don't think it's enough to say, will a new
pickup sound better? I think it would be better to be able to
identify what characteristics you're looking for and then figure out
what you need to do to get them.
You'll hear all kinds of stories. Some guys (me included) have
changed pickups to advantage. Other guys talk about preamps making
all the difference. For others is pedals. For others it's
amplification. For others it's amp placement for proper dispersion.
And, in the cracks you'll find guys talking about pots, capacitors,
cables, tube types etc.
All of those things can change the sound -- and there are so many
you'd be hard pressed to try every combination. So, I like a problem
solving approach. What is it you want to sound like? What do you need
to do to get it?
Rick
--- In jazz_guitar@..., "hueyhoolihan"
<hueyhoolihan@y...> wrote:
different pickup manufacturing methods and designs sound different.
the same design and manufacturer's pickup will sound different on
the
same guitar too if mounted in a different orientation relative to
the
top, nut and bridge.
in general, i believe buying equipment to enhance ones sound is
counterproductive. it tends to lose the focus on ones personal
improvement that is so necessary to reaching goals. i liken it to
golfers who are members in good standing to the 'driver of the
month'
club, who will insist that the lastest $500 toy is finally the
answer
to their problem. yes, it may help for a while, but it is only for a
while, because the real problem lies elsewhere. eventually they
manage
to groove their poor swing skills on the new club, and are back
where
they started.
i think your instincts are correct regarding "the sound is in your
fingers, and nothing else matters" statement, but it is perhaps a
little too extreme to agree with completely.
regards,
huey
--- In jazz_guitar@..., "bebmen" <bebmen@y...> wrote:
Does a good pickup really change the sound? I mean, I have
always
thought that the sound is in your fingers, and nothing else
matters.
Last year I bought chinesse Epi Dot with serial Epiphone pups,
and to
my vast surprise they sound good. Will any Gibson 57 or Seymour
make
me sound better?
