Why do guitarists always use too much treble?

Electricblue · #1 10-20-2011, 04:49 PM

I've been jamming with a new band lately. The guitarist always has the treble on his amp cranked, using the bridge pickup and a harsh distortion... What is it with guitarists and a tinny sound?

When I play guitar, I get it to sound smooth, deep, clear and bright all at the same time.

Any of you guys dig?

No Malarky · #2 10-20-2011, 04:54 PM

I dig what yer spoutin', Daddy-O! Some cats just aren't hip to transcendental tone.

Papa Dangerous · #3 10-20-2011, 04:55 PM

I think the type of guitarist that uses too much treble is like the bassist who pumps too much bass.

Wait... Can you actually have too much bass?!?!?

LowEndMan2112 · #4 10-20-2011, 04:55 PM

Better than cranking their bass and gettin all up in our sonic territory

Epidrake · #5 10-20-2011, 04:57 PM

I was thinking the same thing LowEndMan!

MatticusMania · #6 10-20-2011, 05:00 PM

+3 to that

LowEndMan2112 · #7 10-20-2011, 05:04 PM

Sometimes I just can't help myself, and casually stroll over to the guitarist's amp and just turn down his bass from 7 to 4

bassteban · #8 10-20-2011, 05:08 PM

I gotta think that if some plays guitar primarily, he/she/it most likely prefers higher-pitched sounds, including a trebly-toned guitar. My experience sure seems to bear this out.

AntAir267 · #9 10-20-2011, 05:10 PM

When I play guitar, I like a shrilly mid-filled bridge pickup trebly distortion, and usually put the low on 0-4. When I play bass I prefer a middy-deep sound with hearable highs. I think it all depends on the person though.

Bassamatic · #10 10-20-2011, 05:13 PM

It is probably -
1. Liking to hear themselves above the band, and
2. Hearing damage from adding too much treble

electracoyote · #11 10-20-2011, 05:15 PM

My guitarist is half deaf, I think that's his excuse.

I casually stroll over to my keyboard players's amp and turn the bass down from 7 to 4.

Bloodhammer · #12 10-20-2011, 05:19 PM

If it's annoying you, it's most likely a distortion pedal that's making it uncomfortably shrill.

Scotty DelMar · #13 10-20-2011, 05:21 PM

Bassamatic and electracoyote = right on the money! High frequency threshold shift hearing damage overcompensated. Sounds good to them = icepick in the ears to others!

Marko5657 · #14 10-20-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

It is probably -
1. Liking to hear themselves above the band, and
2. Hearing damage from adding too much treble

zzzactly!

LowEndMan2112 · #15 10-20-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I casually stroll over to my keyboard players's amp and turn the bass down from 7 to 4.

Good point, I'll take a bassy guitarist over a bassy keyboardist who's doubling the roots in octaves over me any day.

bassplayer8953 · #16 10-20-2011, 05:22 PM

For guitar, which the sound guy mic's up: better to have a thin sound, from the amp, that the sound guy can add to, treble or bass, to sound good. Too much of something, and he has a harder time pulling it down, and will just turn that instrument down.

Playing my bass, I give the sound guy a dry signal, which he can tweak.

IMO, nothing sounds worse than a guitar with tons of compression, distortion, & too much bass: wall of mud!

winstonthecat · #17 10-20-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

Better than cranking their bass and gettin all up in our sonic territory

+1...I hate battling with the guitar over the low frequency range.

carlthegroover · #18 10-20-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowEndMan2112

Better than cranking their bass and gettin all up in our sonic territory

This. The low end is OUR territory. They can have all the treble they want as long as they leave the bass to us bassists. Makes sense, no?

sonic assassin · #19 10-21-2011, 02:51 AM

it helps stick out. especially when the mids are cut. no body? add static to compensate.

what i find true about most people that use an amp, especially when i engineer, is that they set their amp standing over it. they never put their ear to the speaker to hear what the mic will hear. i have to constantly change EQ settings because it is unrecordable. most understand. some want to argue.

my bass tone is mid and low mid heavy. not much sub bass. my guitar tone is very high middy with not a ton of treble and just enough presence knob to get over the clamor. i keep my amp at ear level so i dont need to turn up as loud. no sense in having it fight the kick drum at our feet. bass frequencies are more omnidirectional, and therefore dont have this issue.

Stanley Pugh · #20 10-21-2011, 03:09 AM

Been there, we had one guy who used onlya harsh tone like having one frequency boosted and everything else gone.
Even by itself it sounded bad, we had a chat with him about it.