Guitar Players with harsh tone!

[51PRI]

I know that guitar tone is a very subjective thing but the guitar players in the band I'm in both have different, but equally harsh tone, IMO. When they're warming up before a gig it actually hurts my ears. And one of them warms up a BUNCH at full, or nearly full, volume. And they both have good, top notch equipment, so I know that equipment isn't the problem, and that the sound they're getting is the sound they WANT to get.

I play guitar, too, and I like a pleasing, warm, round tone when I play, not a harsh and stinging tone.

What kind of earplugs are best?

 

[Gluvhand]

Your streak of putting non Band Management posts in Band Management is impressive. I'll give you that. Otherwise, meh.

 

[Marko 1]

I've heard that guitar players who play loudly, after a while they lose the ability to hear certain frequencies first,

so they boost those frequencies until it sounds right to them, resulting in a harsh tone to those who have normal hearing.

 

[jerry]

They warm up at full volume on stage, at the gig?

 

[pepj]

They used to a stadium gig..?

 

[Marko 1]

They warm up at full volume on stage, at the gig?

I thought that sounded kinda... bizarre,

but I don't do two-electric-guitar bands or the kind of noise they typically make.

 

[51PRI]

Your streak of putting non Band Management posts in Band Management is impressive. I'll give you that. Otherwise, meh.

Thanks, but it's it management to try to improve a guitarist's tone?

They warm up at full volume on stage, at the gig?

I mean, yeah, pretty much. And typically the guitar amps aren't miked and we don't have an offstage soundman. So, what sounds horrendous to me from the stage standing next to a loud guitar amp might sound great out front. .

 

[Marko 1]

And typically the guitar amps aren't miked and we don't have an offstage soundman. So, what sounds horrendous to me from the stage standing next to a loud guitar amp might sound great out front.

True, it might sound just great out front.

 

[J Wilson]

All I can tell you is I once played with a guy who had a G+L ASAT wired up with three of those big plastic P90-ish pickups G+L puts on them with a five way switch into a Marshall half-stack. I'm utterly convinced it would melt a 6" thick steel plate at short range, it made guitars with itty bitty DMZ X2N's (!) sound like Jazz boxes. I'm sure dogs were hiding under their beds in a 5 mile radius. I gotta admit it sounded great, but OMG it was too loud for me, and I'm the last guy to ever say this or that was too loud.

 

[dave hope]

There is nothing worst to me than a guy on a telecaster that has no feel for that model.
One of the sweetest guitar sounds is a professional on a Tele, with an old tweed amp.
But it can be very metallic and shrill if it’s not a good player.

 

[Topkat13]

Better harsh tone than breath.

 

[Gluvhand]

Thanks, but it's it management to try to improve a guitarist's tone?

If you're the band leader and you've told them to "improve" something that's subjective anyway and they tell you to go scratch, yes. If you just don't like their tone, no.

 

[Dincrest]

Define harsh.

One person's harsh is another person's djent.

 

[micguy]

Your guitarists probably aim the speakers on their amps at your ears. If you can get them to aim them at their own ears, your problem will be solved - they will hear how bright they sound, and fix their tone rather than deafen themselves. But.... it's tough to get guitarists to do that - they seem to think that having their sound hitting the back of their knees is somehow normal.

This is a very common problem.

 

[Slevage]

I happy that most of the players I gig with these days play very little before the start time of the gig. Seems like the better players have it figured out.

 

[ChrisB2]

So, what sounds horrendous to me from the stage standing next to a loud guitar amp might sound great out front. .

Probably worse out front. Guitar amps are very directional. Anyone sitting in the line of fire probably has bleeding ears.

 

[JRA]

i've never been shy about telling guitar players: "that sounds like !" or "that tone sucks" or, "that won't work." re: tone or volume.)

"harsh tone?" = gotta call it out, no reservation.*

* to be fair: i'm making a recording or i'm leading a band or a playdown when i do this. otherwise, why bother? they're guitar players = chasing tones is part of their "posing." and to be even fairer: many bass players do the same = chasing tones instead of chasing ways to play better: posing instead of embracing the truth.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

I believe Frank Zappa called that the “Ice pick in the forehead tone.”

 

[HardNHeavy]

they're over compensating for small hands...lol

my old punk guitarist with his Marshall stack even let the thing feedback till the walls were rattling. I told him to mute those strings or i'd kill him....Or that 79 gibson flying V was mine!

 

[Low End Scum]

Thanks, but it's it management to try to improve a guitarist's tone?


I mean, yeah, pretty much. And typically the guitar amps aren't miked and we don't have an offstage soundman. So, what sounds horrendous to me from the stage standing next to a loud guitar amp might sound great out front. .

It just might. To me, warming up at full volume at a show (even if they're good) is usually a red flag. Doesn't necessarily have to mean anything, but I'm usually leery of players like that. For tone though, I have found that great tone at home/solo doesn't always translate to good tone with a band. I've found sometimes that after working to dial everyone in and feeling like as a collective we sounded good, that my tone wasn't what I look for when I was alone at home. Of course, you may have different experiences.

I believe Frank Zappa called that the “Ice pick in the forehead tone.”

A million laughs.......Bajo!
Anyway; good golly, what a mess, she's totally soaked
Totally-
I love it