We tend to focus on the hardware here, which is great fun, but (presumably) we don't buy our amps and guitars merely to be tone scientists. At some point we use them to, you know, play some actual music!
If you've got more than one amp, or if you have a modeler, what's your decision-making process for a given project or song? For example, it might be based on how it sounds with a certain guitar, a style of music, what works best with a band you're in, by song, or by venue.
Maybe you just pick 'em at random.
I have four amps and four cabs. For the most part, any of them can work well enough on just about anything except metal. All of them are good-sounding with my electric guitars (of which I only have a handful, but they're the result of an eon or two of trial and error). My gigs are recording sessions; I don't play out any more.
I tend to pick the guitar to use on a part first.
Since the guitars all work fine with all the styles I play, my choice is usually based on the guitar I prefer for a tone color or dynamic range.
For example, if I want something smooth and shimmery I might choose the Northern Lights guitar. If I want a lot of dynamic, lower midrange oomph, I'll often run with the McCarty Singlecut. Et cetera. But these aren't carved in stone. Sometimes I'll just be in the mood to start with this or that guitar.
I'm most comfortable playing three styles: Americana, Brit-Pop, and Blues. I can do halfway decently with simple country material. Metal isn't in my wheelhouse.
Any of my amps will do pretty well in each style, but I'll usually have a starting point based on the amp's coloration, or the type of part. For singing sustain, I'll start with the HXDA, but if I want a more American sound for that, I might start with the Fillmore. If it's Brit-Pop, it's always going to be the DG30 or HXDA to begin with. If I want extremely clean tone, or a country-ish vibe, I'll start with the 100 Watt Lone Star. For Blues, the DG or the Fillmore. I'll start with the DG30 for Americana pretty much every time.
Then I'll run the track on the DAW, record the part, and play it back to hear how the tone works in context. Sometimes it's a good guess; sometimes it's pretty close and I need to tweak the controls on the amp and/or guitar; sometimes I need to switch to another amp and/or cab.
For sessions, I have all of the cabs miked up. If my choice isn't happening, I use an amp and cab switcher to quickly move between each while listening to the track. The starting point for that will be to switch from amp to amp, using its 'usual suspect' cab. If it's still not catching my ear, I'll switch between cabs.
Eventually I find the right combination.
However, there are occasions when I realize the problem isn't the guitar, amp or cab, it's me.
There are ideas and parts I'm simply not the right player for, when even if I write the part I'd prefer someone else to play it. Another pair of hands and ears can often get the idea over the hump. And other players sometimes have a great part in mind. and we don't use my idea.
I always let them choose the guitar and amp for their parts. I want them to be comfortable, whether it's my amp or one of theirs. Ultimately, the part and playing are more important than the small details of the tone.
If you've got more than one amp, or if you have a modeler, what's your decision-making process for a given project or song? For example, it might be based on how it sounds with a certain guitar, a style of music, what works best with a band you're in, by song, or by venue.
Maybe you just pick 'em at random.
I have four amps and four cabs. For the most part, any of them can work well enough on just about anything except metal. All of them are good-sounding with my electric guitars (of which I only have a handful, but they're the result of an eon or two of trial and error). My gigs are recording sessions; I don't play out any more.
I tend to pick the guitar to use on a part first.
Since the guitars all work fine with all the styles I play, my choice is usually based on the guitar I prefer for a tone color or dynamic range.
For example, if I want something smooth and shimmery I might choose the Northern Lights guitar. If I want a lot of dynamic, lower midrange oomph, I'll often run with the McCarty Singlecut. Et cetera. But these aren't carved in stone. Sometimes I'll just be in the mood to start with this or that guitar.
I'm most comfortable playing three styles: Americana, Brit-Pop, and Blues. I can do halfway decently with simple country material. Metal isn't in my wheelhouse.
Any of my amps will do pretty well in each style, but I'll usually have a starting point based on the amp's coloration, or the type of part. For singing sustain, I'll start with the HXDA, but if I want a more American sound for that, I might start with the Fillmore. If it's Brit-Pop, it's always going to be the DG30 or HXDA to begin with. If I want extremely clean tone, or a country-ish vibe, I'll start with the 100 Watt Lone Star. For Blues, the DG or the Fillmore. I'll start with the DG30 for Americana pretty much every time.
Then I'll run the track on the DAW, record the part, and play it back to hear how the tone works in context. Sometimes it's a good guess; sometimes it's pretty close and I need to tweak the controls on the amp and/or guitar; sometimes I need to switch to another amp and/or cab.
For sessions, I have all of the cabs miked up. If my choice isn't happening, I use an amp and cab switcher to quickly move between each while listening to the track. The starting point for that will be to switch from amp to amp, using its 'usual suspect' cab. If it's still not catching my ear, I'll switch between cabs.
Eventually I find the right combination.
However, there are occasions when I realize the problem isn't the guitar, amp or cab, it's me.
There are ideas and parts I'm simply not the right player for, when even if I write the part I'd prefer someone else to play it. Another pair of hands and ears can often get the idea over the hump. And other players sometimes have a great part in mind. and we don't use my idea.
I always let them choose the guitar and amp for their parts. I want them to be comfortable, whether it's my amp or one of theirs. Ultimately, the part and playing are more important than the small details of the tone.
Last edited:
