How to change the tone of my acoustic guitar

[ausrock]

Armi,

Has the top E always had this issue or is it possible that it's related to the brand of string......I've got Elixirs on my ECW80C and have noticed that at times the top E seems more "prominent" than other strings.......something I don't recall happening when I was using D'Addarios. It's not a huge issue but it definitely is noticable.

BTW, rather than cardboard, try a little bit of alfoil, fold it so there's a couple of layers and slip it under the string

ChrisO

 

[Codmate]

Before any drastic alterations, try simply playing differently.
Play 'through the string' - "Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDW6vkuqGLg

When fingerpicking, alter the angle of attack for your nail (assuming you play with nails). Experiment with hand positions and picking styles - talk to other guitarists, or have a teacher show you possiblilities for creating the tone you want.

Tone is mostly in the hands - check this clip of a Pepe Romero masterclass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok404bdnDYw&feature=related

I know this is classical - but the same principle applies, to a greater or lesser extent, to all guitars.

The same guitar sounds totally different in Romero's hands, than in that of the student - and not just because he can get through the piece incredibly easily. The entire tone is different!

You may also want to try a thicker plectrum, or increasing the guage of your strings (possibly just the problematic string). If you do the latter then the guitar may well need a set-up.

Also get the opinions of others' on your guitar's sound, as well as recording it.
It may be that it's OK out front.

 

[crazydoc]

Thanks for all the advice...

I think it's related to the way it's crossing over at the nut, so I'll investigate there. I tried a small piece of cardboard under the string on the bridge and that helped as well,but it's still pronounced on the open string, so I'll look up the other end and see what I can see.

Cheers

Does it happen on the string when fretted, or only when open? If only when open, detune the whole guitar a half step down or up and see if it still occurs.

If it happens when fretted too, I don't think it has anything to do with the nut, which is not in play when a string is fretted.

 

[EdWonbass]

Try another guitar if you have one. That way you can determine if it is a playing technique issue or the guitar itself.

 

[Armistice]

Armi,

Has the top E always had this issue or is it possible that it's related to the brand of string......I've got Elixirs on my ECW80C and have noticed that at times the top E seems more "prominent" than other strings.......something I don't recall happening when I was using D'Addarios. It's not a huge issue but it definitely is noticable.

BTW, rather than cardboard, try a little bit of alfoil, fold it so there's a couple of layers and slip it under the string

ChrisO

Hi Aus!

Good to see you're still around... a good point you raise - I'm noticing it more now than I have before and I'm not sure whether it's just the ears getting super sensitive to this stuff over the years or whether it's always been there and I haven't noticed it before or whether it's an individual string thing.

I'll put something else on and see what happens... could just be a string thing... and I'll try the alfoil trick as well..

On another front, I didn't mean to do this, as I swore I'd never do this again, but over the last 6 - 9 months I've managed to write a whole album's worth of material, so there could be a "difficult fourth album" yet... I've moved home in the interim and I'm not so sure it'll be quiet enough here to record acoustic guitars - I'm waiting for daylight saving to end and for it to get a bit colder so everyone will huddle inside and all the birds and bats and cicadas will shut up. Shame I live quite close to the airport now! But I figure this time, now that I sort of know what mics to stick where, I'll concentrate on learning the material really, really well and then all I need is patience and 3 minutes of quiet and I've got a take - and layering other stuff over the top won't be such an issue from a noise floor point of view..

I have sixteen tracks assembled, all quite strong (yeah, we always say that about our new material) and all solo acoustic based (ie. usually strong enough to stand on their own without too much "stuff" added - been delving into alternate tunings and partial capos as well, so I think I have 7 different tuning possibilities amongst the tracks...

I've written some stuff that I would have thought "not possible" a year ago, and been really practicing hard so I can execute them properly..

I'll keep you posted. Now, I just have to learn how to drive the machinery again, after I dust it off .... curses...


Everyone else... thanks for your suggestions... it's not my playing, it's the guitar, and I'm sure I'll work it out. I'll take the Elixirs off before recording anyway... Cheers

 

[ausrock]

Armi,

Yes mate, I'm still around.

It's been 11 months since the first of 3 lots of water came through the d/stairs studio and store room and I'm only now, seeing an end in sight to the rebuild and preventative work.......my 'leco mate was here a couple of hours ago checking my rewiring and adding an additional circuit breaker for the studio's 10 amp supply, so I now have 10 and 20 amp circuits dedicated to the studio.

Your albums get played occasionally while I'm working...........it just depends on my mood at the time.........I go from Metallica to Zac Wylde (Pride and Glory) to Monique Brumby and all points in between. I've got enough of my gear running that has allowed me to (re)start collaborating with a friend that used to be in bands with my son but we don't put pressure on ourselves and so far it's working out quite well.

Anyways, PLEASE keep me posted re your progress.

Take care,

Chris