IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Exceptional restoration is in the details

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johneek
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by johneek »

For those of you who haven't seen it....the very beginning and end of this trailer are appropriate to this thread...



"....Who says you need to buy a guitar?"
nbfanca
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

Paul out of curiosity, what was the purpose behind your original question? Did you have an opinion of your own or did you just wanted to see what people would say?

To me the thing sounds better than it should, but it still has tin can overtones. But of course that should be expected as there is certainly some support between the neck and the bridge which is probably just a block of wood running underneath the tin.

In general the acoustic sound of an instrument comes through and the ones that sound good acoustically sound good electrically. Pickups are (almost) always a second order effect.
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by jingle_jangle »

Charlie, I meant it ironically, first of all. But of course I wanted opinions.

It's obvious, comparing this instrument to the usual run of banjo-sounding oil can guitars, that this is simply a plank (neck to tailpiece) with an oil can nailed onto it. The can does provide minor coloration, but it sure sounds better than most would expect it to!

Wondering about the pickups now. Single coils, for sure, but too sweet to be P-90s. I vote, "Gretsch steel guitar pickups", but am open to suggestions...
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

There is a "usual run of banjo-sounding oil can guitars."???? (Hey I once saw a Dobro made out of a barbeque.)
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by jingle_jangle »

I've seen a half-dozen different ones; all sounding similar to one another.
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

OT, but for everyone's amusment: The Dobroque - a Weber never so good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpL1fqe-ZfE

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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by jingle_jangle »

I'm impressed... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :mrgreen:
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jps
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by jps »

Pretty hot (I hope not) ! :P
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

The original oil-can guitar in the video sounds pretty good, but a lot of that comes from the style of playing that works well with the plonky sound of the guitar. I looked at the video again and noticed a link to thi video at the end. I'd be shocked if it is not the same guitar, but it doesn;t sound anywhere near as good.

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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by collin »

johneek wrote:For those of you who haven't seen it....the very beginning and end of this trailer are appropriate to this thread...



"....Who says you need to buy a guitar?"
Just watched the film yesterday!

Decent documentary----the coolest part was watching some of these guys (who are all respected guitar heroes) in complete reverence to each other, especially Edge &White to Jimmy Page.

The Edge also comes off as a total tech-geek compared to the other two.
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

I mentioned the oil can guitar to a friend and he responded "Did you ever see:"




And I hate to say it but the guitar sounds muffled to me.*






*Now I hate to say it because I love a good pun....and that ain't one of them. It just happens to be true.
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by admin »

An interestng thread but this latest post has be exhausted. :)
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm

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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by jps »

I made prints last year for a client of that band with the muffled instruments! 8)
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Re: IS THE TONE IN THE BODY OR THE PICKUPS?

Post by nbfanca »

The band has several videos on youtube. One says the drummer was seven at the time! She looks older in this one but not by much.

I chose this one because both the guitar and bass players are playing muffler guitars and because they tell the story. (I like it when the father, looks in his wallet, shaking his head.)
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