That Gibson ''twaing''

[reneg8or]

Educate me. I love guitar music. Frampton. Knopfler. Clapton. Crowe. Santana. Journey. Donovan Copley (Hotwater) with his Afri-can traditional blikkitaar.


I noted that Fenders in general have a ''flat'' sound whilst a Les Paul has a more ''round'' or twangy sound. Some tunes seem to work better on one than on the other.


As I know zilch about guitars, I always wonder what causes the different qualities in sounds. What makes an instrument unique?


I have limited technical training but have always been interested in wave forms, from ocean waves to GSM signals. I would really love to understand better how/why guitars sound so different, even without pedals, fuzz boxes and stuff like that. When played the same way through the same amplifier, using the same settings. Flat response, no echo, reverb, etc.

Any muso here, who can share some expert opinion?

 

[Shake&Bake]

IMO Fenders have always been known to have the twangy sounds in comparison to Gibson's - well Les Paul's anyway.

Clean sounds - I think Strat's or Tele's are more versatile - and that's just by ear and listening to the pro's.
It's all down to pickups and electronics of each - and the player naturally.

 

[creeper]

Read up on the pickups used in the different guitars. Most strats use a single coil, whereas the Gibson Les Paul's use what is called a Humbucker pickup. I can't remember the technical side of it, but it is a double coil pickup which provides a "warmer" sound.

 

[copacetic]

Read up on the pickups used in the different guitars. Most strats use a single coil, whereas the Gibson Les Paul's use what is called a Humbucker pickup. I can't remember the technical side of it, but it is a double coil pickup which provides a "warmer" sound.

This is correct - The pickups are what make part of the difference.

The other factor is that 'Gibson' style guitars are more dense and generally heavier than 'Strat' style guitars, which gives them a 'darker' tone.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88517

*edit*

"Gibson twang" is kind of getting it backwards, as it happens.