Guitar Tone Problems

Many guitar players complain about a bad tone coming from their guitars, or muddy tones that blend in too easily with the other instruments in their bands. There are a variety of things that might cause those problems, including problems with strings, string action, the guitar itself, or amplifier issues. Those can generally be solved easily and inexpensively, although replacement parts or time-consuming adjustments are sometimes necessary.

Strings

The most common cause of ugly guitar tones can be traced back to your strings. Many guitar players don't realize it, but the primary influence on the overall tone of your guitar is the strings. Round-wound guitar strings will sound bright, clear and penetrating at first, but over time will collect dirt and grime from your fingers. The grime buries itself in the string's grooves, creating a dead tone. Be sure to regularly replace your strings to avoid that.

String Action

The action of your guitar can also have a strong influence on the tone of your strings. Guitar action is generally a personal choice. Some guitar players, such as Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, prefer a very high action. That is suitable for players with strong fingers who can push strings down from a greater height, and provides the greatest potential for ideal tone. Some players prefer lower, faster action. A low action can result in fret buzzing from careless or sloppy players.

Practice Amps

Many guitar players will prefer to use a practice amp during rehearsals, due the easy portability and low cost of those types of amplifiers. Although practice amps are suitable for quiet rehearsals, you will run into problems if you try to use practice amps with a drummer or during a gig. Practice amps are generally low wattage, and will have to be cranked up in order to be audible over a drummer. As with many amps, guitar tone will be distorted when the amp is at maximum volume.

Tube Amps

Tube amps are capable of producing an excellent guitar tone when properly maintained. Unfortunately, many guitar players will never replace or maintain the tubes in their amplifiers. That can lead to squeaky, screechy tones or excessive amp hum. If you use a tube amp that is suffering from poor tones, inspect the tubes on a regular basis, and replace if necessary.

Other Tone Problems

Sometimes, tone problems can originate from the guitar itself. If you purchased an ultra-cheap guitar from a big-box convenience store, don't expect an excellent tone. The electronics can be cheap and prone to problems, and the manufacturing tolerances of the individual parts are generally very loose. The construction of a guitar's body, neck, bridge, and frets will have an influence on its tone.

References

• Guitar Maintenance: Strings