One of the great things about electric guitars and amplifiers is that there is such a wide variety of sounds and tones that a person can achieve while using them. A Gibson Les Paul plugged into a Marshall DSL40 tube amp is going to sound different than if you plug in a Fender Jazzcaster. This isn’t even taking into account the pedals a player could be using while they play that radically change what sounds we hear. The type of wood used for the guitar, the heaviness of the strings, the pickups, the distortion, the mechanics of the amplifier, and so much more go into creating the unique sound of a single guitarist.
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The question then becomes how one is able to figure out what their sound is with the equipment they have. Just because you buy a high-end guitar with a high-end amplifier doesn’t automatically mean that when you plug it in, turn it on, and play it, that it will sound great. There will always be some degree of finessing involved in finding that “sweet spot” with your equipment. It’s the one sound that has just the right amount of distortion and the right amount of volume that creates a sound that you just want to hear for hours and hours.
So, how does one find that sweet spot? Well, there isn’t exactly one tried and true method that every guitarist uses. It’s a matter of taking stock of what you have and taking the time to make adjustments.
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