Electrics, unplugged vs. plugged in

Jbird

Jbird

Kick Henry Jackassowski
I've always heard that an electric guitar that sounds great while played unplugged will sound great plugged in (at least with the right pickups) and guitars that sound dead unplugged won't sound good plugged in.

My ESP LTD with the Evertune bridge is very 'dead' sounding while played unplugged. I really even don't want to plink on it while watching TV or whatnot.

But plug it in to my amp, add just a little bit of gain, and it's my best-sounding guitar. It sounds glorious for '80s classic rock and metal :) (has Seymour Duncans)


What about you guys? Do you have any guitars that don't conform to that age-old adage of 'good unplugged = good plugged in' ?
 
A lot of people swear that they won't buy guitars by mail because they have to play them to make sure they sustain. I must be extremely lucky because all my electric sustain unplugged. I play chords and they all sound really good. I think set up is very important for good guitar sustain. A hair off here or there and you have sustain ending early. It is what it is IMO. I question if your guitar sustains so incredibly why the hell do you have 2 compression pedals and 3 delay pedals. If you're happy, then your happen. Anyone else can just be unhappy.
 
I never really thought much about it. I never really cared how my electric guitars sound unplugged, as they are meant to be used plugged.

I find guitars where I can feel the resonance of the wood in the neck in the palm of my hand when playing chords is a good indicator of a resonant and good sounding guitar, so I guess that might play into the unplugged thing a bit.
 
I love hearing my guitars unplugged.

As for plugged in, the sound will be different pending which amp I am using. If they suck in all of the amps, the pickups are replaced.
 
Horse pucks.

The acoustic sound is the wood and plastic pick guard resonating.
Pickups don't pick that up. They are magnetic and they react to the metal strings moving within the magnetic field.

Sustain is something else all together and applies to both plugged and unplugged.
 
I think there's definitely something to a lively guitar will feel better. If it feels better, then you'll react to it better, and therefore it will sound better. If you've got dead spots, or a bad setup, that will certainly impact the electric sound. But not much of anything else will.
 
I have never had an electric that sounded "special" unplugged. On the other hand, I've had electrics that have sounded "special" plugged in. I also agree that not every electric will play well with every amp. For instance, my Fender Deluxe Player's Strat absolutely comes alive with the Fender DRRI amp. That's what got me to buy it in a California GC, and have it shipped back to Nashville.

Generally, as I audition a new guitar (either an acoustic, or a plugged in electric) I will end up playing a G6/E chord to see if it resonates. If that chord sounds flat, I move on. If it resonates, I know I have a good guitar in my hands.

Of course, all of this is simply MHO, and has to do with my particular ears. Your opinions may vary.
 
Here's the physics as I see it. Your pick hitting the string imparts X amount of energy into the string. The string will vibrate with an amplitude that decreases over time proportional to the various losses present - one of the largest being the energy that is "leaking" from the string into the guitar body and eventually, the air causing the acoustic sound you hear.

Therefor, the louder the acoustic volume, the less sustain.
 
My prs sounded and felt great unplugged. Very resonant and sustained for ever. Plugged in it never really made it, always a bit sterile and clinical. I gave up and its long gone.
 
duracell batteries sound better than eveready batteries.......rolleyes1rolleyes1rolleyes1
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
This is why there's a replacement pickup market.
Click to expand...
Maybe, but before that £3000 prs I had a tremonti se. I tried many pup combinations to get that right, to no avail. The pricey one I tried a few amps and pedals but gave up quite easily for some reason. It was never gonna be love.
 
My casino feels great vibrating against my body when I play it loud. Makes me bust a chub.
 
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