What guitar sound do you prefer?

Inventor

I've just downloaded the demo version of Electroacoustic Toolbox, which is basically a spectrum analyzer, scope, and other stuff for your soundcard. I measured some signals from the OYT guitar invention in both factory and invention switch position, and was rather surprised at what I saw.

In particular there was no additional harmonic content with the invention. I also noted that a super-sharp initial transient occurs with the factory setup that is not there for the invention (attack i guess you'd call it), and a greater content at discordant frequencies, i.e. frequencies not at harmonic multiples.

Much to my surprise one guitarist on another forum said that he prefers the factory pickups because he likes the "richer harmonic content". Maybe guitarists like a little bit of dissonance, maybe a lot? This got me thinking about ways to make the invention more acceptable to the guitarist community. I could purposely create more discord if that's desired. I could add circuitry that increases the same stuff.

Backing up a bit, I guess I should just ask: what do you want in your guitar spectrum / waveform?

Les

BobTheDog · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:55 am Post subject:

Hi Les,

Can you post some images of the frequency graphs?

Cheers

Andy

Inventor · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:46 am Post subject:

Sure Andy,

In this example I have placed the magnets near the bridge for the invention, and used the bridge pickup for the factory position. Pluck was done at middle pickup location of low E string, open (unfretted).

The spectrum in this case is very similar so it makes a good frame of reference for future comparison i suppose.

Les

Spectrum Invention low E String.jpg

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Spectrum of Invention Low E STring

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Spectrum Factory low E String.jpg

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Spectrum of Factory pickups low E String

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Inventor · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:01 am Post subject:

And here is an audio sample of the two waveforms along with some discussion from me.

Les

Bridge Position Similar Sound 20110105 0449.1.mp3

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audio sample of prior posted spectrum

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BobTheDog · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:11 am Post subject:

Hi Les,

I bet if you tried other different mag pickups you would notice similar differences.

Different pickups sound very different, even combinations of different string types with different pickups produce very different sound.

My bet is also the attack changes as well but I must admit I have never thought of this before but it makes sense.

Cheers

Andy

Inventor · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:52 am Post subject:

As requested by woody monk, the next measurement is with the high E string. Magnets slightly adjusted also.

Les

Spectrum Factory high E String.jpg

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Spectrum with Factory pickups when high e string is plucked

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Spectrum Invention high E String.jpg

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Spectrum with invention, high e string plucked

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GovernorSilver · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:57 am Post subject:

My favorite electric guitar tones, with minimal or zero processing (aka "clean guitar sounds") are the Fender Strat single coil tones, as represented by:

Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits, around the time of this song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HUfFtCHEzk

Eric Johnson (ok there's delay on the guitar, but the character still comes through):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5liGR7dGL0Q

Wayne Krantz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHviiarmV2M

With processing, well, all bets are off.

Inventor · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:36 am Post subject:

Well thanks for your comments, though I still do not have a feel for what subset of the market will be best for these pickups. I'm actually starting to think of piano and violin and lute or other instruments (maybe banjo) that people actually want to hear what the instrument itself sounds like.

What I've learned from playing with the measurement software is four things.

1. there is NOT more harmonic content with the new pickup. It is about the same.

2. there is much lower dissonance with the new pickup (see above 1khz on low E string plots above)

3. the attack is much lower with the new pickup

4. the bass is less enhanced with the new pickup (a known flaw of coil wound pickups).

I'm wondering what part of the market is best suited for this pickup given those four observations.

Les

GovernorSilver · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject: