We’ve been told for most of our lives that the only way to get a good-sounding guitar is by spending a lot of money on one of the big brands. That’s what all the rock stars do right?
Well, we looked into this and it turns out this isn’t true. While a well-made guitar can make it easier to get a good sound. It is possible to get a guitar of any price sounding good.
If you’re looking to get a good sound out of guitar then one of the key lessons you will need to learn is – learning how to play the guitar well is only half the battle. You will also learn how to set up a sound system that will make the most of your guitar.
There are many things that you can tweak on your guitar to get it to sound better, including changing your string, investing in a pedalboard, and storing guitar correctly.
In this article, we are going to talk you through 5 ways that you can get a better sound out of any guitar. We will be talking about DIY solutions, upgrading parts, and your board setups.
#1 Invest in a good set of strings
There is one easy upgrade that you can make to your guitar that will make it sound a lot better. And this upgrade will usually cost you less than $10.
What is this cheap upgrade?
The first thing you should do when you are upgrading your guitar is to change your strings. If you can, you should opt for a celebrated string brand like Ernie Ball or Elixir.
While the strings from these more established brands may cost $10+ rather than $5+ – paying that little bit extra will be completely worth it.
Another important piece of advice when it comes to picking out your strings is to understand what type of strings are best for the music that you want to play. Strings that work well for classical guitar playing won’t hold up if you use them to play heavy metal.
#2 Don’t be afraid of DIY solutions
DIY amp building kits are something every serious guitar player should consider investing in.
Not only are they a cheaper option, but they also give you a chance to build an amp that will bring out the best of what your guitar has to offer.
A DIY tube guitar amp may take a little while to build, but all the effort you put in will be worth it once you hear how good it sounds.
You may also find it beneficial to look into building DIY soundboards and pedal boards if you’re really on a budget.
#3 Store your guitar correctly
How you store your guitar should be completely dictated by your living situation. People who live in Memphis will have to store their guitars in a completely different way to the people in Seattle.
If you store guitar in your damp bedroom that only has single glazing – you will have to invest in a case that stops your guitar from becoming too damp or cold. However, if you live somewhere really hot and dry you may want to find a case that will keep your guitar cool.
Weather and humidity can warp your strings, the body of your guitar, and can even damage your amplifiers.
#4 Invest in a good set of cables
Your guitar will only sound as good as the cables that connect it to your amplifier.
We get a lot of people thinking we’re joking when we suggest investing in cables. People wonder how much difference it can really make.
Think about it, you have spent a lot of money on your guitar and pedalboard and then connected them to your expensive amplifier with a $10 cable. No wonder you’re getting a muddy tone.
Invest in a low-capacitance cable and you’ll never want to go back.
#5 – Adjust your pickup height
The optimal pickup height varies from guitar to guitar. So to find it on your own instrument you’ll have to spend some time experimenting.
To do this you will need a ruler, pencil, and a screwdriver. The general rule of thumb is the high you raise your pickup, the more output you will get from it.
This video will talk you through everything you need to know about adjusting your pickup.
