How To Enhance Your Plugged-In Guitar Tone With Pedals?

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how to enhance your plugged in guitar tone with pedals

Imagine a scenario.

You’re trying to play the beautiful guitar solo from Hotel California. But, no matter how hard you try, you can’t get the same tune as Don Felder or Joe Welsh did.

Well, it’s not happening because you’re not a competent guitarist, no. The reason behind this issue is you not being able to set the tone with your pedal properly.

Or… maybe there is something else.

But, in this article, we’ll focus mostly on how you can improve the tone of your guitar, while it’s plugged in the effect pedal. So, keep reading till the end to find out more about it.

Enhancing the Tone of Your Plugged-In Guitar

Using a guitar pedal isn’t an easy job, if I’m being honest. It took me almost a year or so prior to me being comfortable with the usage of it. So, if you are struggling with the same, I would not blame you at all. It will take some time for you to master it, but you’ll do great.

However, before that happens, you’ll need to find a way to play your guitar just as you want. And here are some products or tools that can be beneficial for you.

1: A Preamp or a DI Box

A preamp or a DI box comes with a sweepable midrange control system. So, if you can use it properly, it can be a real problem-solver for someone who’s struggling with the room.

Most of these units also come with an in-built effect. So, if you’re having some sort of trouble coming up with a specific tone, using these can be highly beneficial for you.

2: A Reverb Pedal

Reverb is probably the best tune effect that you can ever use on an acoustic guitar. It creates a more airy sound that goes with almost any kind of genre you’re trying to get into.

Additionally reverb also fattens up the tone of your guitar while adding a little more sustain in it. Therefore, the sound will be able to ‘breathe’ more and offer an ultra-clean echo.

3: A Delay Pedal

Using a heavy dose of delay might sound a little contorted sometimes. But if you’re using this feature in moderation, you’ll certainly be able to beef up a basic sound pretty eminently.

For example, adding a small amount of delay (around five milliseconds) can provide a similar effect as a short reverb. But, it will sound even better. Listen to U2, if you haven’t already.

You’ll understand what I’m talking about.

4: A Chorus Pedal

A chorus pedal will be perfect for someone who’s having trouble with the chorus line. It may make your guitar sound a little larger than usual and add a shimmering quality to it.

However again, you should use this type of pedal throughout the entire song. Just for a second or two in the chorus line and you will be more than fine with it.

Other Ways to Improve Your Guitar Tone

Getting good at playing guitar is definitely the ‘most obvious’ way to improve the tone. But, it might take you some time to amp your skill set up in this regard. So, while you are practicing, it might be best to follow the below-mentioned tips to make your life a little easier.

1: Go for a Good String-Set

Guitar strings come in various gauges and flavors. So, you must consider purchasing the same in accordance to the sound you want to create. For example, if you are seeking an elegant jazz sound, you should go for the half-rounds or the flatwounds.

However, if you’re trying to follow the footsteps of Stevie Ray Vaughn, .009s wouldn’t cut it. You will need to use at least .011s to get that heavy bass-y sound. And, tuning down to Eb can deepen the tone even further while adding some tension to bump up your gauge.

2: Get a High-Quality Guitar Cable

Most people don’t care much about it, but your guitar cable has an effect on the sound you are trying to create. So, you must always choose something that comes with a decent-ish plug and have a shielding. This, in turn, can offer a clean signal to the guitar from the amplifier.

A shielded cable can also block any external sound that interferes with the tone of your guitar. This can be helpful when you are using some other equipment along with it. Also, if you want to go for something long-lasting, it might be best to go for the braided cables.

3: Choose the Pick Carefully

The type of pick you are using can also change or affect the tone of your guitar. For example, a light and small pick doesn’t offer a strong strum on your equipment. Hence, if you are trying to go for a heavier, more distorted sound, it might not be ideal for you.

Similarly, heavier picks aren’t really acoustic-friendly. They can offer a decent sound when an individual is trying to create a solo. But if you’re going to sing a campsite song, they won’t be the right option for you. My tip for you would be to experiment with different types of picks.

This way, it will be easier for you to compare them accordingly and choose the best option as a whole. Try to experiment with the brands too. They do matter, whether you believe it or not.

Don’t Get Sloppy with Your Melodies!

Finally setting up your guitar in a proper manner will also be required if you want to make the same sound well. Using a wah pedal can sometimes work out in your way too.

However, if you are just starting out, we’d ask you not to go overboard. Buy a second-hand or a cheaper guitar and use one or two of the aforesaid equipment with it.

This way, it will be easier for you to understand what works best for you. Once you have done a good job with your learning and all – you can go for the best acoustic guitar pedals to create a much better sound as a whole.

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