Mixing: Tips, Tricks and Techniques

[stan]

spot on Pabs.

True Bargey, or they have all the tone guru mods and upgrades, then throw the the whole lot through a pedal or effects rack and then it's all changed...

I think there is something to be said for quality product and tried and tested methods. I'd rather have a Gibson SG custom than a JP Luthiers one. However, you could go close to making the cheapie sound like the Gibbo, for far less $

[bargeloobs]

spot on Pabs.

True Bargey, or they have all the tone guru mods and upgrades, then throw the the whole lot through a pedal or effects rack and then it's all changed...

I think there is something to be said for quality product and tried and tested methods. I'd rather have a Gibson SG custom than a JP Luthiers one. However, you could go close to making the cheapie sound like the Gibbo, for far less $

Agreed, there's a reason why we put upgraded electronics and hardware in out guitars and that's to enhance the reliability, playability and sound, like you say, many of these products are tried and tested.
As Pabs mentioned, the specific sound we craft from our instruments is totally subjective. I do however think the word "tone" gets bandied around far too liberally, many times without actually describing what sort of tone, or what sort of affect something has on a tone. To say this guitar, or this guitarist has a "great tone" or this specific finish "kills' tone really makes very little sense without actually qualifying the word with an adjective of some description.
I think the word "tone" as a singular needs to be banned, it's not some magical "thing" that exists, to be attained or strived after, or in some cases "killed".
Let's be a bit more descriptive ,and attempt cut through the confusion.

e.g the poly finish gave my guitar a dull, lifeless tone:-)