Getting Great Guitar Sounds [Paperback]

Michael Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

The first edition of Getting Great Guitar Sounds has helped thousands of guitarists get a basic handle on shaping their sound. This second edition had been expanded to cover modern multi-effectors, amp simulators, and advanced effect rigs in the same easy-to-understand language. To make getting started even simpler, Ross now lists his favorite effects and tells why they will provide most of the sounds guitarists will need.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard; 2 edition (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793591406
• ISBN-13: 978-0793591404
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,368,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK first-generation amp tone/rig setup book, January 26, 2003

By 

Michael Hoffman (Egodeath.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Great Guitar Sounds (Paperback)

This book is well conceived in general scope, with the right audience, right goals, and appropriate mix of effects and amp integration. It is lacking in coverage of some key points within that scope, however. It has only two pages of coverage of capturing that sound via microphones or direct-injection into the mixer.

...What's the purpose of talking about guitar effects in isolation from each other and from the amp? Any moron can dial in individual effects in any guitar store -- meanwhile, we're left without a clue about how to bend amp tone itself through controlling eq and levels at multiple distortion stages from guitar pickups to studio monitors -- which is exactly what this book should, and doesn't, cover. It covers some aspects of "getting great guitar sounds", but is limited as far as "getting great amp and distortion sounds".

At this point, there aren't enough books on getting guitar sounds to be very critical; we have to buy what's available and try to piece together the clues. This book is the most well-conceived book, though there's much room for improvement in content. Recommended, because it has the right goal, though there's ample room for improvement.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't be without this book, if you play guitar!, December 2, 2000

By 

Edward J Snoble (Chicago!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Great Guitar Sounds (Paperback)

This book is a must if you are an active stage musician. I always knew how to operate my equiptment, but never quite understood the theory behind some of the effects. After reading this book, I completely understand what the effects do to the instrument signal. It is much easier to "find" a sound I want to hear.

Also...... Don't ever pay to have your guitar/bass setup ever again. The author describes in "Normal person terms" the different steps to properly setting up a guitar. I used to pay $40 per guitar every 2 months or so....Now I do them myself and they have never sounded better.

I just purchased 2 more of these books for other musician friends! Good Luck -=Eddie=-

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Bang for Your Buck, November 14, 2006

By 

Todd Matson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Great Guitar Sounds (Paperback)

This book is 77 pages long and its seven chapters are arranged into three sections;1 the guitar pp 11-34, 2 the effects pp 37-52, and 3 tricks of the trade pp 55-67. There are also two appendices and some additional bits before and after the three sections that help to introduce and round out the book. "Getting Great Guitar Sounds" does a great job of introducing the reader to the various elements that shape a guitarists tone. This book is probably the best value for your dollar and the one that you should start with, but the downside is that due to its short length, there is so much that is either left out or could be expanded on.

In the guitar section, the author discusses the parts that make up a guitar and how they affect its sound. Next, he discusses the electrical components of the guitar, and finally, amps and speakers. The information is very condensed and some statements are not fully exposed e.g., the author mentions capacitors having an affect on sound but does not really communicate what they are, how they work, and how capacitors with different values will affect the guitars sound.

"Getting Great Guitar Sounds" has some of the best definitions and explanations that I have read so far. In the effects section, the author gives a very good introduction to various types of effects and their applications. Some effects are left out like Wah-Wah pedals, but the same publisher, Hal Leonard, has a book devoted to the Wah, "CryBaby Presents the Wah-Wha Book."

In the tricks of the trade section, the author discusses the effects chain, the correct setup for stereo, advanced rigs i.e., multi-effects, and when not to used effects. Additionally the author discusses playing live vs. the studio and also the pros can cons of vintage guitars, amps, and effects.

At the end of the book the author discusses how several artists archive their sound and also what the author personally uses. While other books may also explain how various elements affect your sound, typically in isolation to just the single guitarist, "Getting Great Guitar Sounds" goes even further by explaining how an empty hall vs. one with a full audience or even one that is half full will affect your sound and why you might sound good when playing by yourself, but not when playing with others in a band or vice versa.