thin sounding hollow body help

[lowmach]

Hi all-

I bought a ibanez ak100nt used last year and it sounds so thin acoustically. Not at all what I expected. My previously owned gretsch 5120 sounded so much warmer as does my nephews Joe pass.

The guitar plays wonderfully so I wondered if their is something I can do to warm this guitar's tone. If not then I will sell and try a different guitar.

Currently it is has the wooden bridge installed and 12 ga ghs flat wound strings.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks
-Steve

[fep]

Is that a laminate guitar?

If so, I would think of it as an electric guitar. That's not a bad thing, the same can be said of a Gibson Es-175. Not very good acoustically, but nice fat sound when plugged in.

If you want a good acoustic sound, look for a solid top with no pickup or with a floating pickup.

[cjm]

Originally Posted by lowmach

Hi all-

I bought a ibanez ak100nt used last year and it sounds so thin acoustically. Not at all what I expected. My previously owned gretsch 5120 sounded so much warmer as does my nephews Joe pass.

The guitar plays wonderfully so I wondered if their is something I can do to warm this guitar's tone. If not then I will sell and try a different guitar.

Currently it is has the wooden bridge installed and 12 ga ghs flat wound strings.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks
-Steve

No real advice except to say the guitar is designed as an electric hollow body archtop -- and as a class laminate hollow body electrics are very much hit or miss played acoustically (mostly miss). It's just not what they're designed for. The hollow body serves to shape the amplified sound in this case...to make it sound like an ES-175 clone...not to make it sound like a 1937 L5 when it's unplugged.

That said, you might try different strings. Flatwounds are really not intended to enhance acoustic performance -- they're all about playing plugged in. Nickle round wound strings of similar gauge or even a bit heavier will change the acoustic performance and are often used for the amplified "jazz sound" (which is not solely the province of flats as is a common misconception).

Whether or not the round wounds will give you the unplugged acoustic qualities you are looking for is something that only your own ears can tell you as a result of trying it.

[mr. beaumont]

The Ibanez's are not very big boxes, they're laminate, and have a LOT of plasticy finish on them.

When auditioning budget jazzboxes a few years back I found them to be consistently the quietest and most "plinky" unplugged.

Which is completely fine, mind you, as they are designed to be electric guitars.

[tonedeaf]

You might try mic-ing the guitar through a PA or acoustic amp like a Fishman Loudbox. This might add some ambiance. Also a Dynamic Equalizer pedal might allow you to shape the sound you are looking for.

[lowmach]

Thank you for all the great responses. Ok sounds like I got what I was suppose to in a laminate hollow guitar.

Mr. Beaumont hit the nail on the head with "plinky". Though I hear it that way plugged in as well, but mostly with pick strummed chords while amplified.

I will try some round wounds strings. Good idea. This one has ghs chromes on it. Think their known for brightness? My solid body guitar with round wounds has better jazz tone to my ears. I know tone is so relative but I listen to music and really like Russell Malones tone for example.

Also will try the remic and eq for some tone changes. Nice idea. Really was hoping for nice acoustic tone for practicing without disturbing family.

I will see if can find a solid top with floating pick up locally to hear.

Thanks
-low

[marcwhy]

Originally Posted by lowmach

Really was hoping for nice acoustic tone for practicing without disturbing family.

I will see if can find a solid top with floating pick up locally to hear.

Thanks
-low

I don't really "get" that idea -- a "nice acoustic tone" will likely be loud, so that doesn't help the family sleep. If you're not working on your "sound," (amplified or otherwise) it doesn't matter what guitar you're using ...

[fep]

You might consider this, you could add your own floater later if you want, if you're looking for a reasonable priced hollow-body (it's a laminate):

YouTube Video

[jorgemg1984]

Cheap way: Round Wounds

Expensive way: Good finish

[SamBooka]

Originally Posted by marcwhy

I don't really "get" that idea -- a "nice acoustic tone" will likely be loud, so that doesn't help the family sleep. If you're not working on your "sound," (amplified or otherwise) it doesn't matter what guitar you're using ...

I completely get where the OP is coming from.

I held back from commenting earlier because you hit all the things that I would do to get the guitar sounding its best unplugged (especially the wooden bridge). One thing I dont think was mentioned was how low your action is. If it is "shred" level low this doesnt help since when you play the strings a little harder they will ever so slightly rattle agains the frets.. and sound thin??

[cosmic gumbo]

My Ibanez sounds so lame unplugged. It's just what I expected from an electric archtop.

[kris]

Laminated arch-top with floating pick-up give more acoustic sound but it is still electric hollow box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hKfDBbYQ3I