A couple words I’ve hated on a couple different levels over the years. ‘Touch’, because during the dark Tourniquet-infested days (and if you’re not sure what style of music Tourniquet is, just read their name again), ‘touch’ was used to mean ‘feel’ on guitar. And of course to a neo-drama-metal kid, ‘feel’ is used to describe guitarists who just can’t hack the speed thing. So I hated the word. And then in my next stupid stage, the wanna-be-Mum-feel-is-all-you-need-and-solos-give-me-the-same-feeling-as-the-spandex-that-was-worn-when-they-were-first-played stage (wait…I’m still in that stage), ‘touch’ is just the words used by all the ‘Tone is in the hands’ guys who refuse to buy even a Blues Junior or get decent strings. And ‘responsiveness’, I thought was just a made up word. I mean, it’s a circuit…how can it respond. Then I heard a friend’s ‘66 Bandmaster; and then I hated the word ‘responsiveness’ simply because I knew my Crate and Fender PA didn’t have it. Yep. I ran those in stereo. It was beautiful. Except without the beautiful part.
But these two words seem to have more and more meaning in my tonal life (or just, ‘life’) as my journey for tone continues. And they go hand in hand. See, I’m still not into the whole ‘tone is in the hands’ thing. Of course, your sound and tone do originate from your hands, but anyone who ever says the phrase almost always has the unspoken but understood and oh-so-implied tag, ‘…so gear means nothing.’ And I don’t agree with that. Sure, Eric Clapton could sound better than me, even with a 5 watt Fender Frontman, Digitech Bad Monkey, and an out of tune guitar. But sounding ‘better than’ isn’t really the point. The point is to make the best music possible. So with Eric Clapton’s already toneful hands, just imagine how he’d sound through something that responded to them; like say, a ‘59 Bassman and a Grosh…that’s in tune. Hands without gear sounds like Itzahk Pearlman playing on a Samash violin. And gear without hands sounds like my youtube videos. 
You need both. The proper touch, and gear that responds to that touch.
(This is Tourniquet. I can’t make fun of them too much, because I still have a bit of a soft spot for them; they were unfortunately a huge part of my coming of age. Explains a lot, I suppose. Very metal. Except for the one on the far left. Looks like what a little girl would wear to visit Disneyland.)
And as I am learning, that is not the same for any two people. I’ve been going through amps (my current gear kick), and I’ve turned down some great ones because of how they interact with me. I was a/b’ing two amps for like, ever, and I finally realized that they both sounded great……just that one responded to my particular touch in a way that simply felt right to me. And to another guitarist, with different touch, the other amp may have been the keeper. And to still another guitarist, maybe neither amp would work. Of course, if you start to go through 25 amps or so, and none are responding to your touch, well…it may be your touch. hehe But just as a Two Rock won’t make you sound like John Mayer, John Mayer might never sound as good as you through your rig (although that’s like, a huge ‘might’ right there). But you have a touch that is all your own. And for some of us, that’s a bad thing, and we need to practice. Because touch can kill an incredible sounding rig. For instance, when I listen back to recordings of myself, I can tell the times I couldn’t hear myself right, or was self-conscious because of no congregation or audience response, or I’m angry because the band is slipping off the click track…lol Because my tone gets bad. My touch is killing it, as I cease to feel and use the guitar as an extension of my body, and start to hack at it. Suddenly the tone that I’m usually able to lie to myself about and believe it sounds like Johnny Buckland but better, now sounds…well…so bad that even someone who loves themselves as much as I do can’t even lie to themselves over anymore. Or like Good Charlotte. Either one. Touch is essential.
But yet that touch doesn’t mean a thing without a rig that responds well to that touch. And one that responds well to my touch, may not respond well to your touch. Delay is an exception. That doesn’t really apply here, but it is true nonetheless. But your tone needs your touch. Why? Because it is responsive. I just threw out old tubes for the first time ever yesterday. There were about 200 of them. I’ve saved them for years because I couldn’t bear to hurt those that had given their very being for the sake of tone. And if you think that’s crazy, try explaining to yourself how something that sounds so beautiful, could have no feelings. Nope. Couldn’t do it, could ya. Tubes have feelings. And yes, I did have a little moment of silence next to the dumpster when I threw them out. And no, I’m not trying to be funny. There was a moment. And there was silence. And I was thinking about tubes. My point is to touch your tone. Practice that touch, and become one with your rig. It will respond to you; it has feelings. And if it doesn’t respond to you, throw it out and get a new one that does.
Splendid.
Karl.
wow.
that was quite touching.
lol I did use that word quite profusely, didn’t I. hehehe
Great post Karl
“My point is to touch your tone” — this is classic!
seriously, great post. interestingly, touch & feel are one of those things that takes a lifetime to master, imho.
Where was that dumpster again? I do think that if I had the same conception of guitar tone and the role/importance of guitar to the worship team as our sound guy, I wouldn’t have a care in the world. That is — he has no idea.
I dig the comments, and I have the thought many of times myself. We used to have a lead player, that had this killer touch, and could just make poop… well sound good. This is something that coming, from a metal background and doing more “Feeling” worship style music, I am trying to discover for myself.
Doing the same overly technical stuff in worship doesn’t seem to fit, so now its more like you see actors and directors:
Scene:
Director – That was great, now can we do that again with more “Feeling”?
So now I have changed the way I approach a song, more with a minimalist approach, instead of over the top, how can I make this song shred. And trying to discover how I can have that “touch” that is so personal when I play. Good news it seems like I am on my way.
Btw, Karl love the site, good stuff. And now I can’t shred, but its a dream of mine.
How funny….
I am one of those guys that likes to think that a good portion of my tone comes from my hands and my heart. However true or untrue that may be, I want to believe it no matter what anyone says.
Ever since I started playing, the one common I have experienced throughout the years is that what ever gear I had at a particular time is what I tried to bend to what I was hearing inside. As years pass and music changes so does the tone within me. Hence the gear changes. Which puts me right back to working with whatever gear I have at a particular time…a psychotic and vicious cycle of searching for something that no one else can hear except me.
I love this statement “Practice that touch, and become one with your rig. It will respond to you; it has feelings. And if it doesn’t respond to you, throw it out and get a new one that does.”
Just tell me… you can hear the tone that I am hearing right????
Man…I learned about this tonight…some people from my worship team played at a church that needed some worship tonight and after things had chilled out, the lead guitarist (who’s been playing four about 12 years) took the acoustic and started playing around on it. The acoustic guitarist (who has played electric and acoustic for about five years) grabbed the electric once things picked up a little bit, so they had essentially switched rigs. Oh my. Well, the electric was smack in the middle of the stage and was freaking loud. The acoustic guy didn’t know that the electric player never had the volume on his guitar over half that night (he always uses his volume knobs a lot, so this wasn’t that surprising). Well, the song kicked into a big chorus and the acoustic player now on electric cranked the volume and well…it was a double buck Les Paul with the volume cranked and a cranked amp…you can imagine how loud it was on a small stage.
That said, the electric player relies on his touch to get the awesome tone he has. He has great gear to allow that, but it’s still in his touch. When he picked up the acoustic, he sounded so much better than the acoustic player did with the same guitar.
Matt–thanks, brother.
Rhoy–thanks. And great point on the fact that we’ll probably be mastering ‘touch’ our whole lives. Totally agree!
Randy–haha It’s down here in Murrieta…if you can make it, there’s some tubes in there. Some of them probably still work! hehe
And I hear ya on some sound guys. Most of them seem to either not care about the electric, or care too much about it, and just crank it like it’s 1981.
I’m pretty lucky at my church and some of the ones I play at; I work with some very capable sound techs who really understand modern music and worship music. It’s a blessing. 
Shane–great to have you here, bro! And wow, that talk about minimalism just warms my heart. hehe
I love the journey you’re on. I’m on the same one, and probably will be the rest of my life. Great points on minimalism, and I’m looking forward to hearing more insights from you!
Sal–love it, brother. I’m totally in the same boat…always chasing that elusive tone in my head. But I can tell you…when you’re playing with your sweet touch, we can all hear that tone, my friend!
Colty–wow, great example! Yes, I’ve totally jumped on people’s rigs before, expecting to sound as good as them, and been sorely disappointed. That’s a killer illustration for hands and touch, bro!
A moment of silence for the tubes…..(sniff, sniff)…talk amoungst yourselves.
Finally! Someone gets the true heart of this post. Props, CC!
Karl, one of my friends pointed me to your blog and I enjoy it. I’d like for you to come present a seminar for my electric guitarists at a Worship Workshop in Sept. Please contact me and I’ll share some more info about it. Cheers!
Welcome, Bill! Great to have you here. And I’d be more than happy to do a workshop. Just sent you an e-mail about it.
LOL – am I the only one brave enough to admit that I still like Tourniquet?!? (mostly I like their newer stuff – and wish they would release a new album)
Here was an old review of a show I went to of theirs in 2000: http://cwhisonant.gotdns.com/review.htm and some pics http://cwhisonant.gotdns.com/tourniquet.htm
By the way, you’re showing the original thrash metal look in that picture – not very fair to how they’ve changed lol. What if people memorialized you by what you looked like in the early 90s?
And you know you want them to release a new album..
+1 old school tourniquet!
Chris–haha I’ll admit that they still have some good parts…I just wish they would stick with those parts and not throw in so much randomness…different keys, off tempo sounds, cats fighting?!, etc. However, I understand that that is their whole point as a band, so I’m cool. But on their Microscopic album, the two songs with cello intros were very, very, very impressive. And then the growling. Oh well.
And that’s so funny that you mention that about the picture! I was actually trying to find an old one because as bad as I think it looked then, I think…don’t hurt me…it might be worse now. The last concert pic I saw of them, Ted was in short khaki shorts with a fishing shirt on. lol Which I could have made fun of, but I thought it’d be nicer of me to make fun of them in a picture that they probably make fun of themselves. hehe And you gotta pay the respects to Guy Ritchie! (hehe Can you tell I used to be in love with these guys?)
And if I could find it, I would totally post a pic from me in the early ’90’s. That might be a fun thread. lol I’d be the six year old in the orange and hot green parachute pants.
lol
And yes, I do have a standing order to buy any new Tourniquet album that comes out, just to support the shapers of my high school years.
lol
Shane–lol Gotta love the days of scary Victor who looks like he’s gonna tear my arms off, and Guy Ritchie who is scary in a much different and much more confusing way. hehehe But seriously, I did love that band so very much in high school. They’ll always have a special place.
Btw Did you see that Les Paul died today?
Oh, man! I hadn’t heard! I just checked the news. A sad day indeed. He will be missed.
Karl – Optical was my favorite album, but I started with them in the old school days with the original albumns. Also Deliverance and Living Sacrifice, and Beliver were my musts, and the drummer I was running with at the time.
Chris – Very sad day, was impressed to see that even at 90 Les was still loving playing and rocking out. Something I hope to be doing.
Karl,
worship leader, tone chaser on a budget…I currently have a fender HOt Rod Deluxe, but wanting the el84 chime over the 6l6s I use currently, on a fairly tight budget wondering your thoughts on an AC15 vs. Blues jr. vs. the epiphone valve jr head with the 12″ speaker cab?
Shane–Optical…is that the third one?
Nate–right on. My favorite of those is the Blues Junior with a speaker swap and tube swap. Put some JJ tubes and a Celestion V30 in those Blues Junior’s and wow! They’ll make me rethink boutique tone for a bit!
The Valve Junior is a great little amp, but breaks up very, very early. And I’m not a huge fan of the new Vox CC series. I think their new handwired series are great, though! They just tend to cost a little more. So I guess my ranking would be:
1. AC15HW
2. Blues Junior (new speaker and tubes)
3. Valve Junior
4. AC15CC
Hope that helps a bit!
Let me know if you need more info.
Another cool post. I’ve always had a problem with three other words: Mojo, Groove and Soul. Yep, I Capitalize them every time, that’s how much they mean to me! Funny thing, those sentimental words…. And I’m with ya on the old tubes. Had a set of 6’s and 12’s from 1958 (grandad – RIP – left them to me, along with his gear) The hurricane washed them away. Devastating… just tore me up.
Are you in the Louisiana area? Wow, that must’ve been horrible! And great call on mojo, groove, and soul. Fantastic.
I live in Pensacola. We didn’t get hit by Katrina, but we did get Ivan dead on center. It caused a lot of damage here, but I didn’t lose the house – thank God! The 1958 Fender Champ (tweed, original condition, like new) was at my brother-in-laws house. Gramps bought it new. Bro just about everything but the structure. The loss of the amp was a big blow for me, but not as big as my sisters family belongings.
Whoa. I am so sorry. How is your sister’s family currently? Were they able to recover?
hehe… i dint understood much of this… im dutch so i cant read english verry good…
and is funny…
but eehm tourniquet is awesome men!!!
its my favorite band… and eehhhrrmmm… that guy on the left.. ”guy ritter” is awesome.. he can sing and he looks funny
but you dont have to look like others if you want to be ourself?
if some one wants to have pink clothes on stage in a metal band.. wel let him
maybe it looks stupit but still.. hes himself..
but eehmm god bless you men.. and listen to the good music!
Bouke–thanks for visiting the blog, and it’s great to have you here! I’m not a huge Tourniquet fan anymore, but I do have great respect for their musical diversity, and their comfort with being individuals. Good point on being yourself. Cheers, my friend!