Did you read what Bobbe says about guitars?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 4 Nov 2008 8:59 am

Just read Bobbe Seymour's latest news letter.

Did YOU read that paragraph where he dispells ALL rumors about g'tar basics?

He says: "The BLACK LAQUER or BLACK MICA does absolutely NOTHING to enhance the TONE". How about that? How about all you guys that have Black Mica Emmons'? Do you feel short-changed now?

Joshua Grange · Post by **Joshua Grange** » 4 Nov 2008 9:26 am

Well Ray I just spray-painted my Bud with black RustOleum and it sounds much better now.
I also sprayed the strings and they sound better too, so....

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 4 Nov 2008 9:33 am

Good to know that there are some of you Forumites out there that will knowingly and willingly step into an arena of HOT controversy just determined to find that better sound/tone.

There's been too many good things said about "Black Guitars", BLACK SUV"s" and "Black Helicopters" for it to be all wrong. Big John Bechtol spray painted his Fender and he says it sounds much better now that it's black!

I've got to move some stuff to get to my BIGSBY but it's next! BLACK Rustoleum, eh? You did say you did the strings too?

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 4 Nov 2008 9:39 am

Ray, I couldn't bring myself to spray paint my Willy black, but I do make sure that all my patch cords are black, does that count?

Geo

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 4 Nov 2008 9:53 am

Joshua Grange wrote:Well Ray I just spray-painted my Bud with black RustOleum and it sounds much better now.
I also sprayed the strings and they sound better too, so....

thats funny Josh cause i just purchased a fender 1000 where someone had actually painted the rod levers and turnbuckles black. Cant tell how that affects the tone till I get it in playable condition.
why someone would paint threaded metal parts that move and rub against each other and arent even visible except on the underside of the guitar is a mystery to me, but my best guess is a tone enhancement modification.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 4 Nov 2008 10:52 am

There may not be a difference in tone, but I think the black mica Emmons P/P's look far classier than the rosewood mica. Just my opinion but if I had a choice between the two - no contest.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 4 Nov 2008 10:56 am

George I think that qualifies as too much information!!

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 4 Nov 2008 11:04 am

Hi Bro Ben, haven't heard from you for a while. I hope all is well out there in the Garden State.

Geo

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 4 Nov 2008 11:30 am

Hi, Ray... I have to admit having always been of the persuasion that the idea of color affecting guitar tone was obviously ridiculous.
Many people consider Jimmy Crawford to be one of the pre-eminent builders and repairmen of Emmons guitars. Here's his take from a lengthy interview I did with him Dec. 17, 2003, when we got to talking about the body coverings:

JC: I had a green leatherette covered Emmons, the one I did “Ton of Steel” with,
and the covering was pretty thick, you couldn’t beat sound out of that guitar
with a sledgehammer. You’ve often heard that great sound comes out of either a
rosewood or a black Emmons...
M: Now there’s a conversation starter!
JC: Well it was often attributed to the color- or to a psychological factor, but no,
it should be attributed to a certain thickness of backing on the mica, thinner
than some of the other colors.
M: We’ve all heard the argument that there’s a real difference, and that no, it’s
just a myth. But there really was a difference in the dimensional thickness of
the black Formica?
JC: Yeah, and that had everything to do with that, the thickness, not the color!
The critical ears are going to be the ones to pick that out.
M: Do you experiment with those minute factors with the JCH, like different
ways of laminating the mica to the cabinets, different glues, and so on?
JC: Funny you should ask that- Wilson Arts glue is different than the others,
and we found a particular brand of Formica that was a different thickness.
M: But you pretty much have to have the guitar assembled to find out about
that right?
JC: Oh, yeah, you have to finish it on out. I just sent a guitar with carbon fibre-
that was the design of the mica- to a fellow in New York. I measured it with the
calipers and it was 37/1000ths thick- you talk about a great sounding guitar,
that thing barked! Your other micas, even the rosewood and black, are going to
measure around 45/1000ths. Some of the decorative micas will measure on up
to 60/1000ths, and it does make a difference.
M: So the thinner the mica, the better the sound?
JC: Exactly, and then pressing that mica into the wood too, with the glue
selection, has everything to do with that.

I really think he knew a lot more about it than I did.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 4 Nov 2008 11:58 am

25 year old ridculous information, done with Jimmy's typical sense of humor! (seriously)

Bobbe

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 4 Nov 2008 12:04 pm

Well, Bobbe, as I said, I've always thought color=tone to be ridiculous on the face of it. And Jimmy was a nut, and while there was a lot of banter and joking that day (I'll fondly remember all my life), we talked for hours in great detail about mechanics, building, parts, metals, contruction details and their effects on the final guitar.

I really think he was serious about this.
As for me, I've owned 4 or 5 Emmons guitars and the best sounding ones, to me, were rosewood and plank maple mica. I think it has a lot more to do with the particular build quality and adjustment of individual guitars.

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 4 Nov 2008 2:21 pm

My black girlfriend is beautiful. (BLACK LAB) Best companion you ever want. Never rated her tone though.

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 4 Nov 2008 2:28 pm

I suspect Tommy Young's mod consists of replacing all the screws with black ones. I could be wrong....

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 4 Nov 2008 2:35 pm

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 4 Nov 2008 3:11 pm

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 4 Nov 2008 3:36 pm

Ray Montee wrote:...He says: "The BLACK LAQUER or BLACK MICA does absolutely NOTHING to enhance the TONE". How about that? How about all you guys that have Black Mica Emmons'? Do you feel short-changed now?

Since when did Bobbe become the expert?

Besides, I noticed the color that Emmons P-P in Lexington on Saturday. Now you know he wanted every advantage for that show.

Anyway, I'm not taking any chances. I'm staying with black. Besides, it matches my Steeler's Choice Seat, my leather sofa, my bar and my pool table felt.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 4 Nov 2008 5:19 pm

Ron; I haven't seen a Black Rajah Bar since I last used one in 1972 !!

Regards, Paul

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 4 Nov 2008 5:52 pm

Colour has visual 'illusions of grandure' in one's mind, has nothing to do with tone, the better it looks, the better you play it, black mica dont sound any better than white mica!

Swig a shot of 'Canadian whiskey' before you play it, that red one will sound just as good as the black one under stagelight!

Proven.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Nov 2008 5:43 am

<<<<<<<<<<<

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Nov 2008 8:57 am

Mark van Allen wrote:I really think he was serious about this.

Then you don't know Jimmy!

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 5 Nov 2008 9:33 am

I have been over this several times here on the forum and many times I said that the color of the guitar has nothing to do with the sound of it.
All these fables about black Formica having more carbon in it.........%^$# for the birds.

Sure....a black guitar might look better then a regular color in most peoples opinion.

What I do think is very weird though is the fact that we have been arguing over this for so long now and Bobbe Seymour said it's a hoax and finally people believe it.

Ron

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 5 Nov 2008 10:01 am

Tone is more dependent on a fresh set of strings and a new fingerboard (every six changes)

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 5 Nov 2008 10:33 am

,,,,,,,,and a partrige in a pear tree!

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Nov 2008 11:06 am

Ray Montee wrote:Just read Bobbe Seymour's latest news letter.

Did YOU read that paragraph where he dispells ALL rumors about g'tar basics?

He says: "The BLACK LAQUER or BLACK MICA does absolutely NOTHING to enhance the TONE".

Bobbe is absolutely wrong.

Everyone knows that black guitars sound best. It's a scientifically proven fact.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 5 Nov 2008 11:11 am

Black is the new white.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Did you read what Bobbe says about guitars?

Did you read what Bobbe says about guitars?

Good to hear that SOMEONE............

Re: Did you read what Bobbe says about guitars?

Re: Did you read what Bobbe says about guitars?