What can I do to solve this problem with my guitar sound.?

Question

When i strum open chords like E minor, or G, or any of those in a chord progression. It gets really muffled, and you cant really hear the chords clear, it just gets really jumbled and all. But when i use barre chords, it does that a little but, but nowhere near as bad. So what could help this? My gear is currently:

BC Rich Warlock Bronze (Seymour Duncan pickups; SH-6 in the bridge, SH-2 in the neck)
Marshall MG-15CD(maybe its CDR)
Crate GX-15
Fender Frontman 15G

I dont use many of them, mainly the marshall. I also dont usually use effects, but when i do it is a Behringer V-amp (the blue multieffects processor with the twin pedals and expression pedal).

So, what do I need to change or do to make the sound better. I have tried lowering the gain but didn't really do any good on any of the amps....

Answer 1

You might consider trading in those 3 amps for one decent one. Most of your tone will come from the amp anyways, so you should really invest in a decent amp first. I know that the Marshall MG is notorious for sounding muddy. You could also try using your bridge pickup and boosting your treble some.

Answer 2

It could be that below a certain fret, the neck is 'bowed' backwards or forwards and is causing the frets to interfere with the vibration of the strings. This is usually described as a 'buzzing' sound. I would take the guitar to a local shop and get it professionally set up. If the guy knows what he is doing, it can be the difference between night and day.

I had a guitar that was virtually unplayable and went out of tune all the time despite having a locking tremelo system. I got it set up and the guy said the neck was bowing backwards, he fixed it and it played perfectly. Not the same problem, but a testament to how much difference a simple correction in the truss rod (which counteracts bending of the neck) can cause.

Answer 3

You didn't describe it very clearly, I have no idea what a muffled or a jumbled sound would be like. Has it always been that way? If not, what did you to before it became that way? The only thing I can think of that would cause open chords to be screwed up but barred ones to be OK is a twisted/distorted neck, and you better pray that's not the case. Is it the same when you play unlugged? If not, then you just don't know how to set a good tone.

Answer 4

Sounds to me like your the nut between the neck and headstock might be muffling your strings. See if the string guides are worn or uneven- there needs to be a precise pivot point just as if you were barring a chord on the 'zero' fret.

Check your neck for warping too....friend of mine had a BC Rich many years ago and the neck moved all over the place- required constant tension adjustments.

Answer 5

On the amp, try turning up your treble or your gain, or turning down your bass/mid. The same on your guitar. Also, hold the frets harder (Your hands should be sore after about 15 minutes of playing, lol.) And make sure that you aren't hitting strings that aren't in the chord (Like in a D chord, you don't hit E or A string.)

Answer 6

Try just strumming the strings that you want out of the chord. You want an open E, hit only what you want out of it.

Also change your strings often. Depending on how and how often you play, change them every 1-2 months. Seriously. It makes a difference how it picks up, and the sound will be less 'hollow-warm' and more 'vibrant-tinny-clear'.

Answer 7

Your guitar likely desires to be regulated. more effective powerful guitars have adjustable necks, and a sturdy guitar technician can regulate the neck, besides because the frets, so all the frets make equivalent stops. now and again the attitude of the neck desires adjustment, and infrequently man or woman frets both opt to be filed down or replaced with larger agonize metallic.

Answer 8

if it is muffled, try fretting harder.