When I first got an electric Squier guitar and amp combo, I don't think I ever thought much about the tone other then pressing the channel select and turning it up as loud as it would go. As a 13yr old, that is all I needed - a dirty sound o play power chord punk songs.
As I got a bit older, I knew that tone was a thing that my serious guitar playing hero's said was important but again, I didn't have much to go on. I would fiddle around with all the tone knobs without really paying attention to what I was doing and to be fair no one else in my band seems to worry about it either.
Tone itself is a subjective pursuit. What one person thinks is great, another will hate. It is up to you to decide for yourself on the tone that you want to centre your playing around.
Below I have hopefully outlined a good starting point that will get you to a place where your guitar and amp will work in harmony and you can use as a jumping off point.
What is meant by dialling in an amp
First off, my interpretation of what is meant when I hear 'dialling in an amp' is to get a guitar and amp sounding the best it can by just adjusting the tones and volume settings. Once this is done, the tone can be flavoured with effects, playing style & other equipment.
How do you dial in an amp
There are a few different techniques for dialling in an amp that I found when researching the topic. Some of these can get a bit complicated and require you to be pretty far along in your musical journey. Some others talk about specifics for different styles and situations. My method that I have written below is what I was taught from a seasoned player (once I got up the nerve to ask while feeling a bit stupid :)) and I guarantee will lead you to at least a starting point to build off. If you follow the advice below, your amp will be at the very least be sounding much better then if you randomly start playing with the nobs or working off some settings found on a random website.
What you need: Your Ears, An Amp, An Electric guitar, A Guitar lead
Turn the amps knobs all to 0
Plug everything in
Set your guitars dials all to 5.
Turn your amps volume to 5
Strum the guitar
Start with the bass setting, slowly start turning it up while deliberately listening to when the tone starts changing. There will be a point where the tone significantly changes. You will hear it 'switch'.
Now do the same with your mid and high (and presence if there is one) until
When you complete all these steps you would have successfully reached the base level of dialling in you amplifier and should hear a distinct difference, for the better, from your previous attempts.
Where to from here? Now that you have successfully dialled in you guitar amp, the world is your oyster. You this as your 'home base' and start playing around with the knobs and volume on both your amp and guitar. Remember to use your ears - they are you most powerful weapon in the fight to getting the tone you need.
What Other factors could influence the tone of your guitar?
You guitar and amp are just one piece to the tone and sound puzzle. There are a lot of things that could be impacting your sound that you should be aware of. Below are my top 5 points that could impact your guitar and amp sound:
Strings: The strings that you use can change the sound you are producing. This doesn't just mean the brand but also the gauge you use.
Cleanliness: Talking of strings, if you don't change them often, they will start sounding dull. This also goes for cleaning your guitar, especially the fretboard.
Amp Placement: Where you place your amp also influences the tone, just try using you dialled in setting from your room when you are on a stage in front of a crowd. Experiment with the placement on the floor vs on a table.
Room: The room that you in will greatly impact the sound. Bedrooms can be notorious for sound reflection vs a big wide space. Take a look at purchasing some room dampening that could help you out here.
Pickups: It should come as no surprise that changing which pickup you are using changes the tone but you might not think that one pickup out of an amp sounds great while the other sounds horrible. This is why experimenting and spending time dialling in the amp is important.
A great video of someone dialling in an amp
In Conclusion
Tone is subjective - do what sounds good to you.
Follow the instruction to get a great base tone to work off.
Experiment with the settings after the initial amp has been dialled in.
Look at other impacts to your tone and address.
Some great Amps to Consider if you are looking to buy one
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