What Guitar Should I Buy for Ambient Playing?

Purchasing a new guitar is a big decision! I share criteria that I consider when buying a guitar for ambient guitar style playing.
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Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar music for the mind and heart.
Bill Vencil - Guitars
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[@CastToVoid]

The best guitar for ambient music is a delay pedal

[@rickdeckard1075]

what about midi?

[@CastToVoid]

@@rickdeckard1075 1001 0001 0000 0001 1111 11111

[@rickdeckard1075]

@@CastToVoid 1001001 ... SOS...

[@vaibhavsati538]

Reverb

[@mechouilli]

Bill might be the most passionate and insightful teacher out there. He could teach you how to make a paperclip sound like heaven

[@RichardCharter]

As an ambient guitarist, the fact that the music is so effect-driven leads me to seek out pickups that 'respond' best to the effects, and to my mind the best pickups for this is single coils. The brightness and jangle I get from fenders seems to make the effects stand out more-so than humbuckers. Thanks for the video!

[@dhruvchandra6049]

What a great man! He explains things so practically, patiently, and peacefully!

[@user-ve6ow5od8w]

I fell in love with baritone guitars the minute I heard one so I took my 2004 Squier 51 and replaced the neck with a $200 baritone neck from a Fender authorized dealer and bought a Tele neck from their custom shop.

[@lightnintrucker]

I just got a Danelectro 66bt Baritone electric guitar. It's semi hollow. It has a P90 at the neck and a lipstick humbucker at the bridge. And the humbucker can be split to single coil when I pull out the tone knob. And It's great fer blues and ambient territory

[@danielleinad6019]

lightnintrucker I've got a Danelectro 56 Vintage Baritone and I wonder if the 66BT is worth the upgrade, considering its rather steep price.

[@fredholland1169]

I have been very curious about the Danelectro Baritone. Good to know that it is worth having.

[@AndrewAviles]

This is a great video for buying a guitar in general, very thorough. Good stuff!

[@chrissullins3]

I appreciate that you're old enough to know we're in a Golden Age when we're actually in one. You can get by with one guitar (prefer 3 pups) and hit it with a pitch/octave shift. Keep up all the great work you do!

[@kevincollins7720]

Thank you Bill for this video , you've inspired my interest in regards to ambient guitar. I have been building up my gear over the summer and practicing . I'm fortunate to have a Tele , Strat and a les paul studio. I feel i'm armed to the teeth now. Thanks for everything and I am looking forward to the next video.

[@ryanslauderdale]

Use whatever you think sounds great. Honestly, I love a clean Les Paul sound into a Deluxe Reverb with reverb and delay. I find the humbuckers warm up the digital sounds so they're not ice-pick harsh, and they give a different sound that all the jangly guitar sounds can't get.

[@RonaldJamieson]

An excellent video for anyone looking to buy an electric guide. Good overview of each facet of a guitar's makeup.

[@LillySchwartz]

The scale length baby Mustang comment had me laughing 😁 I have small hands, so even the Mustang baby neck feels like a stretch for me, especially after noodling on my uke for a while. And yes, we live in a golden age of cheap guitars! My cheapo Squier Mustang HH sounds awesome, the exact tone I always wanted! I heard it on a YT video and about half an hour later I had ordered one for next to nothing. Sure, it has some little problems here and there, but nothing that can’t be fixed with a few components. Even modded to the max it’s much cheaper than your preferred price range and the sound + baby length is just perfect for me!

[@CandiesAintMe]

Wonderful video as always :) I play ambient/post-rock (and everything else) on a Music Man Luke II (the one with non-locking tremolo and 3 EMG active pickups) or, when I need to go lower, on an Ibanez RG-IR27 (which is equipped with active pickups too): I find the active pickups electronic structure ideal to prevent noises and have a "pad-like", very ethereal sound when reverbs and other effects are used.

[@bodycode]

I love it !

[@johncbeer]

Very insightful video. I have a Les Paul that works great for ambient. I'm mainly a fretless bass player though which lends itself to ambient music beautifully. Another option to consider if you want a very favorable quality to cost ratio is building a guitar from Warmoth woods, pick out your pickups and hardware, then drop it off at your local luthier to have it built and setup properly. You can do it yourself as well if you know what you're doing (I personally don't have enough experience, so I wouldn't attempt this with any main or special axe). I'm working on getting pickups and hardware to go with my 5 string fretless with Warmoth woods: G5 body, roasted alder with black Korina lam top, Padouk neck with black ebony fingerboard.

[@jonathankrieger9121]

Oooh finally I understand what the fretboard radius is. Thanks for that.

[@kyletraylor1003]

Love the prs

[@vrelakse]

Your voice is amazing!)

[@jenschristensen1774]

I recently got a guitar built on spec (don't waste money on that) for long, clear tones: - Wood (type and neck assembly) and tremolo were chosen for max sustain (floating tremolos generally have lower sustain) - Pickups were chosen to be clean and humbuckers w. split installed, so I can have that Fender twang if desired. I have a switch that add the bridge PU no matter what else is selected, and neck + bridge is a favorite. A somewhat easy mod on guitars with electronics mounted on the pickguard like Fender. You can also mount i.e. Seymor Duncan's Triple Shot frames on all guitars. - I had the vol-knob placed for optimal sweeping with my pinky while in the position for palm muting (I never do both at the same time, but love to reduce need for hand movement). This can easily be done on guitars with the electronics mounted on the pickguard too. So, choose tremolo and neck wisely, and add switches for versatility :-)

[@chordsoforion]

Very nice!

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

I absolutely agree that pickups (and other electronics) are the thing that makes the most difference in the way an electric guitar sounds. To me, the wood is about the look, feel, and price much more than sound. If amps and pedals did not have tone shaping controls the wood might make more difference. People believe what they believe, though. It's all good. At the end of the day it's about loving what you have and wanting to play it. Oh, and you are not wrong about the golden age of cheap guitars. One of the best guitars that I purchased in recent years is a $400 Squire. Cheap import guitars are ridiculously good now.

[@andresvivesdecespedes1661]

Thanks Bill, as enlightening as always!!! I got a PRS Mike mushok (originally meant to use it on my metal projects) and after these years following your channel, well it's my #1 ambient guitar, it's a terrific instrument, comfortable, neat, and after upgrading the pickups (to EMGHz) Im able to play anything on it!!! Love your channel and videos! 😊😊😊💪🏻

[@chordsoforion]

Nice! Good to the Mushok bari is working well. I have often thought about trying to get one.

[@andresvivesdecespedes1661]

@@chordsoforion It was a lucky find. So I said to myself, aah let's go for it. And now I would get rid of it! 😊😊 You should try it and maybe you could install some good P-90's

[@GaveMeGrace1]

Thank you

[@lkb3rd]

Love your videos and good advice! Fender to me are a good bet especially for budget minded players, because you can get a non USA made Fender at a reasonable price, which is (making up numbers) 85...90% of the way to the top dollar guitars? Point being, you get diminishing returns pretty quickly pass a Standard "MIM" Fender of your favorite flavor. I've been playing for getting close to 40 years now (!) and I play a Mexican "50's Classic" Fender Esquire most of the time lately, which was in your "sweet spot" price range and I totally agree and there is really no reason to go above that if you're being purely practical. Nobody is thinking practical when they get their hands on a nice Les Paul, so sure those are great too :)

[@timbaugh1944]

Great video Bill. If budget is a problem then look at secondhand - plenty of bargains about. I have a USA HSS Strat with the Fender S1switch that I bought secondhand - it was about 60% of the cost new and like all Fender Strats it's built like a tank, stays in tune and sounds great. The HSS configuration covers more bases and the S1 switching adds more tonal variation.

[@chordsoforion]

Excellent suggestion Tim!

[@srxiii2261]

I quite like the fact that the synth chords in the background match what is played on the guitar

[@CMHobbies]

SR XIII pretty sure that’s guitar too. He makes ambient drones through his guitar and loops them, then plays over them.

[@fredholland1169]

I live in the 300-500 range of budget. I've been able to collect some guitars that sound and look nice. The only one I wish I had waited on is my Dean Boca 12 string. You are right about choices in the lower range but one can make quite a lot of great music on a budget.

[@JGlassy]

I use an MIM Strat , and an Epiphone 339 with coil-split hummers-gives a lot of options for ambient delay/Reverb with warmth.

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

On the subject of budget, I suggest looking at the used market. You can get quite a lot more guitar for quite a lot less money. You can also get gems that are not made anymore. Case in point is my Fender Showmaster, and Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI, and your baritone Telecaster.

[@ugli1]

I play a 7 string Schecter which is, I think, a great compromise between a standard guitar and a baritone because of that extra low end range. The neck is a bit wider though, so it's harder to stretch those chords. Good job that I play slow...

[@PigBenis4U]

This weekend I played on a fanned fret guitar for the first time. This will be my next guitar. I thought it was just a gimmick at first, but wow did it feel more natural.

[@citizenchris099]

Wanted to share an experience I recently had with trying out some of my guitars in the "Ambient" style. I was mostly a Blues / Rock player previously and decided only recently to try out Ambient style guitar. The only "Ambient" specific factor for me when choosing a guitar from my arsenal is the pickups. More specifically how they tend to respond to the volume pedal and effects. I have a G&L Espada with those wacky Leo Split coil pickups. For whatever reason they just don't work well w/the Morley Little Alligator volume pedal. The volume taper isn't even. However with my Cutlass (a EBMM Strat SSS style) && Rickenbacker 620 (very P90 sounding pups) the volume taper is even and beautiful. I might invest in a "better" volume pedal. However tbh..the Little Alligator seems great and like I said works well w/the other guitars.

[@mrt77wv]

The CNC machines in the Asian and Mexican factories are pretty much identical to the ones in the US factories. This has made the quality gap close significantly. I have an American Strat and love it, but I also love my Mexican Tele and my two Squiers (JMJM and VM Jaguar). If I had to start all over again I'd have no problem buying a Mexican Strat.

[@avpostbox]

Thank you, Bill! Another quite elaborate class! By the way, Bill, regarding PRS price of your guitars. Are they made in US? Or it is Corean (or whatever) version? Do you have any opinion on the quality of the guitars according to the places of their origins? Also, you have mentioned some names (at least Alan Holdsworth name was mentioned) which makes me wonder what kind of influences you might had and/or have, how did you arrive where you are now? What kind of tuning do you use? Sorry for all these questions and curiosity. And thank you again!

[@chordsoforion]

Yes, my PRS guitars are all from the SE series, which is made in Korea. I have played good and bad guitars from most countries that make them (including the US), so I am pretty open to judging a guitar on its own merits vs the country of origin. Also, I've talked about Allan Holdsworth here quite a bit - I am a big fan! As far as influences go, I have a number of vids that talk about that too. Finally, here's my video on tunings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX7LXpyLeL6AqJo

[@avpostbox]

@@chordsoforion Thank you, Bill! I apologize if I ask things you have already covered sometime before. I guess I should be a better student and check previously given material. Thank you!

[@avpostbox]

Hi, Bill! I apologize for bringing you this as I do. You just came to my mind when I got advertised by Neural - Quad Cortex.Dunno if you have seen it, but it looks like real monster...? :)

[@chordsoforion]

I have not seen it - thanks for the tip. It looks kind of like the Headrush Gigboard, but with more capabilities. Will be interesting to see it after it ships later this year.

[@binchsoda]

Hey Bill, great vid as always! I have a question about delays, I saw your vids on the TC Electronic Triple Flashback and 2x4, I was wondering, can you get similar drone sounds out of the 2x4 as you got in the triple Flashback video? Like when you played a note and it kept going and then you used a different setting to keep playing?

[@chordsoforion]

No, you can't use the same technique, as you can only have one delay going at a time. Thanks!

[@binchsoda]

Thanks for the info! Gonna decide which one to save up for, probably the 2x4 because of the mash buttons. Saw your vid on the PRS 277 baritone and got one like the solidbody in this video, great guitar! Been using it for all sorts of stuff, from doom to clean stuff and it sounds and plays great! Also does the looper in the 2x4 have any tap tempo functionality or does it just go as you record it?

[@jimrogers7425]

Bill... what were you using for the background drone... synth from Logic Pro X? If so, which one? Thanks. Good video!

[@chordsoforion]

Hey Jim - Thanks so much! The background drone was another piece I did a while ago, "Bliss was it (in that Dawn): kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2OQfoakjN6Iapo

[@zenbearreadszenstuff4654]

Has anyone here played ambient on a steele string acoustic electric or a nylon electric? I understand the limitations that these have versus an electric guitar for playing ambient/soundscapes, but these are the type of guitars that I'm really enjoying at point in my career. Thanks

[@Prajnana]

The only thing that has changed in the past 2 1/2 years since Bill released this video, is (as I'm sure everyone is aware) the price of guitars. Across the board, most made a big price jump in mid 2021. For example a PRS SE Standard, (or MIM Fender) which might have cost $500 in 2020, is now in the $650 to750 range ($850 for the Fender) in late 2022. One other consideration; spending above the intermediate price range rarely buys a significantly better instrument. The improved quality vs. increased price is incremental at best. Generally, it is seasoned players who are better equipped to appreciate those small improvements. Going forward, only time will tell how inflation will affect the prices of our instruments in short and long terms. My advice: buy as soon as you can afford it, because your dream guitar will most likely cost more the longer you wait. 🙂

[@M81_WOODLAND]

Single coil pickups in a Fender scale length usually sounds the best (to me) for this style of music. But as with anything in music: there are no rules, only guidelines.

[@robertbarker7539]

Hey Bill, what was that beeping noise I heard when you played the Strat.....oh, wait a minute, pizza is ready.....😉😂😂

[@liamfr7918]

I kinda think that semi hollow body might be the best style

[@danielleinad6019]

I'm torn between the Reverend Descent with Railhammer Chinzel pickups and a Danelectro 66BT. I already own a Danelectro 56 Vintage baritone and it has a very rich sound, but it feels cheaply made, which it definitely is.

[@Kmuggle]

I think I'd go for a 6 string short scale bass like the Ibanez SCR6

[@chordsoforion]

I love mine!

[@EarlyMist]

Hi. This is helping a great deal. What are your thoughts on the standard 24 PRS pickups? Some say they are pretty 'standard' i.e average. I just received one and pickup upgrades seem to get pretty pricey...especially when factoring in all the pedals I'll need...

[@chordsoforion]

If you like the basic tone of your guitar right now, I would not bother with a pickup upgrade. As far as the PRS pickup goes, I have no opinion, as I am only familiar with the PRS baritone pickups. The P90 style is great - the hum buckers are meh.

[@EarlyMist]

@@chordsoforion thanks for the reply. My PRS standard 24 has their basic humbuckers. I think I'll just go with them until the urge takes me toward an upgrade. Seymour Duncans site recommends their vintage models for ambient/frippertronic styles.

[@planetpjr]

24 frets, accurate intonation, low action, fat humbuckers should do it.

[@jonathankrieger9121]

What kind of fretboard radius do you prefer?

[@snflip]

How do you find yourself working with single coils and humbucker on the same guitar (your b. tele) given that the sc's are so much brighter than the hb. Any internal mods?

[@chordsoforion]

It is definitely a huge difference in tone. I use the guitar's tone knob to adjust the sound when switching back and forth.

[@oguitars3531]

Hey Bill, what are metal things on the front of your solidbody PRS 277?

[@chordsoforion]

Ha! I was waiting for someone to notice. They are the brackets for my Gizmotron. They are held on with double-sided tape, so no harm to the finish.

[@oguitars3531]

@@chordsoforion Ah! Thanks! I knew you used the Gizmotron, but I didn't recall that you had it on a baritone. No issues with string spacing?

[@chordsoforion]

the wheels on the Gizmotron are adjustable in spacing and width so no worries there.

[@glennselwitz1377]

Your shirt matches the that black PRS perfectly....did you did that on purpose lol.....

[@chordsoforion]

Grey or black t-shirts are what I normally wear on the channel, so a happy confluence of colors! 😎

[@rickdeckard1075]

any vids for picking out midi systems or guitars with built-in midi?

[@chordsoforion]

Not at this point. It's been a long time since I've had a MIDI equipped guitar.

[@rickdeckard1075]

@@chordsoforion ok, thanks CoO

[@Ricardo14712]

What humbuckers would you recommend? Also what's better, neck or bridge position?

[@chordsoforion]

Any pickup position is good for ambient playing - it's all about what tone you like. As as humbuckers go, I would suggest lower gain pickups such as Seymour Duncan 59s. I find lower gain humbuckers to be more versatile and generally sound better than high gain pickups. This makes sense as those types of pickups are really for higher gain styles of music. But at the end of the day, if you like the tone coming out of your guitar, that's all that counts.

[@pierreleo4891]

Hey Bill! Great video about how to choose a guitar! But you say nothing that applies to ambient guitar in particular. Does this mean there is no special guitar for ambient music ? 😀

[@chordsoforion]

That is correct - like I say at the start of the video, there is no one single "best" guitar for ambient playing. It's what's best for you!

[@pierreleo4891]

@@chordsoforion OK. I would have expected some characteristics to be more important for ambient (such as sustain) than for other styles. But I know for others videos that you use compressor to help sustain 😅 Well in the end I can try ambient with any of my guitars, I just have to get the right pedals. Thanks !

[@pierreleo4891]

@@chordsoforion oh and because you ask our opinion in the video : yes pickups are probably the more important element for the sound. I remember putting a 100€ pickup on a 100€ guitar. It sounded bad before and it sounded OK after 👍🏻

[@davids9192]

@@pierreleo4891 Bill tends to get his sustain by using a distortion pedal subject to varying levels of delay and reverb rather than the guitar itself exclusively providing the sustain.

[@brandoncostner7437]

I have an Eastwood sidejack and I've wanted a baritone Tele since I've seen this video and now I can't find em anywhere 😢

[@chordsoforion]

I know - it is very sad that Fender stopped making these.

[@yairmichaeli267]

what is the difference between an ambient guitar and a synth? why favor an ambient guitar player over a synth?

[@chordsoforion]

It's all in the way you prefer to create music. I prefer a guitar to a keyboard.

[@eearts]

Bill are you using mostly baritones these days?

[@chordsoforion]

Actually, I took a little time off from baritones. Am now getting back into their low goodness!

[@Chris-rr9ud]

Ibanez Grg 121dx can deliver with the right effects ?

[@chordsoforion]

I am sure it can. It's more about you as the player and the effects you choose to use.

[@Locoandchooch]

Gibson ES 335 or something like it? Any good hollowbody?

[@mixodorians12]

How would he know, he believes in tonewood for goodness sakes.

[@chordsoforion]

What do you believe in? 😜

[@Locoandchooch]

Get a 58 country gentleman 🤘🏻

[@claudiokay]

Stuee I‘m just curious, but how is it possible to „believe“ something, while always hearing a difference in an AB tests? Same goes for maple and rosewood necks. I‘m not saying it’s a big difference (except the neck for me personally) or even worth spending more money because of a tiny „tonal“ difference. I know many people are not able to tell a difference and many youtuber (eg. Dylan Talks) say that it‘s bogus. But, thats not an opinion, it‘s not based on facts - you are just believing one can‘t hear a difference. Believe it or not, there are people who have been blessed/cursed with excellent hearing and have a well trained ear at the same time (it sometimes feels like a curse). So, don‘t be ignorant like all the others and open your mind. Sorry for the long post and I hope it does not sound that arrogant to you. Greetings from Austria!

[@Gubbins_McBumbersnoot]

Ahhh it’s a baritone. I thought that tele neck looked a little long lol

[@georgerichardson7728]

Oh come on Bill, we both know a Strat and a big sky would take anyone anywhere ! (hee hee)

[@davidburke2132]

George Richardson Wouldn’t take me to the same place my Les Paul into various Old Blood Noise Endeavors, Walrus Audio and Earthquaker Devices pedals takes me. 😋 But then again, with that usual setup I can’t get to the places the Strat and Big Sky would take me, which is why I also have a Strat and a Big Sky! (Also tee hee 😉).

[@georgerichardson7728]

@@davidburke2132 You got me there bud.... ha ha

[@Gman44044]

sorry to say, but this video should have been named "Things to watch out for while buying a guitar for any genre". Most guitarists looking to get into ambient guitar are already familiar with the basics of guitars like mentioned in this video. People don't need to be reminded to think of budget etc while picking a guitar for ambient music, that's obvious. When I saw the title, I thought he would conclusively say this or these guitars are most suitable for ambient guitar. Sometimes its nice to be clear and direct, just my honest opinion Thanks for the video tho!

[@chordsoforion]

Exactly the point of the video. Any guitar is good for ambient guitar.

[@Gman44044]

@@chordsoforion Haha, then why not end the video in 10 seconds saying that. Lol. Anyway, thanks for your content! Appreciate it.

[@kitten-whisperer]

Why do people ask this question? I see it on all types of videos. Metal, ambient, neo soul. The best guitar is the one you like. Theres obvious things like pickups aiding in the sound for particular genres but in the end it's what ever works for you. Quit asking this stupid question.

[@Prajnana]

Yes! And this is where the foolhardy can quickly go down the rabbit hole: along with pickups, we "need" to obsess over amps, effects, strings, picks, speakers, recording mics, cables (think Eric Johnson), amp simulators, IRs and plug-ins, AIs, DAWs and on and on... to such a degree that we get paralysis and forget why we came here - to make music!

[@JerryMac1125]

What exactly is ambient guitar playing ??? Obviously not effect free !!

[@georgerichardson7728]

I perceive it as more open voicing playing and emphasis on sustain and nuance of melody