Why do black Emmons Guitars sound better?

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 11 May 2003 12:37 pm

The answer is simple, because Bobbe Seymour plays one! NR

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 11 May 2003 1:58 pm

Nick, I've heard Bobbee play a black MSA....it sounded sweet too!

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 11 May 2003 2:07 pm

I have a picture of Bobbe from the 2002 Chatanooga show. He was playing his black Emmons, wearing black shirt & pants, and in front of a black back drop. All you can see are his face, hands and the white Emmons emblem. SCARRRRRRY![This message was edited by Roger Crawford on 11 May 2003 at 03:08 PM.]

Doug Rolfe · Post by **Doug Rolfe** » 11 May 2003 2:57 pm

Nick, I know this continues to be a continuing saga for some, but for others there are many others who do not play a black steel or an Emmons that have "tone to the bone".
I find it interesting that this subject keeps coming up. If it were really true then it would have been laid to rest a long time ago.
If the black Emmons(and for some a p/p black Emmons) were the only steel with great tone, there would only be one company making one color and one kind of steel.
The last time I looked that wasn't the case.
I see several different brands of steel and(God forbid) even different colors.
How could anyone be so tone deaf as to not realize the mistake that they have made by buying another brand of steel or a different color?
HMMMMMM!!!

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 11 May 2003 3:34 pm

In 1988 when I bought my first steel guitar,gentleman I bought it from told me the same thing "The Black Guitars Sound The Best"...I could never understand why would color has anything to do with a tone of the guitar.It would be like saying the "sunburst tele`s sounds the best",what a nonsense,I have never heard guitar or bass players arguing about that.Never, period.The most beautiful guitars to me are Sho~Bud`s,(and of course Marlen that Ricky Davis just finished restoring for me

).I also have `74 Emmons fat back,walnut mica,that is a beautiful guitar (nothing like a Sho~Bud tho) and sounds amazing and stil,it isn`t black.Imagine that.

But guys in SGN did a great job on that one.I stil get amazed everytime I open the case.Where is that saga about a black color coming from I don`t know,but that,that doesn`t make any sense to me,I know.But again,maybe I`m wrong,it wouldn`t be the first time, so what,shoot me

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Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 May 2003 4:32 pm

Welllll, if you want to get technical, black isn't a color at all...black is the absence of color. The reason they seem to sound better (note...I said "seem") is that there is no "photon-refractory impedance mismatch" between the steel and the amp, most of which are black too!

The real reason my newest guitar is black is that my other three are all woodgrain. Frankly, I was just tired of the "woody" look.

John Cadeau · Post by **John Cadeau** » 11 May 2003 5:08 pm

It's all in the hands, the heart, and the mind of the player.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 11 May 2003 5:09 pm

Donny,
That would have been my explaination exactly

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 11 May 2003 5:12 pm

IF there is a difference, it is probably psychological in nature. Many years ago, I read that at either a prison or mental ward, they made everything in the room pink in color. It totally changed peoples behavior after just a few minutes in that room. Also, in recording studios, a lot of thought goes into mood lighting and wall and floor color and design to get the best out of the musicians. Likewise, in Las Vegas, the color and design on the floor carpeting is very carefully selected to put you in the right frame of mind to want to gamble. Personally, I don't want to sit behind a white guitar. I just can't imagine them sounding good. Weird, I know, but what's even stranger---I picked the Pedal Steel to play? It would be interesting to take the same guitar and just change it's color and have a group of expert steel players play it in the same enviroment with everything set the same, just to see if they come to the conclusion "The black guitar sounds better."[This message was edited by George Kimery on 11 May 2003 at 06:14 PM.]

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 11 May 2003 5:38 pm

I don't believe that a black guitar sounds better, it just plays better. When the player plays better it sounds better. I am a black Emmons fanatic! Being behind a black Emmons just puts me in the mood to play. I have a blue Emmons lacquer guitar that I would love to have it sound like my black ones but I guess it just don't set the mood for me. It sure is beautiful to look at though.

Jerry

Rick Tyson · Post by **Rick Tyson** » 11 May 2003 7:40 pm

Black is the only color of steel that says :PLAY ME: sure natural wood grain says,,Im natural, try me,green says ,,Im pretty,red says,hay look at me,blue says ,Im sweet & white says,,Its not my fault

Black says Im a bad to the bone with tone

Why, could you see playing through a yellow or pink Nashville 400,,,, no way bud,,Peavey knows whats bad when it comes to amps. My Nashville 400 is a heavy brute and BLACK!
When I started years ago with my little ,,,Natural Maverick,,people would say ,,its so cute. But now with my BLACK CARTER or BLACK EMMONS,,people just stare at them,, I think they are actualy a little fearfull of them HE HE HE

No sir,, no red ,blue,green or white steel for me,,,all black for me thank you

Black,,,the steel that says,, sit down & pull up a chair & play me bad boy.
So Nick, I hope this scientific explanation of why black steels play better can now be put to rest once & for all

Boy this time off the road is driving me nuts

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 May 2003 8:19 pm

No, It's because I play one, Nick is right!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 11 May 2003 8:41 pm

Color of the instrument has a lot to do with the way you sound when playing.

If you paint a white streak across the front of a black Emmons steel guitar; it will then look like a skunk and your playing will stink.

Rick

Bruno Rasmussen · Post by **Bruno Rasmussen** » 12 May 2003 2:35 am

Any colour will be light waves reflected on a given thing. Black is the absence of light waves reflected. Any colour will be waves, like sound is. When the body of the guitar have to reflect the light waves of any colour, those waves will interfere with the sound waves coming from the body of the guitar, when playing.
Conclusion: Black guitars have no light interference with the sound of the instrument. Therefore, only black guitars will let your hear the true, none coloured, sound of the Pedal Steel Guitar.

[This message was edited by Bruno Rasmussen on 12 May 2003 at 03:39 AM.]

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 12 May 2003 4:45 am

Great responses guys. . . .I wonder if b0b has ever played a black Sierra. All I've seen in his pictures are blue. As for me, I have 3 P/P's. 2 are black, 1 is rosewood and the tone from my black guitars seems richer. I realize this is psychological but I thought would be interesting to get your opinions. Now explain this: I once heard Bobby Boman from Texas playing his "B" Steel guitars at the St. Louis show. And his black guitar also seemed to sound better than is red one. I agree with Rick Tyson's post. Black just says "Play this BAD BOY"!
NR

Buck Reid · Post by **Buck Reid** » 12 May 2003 5:56 am

There is a theory that the thickness of the formica is different.

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 12 May 2003 6:06 am

Just think of how your JCH would sound if it was black, Buck.

WOW!!!!!

Bob

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 12 May 2003 7:27 am

Nick Reed wrote:

I wonder if b0b has ever played a black Sierra. All I've seen in his pictures are blue.

My Sierra Olympic and my Sierra Laptop are both black. My Sierra Session has a grey birdseye front apron and a black top.

I've never owned a blue guitar, nor would I. Black sounds best.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 12 May 2003 7:31 am

Donny Hinson wrote:

The reason they seem to sound better (note...I said "seem") is that there is no "photon-refractory impedance mismatch" between the steel and the amp, most of which are black too!

That explains why my dark red Williams sounds so good through my burgundy-colored Webb. Thanks, Donny!

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 12 May 2003 8:32 am

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that black seems to absorb heat more... therefore making the hot licks a natural occuring phenomenon.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 12 May 2003 9:02 am

You guys are all wrong. GREEN guitars sound best, and people who play them are better players, as well better looking, younger, richer, healthier, sexier, and generally finer human beings

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Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
I'm schizophrenic,
and so am I

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 12 May 2003 9:02 am

my theory is that since black is the absence of color and personality, it is a blank canvass allowing the true soul and expression of the player to be transmitted through the fingertips to our ears. one must be careful, however, because if you're a jerk, this will also become quite apparent.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 12 May 2003 9:10 am

b0b,
Sorry about that, I guess I was referring to your GREY Sierra. For some reason, I thought it was the same color as Pete's guitar. NR

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 12 May 2003 11:35 am

I think they sound better because Black is much more dense and resonates better. Ever try to see thru something that is black, and besides...I have a black Emmons and it sounds great.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 12 May 2003 1:37 pm

to me black Emmons looks more like a pro tool for a job,like a machine,powerful thing,while all the others are just,well ...cute.
Do black guitars sound better then others? No.

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[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 12 May 2003 at 04:45 PM.]