What do people mean when they say a guitar has "airy" tone?

[Mr F90]

I hear this a lot in regards to hollow or semi-hollow guitars. But I've never heard air before?

Serious question though. Tonally what does this mean? Any consensus?

 

[Mpcoluv]

Bright with lots of note separation....

 

[mg550]

It's very similar to open, balanced, sweet, creamy, or woody, but not to be confused with spanky, tight, throaty, deep, dark, bright, snappy, middy, honky, muddy, fat, compressed, nasal, lush, smoky, or buttery.

 

[dkelley]

IMHO open, not compressed, not naturally harsh or distorted, plenty of relaxed treble instead freq rather than harsh treb freq..... Prob a high resonance freq in pickup circuit

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ishootcanon]

My Gretsch sounds like a wind tunnel coming through the f holes.

 

[SPROING!]

The tone travels through the air to your ears. It's airy.

 

[VHS analog]

Bright with lots of note separation....

this

 

[mrfett]

Play a Les Paul with 57 Classics back to back with an ES-339, same amp settings (both Gibsons not Epiphones). You'll hear it. The ES sounds less dense.

 

[Mr F90]

So there's more clarity from string to string when playing chords?

 

[77custom]

So there's more clarity from string to string when playing chords?

That would be articulation.

 

[rummy]

Is it like 3D?

 

[Member 37136]

less dense.

This.

open, not compressed

And this.

 

[Mr F90]

It would be cool if someone did an A/B between a les paul and a 335 with the same pickups.

 

[markanini]

Usually a product of specific pickup combinations, like strat in 2&4 positions.

 

[Member 37136]

It would be cool if someone did an A/B between a les paul and a 335 with the same pickups.

I don't consider the 335 to be especially airy. I associate airy tones with singlecoils more often.

 

[Polynitro]

lots of high-end sizzle

 

[Matt L]

No balls.


j/k

 

[Noise Under The Floor]

No no, you've all misunderstood. "Airy" is the Cockney pronunciation of "Hairy" as in "Cor blimey Guv'nor, that's a right bleedin' 'airy tone ya got there wif 'at Supa Fuzz frew a Hiwatt!"

 

[VaughnC]

To me, "airy" guitar tone is one that doesn't have a lot of mid clutter and good string to string note separation when playing chords.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

No no, you've all misunderstood. "Airy" is the Cockney pronunciation of "Hairy" as in "Cor blimey Guv'nor, that's a right bleedin' 'airy tone ya got there wif 'at Supa Fuzz frew a Hiwatt!"

So when a guitar sounds bloomin 'airy, it's a sign that the pickups have not been waxed.