The Great Debate I've Never Seen

[Tele-Bob]

With all the hoopla over guitar cables and their supposed virtues, why aren't people talking about wireless tone vs cable tone?

Does a wireless system affect your guitar tone?

Do different brands of wireless systems have their own sound?

I know nothing about this. Enlighten me!

[Don]

If I recall, Angus Young uses an old wireless system for the way its preamp boosts the signal. I think I've read that a pedal or device has been made to emulate it, so I guess the answer is yes. I have no idea how modern systems affect tone. Those with bat ears will say the affect is huge and those with wooden ears will say it makes no difference.

[OldStrummer]

My hearing is not as acute as it once was, so I can't differentiate the difference in tone certain gear has on my playing. I buy strings by gauge because I can't tell the difference between phosphor/bronze, nanoweb coated and so on. The same is true with wireless. I have an Xvive wireless transmitter/receiver and the only difference I can tell is that I don't get wrapped up in cable.

[Offshore Angler]

On the good ones there's no tone difference until the battery goes dead.

But funny as it sounds - having the battery pack on my strap felt weird at first. Enough to annoy me until I got used to it.

Then again, maybe it's the cure for SG-itis.

Chuck

[Tele-Bob]

I'm surprised the "true by-bass" delegation doesn't come out screaming "tone-suck" and other such comments.

I have no experience using a wireless set-up, but sometimes the thought intrigues me. I'm not real fussy about my signal chain, but was wondering if the sound became compressed or the overall tone changed.

Hmmmmmm

[gibsonjunkie]

I have a Line 6 Relay G10 that should work great. the design is pretty cool. The receiver has a port that takes the transmitter and recharges it. I bought it with Guitar Center points after buying my last Gibson acoustic from them. I had to replace it three times before I got one that worked. I would have just returned the darn thing except when you use Guitar Center points - you can't! Total rip-off. The last one does work and seems to work properly - no noticeable tone loss - but I've got the least-trained ear for this stuff so who knows.

[ch willie]

I have two of those, GJ. Tone sounds great to me through them. I was lucky not to have a defective one. I only used them a couple of times live, but they performed wonderfully.

[Offshore Angler]

Bob, I thought about this some more. With a pedal board not my favorite setup. One more thing taking up space and needing another wall wart, but since I've switched to a rack system it's the effing sland. Makes setup a breeze too. It's pretty liberating to be wireless on stage.

All imho, ymmv,

Chuck

[S. Cane]

I’ve been thinking of buying a wireless set myself.

[DanTheBluesMan]

I've had one in my sweetwater list since may 2018

[jrgtr42]

I had a wireless unit ages ago - an old Nady, IIRC. I was too young and dumb to notice if it had an effect on my tone.
The thing that got to me was that it was a pain when I wanted to change guitars. I move around just enough that keeping the pack in my pocket didn't work well, and the cable was just long enough that it would catch on things if I didn't wind it around the strap. And of course, I couldn't just change straps with the guitar - the way they were set it would be too long or short, depending on which guitar.