That Legendary Les Paul Sustain

[Mark7]

Has anyone ever timed it?

And what was the result?

I'm talking about Gibbo LPs. Not any of the clones. Just to keep things simple.

And no I'm not going to specify a model/production year. Jeez.

[BrentDomann]

It would have to be done without an amplifier, as well, because the gain, size, power, and volume of the amplifier make a huge difference. With the right stack you could make a mandolin sustain indefinitely, or at least until the power went out.

[Mark7]

Do you have a Gibson LP?

[AGCurry]

Originally Posted by BrentDomann

It would have to be done without an amplifier, as well, because the gain, size, power, and volume of the amplifier make a huge difference.

Not if you're not feeding back.

I did this a few years back with my LP and my Strat. Both guitars yielded several seconds but don't remember exact details.

[BrentDomann]

Not if you're not feeding back.

Agreed, partially. However, if you are measuring the sustain of the LP itself, then technically the amplifier would ruin all of your data. Even without feedback, the gain knob will make a huge difference in audible sustain. More generally speaking, you would only be able to measure the LP + amp X--which, depending on the amp, will differ.

For relative measure of audible sustain, like "LP versus Strat", using the same amplifier on both would get usable results.

I think the most objective method would be to measure the voltage coming straight out of the instrument.

[hixmix]

I lit a cigarette, rolled the tape, plucked a note and started the clock at 2:15 PM, August 4, 1967 and she's still going strong.

[BrentDomann]

I just gave my last comment some more thought. Speaking of the amp screwing with data, I figure so would the pickups. The hotter the pickups, the more output signal (i.e. the smaller the signal that can be audible after it begins to decay), and thus the more sustain. And then it hit me - the wood will also play an important role (duh!). Some guitars sustain for days because the wood is just right. I've also heard neck-throughs that sound comparatively like banjos.

So, well, I guess the best we can do is say that a good LP, generally, will sustain longer than guitars built with bolt-on necks.

[beezelbubba]

Originally Posted by Mark7

Do you have a Gibson LP?

I have a Les Paul Special,but the pickups are replacements.Does that count?

[Mark7]

As long as the wood is original.

Apparently.

[dave.....]

i have a gibson les paul custom... i also have a epiphone les paul deluxe.. and several les paul clones,, and a strat... how would you like me to measure the sustain ???? i could check them all for a comparison ?? i will try to time them each unpluged... then i could plug them in to my amp w/ a little gain [like i normaly have it] then time them w/out any changes to the amp. ?? hows that sound to you ??

[mikemorgan]

Originally Posted by dave.....

i have a gibson les paul custom... i also have a epiphone les paul deluxe.. and several les paul clones,, and a strat... how would you like me to measure the sustain ???? i could check them all for a comparison ?? i will try to time them each unpluged... then i could plug them in to my amp w/ a little gain [like i normaly have it] then time them w/out any changes to the amp. ?? hows that sound to you ??

Could you re-create some atmospheric variables as well? Like rain vs. hail vs. sunny vs. showroom floor vs. basement vs. garage vs. garage sale?

[Buck62]

There's actually a guitar that sustains better than a Les Paul and rates significantly higher.

It's a Japanese-made guitar called "Westbury."

They only made them from 1979 to 1982, but they are renowned as the ultimate Les Paul killer.

Reviews of a Westbury Standard:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...Standard+/10/1


Reviews of a Les Paul Standard:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...+Standard/10/1


The Westbury Standard sold brand new for $295, a fraction of the cost of a Les Paul. Their sustain is also legendary. I'm not just posting this based on numbers, I've owned both guitars and my Westbury Standard actually held a note significantly longer than my Gibson Les Paul... unplugged.

Feel free to flame and dispute this fact.

[mshilarious]

I have a Gibson "The Paul", which is a thinbody version. With pretty old strings, I managed 14.8 seconds. My Fender So-Cal, with newish strings, did 17.3 seconds. Therefore, I can conclude that this test has proved absolutely nothing

[metalhead28]

Nigel: The sustain...listen to it...
Marty: I'm not hearing anything.
Nigel: You would, though, if it were playing, because it really ... it's famous for its sustain...I mean, you could, just hold it....
Marty: Well I mean so you don't....
Nigel: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... You could go and have a bite an'...aaaaaaaaa...you'd still be hearin' that one.

[Codmate]

Surely you can make any guitar sustain forever given enough gain?
You can even make it go on for ages if you work the string on a clean sound.

[Greg_L]

Originally Posted by metalhead28

Nigel: The sustain...listen to it...
Marty: I'm not hearing anything.
Nigel: You would, though, if it were playing, because it really ... it's famous for its sustain...I mean, you could, just hold it....
Marty: Well I mean so you don't....
Nigel: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... You could go and have a bite an'...aaaaaaaaa...you'd still be hearin' that one.

lol. i was waiting for that one.