I just aquired a Les Paul....copy. Anyway its an older Samick and has the Les Paul recipe - solid mahogany body and neck(set), with solid flamed maple cap (real, not foto). I don't have an accurate scale, but I would guess its around 9 or 10 lbs. I'm not going to say that its as good as any Gibson, but even with the cheap stock pickups it sound a LOT like a Paul; loads of sustain, and a big fat tone. An open chord sounds like a piano with the sustain pedal depressed. After a note is picked, as it decays, it changes timbre somewhat - an octave harmonic becomes more prominent. I noticed that the soundwaves from the amp vibrate the body more than my Fenders, creating that singing sustain at lower volumes than my other guits. I played it at church today and it stayed in tune as well as any other guitar I have. I would post a pic if I could, it sho is purty.
Anyway, here are my questions:
1) Stop tail piece height - what are the pros/cons, differences in different heights ? I assume that a lower setting will increase sustain since it has more downward pressure on the bridge. Is this true? does it cause other issues like increased string breakage or ?
2) Tone Pros locking bridge - some say it makes a difference, some say not. I don't have the $$ for that right now, but I do have 3 bux to get a small tap at the hardware store, so I can drill and tap the one on there. What do you users think ? Also, is the locking stop tail s'posed to change the tone too, or is that just for convenience?
3) Aluminum stop tail - anybody here use one? what do you think of it? worthwhile or no?
4) I am going to upgrade the pots/wiring, probably doing the "disappearing tone control" mod and will be aquiring some better(I hope) pickups in the "PAF"/vintage vein, so aside from that, do you have any suggestions for tone or other enhancements, either mechanical or electronic?
I would appreciate any advice you could give, thanks.
Anyway, here are my questions:
1) Stop tail piece height - what are the pros/cons, differences in different heights ? I assume that a lower setting will increase sustain since it has more downward pressure on the bridge. Is this true? does it cause other issues like increased string breakage or ?
2) Tone Pros locking bridge - some say it makes a difference, some say not. I don't have the $$ for that right now, but I do have 3 bux to get a small tap at the hardware store, so I can drill and tap the one on there. What do you users think ? Also, is the locking stop tail s'posed to change the tone too, or is that just for convenience?
3) Aluminum stop tail - anybody here use one? what do you think of it? worthwhile or no?
4) I am going to upgrade the pots/wiring, probably doing the "disappearing tone control" mod and will be aquiring some better(I hope) pickups in the "PAF"/vintage vein, so aside from that, do you have any suggestions for tone or other enhancements, either mechanical or electronic?
I would appreciate any advice you could give, thanks.