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I thought I would ask you LP guys what you think sound the best and why. I play mainly Blues and harder blues, classic rock too. Like what will give the best sustain, which one sounds brighter. That kind of stuff. I was told that aluminum sounds the best on LP's, but I was not sure.

Tyler

I like aluminum best. In '62 Gibson switched to zinc pot metal which weighs about 3 times as much as aluminum. Aluminum is what Gibson used on all of the 50's Les Pauls and none of the reissues had the right tone until the aluminum tailpieces started being used again around 1990 or so. Aluminum has a little less steely tone...more of an acoustic quality.

Chrome is plating. There are no tailpieces made of chrome. Just chrome plated zinc.

The aluminum tailpieces from Gotoh are nickel plated. That looks quot;rightquot; to me. Nickel has the vintage look.

Lew

Thanks Lew I apriciate it. Answered it fully.

I'm like Lew and Scott and prefer the sound of the aluminum TP. It seems to have better accoustic tone, and like Lew said, it makes it sound like an older LP. I thought the mass reduction increased the sustain a bit too.

Luke


Originally Posted by LewguitarI like aluminum best. In '62 Gibson switched to zinc pot metal which weighs about 3 times as much as aluminum. Aluminum is what Gibson used on all of the 50's Les Pauls and none of the reissues had the right tone until the aluminum tailpieces started being used again around 1990 or so. Aluminum has a little less steely tone...more of an acoustic quality.

Chrome is plating. There are no tailpieces made of chrome. Just chrome plated zinc.

The aluminum tailpieces from Gotoh are nickel plated. That looks quot;rightquot; to me. Nickel has the vintage look.

Lew

I think the tailpiece on my '87 LP is nickel plated aluminum. It's interesting, I would have thought that a metal heavier than aluminum would have improved sustain.

Jeff

Has any of you tried tried a brass tail piece.


Originally Posted by JeffrecIt's interesting, I would have thought that a metal heavier than aluminum would have improved sustain.

That's my thoughts too, although I'm guessing the tailpeice having less mass allows it to vibrate better? I think...

the less mass the tail piece has, the less energy it absorbs and the more energy in the form of vibration is transferred to the body-IOW the body resonates more and you get better tone and sustain.


Originally Posted by YoungpupHas any of you tried tried a brass tail piece.

I haven't tried them on Les Pauls, but I've got an SG that has a chrome plated brass tail piece. It sounds great and sustains better than a lot of my other guitars.

The Tone Pros, aluminum tailpiece with locking studs is the only way to go.Sprinter


Originally Posted by HellionI haven't tried them on Les Pauls, but I've got an SG that has a chrome plated brass tail piece. It sounds great and sustains better than a lot of my other guitars.

The same reason why a Tele sounds just right with brass saddles.

You can get an AL tailpiece from stewmac for less than 25 bucks. Perfect recreation. I put one on my 98 56RI ( before the lightweight came stock) add a set of Tonepros locking studs and you're all set.


Originally Posted by HellionI haven't tried them on Les Pauls, but I've got an SG that has a chrome plated brass tail piece. It sounds great and sustains better than a lot of my other guitars.
How does it change the EQ of the guitar?


Originally Posted by Lewguitar

Aluminum is what Gibson used on all of the 50's Les Pauls and none of the reissues had the right tone until the aluminum tailpieces started being used again around 1990 or so. Aluminum has a little less steely tone...more of an acoustic quality.

Lew

Bingo. Interestingly enough, I believe I read somewhere that all of Gibson's historic series guitars carry the lightweight aluminum tailpieces stock now. I know the RI 0 LP Special DC came with one (I think they retail for $125)