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I want to change the tailpiece on my ESP viper to the lightweight aluminum one. I am not sure if I should order the nickle one or the stainless steel one. Is there a difference in tone or is it just a cosmetic difference. Thank you.

Cosmetic. Nickel will age to a nice patina over time, and the stainless (or chrome perhaps marketed as stainless) will essentially remain looking new and shiney.

I like nickel.

So both tailpieces are aluminum but the coating is different (nickle vs. stainless)? Are you sure that the stainless steal one would not be brighter since I know that stainless steel frets are brighter than nickle ones, and I have also heard that stainless steel strings are much brighter than nickle strings. I am assuming the Les Paul Reissues have the nickle tailpiece. Am I correct?

I couldn't say for certain that the Stainless version wouldn't be any brighter, but the coating of stainless vs nickel is going to be so thin that, in my opinion, you wouldn't be able to tell a difference.

If you're looking for the classic tone of a 50's Les Paul go with a nickel plated ALUMINUM tailpiece. Gibson stopped using aluminum in 1962 and switched to pot metal: ZINC. Gibson started using nickel plated aluminum stop tail pieces again about 5 years ago on some of the Historic Les Pauls. I don't think they're using nickel plated aluminum on all Les Pauls though.

I use the Allparts nickel plated aluminum tailpieces on my Les Paul and on my Hamer. Sounds great. More resonant than zinc.

I've got a few in stock...if you need one PM me.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarIf you're looking for the classic tone of a 50's Les Paul go with a nickel plated ALUMINUM tailpiece. Gibson stopped using aluminum in 1962 and switched to pot metal: ZINC. Gibson started using nickel plated aluminum stop tail pieces again about 5 years ago on some of the Historic Les Pauls. I don't think they're using nickel plated aluminum on all Les Pauls though.

I use the Allparts nickel plated aluminum tailpieces on my Les Paul and on my Hamer. Sounds great. More resonant than zinc.

I've got a few in stock...if you need one PM me.

LewI think Gibson only uses the Aluminum tail piece on guitars like the 59 LP reissue... The new LP Standards i believe are just the standard tail pieces...