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Post by propellr on Jun 10, 2007 8:21:55 GMT -7
I have not played my Les Paul since I got my ES-335, nearly 2 years ago (I just love that semi-hollow sound so much). I just sent my LP off to have it set up last week and will pick it up today. Since I'm in a band again, I have enjoyed switching between my ES-335 and my Slingshot at rehearsal. I'm going to toss my LP in the mix and see what tunes will be best served with it. You know what they say, Les is more.
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Post by pappy on Jun 10, 2007 12:37:03 GMT -7
I've had my Les Paul for about nine years now and love it (except the weight) and since getting my Gretsch I just don't play it anymore. I'm sure some day I'll feel nostalgic and pull it out but I know that over those years and before I even got it it's gotten a tad beat up and it needs some work to get it back up to snuff.
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Post by propellr on Jun 10, 2007 19:54:32 GMT -7
I know what you mean about the weight, but my LP is modeled after the studio model, so it's way thinner than a Standard and has the belly cutout and everything. I'm getting ready to plug in here in a few minutes. My wife and toddler son will sleep right through my Maz 38 at club volume downstairs, can you believe it? I am the most fortunate man on earth!
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Post by propellr on Jun 11, 2007 10:01:07 GMT -7
Didn't make it to the car last night to get my LP from the trunk, but I did this morning. Big, BIG sound coming from my LP. I was surprised how easy the bends were, either I had forgotten, or I'm a better player, or the setup has something to do with it. So articulate. YMWV, meaning your mileage WON'T vary! My little amp gremlin turned all the knobs on my guitar (he makes a heck of a pickup selector).
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Post by pappy on Jun 11, 2007 16:41:55 GMT -7
I'm looking forward to fixing up my Les Paul when I get more stripes on my arms.
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Post by propellr on Jun 11, 2007 20:06:11 GMT -7
I thought mine could use a fret dress; that's what I sent it in for, but the tech called and said he'd just set it up-- probably saved me 70 bucks or so. What sort of work do you think it needs?
By the way, I don't blame you for not having played it-- Your Gretsch looks pretty sweet from your avatar. Is that one with the faux F-holes? I'd like to know more about your Orange, as well. Tell me more when you get a chance, pappy, OK?
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Post by pappy on Jun 12, 2007 8:19:50 GMT -7
As far as my Les Paul goes, it needs a complete refret. Either the guy who owned it before me or I have worn them down quite a bit. That and the guy before me must have left it on a guitar stand because in two places on the back of the neck the finish is literally eaten through all the way to the wood, so I'd lik to get that taken care of. So I think a re-fret and re-fin would be more than enough to get it up to snuff. For the finish I think I'd like something like Matt's as appose to the wine red it is now. I've become a fan of bursts.
The Gretsch is a 6118T, which has real f-holes. It's 2.5" thick which is a little small for hollowbodies like this, but it's comfortable. The anniversary (mine) started out as a poor man's 6120 but it has become something else entirely. Usually I'm a fan of binding all over the place but I liek the unbound neck over the bound ones on the 6120s. I think it not only looks better (the half moon inlays can only be appreciated if you can use them as your side dots as well. Beautiful) but there's a little more room to spread out, if you know what I mean.
My only beef with Gretsch is the minimum advertised price policy. They throw a price out there that everyone has to advertise and then te business can choose to lower that in private conversations. The only problem is that places like Musicians Friend don't lower the price at all, so everyone's thinking these guitars are in the stratosphere as far as price goes. MF advertises my guitar at 2400.00 which just isn't what it cost.
But something cool about my Gretsch is that it was a gift from the Gretsch Pages. I was pretty excited and it is seriously the greatest playing and looking guitar I've ever laid my hands on.
The Orange is one of teir cheap practice amps. A Crush 15R. It has a great sound for 100.00 and it being solid state. Whenever I can start getting an amp collection going there'll be a few Oranges in there, no doubt about it. They're great amps.
If you have any questions, just let me know! Have a good one.
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Post by pappy on Jun 12, 2007 8:21:55 GMT -7
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Post by propellr on Jun 13, 2007 7:35:34 GMT -7
Thanks for the info and for the enlargement. Your avatar was just teasing me! That is a pretty rig you have there. So, you WON that guitar? Wow. I know what you mean about the advertised prices. They are as choking as Gibson's MSRPs. A new ES-335 like mine lists for $4,843.00-- are you joking? I could build a home studio for that, or start a small business. The difference with Gibson is dealers cannot show pictures or list any prices on the web or in print (unless you are an internet-only dealer like AMS or Musician's Friend). I don't know how Guitar Center has that ability. Talk about putting your name out of reach--
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Post by pappy on Jun 13, 2007 10:47:05 GMT -7
I didn't win it, it was a gift. A bunch of people took a collection for it a lot like what happened here for the deserving teacher, only I wasn't really worthy of such a gift.
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Post by propellr on Jun 13, 2007 10:49:45 GMT -7
Wow. Humbling, I'm sure. Play on, brother.
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Post by myles on Jun 13, 2007 10:51:04 GMT -7
I love the Gretsch ... that model, that color ... just terrific! P.S. .... The Tiki is pretty cool too
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Post by pappy on Jun 13, 2007 11:59:26 GMT -7
Target has some wicked cool stuff soometimes!
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Post by propellr on Jun 13, 2007 13:11:16 GMT -7
I was noticing yesterday when I had time to really sit down and play "discover" with my LP and my Maz, I wasn't able to coax quite the tone I wanted from the stock pickups (490R and 498T). It just seemed really bassy to me, and I had the tone pots all the way up on the treble side. I had my amp treble on 2:00, the mids on about 1:00, and my bass almost all the way down on 8:00. Guitar volume was up and I had master volume at noon and volume at 9:00. Airbrake set on 2 clicks. I know how directional the tone from the amp can be, so I was perched right in front, about 10 feet away. I just felt like I needed another 1/4 to 1/2 a turn on my tone pots to get enough treble out of her. If I turned the cut up past 10:00, I'd hear basically the same tone, but I'd hear every string squeak as I changed chords. I'm playing rhythm with a few fills here and there, and I'll say the tone is great for the fills and for noodling around, but for chord work, something's missing. What I'm probably hearing is the difference between my MAPLE ES-335 and my EXOTIC RAIN FOREST MAHOGANY Smartwood. You guys think that's it? I haven't A/B-ed the two, but wanted to ask while I was thinking about it. Suggestions?
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Post by pappy on Jun 13, 2007 19:11:45 GMT -7
I think that's just the nature of the beast. But I've been wrong a couple times! ;D
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Post by oldgoat on Jun 14, 2007 7:13:08 GMT -7
I was noticing yesterday when I had time to really sit down and play "discover" with my LP and my Maz, I wasn't able to coax quite the tone I wanted from the stock pickups (490R and 498T). It just seemed really bassy to me, and I had the tone pots all the way up on the treble side. I had my amp treble on 2:00, the mids on about 1:00, and my bass almost all the way down on 8:00. Guitar volume was up and I had master volume at noon and volume at 9:00. Airbrake set on 2 clicks. I know how directional the tone from the amp can be, so I was perched right in front, about 10 feet away. I just felt like I needed another 1/4 to 1/2 a turn on my tone pots to get enough treble out of her. If I turned the cut up past 10:00, I'd hear basically the same tone, but I'd hear every string squeak as I changed chords. I'm playing rhythm with a few fills here and there, and I'll say the tone is great for the fills and for noodling around, but for chord work, something's missing. What I'm probably hearing is the difference between my MAPLE ES-335 and my EXOTIC RAIN FOREST MAHOGANY Smartwood. You guys think that's it? I haven't A/B-ed the two, but wanted to ask while I was thinking about it. Suggestions? I had the 490R and 498T in my DC Standard LP, was not overly fond of them. Seemed muddy compared to the Antiquities in my Standard. Was a hot pickup and fun to play initially but after sitting with then and my Maz Jr it was a no go. Like you, I found that I just didn't get the treble response and clarity. I much preferred a PAF clone to the hotter winding of these. Of course your mileage will vary etc . But I prefer to have my amp do the work instead of the pickups.
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Post by jwr on Jun 14, 2007 8:20:59 GMT -7
Those 490's are my least favorite pickup in a LP. I heard Greg Germino playing a 58(?) Reissue LP at the NY Ampshow with Duncan Antiquities in it. That guitar smoked, and Greg's one Hell of a player. I'm with oldgoat, I like my amp and pedals to get me my gain for the most part. But, I have to admit, I've got a Duncan JB in the Bridge of my LP for now and it sounds pretty good (and HOT).
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jun 14, 2007 8:23:48 GMT -7
I haven't played my LP in a long time. Mostly stays in it's case. If it wasn't a collectors item, I'd probably sell it. But it's happy in it's case for now. Thanks to this forum, I've definitely become a Tele man.
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Post by propellr on Jun 14, 2007 11:11:18 GMT -7
Thanks, guys. I'm thinking they may be a little hot for my tastes. I know what you mean, oldgoat and jwr, I like my amp to pull it out versus the pickups to push it out. If the pickups are too hot, I have to use my amp to reel it back in, but it's a bit like trying to clean up a distorted recording by sliding down the faders. Then there's that loss of highs with a decrease in volume. Maybe I can get some mileage with lowering the pickups. What do you think?
Funny, when I first plugged in yesterday, it sounded great, but then those tubes warmed up and, even though the sound got more full and round, I heard the gradual increase in murkiness (is that even a word?)
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Post by jwr on Jun 14, 2007 12:25:57 GMT -7
You'll get some mileage out of lowering the pickups for sure. I did the old volume pot mod to pretty much all my guitars so when I turn down the volume to clean things up a bit my sound doesn't get all muddy. It worked well even on my Les Paul. I had a SD Alnico II in the bridge position of my LP before I put a JB in there and that was a much more mellow PU. That might be a cheap test drive if your looking around for a replacement. There are SO many options out there nowadays. It kinda makes it tuff to decide what direction to go in.
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Post by propellr on Jun 14, 2007 16:23:20 GMT -7
You'll get some mileage out of lowering the pickups for sure. I did the old volume pot mod to pretty much all my guitars so when I turn down the volume to clean things up a bit my sound doesn't get all muddy. It worked well even on my Les Paul. I had a SD Alnico II in the bridge position of my LP before I put a JB in there and that was a much more mellow PU. That might be a cheap test drive if your looking around for a replacement. There are SO many options out there nowadays. It kinda makes it tuff to decide what direction to go in. So I've read. Too many directions. Is the volume pot mod the bees' knees, or what? I've read about that here before. Did it blow you away?
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Post by jwr on Jun 14, 2007 19:45:08 GMT -7
All it did was make the volume pot more useable really. Wide open there was little difference in tone, which for me was the idea. But I liked it enough that I did it to my Warmoth Strat and Tele as well. Maybe the solution is just a simple change of the volume pot value. What's in there now? Probably 500k, but I just thought I'd ask to be sure.
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Post by propellr on Jun 14, 2007 20:00:49 GMT -7
I have no idea. The guitar is N.O.S., bought in 2001. Whatever came stock. I don't know the tech side of guitar guts, to be frank. Aesthetics, preferences, comparisons, and general knowledge, but electricity is a mystery to me.
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Post by jwr on Jun 15, 2007 8:09:52 GMT -7
It should be visible on the volume pot itself. Trying a couple things in that department could end up saving you some time and $$.
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Post by propellr on Jun 15, 2007 9:05:24 GMT -7
So, if I changed the pot value to 250k, would that give me twice the control? Is that how that works?
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Post by jwr on Jun 15, 2007 14:24:28 GMT -7
No, that would darken the sound of the pickup. 250k is usually used with single coils. You would want to go in the other direction if ya wanted to brighten the pickup. Check out these upgrade kits from RS Guitar Works. www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/index.php?cPath=31&osCsid=c8fnhsieaemmhdqd1tdpruddt4 They come highly recommended by WCR Pickups, it might be worth checking out. They claim that there is no high frequency loss with there volume pots when turned down to clean up an amp.
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Post by propellr on Jun 15, 2007 19:39:04 GMT -7
Oh, thanks for the correction. Something tells me that I just might actually like the loss in high frequency with a down turn in volume. Good to know, though. Gee, it's a good thing I have that vintage ES-335 and a killer Reverend Slingshot to keep me company until I learn the right thing to do with my Les Paul. What a sob story, right?
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Post by jwr on Jun 15, 2007 20:33:36 GMT -7
Yup, your killin' me propellr! Boy, I'd love to own a 335 someday.
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Post by pappy on Jun 16, 2007 12:33:27 GMT -7
I'm taking my Les Paul up to Indiana so I have something to play when my family visits my parents so I drug it out of the closet and decided what the hell, I'll give it a go. I've never played it on my Orange. I plugged it in and it was like BAM, I'm back to playing power chords and rocking out kind of Tool-is but a little more punk and metal. It's amazing what a different guitar will bring out of you. I started noodling and coming up with crazy little runs and whatnot thinking to myself "I can't BELIEVE I'm going to bring this up to Indy," but it was very bassy. I had to turn the bridge pickup's tone all the way down and it still wasn't where I wanted it. That and the volume of the bass strings (flats, by the way. I love flats but I'm pretty sure I'll be switching back to rounds soon) far outweighed the volume of the high strings. I'm used to my Gretsch having an even volume and having the treble strings be just as loud as the bass ones. But I was playing with it, telling my wife I can't wait to get it back so I can do those repairs. The neck doesn't look like maple (like I said earlier, the finish was eaten through all the way to the wood). It's darker, like rosewood, know what I mean? I don't know what kind it is but I'm tempted to have the finisher leave it natural for the refinish. It was weird playing a guitar so small after all this time though. I liked it. I still love the size of my Gretsch (the 17 inchers are my favorites, though my annie's only 16 inches) but can see I'm going to have to get something smaller. I'm pretty sure it'll be a Gretsch Billy Bo though. Love that guitar. I didn't want to start a whole new thread with this, especially since it was you, propellr who made me want to play it.
Take it easy!
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Post by propellr on Jun 20, 2007 21:04:52 GMT -7
That's pretty cool, pappy. I hadn't ever played my LP through my Z. Yeah, I think you're describing a mahohany neck. One thing I noticed about my LP was that it was hanging pretty low when I first tried her on, the other week.. Had to re-adjust the strap. I hadn't played it in so long, that I had learned to sling my guitar a little higher, in the interim. I don't know, man. A refin? I'd let those battlescars show and just get the refret. You mean, you couldn't get along with a fret dress and a setup? BTW, I played my LP tonight at rehearsal and I ended up turning the treble all the way up and the bass nearly all the way down. I dimed the volume and barely turned on the master. I used the bridge pickup exclusively on half the songs and both pickups on the rest. I'd say, I'm 90% there with my tone.
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