Larry Cartlon style pups for my 335

[elavd]

:lol:

Fourth Feline, we want some pics from your new baby and some Clips TOO !!!

I feel really anxious to hear the SMs on your guitar!!! ;)

[Twinfan]

Great review FF - can't believe you got such a bargain!  Awesome.

[Johnny Mac]

Sounds fantastic FF! Yes post a pic of her.

[Fourth Feline]

:lol:

Fourth Feline, we want some pics from your new baby and some Clips TOO !!!

I feel really anxious to hear the SMs on your guitar!!! ;)

I have no proper recording gear, but meanwhile - here she is !  I added a "Rhythm / Treble "  Selector Ring, and changed the stock amber control knobs to black ones. You will see the slight / repaired 'ding' at the ( front ) top centre of the headstock, but it is not as noticable in ordinary light. The pearloid headstock inlay looks lovely 'in the flesh'. The wood grain showing through the translucent dark wine red finish.. The back and top arch very tastefully - and the neck perfectly oiled / frets polished.

Thanks for your interest !

( sorry if the pictures came out too big ) .

[elavd]

Simply wonderful!!! 8)

Congratulations!!!

I added a "Rhythm / Treble Selector Ring

Why did you put it ;) It's not a Les Paul clone... :roll:

[Fourth Feline]

Simply wonderful!!! 8)

Congratulations!!!

I added a "Rhythm / Treble Selector Ring

Why did you put it ;) It's not a Les Paul clone... :roll:

I fitted the selector ring to hide the 'cosmetic alteration'  caused by dremeling out the hole to try ad fit the Gibson/ Switchcraft toggle switch.

Like I said before, with this brand / model, I would leave well alone if I where you - and just use the stock 9mm thread length switch instead of trying to fit a 5mm thread length ( ? )  switchcraft..  

[elavd]

I fitted the selector ring to hide the 'cosmetic alteration'  caused by dremeling out the hole to replace the Toggle switch...  

You could put this one instead:



 :lol:

[Fourth Feline]

I fitted the selector ring to hide the 'cosmetic alteration'  caused by dremeling out the hole to replace the Toggle switch...  

You could put this one instead:



 :lol:

 :lol:  Absolutely brilliant ! now THAT is what I call a proper selector ring  8)
I wish I could get one locally. Thanks for sharing.  

[Ratrod]

Now change Rhythm to Rumble.

[Johnny Mac]

It looks lovely for the price you paid, I want one now!

[Fourth Feline]

It looks lovely for the price you paid, I want one now!

Thanks Johnny  :)

the nice thing being that ( having 'googled' the model number ) - I / you could pick up a brand new , unblemished one for only about £ 40 more. That's why I wanted to know that regarding a general set up and testing - I had a motive and ' sweetener' to go down the second hand route with this chap at £140, instead of £ 179 new.

Given that I have found the electrics / Pots are full size , well wired and ready for your pickups of choice ( saving you £ 35 on the Switchcraft upgrade kit ) - you are basically in the same situation as me - as long as you get a good one.  The percieved quality control seems to make that a fair probability.

Even I had to do the usual cutting of  the nut slots down to my liking and spend a  few hours setting action / intonation / truss rod /  ( repeat as needed as the guitar nd new strings settles in e.t.c. )

Even if it does not feel or sound exactly like a 335 ( I have never played  a Gibson one to compare  ) - the excercise did prove to me that you can have one very nice sounding ( and affordable ) guitar that plays as smoothly as a \ Gibson.

If anything, the Tangelwood's slightly thicker shell , Mahogony neck  and Alnico II Stormy Mondays - sound  sweeter than 'You Tube'  clips with a 'real' 335 fitted with Gibson '57 classics.  The Tanglewood is more like B.B.King's 355 in overall character, than Larry Carlton's 335.

The interesting thing is ( I feel ) - is that to get that Larry Carlton' / '57 Classic  'snap' and bite, you would have to to use Riff Raffs, or at least Riff Raff Bridge / Stormy neck.

In conclusion, we create not a sonic replica, but instead create a new entity with a different - but equally valid sonic signature.

Cheers !

[Johnny Mac]

It looks lovely for the price you paid, I want one now!

Thanks Johnny  :)

the nice thing being that ( having 'googled' the model number ) - I / you could pick up a brand new , unblemished one for only about £ 40 more. That's why I wanted to know that regarding a general set up and testing - I had a motive and ' sweetener' to go down the second hand route with this chap at £140, instead of £ 179 new.

Given that I have found the electrics / Pots are full size , well wired and ready for your pickups of choice ( saving you £ 35 on the Switchcraft upgrade kit ) - you are basically in the same situation as me - as long as you get a good one.  The percieved quality control seems to make that a fair probability.

Even I had to do the usual cutting of  the nut slots down to my liking and spend a  few hours setting action / intonation / truss rod /  ( repeat as needed as the guitar nd new strings settles in e.t.c. )

Even if it does not feel or sound exactly like a 335 ( I have never played  a Gibson one to compare  ) - the excercise did prove to me that you can have one very nice sounding ( and affordable ) guitar that plays as smoothly as a \ Gibson.

If anything, the Tangelwood's slightly thicker shell , Mahogony neck  and Alnico II Stormy Mondays - sound  sweeter than 'You Tube'  clips with a 'real' 335 fitted with Gibson '57 classics.  The Tanglewood is more like B.B.King's 355 in overall character, than Larry Carlton's 335.

The interesting thing is ( I feel ) - is that to get that Larry Carlton' / '57 Classic  'snap' and bite, you would have to to use Riff Raffs, or at least Riff Raff Bridge / Stormy neck.

In conclusion, we create not a sonic replica, but instead create a new entity with a different - but equally valid sonic signature.

Cheers !

Great stuff Fourth Feline 8)

I shall try and have a go on one soon, I can imagine with SM's it would sound great

[Fourth Feline]

Thanks for your continuing interest Johnny.

Bear in mind ( as I mentioned elsewhere ) I have felt the need to send my Stormy mondays to Tim for Alnico IV magnets fitting .  I also spent the £5 on a nice resonant 'Graphtech' nut.  

Forgive me for repeating myself, but I found that this model of guitar needs no help in sounding sweet and jazzy, but when listening to Larry Carlton play the tune " Just an Excuse " on you tube, it reminded me that he sometimes uses a touch of ' bite and snap'.  I presume this is either the more strident sound of the Gibbo '57 Classic bridge, or that his 'real' 335 has a higher percentage of spruce in the guitar  , whereas the Tanglewood has more mahogany. ( A c--ked wah pedal no doubt helped too ).

I e:mailed Tim and said that as lovely and syrupy smooth as Alnico II S.Ms where, I found that ( as detailed in Tim's excellent 'guide to magnets' ) - the bass was perhaps a bit too loose for my overall needs.

With the Alnico IV Mules I have ,  my mahogany guitars 'growl' and articulate that bit sharper on the bass strings, whereas with the Alinco II Stormy's they melt into a less distinct yet relaxing  cushion of warmth.

He advised that the perfect balance would be to keep the Stormys, but that a change from AII to AIV would tighten the bass and make the frequency response yet more even. Of course a slight loss of percieved mellowness may be encountered, but there is always the bridge tone control - and the fact that my AIV Mules do mellow very nicely as well as other tonal 'colours'.

I mention all this, because I feel responsible whilst pursuing this 'project' - to report back the minutae, good , bad and just plain curious - just in case it helps someone else make a decision which may in the long run save money - or at least spend it in the right direction !

Again, kudos to Tim for not only taking time out to explore and explain my best option ;   but also his honesty in recommending an affordable magnet swap, where less scrupilous  business persons would have sworn I needed a completely new set  for the sake of a more profitable sale.

I am just itching to get them back and try them !


Meanwhile I have been using bog standard Gibson 490T / 498 R - ( as displaced from my Les Paul by my Mules ).  

It's not until you put generic / mass produced  ( but equally expensive ! )  'stock' pickups in a previously BKP'd guitar that you remember / realise what 'little gems' B.K.P really are ...   :D

[Will]

It's not until you put generic / mass produced  ( but equally expensive ! )  'stock' pickups in a previously BKP'd guitar that you remember / realise what 'little gems' B.K.P really are ...   :D

Phwoar, essay and a half.
Its even worse when you replace the bridge pickup alone, and then you switch to the stock neck :(
I want some SM's now (and the guitar to put it in :D )

[elavd]

Thanks for your continuing interest Johnny.
when listening to Larry Carlton play the tune " Just an Excuse " on you tube, it reminded me that he sometimes uses a touch of ' bite and snap'.  I presume this is either the more strident sound of the Gibbo '57 Classic bridge, or that his 'real' 335 has a higher percentage of spruce in the guitar

FF you should have in mind 2 things too:

1) Larry's playing technique is mainly based on using both the pick and his fingers when he hits the strings. If you notice carefuly in many of his videos (the most representative of all is his collection of 4 instructional DVDs), when he plays on the high strings, he slightly "pinches" the strings and this causes a mini-slap effect and thus a more perccusive sound in his phrasing.
If you watch closely the video that I posted, you'll see that I try to incorporate the same technique in my playing (of course the result are 1% close to Larry's sound...).
This is an important factor for this sound you are looking for, and so I would advice you that you should pay attention mainly to his technique, than the "incredients" of his guitars (which of course are also more or less important) ;)

2) I watched the video of Just an Excuse and saw that (as I have told you via a PM) that he has set the pickups relatively low.
Check on 1:14" and you will see it yourself.

I think that by lowering the pickups, he achieves a more open and "airy" sound out of his 335, and in combination with his special tecnhique, he produces such a marvellous tone!!!


Also, in case you haven't seen it yet, check out the videos on his Mr335.tv site under the "Tech Bench" section.

You'll find very valuable information about his setup  ;)