Llightweight tailpiece for SG

[_tom_]

Think i may have asked about this a while ago but couldn't see a thread on it! Anyway i have an SG standard which is great but the sustain could be better. I remember reading about lightweight tailpieces before, are they actually any good or just snake oil? Anything else i could try to help the sustain/resonance a bit?

[Twinfan]

Lightweight tailpieces give more "zing", not necessarily more sustain.  If it was me I'd go for a TonePros locking tailpiece, and bridge if I could afford both, and have the nut checked out to make sure it's spot on.  That'll get the best out of the guitar.

Ultimately though, sustain is down to the construction/woods of the guitar (in particular the neck wood) and there's not a lot you can do to change what it hasn't got.

[_tom_]

Its strange as it sounds fine unplugged (little dull maybe) but plugged in it can sound a bit "choked" on leads. Tried high output pickups (pig 90) and low output (mules) and the lower ones seem a bit better for it. Want to try riff raffs really!

[Philly Q]

Yeah, an aluminium tailpiece will make the guitar sound more lively, and the effect really is quite noticeable - especially acoustically - but I don't think they actually improve sustain.

I often end up changing all the hardware on guitars, TonePros bridges, aluminium tailpieces, locking tuners.... but only because I'm stupidly obsessive about such things.   They make a difference, but not really enough to justify the investment!

If I had the tools/skills, I'd like to just convert the stock bridges into locking ones by drilling threaded holes and fitting some grub screws to lock them.  That would be both worthwhile and cheap!

[Twinfan]

RRs rock in an SG, I loved 'em.

I don't think you'll find a fix to your problem Tom, you'll just minimise it is best you can.

[AndyR]

Sustain is vastly over-rated, Tom - it makes the bum notes last longer :lol:

I've been thinking about this thread on and off all day - do you know, I've realised that I don't think I've ever regarded an SG as a hugely "sustaining" guitar anyway...

What I'm after is the resonance and zing from an SG, with enough warmth that it doesn't sound boxy or too harsh. I've not tried any of the bridge ideas, but it does sound like it's worth looking into...

And I do have this gut feeling that Riff Raffs is where you want to be. I bought my current SG to match them. Acoustically it had some zing, but the main thing it had was a woody resonance, I just knew the Riff Raffs would sound right in it.

[Philly Q]

I've been thinking about this thread on and off all day - do you know, I've realised that I don't think I've ever regarded an SG as a hugely "sustaining" guitar anyway...

I think you're right, a good SG rings and has a ton of resonance, but I don't think it gives those "everlasting" sustained notes like an LP (or similar) can.

[_tom_]

Yeah I guess I may just be used to my Les Pauls having that everlasting sustain haha. I might try an aluminium tailpiece out of curiosity though, maybe that extra "zing" is what it needs. What brand/model aluminium tailpiece is worth getting? It actually sounds great with the Mules in with the amp cranked up. Not sure its worth shelling out for a set of RRs!

What advantage does the locking bridge/tailpiece have?

[Philly Q]

What brand/model aluminium tailpiece is worth getting?

Gotoh.  I'm sure other people make them too, but the Gotoh ones are great quality, fairly easy to find (in nickel, chrome, gold or black) and not too expensive.

What advantage does the locking bridge/tailpiece have?

TonePros claim it improves sustain, I'm not 100% convinced but if nothing else it stops the bridge and tailpiece falling off when you change strings....

[_tom_]

Cheers Philly I think I might go for a Gotoh then as the price is about what I'm willing to pay for something that might not have much effect!

[Alex]

Please let me know if there is any difference, as I have the same guitar I would be interested in your impressions.

[Elliot]

Feline put one on my Les Paul Double Cut Special (which is kind of an SG) and it did make the guitar more zingy and airy.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I recommend aluminium tailpieces and the TonePros locking studs rather than the tonepros tailpiece that has the grub screws

[Philly Q]

I recommend aluminium tailpieces and the TonePros locking studs rather than the tonepros tailpiece that has the grub screws

Yeah, good point - I don't really see much point in the tailpiece with grubscrews, it does nothing at all except stop the tailpiece falling off!

[FELINEGUITARS]

It does add a little more coupling , but nowhere as much as the locking studs will