Author Topic: more sustain (Read 3238 times)

JonnyScaramanga · « **on:** March 19, 2007, 10:14:36 PM »

Here's the deal...

I've got an opportunity to get a secondhand set of Mules for a good price, so I'm snapping them up. But I hadn't actually decided what pickups to put in my Les Paul. The trouble is that I love the way it sounds under high gain at the moment, but it just doesn't cut it for lower gain rock and blues.

When I listen to old classic rock records with Les Pauls on, those guys are getting really thick lead tones with a lot of sustain. Obviously they are using totally cranked valve amps, but I can't get that kind of thick tone from my Les Paul without a lot of preamp gain too. At low gain settings, it's quite harsh and if I go for a big bend and vibrato, the note dies away before it has a chance to sing.

Will I be able to get a similar sort of crunch and attack under high gain with the Mules while still getting the thicker, warmer tone I want for medium gain stuff?

I guess I'll find out soon enough, but I'm curious about your opinions, and what I should try if the Mules aren't right for me.

DeanS · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2007, 10:41:39 PM »

Assuming your guitar is set up nicely ie no fret buzzing and strings choking etc its still gonna be hard to get that clean plexy ish sustain ( if I've read you correctly) with anything else other than a cranked valve amp ie power amp distortion. So with the right gear Mules will easily fit the bill.

JonnyScaramanga · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2007, 10:49:06 PM »

That's cool. I've got a Marshall Jubilee 25/50 that does pretty nice power amp distortion when I get the opportunity to take it really loud.

So hopefully I will like the sound of Mules under high gain as much or more than my existing pickups, and my tonal quest will be over.

Well, apart from the pickups in my strat, and my unmodified pedals, and..... :twisted:

MDV · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2007, 11:56:27 AM »

Sorry mate, but sustain is mostly a property of the guitar.

A pickup cant create more note. Just amplify whats there. So a powerfull pickup may give you a marginal difference, but if you want good sustain you need a good neck:body coupling and good string coupling at the nut and bridge. Thats what keeps that string vibrating, not pick up (maybe amp, but only at high volume).

You could try raising the action, that cant help but help.

hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2007, 12:28:23 PM »

1. Thick, cranked tone at very low volume => Bogner Shiva

2. Endless sustain at low volume => Compressor pedal

A compressor could also help you with 1. actually. Personally I don't like compressor pedals so much ... rather have a cranked cooking amp in front of me if I want sustain

JonnyScaramanga · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2007, 03:38:10 PM »

Quote from: MDV

Sorry mate, but sustain is mostly a property of the guitar.

Good point... don't know why I didn't think of it more in those terms.

What I was more worried about though is the fact that my guitar currently sounds a bit cr@p with clean or low gain tones. It's not so much a lack of sustain as just a thin, brittle tone for a Les Paul.

The guitar's definitely a keeper, but I might try TonePros bridges if I'm unhappy after the pickup change.

Pierre · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2007, 04:21:15 PM »

I'd try raising the action if it's low, maybe pickup height if it's way too low (but not too high!), maybe a thicker set of strings (on a LP at least 10s, preferbly 11s to me) and work on your vibrato. Vibrato can sustain a note infinitely. Though obviously it'd wobble.

Peter Antal · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2007, 05:22:01 PM »

You could try THIS. It's a great little tool, I use it in my Strat with Mules. I used to have the same problem as you: had a rather thin sounding guitar but wanted to cover everything from jazz to metal with one set of pickups. I love the sound of Mules but IMO they aren't tight enough for more extreme music unless you pick really hard and/or boost the signal with a pedal. The five modes are: bypassed, buffered (with a short cable I prefer the bypass mode), slight mid boost (if you need a little bit more ooomph), mid boost + a little bit of gain boost (if you need more sustain for solos), and finally 'hard rock/metal mode'. 8) The latter one makes the Mules darker and REALLY HOT - that means compression and tightness. :twisted: BTW, the circuit itself is dead silent.

msplines · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2007, 11:35:00 AM »

Graphtec inserts for the tunomatic are also good for a more singing tone and improved sustain (assuming you don't have string choke, misaligned frets etc), however, it's important to play them in to get the best result, takes about 30 mins to an hour of strummin' n' crankin' (wot?) before they settle down, brill results for my LP.