Author Topic: Aluminum vs Zinc (Read 9362 times)

rain_dog · « **on:** June 29, 2007, 04:18:26 PM »

I was looking at tonepros locking tailpieces and they come in aluminum and zinc models. I read somewhere that early early Gibsons had aluminum and then they switched over to zinc, and some historic Gibson reissues have gone back to Aluminum. Just wondering if anyone has experience with both, and who knows the differences and what they suggest?

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2007, 05:15:06 PM »

why not email the tonepro people and ask? (horse's mouth and all that)

:twisted:

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2007, 05:27:49 PM »

I've used aluminium on a couple of guitars and it's cured problems I've had - lack of resonance and/or a dark tone.

On a guitar that sounds great already I've no idea if it would be "better" to change from Zinc to Alu.

apmaman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2007, 05:55:25 PM »

Zinc....when you shine it under UV it will eject electrons.

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2007, 10:39:02 PM »

and that'll help?

rain_dog · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2007, 11:18:10 PM »

Clearly electrons = perfect tone. This is what tonepros told me when I wrote the horses mouth.

apmaman · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2007, 02:00:14 AM »

it probably woudlnt help in the slightest. Might give you a shock should you leave it under for long enough

To the point at hand... I mean I dont even think Eric Johnston could tell between a zinc and aluminium tail piece. I wouldnt be to worried as long as it keeps its tuning and sounds good. Isnt that all that counts?

Kilby · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2007, 02:53:24 AM »

I dunno about that theres a hell of a difference between the steel and the shitety mazac alloy on strat bridge saddles, Even I can hear the difference.

gingataff · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2007, 04:43:50 AM »

As a slight deviation from topic which may be useful here, a local guitar company produces replacement Floyd Rose trem blocks in brass, steel and aluminium (and each one in standard size or extra thick). They say the brass gives more midrange and low end crunch, steel gives a clearer sound and (interestingly) aluminium allows more of the woods own tone to come through.

rain_dog · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2007, 05:05:13 AM »

Well I think the string path is a crucial part of a guitars tone. And things like locking bridges, locking tailpieces, and the material they are made of directly effect the sound. Even changing the saddles on a bridge and leaving everything else the same changes the sound. The question was more along the lines of people who have used both metals, what changes did they notice. If you're of the fundamental belief that if your guitar stays in tune then dont mess with it, then more power to ya. But if duct taping a hotel's front desk bell to my headstock made my guitar sound nicer, Id do it in a heartbeat.

And who cares what Eric Johnson can notice anyway? :D

hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2007, 08:04:20 AM »

Quote from: apmaman

I mean I dont even think Eric Johnston could tell between a zinc and aluminium tail piece. I wouldnt be to worried as long as it keeps its tuning and sounds good. Isnt that all that counts?

-1

Eric Johnson is said to hear the difference between two brands of batteries in his FX, if that is true just a little bit, he will hear a huge difference.

But I think it's as Twinfan said, the same with any "improvement upgrades", it will only improve if it cures an issue. So if Alu makes it a tad brighter and opener, it will not be good on a bright and open sounding guitar, unless you try to get a Tele with a Les Paul ...

apmaman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2007, 10:55:43 AM »

Quote from: hunter

-1

Eric Johnson is said to hear the difference between two brands of batteries in his FX, if that is true just a little bit, he will hear a huge difference.

What! that man is a machine... I mean seriously, that crosses the line i think?

Guitarzan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2007, 07:22:32 PM »

The two battery thing is not that hard to tell. Just take one of your effect pedals and try a generic battery against something like a Duracell or something. I guarantee that you'll be able to tell a difference. In my distortion pedal, the generic battery made is sound all fizzy and just plain wrong, while a Duracell gave me my good ol' crunch back.

apmaman · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2007, 09:43:35 PM »

perhaps i dont have an ear for tone yet...

Guitarzan · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2007, 09:51:57 PM »

I wouldn't say that. I guess it's just more apparent with a Boss DS-1 :P .