Page 124 - Guitar Classics Magazine - The Les Paul Bible 2019

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VINTAGE LES PAUL TONE

nce upon a time, we were checking out a HARDWARE
1960 Les Paul Standard and made the bold A significant proportion of vintage Les Pauls were
claim that anyone could enjoy something retrofitted with Grover or Schaller machineheads
O unnervingly close to vintage Les Paul tone at some point – many have since been converted
by combining the right pickups, hardware and back to Klusons. The balance of the guitar changes
electronics with a suitable body. Unsurprisingly, with heavier tuners and you may notice changes in
we’ve since been asked to put our money where transient attack, but it’s hardly a make-or-break issue.
our mouth is and show you how. The same can be said for nylon nuts: if you do notice
So, over the following pages, armed with an original differences compared to bone or other materials,
1954 Goldtop, a Gibson Custom Collector’s Choice you’ll only hear them when you play open strings.
#26 Whitford Burst and our work-in-progress Greco Consequently, attention focuses on bridges and
LP-style that we’re in the process of converting into tailpieces and we conduct our primary listening tests
a Goldtop, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide to with the guitars unplugged. We’ve always found
achieving vintage Les Paul tone without having to sell vintage Gibsons a bit softer in the treble and woodier
your house in the process. in the mids than even the best reissues. With the
One thing before we start. If you are shooting electrics eliminated, these differences can only be
for that authentic 50s Les Paul tone, we think that attributed to the wood, the bridges and tailpieces –
success is more likely if you consider things as a or a combination of both.
whole rather than obsess over specific details. The We test the hypothesis by swapping the original
electric guitar is a ‘system’ and, as with all systems, wrapover tailpiece and studs from the 1954 Goldtop
individual components interact. Identifying the key onto our Greco and putting the Greco’s Faber
components and gaining insight into how they work aluminium tailpiece onto the Gibson. The strings
together is essential. Read on for an analysis of what on both guitars are identical sets of Ernie Ball Pure
we consider to be the key components, the way they Nickel 0.010s. The results are clear, with the Greco
affect tone and what your options are. now sounding like a vintage Gibson and the Gibson

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