Improving the sound of my Epi... bridge?

[Rex_Rocker]

I have an Epiphone 1959. It's cool. Plays well and looks great. However, tone-wise, it's a bit thin, wiry, and quiet compared to the sledgehammer that is my Les Paul Tribute.

The Les Paul Tribute has always been like that. It came stock with a lightweight aluminum bridge and tailpiece, but I blacked out the hardware, and swapped it out for a an aluminum Gotoh tailpiece, Kluson steel studs, and a Schaller STM roller bridge (Zamac with Brass saddles).

The Epiphone has the same tailpiece with the studs that came with the bridge, but the bridge is the cheapie Gotoh Tune-O. It's solid, rattle-free, and looks well-made. However, the material is nothing to write home about.

I remember when I had an Epiphone Les Paul Custom, I replaced the bridge and tailpiece with the Graphtech Resomax stuff, and I noticed an immediate difference. It became louder and brighter acoustically.

However, this time around, rather than making it brighter, I want to make it fatter and warmer. I was thinking maybe I could leave the Gotoh aluminum tailpiece, maybe grab some Kluson Brass studs, and a Graphtech Resomax bridge but with the string-saver saddles which are supposed to smooth out the brightness.

Maybe, I could grab an aluminum bridge with brass saddles as well. There are many like that. TonePros, Kluson, Gotoh 510, Hipshot, etc.

What do you think? Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Seashore]

I didn't like the string saver saddles. They felt a bit dull and my impression was that they cut sustain a bit. I never measured it but I'm happier with metal saddles. I had the same experience as you when I put a Resomax bridge and tailpiece on my good Explorer, a brighter and louder tone that translated well through the pickups. Maybe more resonance and sustain would result in a more workable tone for you even though you wouldn't call it "warmer". I haven't tried brass or steel bridges. I would think, if it plays well but sounds thin and quiet, it would benefit from a hotter and fuller bridge pickup.

 

[ehdwuld]

Try the stuff you abandoned from the Tribute

How does that change it

Create chart

It could be the height of the pickups needs to be raised slightly

 

[GuitarStv]

What pickups do you have in each . . . and if they're the same, have you made the heights of the pickups in reference to the strings identical?

 

[Chistopher]

Also it's worth noting that your tribute may be one of the ones that came with 300k volume pots, which thickens the tone up a bit.

 

[Mincer]

I like String Savers, but I like a darker sound overall. I say, get a set of Invaders for that Epi, and it becomes #1 right away.

 

[Leon Of Late]

For Les Paul/ABR-1 bridges, I really like the Faber Tone Lock bridge and tailpiece. They make it to fit the import size studs as well, if you don’t replace the studs….but I recommend replacing them with the Faber studs. I have used a handful of the brands on the market over the years, and I like the Faber quality best.

Not sure it is any darker, but Faber does offer different saddle material. I have never gone that route, so am unfamiliar with the options. BTW, the BRIGHTEST high quality set of bridge and tailpiece is the Callaham set. It’s all steel, and it will brighten up the darkest LP.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The bridge the Tribute came with is a Nashville and won't fit the metric posts of the Epi, unfortunately.

Both right now have Fishman Fluence Classic Open Cores set to the same height. I measured. Same pots too (the ones that came with the Fishmans, 25K).

I'm thinking perhaps some other bridge might be a good alternative to the Resomax stuff. I honestly don't think it's anything super different from Aluminum.

Not sure where to go. Don't think pickups is the way to go because I don't want them to sound more different. Rather, closer to each other. I understand there will always be some difference, but in this case, I think it's just a matter of acoustics.

 

[GuitarDoc]

If you want the same essential tone of the pup and don't want to change it for a different one, you might try a different magnet. I don't think changing the hardware is going to make enough difference.

 

[Seashore]

The bridge the Tribute came with is a Nashville and won't fit the metric posts of the Epi, unfortunately.

Both right now have Fishman Fluence Classic Open Cores set to the same height. I measured. Same pots too (the ones that came with the Fishmans, 25K).

I'm thinking perhaps some other bridge might be a good alternative to the Resomax stuff. I honestly don't think it's anything super different from Aluminum.

Not sure where to go. Don't think pickups is the way to go because I don't want them to sound more different. Rather, closer to each other. I understand there will always be some difference, but in this case, I think it's just a matter of acoustics.

How pronounced is the difference? Are the Fishmans set up exactly the same, nothing underneath jumpered differently?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

How pronounced is the difference? Are the Fishmans set up exactly the same, nothing underneath jumpered differently?

It's not night and day. They both sound like Les Pauls with BRIGHT-sounding PAF's. It's just the Epi is quieter and plinkier. How much depends on my mood. Not as much as my Esquire, but not as full, fat, growly, and loud as my Gibson for sure. But if you consider the Esquire is one of the brightest guitars I've owned (and that's how it's supposed to sound IMO) and the Gibson is probably the fattest, I'd say it's like the Epis is 70-80-ish % of the way more towards the Gibson.

Honestly, it's just me trying to justify keeping Epi. I love how it looks, I've worked hard to make it play well, so it's got some slight sentimental value. But whenever I'm playing it, I feel like I'd rather play my Gibson because in my head, it sounds more like a Les Paul should (whichi s actually funny, because the Gibson has the slightly thinner body Studios have, it's chambered like a swiss cheese inside, and has a maple neck, so you'd think it'd actually be the other way around).

And yep, both Fishies same Revision number, no jumpers, both in the same voicing. Both running through a 25K volume and tone pot. I don't think the pickups are the problem here. It's just when I strum them withoug them being plugged in, they sound like that, and that translates to the pugged-in tone as well.

Unfortunately, no way of magnet swapping the Fishmans without destroying them, I think.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I'd suggest different pots or a different pickup. I don't buy into much of the bridge, saddle, even nut hype myself.

Plus 2 guitars off the belt in sequence will sound different.

I'd swap a pot value first, then a pickup second.

But I also EQ every amp differently with every guitar I pick up too.

Maybe use a different boost when you pick up the one. I've had to work that out for a few of my guitars as well. Different guitars just need different stuff sometimes to bring out what's best in them.

Just some random thoughts for you

 

[ehdwuld]

It may be just the thicker finish on the epi

I would think nylon saddles would dull it just a bit

Different brand of strings will sometimes get that effect

 

[Seashore]

It's not night and day. They both sound like Les Pauls with BRIGHT-sounding PAF's. It's just the Epi is quieter and plinkier. How much depends on my mood. Not as much as my Esquire, but not as full, fat, growly, and loud as my Gibson for sure. But if you consider the Esquire is one of the brightest guitars I've owned (and that's how it's supposed to sound IMO) and the Gibson is probably the fattest, I'd say it's like the Epis is 70-80-ish % of the way more towards the Gibson.

Honestly, it's just me trying to justify keeping Epi. I love how it looks, I've worked hard to make it play well, so it's got some slight sentimental value. But whenever I'm playing it, I feel like I'd rather play my Gibson because in my head, it sounds more like a Les Paul should (whichi s actually funny, because the Gibson has the slightly thinner body Studios have, it's chambered like a swiss cheese inside, and has a maple neck, so you'd think it'd actually be the other way around).

And yep, both Fishies same Revision number, no jumpers, both in the same voicing. Both running through a 25K volume and tone pot. I don't think the pickups are the problem here. It's just when I strum them withoug them being plugged in, they sound like that, and that translates to the pugged-in tone as well.

Unfortunately, no way of magnet swapping the Fishmans without destroying them, I think.

If the Gibson does the Gibson thing better, why not let the Epiphone be something different? Alnico Modern in the bridge, or that Javier Reyes set. Swaps are so easy if you're already wired for Fishmans. EQ pedal would help too. I don't think incrementally deadening your tone is going to give you what you want if the guitar is already too quiet.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Unfortunately, no way of magnet swapping the Fishmans without destroying them, I think.

Oh, I missed the part that they were Fishmans. Sorry.

So, different amp settings, different pedals, or different pups. But, like I said, I don't think you're going to get what you want by changing various pieces of hardware.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If the Gibson does the Gibson thing better, why not let the Epiphone be something different? Alnico Modern in the bridge, or that Javier Reyes set. Swaps are so easy if you're already wired for Fishmans. EQ pedal would help too. I don't think incrementally deadening your tone is going to give you what you want if the guitar is already too quiet.

Probably the most sensible solution.

Honestly, I think I might end up selling the guitar. I mean... it's a Les Paul that doesn't really do the Les Paul thing. Might as well sell it and get an SG or something, then.