Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

[Scott_F]

Okay, hamerplyr, I didn't say Lester, ya happy?

Anyway, I put in the locking studs for the tail piece and the new ABR-1 style tuneomatic bridge. I notched my first saddles. (and it was everything I dreamed it'd be)

I just screwed the new tuneomatic down to the wood and tightened up the strings, lined them up over the pole pieces and gave each one a small rap with the butt end of a large screw driver. Worked like a dream, ran over them with a triangle shaped needle file I got from Stewmac and bingo bango bongo, we're in bidness.

I had visions of screwing this up, but it turned out to be pretty easy.

Now, the tone. Wow, the guitar was solid before, it's pure gold now. (pun intended) It's now where I want it to be. :dance:

 

[Jonny R]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

Sigh...nice

 

[jeremy]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

cool!! did ya notice a difference in sustain too? ive been thinking about going thru and replacing my tom's with tone pros

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

I noticed a good sustain change in my jackson when i installed mine, but my ears still werent good enough to notice anything else.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

everything got tightened up in the tone department as well. Guitar is just livelier IMO. I did it in steps. Put the lightweight tail piece on first. Not bad, noticed a difference in the tone, more acoustic sounding. Then I added the locking studs onto it. I thought there was more a difference in adding the lightweight tail piece, but now the piece locks down tight instead of sitting the old studs at a very slight angle. For me, that was more of a move to keep steady pressure distributed on the studs instead of having it angled forward (I top wrap my TP)

Then I added the TOM and got the action set, locked it down. More sustain in total, but I think the locking tail studs and the lightweight TP had more of an impact than the TOM tonepros. That's just me though.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

Hmmm...wonder if swapping in a Tone Pros would give my SG more sustain?

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

I put a tonepros kit on my LP, I don't know how it changed the tone though, because I changed pickups at the same time :smack:

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

Don't discount the difference the lightweight aluminum tail piece makes. I got one from Stew Mac for around 24 bucks. They didn't start putting them on as standard equipment on the Reissues until 2000 or so. This guitar is a 98 model.

The only issue with the Tonepros vintage ABR-1 look alike is that you have to notch the saddles yourself. They do sell the more modern looking TOM that is prenotched if that is something you're after.

I sure wish I'd have invented the things. Just a simple idea that has made those boys some cash.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

I put a tonepros kit on my LP, I don't know how it changed the tone though, because I changed pickups at the same time :smack:

that's why I did the TP first, then the studs, then the TOM. hard to tell, but you should be able to tell when it's not plugged into anything.

hold the headstock in your left hand and strum the strings in your right. feel how resonant the neck is. hold the guitar against your ribcage and feel the vibrations there.

if it plays nicely unplugged, Dr. Duncan can fix me up with a pup to make it sound the way I want to. But, if the guitar is a turd unplugged, swapping pups can't overcome basic problems.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

I love mine too Scott. It's soooo nice to be able to change strings without having to worry about the tailpiece falling and denting your guitar. The Aluminum TP is something I'm a big believer of. It made mine feel more lively as well. Sustain-wise I couldn't tell because I changed pups at the same time, and I had a roll-o-matic.

Luke

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

that's why I did the TP first, then the studs, then the TOM.

I thought about it once I put it all together, then realised I should have done that, but I'm pretty sure the it's all doing it's job properly, it seems a bit more vibrant and like Lukeduke said, the tailpiece doesn't fall of if you take all the strings off, which is good.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

A bit off topic, but, do any of you gents know where I can find an aluminum tailpiece and Tone Pros locking studs for an Epi (I've been thinking of puting those on my Sheraton)?

Thanks for the info. :burnout:

 

[papersoul]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

That's awesome Scott, good for you bro.

I have a 2003 Standard with the stock Nashville set up. I have the full Tone Pros Nashville (un-notched) and tail with locking studs ready to go. I wanted a deeper, and thicker more modern tone so I went with the stock Tone Pros parts. I'll save the aluminum tailpiece for when I buy a Historic model. This way I'll have more tonal variety, ya know.

Anyway, I did try the aluminum tail a while back and was a big too vintage and open for me so went back to stock. Now, we'll see what the stock Tone Pros system does for me. Last time I tried the Tone Pros on my LP was when I made other changes so I don't consider it a true test although it seemed louder and maybe bigger? Maybe tighter.

Is the Tone Pros (basicaly Gotoh) as good as the stock Gibson parts?

PS.....I hear the Pigtail stuff has an even nicer impact if you want a more vintage tone.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

bump

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

My Custom had a German made bridge and TP and my tone pros appears to be nearly identical to the German one....I was disappointed when I found out it was a gotoh by another name but it really does a good job.

Luke

 

[papersoul]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

What's wrong with Gotoh?????????

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Installed TonePros in the 56 RI Les Paul

Nothing wrong with Gotoh at all. I got all my parts from StewMac. Great deals on all of it.

Either it's well made stuff or it isn't. My problem with the Pigtail stuff is the price actually. My aluminum TP was less than 25. The studs might be brass, but it really doesn't bother me at all.