Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

[neosadist]

All,

I have noticed a lack of sustain with my ESP LTD EC-100QM. It's maple topped body on agathis, with rosewood fretboard, and stock ESP LH100 pickups. I will be swapping these to a '59/JB combo from SD soon, but alas the sustain on this guitar as it is right now isn't so good, and the high E string has a weird cycling sound on the 12th fret. It's already been intonated and all that, so it's not really being in tune, just sort of "wolf" tones on this note or something. Only this note does it. Ideas? Suggestions? Comments? Thanks!

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

Some things you can try neo is to adjust the pickups away from the strings. Most of the time the pickup is too close to the strings.

You can also try raising the bridge height a bit.

Don't forget to change the strings. We often overlook this, but it is a wear item and new strings can change the sound quite a bit.

Your weird sounds sound like you may have a fret or setup issue. But, try the easy things first.

 

[LiquidSky]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

If none of those work you may have to get your frets checked out to make sure everything is good to go with them. It sounds like it may be that since your guitar is set-up and intonated.

 

[LiquidSky]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

Also is it a hardtail bridge or a Floyd-Rose trem? You may be losing some of the sustain there...also if it is a bolt-on neck I think you lose some sustain as well.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

No offense, but it's probably due to the fact that your guitar is made out of agathis. Agathis is the nice way of saying "Plywood we found out back."

 

[SeraphimTN]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

Agreed

No offense, but it's probably due to the fact that your guitar is made out of agathis. Agathis is the nice way of saying "Plywood we found out back."

 

[Kac]

Re: Lack of sustain: ESP LTD EC-100QM

No offense, but it's probably due to the fact that your guitar is made out of agathis. Agathis is the nice way of saying "Plywood we found out back."

I also don't mean to offend, but am agreeing with my friend DSS on this one. It was quite hard for me to get good tone or sustain out of that guitar when I owned one.
~Kac