Re: les paul bridge material
Gentlemen thank you all, I made great progress with my Les Paul by installing the brass-saddles Faber locking bridge. I did a very basic installation without messing with the bushings and the tailpiece, I leave those parts to the Luthier. The sustain improved dramatically already, and the tone bacame a vintage Les Paul tone as I understand it. It is brightish, without the needle-sharp top end as it was with the titanium saddles. Actually the tone warmed up but I can't say it became darker, quite the contrary, I feel it opened up. But this is the only Les Paul I ever got, so take it with a grain of salt, it may just be that I am now playing with a different EQ on my amp and pedals. At any rate I am much happier with what I am hearing. So thanks again, I wanted to give a short report for future reference.
Addition: Brass has characteristic 'ring' to it and it won't sound as clear as titanium. The lower strings particularly are a bit hazy. I am fine with that, that is probably what is vintage sounding in it, but like to try Callaham steel bridges for clarity without the titanium 'zing' at some point.
