NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Missed this. Nice addition! Enjoy it LOUDLY!!! :headbang:
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Get the saddles done yet?

Yep, just hot home with the LP and one of my Dean Handrails that I has worked on. I had the electronics gutted on both of them and new Bourne pots and PIO caps installed + 50's wiring.

I won't be able to plug it in until tomorrow though. :gurmpy::gurmpy::gurmpy:

Wife has a migraine, so I can't be too upset about no tube amp tonight.
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Can’t wait to hear how it came out.

What did he do to the Handrail? Bring it up to code? :)
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Can’t wait to hear how it came out.

What did he do to the Handrail? Bring it up to code? :)

Yeah, the prior owner had put some sort of 5 way super switch type thing in the bridge volume pot hole and some push pulls in the tone pots. The electronics cavity was a rats nest of wires and none of the pots looked to be quality. So, I just had him gut it and do fresh wiring/50's wiring. It didn't need anything else.

Last year I took it to my luthier up in Austin to have the frets crowned and polished and the fret ends rounded off. It's literally the smoothest neck I have ever played...... so effortless with nary an edge to get hung up on. I will take my other keeper Dean Hardtail up to him for the same treatment when I'm working again. The neck on my new LP feels quite similar since it's been Plek'd, but the fret ends aren't quite as smooth.

Oh.... the Hardtail (#2) now sports a pair of Seths and the LP has the Greenie set in it. My #1 Hardtail now sports a Brobucker/Seth set (the Greenie set was in this guitar). I have no idea yet what to put in my #3 Hardtail. I haven't exactly decided to keep it yet. My #4 Hardtail is currently for sale.
 
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Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Yeah, the prior owner had put some sort of 5 way super switch type thing in the bridge volume pot hole and some push pulls in the tone pots.

Man, I hate that crap. And don't get me started on kill switches... :)
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

.... the Hardtail (#2) now sports a pair of Seths and the LP has the Greenie set in it. My #1 Hardtail now sports a Brobucker/Seth set (the Greenie set was in this guitar).

This GM guitar looks great, I really want to play it, it's winking at me. Did you re-instate the mismatched knobs? In the post above it sounds like you got the 50s wiring and PG pickups installed, correct? How's it sounding now?
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

Yes - MUST have the tubular-at-volume tone report. We'll wait for the awesome...
 
Re: NGD - Gary Moore Les Paul Standard Signature

This GM guitar looks great, I really want to play it, it's winking at me. Did you re-instate the mismatched knobs? In the post above it sounds like you got the 50s wiring and PG pickups installed, correct? How's it sounding now?

Yes indeed, it's sounding good. I went back to the mismatched knobs and I do like it better that way. Anyone need some amber top hats?

I've got the 50's wiring done, the PG's in and the Callaham hardware on. I have to admit that with just 50's wiring and the PG's in it, the guitar sounded damn good. Really nice and articulate. Crunchy in the bridge and sweet in the neck. The middle position is more interesting all the time too.

I went ahead and put the Callaham hardware on and it definitely changed the tone. It's even more articulate and clear in all positions. Absolutely no mud or fuzz in the neck at all. I can really see how this hardware could improve a guitar with an inherently dark or middy tone. I haven't decided if I'm 100% in on the tone yet. It may have taken away more of the warmth than I wanted....I'll have to see how it goes as I continue playing. I need to play some of my other guitars whose sound I know and love and evaluate from there.

One thing that changed was the attack of the guitar, it seems more immediate or quick. That's the best way I can describe it. I'll hit a chord or a note and it's immediately right there.... almost like there was a bit of a delay before, or a short buildup to the attack before. I suppose that's the steel of the bridge and the tail piece asserting its signature on the tone. I'm still getting used to that. It's not good or bad, just different.

I don't want to waste another set of strings right now, but after I've played it for a while I might try putting the TonePro's tail piece back on and see what changes. There is a lot of talk about lightweight tail pieces sounding better, but that can't hold true across the board. I do like the ABR quite a bit more than the Nashville though. I like the look so much better.

I really like the way the tone controls work a lot better with 50's wiring. Much more useful and the tone doesn't get muddy or dark like before. I actually like setting the tone on about 6-7 now and having the ability to brighten it more if need be. This is the first time I've used 50's wiring. I may switch all of my guitars to it.

Overall I'm very happy with the way the changes worked out. I still need to play some more and decide if I want to keep all of the added brightness and quick attack. Like I said, I may try changing the tail piece to see if its a good middle ground. If it is, I'll buy a nickel lightweight tail piece. The TonePros is chrome and doesn't match.

I do highly recommend the Callaham hardware though. Such quality workmanship and materials. Also, after watching the video on removing the factory bridge studs, it was super easy to take them out bad replace them with the Callaham studs. They really do make a noticeable and audible difference in the tone of your guitar. Whether its good or bad depends on what you're looking for. I know in the past I've made hardware changes and have honestly struggled to hear any difference in tone or performance. The Callaham stuff delivers for sure.

Back to making noise. Dad is gone for a week and the wife is gone until Tuesday. I can turn up as much as I want!!!
 
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