Thin sound from LP

[AlexR]

Re: Thin sound from LP

The chambering will possibly change things, but not necessarily by thinning it out. Listen to a 335.....thats much more hollow than a chambered LP, and doesn't sound thin. In fact the highs and lows are usually what gets filtered out. Its the mids that stay.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Thin sound from LP

Ayrton is on the money....every guitar will sound a bit different. Many who have lived with Epi's get their first gibson and end up initially disappointed as it not the same as the thicker tones you can get from the Epi wood combos. The most iconic Gibsons have a much more stinging open tone than what you'd expect

Another +1 about each guitar having a specific character.

Regarding chambered bodies: I've a LP with it, built by a friend luthier. It sounds bassier and even more "cavernous" than my Gibson LP Std but certainly not "thinner". Same thing with my ES335 copy (and I agree with AlexR about what he says just above)...

Now, one thing is sure: I can largely modify the respective resonances of these instruments with things like different bridges and stop bars (and I’ve done it to “fine tune” 'em to my liking). I also know that the same pickups in the three guitars mentioned won't give the same sound nor the same satisfaction: each of 'em has really its own "favourite" pickups, which are not the same than in the next guitar...

I have 1 Gibson les paul this 2010 studio, the others are an Epiphone, 2 custom pros, 2 standard pros, 2 standards, a traditional pro 2 and a epi studio.

I don't understand if the 2010 LP Studio is or not the only Gibson of your collection(?)...

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Thin sound from LP

Mincer is right. Try wiring the pickups straight to the jack. If that still sounds thin, at least you know it is not a wiring/soldering/quick connect issue.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Thin sound from LP

What brand and guage of strings are you using and what height are your pickups? Just by changing these variables you can make just about any guitar pull a 180 in terms of tone.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Thin sound from LP

Look at the image i posted of the Gibson routings, look how much wood has been removed from the chambered bodies. How can that NOT affect tone?
.

My experience is the more hollow the less sustain and maybe a little slightly brighter, but all the differences can be compensated by types of wood, composition of hardware, and electronics, and even thickness of the neck, which I’ve noticed both Gibson and Fender do with their choices of pickups, wiring, woods and construction. For example, many of the chambered LP Studios have the thicker 50’s neck, which does make up for the tone and sustain of the hollowed out body.

I’d almost need to hear your guitar to understand what you are defining as “thin” sound. There’s thin that is defective, like wiring that is out of phase unintentionally, and there’s thin that is actually true vintage tone that expects to be run through a beefy thumpy vintage amp that results in a very sweet thick but dynamic workable playable tone.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Thin sound from LP

If trying the things that are suggested here lead to a thin sounding guitar still, then it is time to look at another guitar. I still believe that chambering in no way thins out the sound of a guitar...but eliminate the wiring as one of the causes. If it isn't the wiring, it is just a thin sounding piece of wood.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Thin sound from LP

SD 59's

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Thin sound from LP

SD 59's

If a thin sounding guitar is the issue and you wanted a similar tone the the 59, but even thicker, I'd say a Whole Lotta Humbucker set would be even better. You have two sets of Classic 57s anyway, what's wrong with a little change?

 

[BowerR64]

Re: Thin sound from LP

This is my Only Gibson brand Les Paul all of the others are Epiphone.

Ive only played strats for 30 years i just recently traded for an Epiphone custom pro and was shocked at its tone, i then got a Traditional pro 2 (Epiphone) after 2 Epiphones and loving their tone i decided to splurge on a REAL Gibson and i was COMPLETLY let down first by how hot the pickups were im not into that EMG over driven blown out high gain sound im wanting a classic 70s vintage low output midrange bark

I get a good tone from the first 2 Epiphones but they also had to much output probucker 3 pickups and have tamed them back with lower output pickups and they still sound nice and chunky. BUT all of my Epiphones are solid wood bodies

This Gibson is the only solid body/chambered guitar ive ever owned.

I dont think you can compare a 335 to a chambered les paul the mass of a 335 and the size of that guitar is WAY different.

I am seriously considering trading the Gibson for another good Epiphone out of the 7 Epiphones i have im more happy with their tone, feel and playability then i have been with the Gibson.

I use Earnie ball slinkys 010 yellow package. I have more then one amp, Marshall Vintage modern full stack, JCM900 Full stack, Krank chadwick, eavey windsor, Laney GH50L

50 years old been playing sice i was 17 ive had a fair share of equipment but like i said im pretty green with Les pauls i think ive only had these about 3 years been a Steinberger fan since the mid 90s, hot rod strats CHarvel model 1 and so on.

I cant believe ive been missing the les paul tone for all these years wow!

I use to be on the fence about wood and tone but now i am convinced wood indeed makes a difference. The lack of is a big key.

When i say steinbergers i know what your thinking boat oar? no all 5 of my bergers are the big strat style with the solid graphite neck my best being a heavy mahogany GR4R from the 90s made in the US and ide put the weight of it up against the custom pros pound for pound

Ive messed with the pickups height and i havnt had it make much difference



I do question this nut, its very white and i wonder if its plastic. I dont see it making the guitar sound more full but i think ide prefer a bone nut

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Thin sound from LP

Gibson Les Paul nuts are either TUSQ, Corina or Micarta. Depends on year/model.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Thin sound from LP

This is my Only Gibson brand Les Paul all of the others are Epiphone.

Ive only played strats for 30 years i just recently traded for an Epiphone custom pro and was shocked at its tone, i then got a Traditional pro 2 (Epiphone) after 2 Epiphones and loving their tone i decided to splurge on a REAL Gibson and i was COMPLETLY let down first by how hot the pickups were im not into that EMG over driven blown out high gain sound im wanting a classic 70s vintage low output midrange bark

I get a good tone from the first 2 Epiphones but they also had to much output probucker 3 pickups and have tamed them back with lower output pickups and they still sound nice and chunky. BUT all of my Epiphones are solid wood bodies

This Gibson is the only solid body/chambered guitar ive ever owned.

I dont think you can compare a 335 to a chambered les paul the mass of a 335 and the size of that guitar is WAY different.

Of course you can.....realising that the type of change you get is along the same road but not so far. I also have several chambered scratch builds in a few different shapes plus a Chambered 2006 studio......and none exhibit a thin tone.
In short, you trying to blame chambering as the only construction based reason for the issue has no merit.

If you were to buy one of the solid body Gibsons with the vintage build type (reissues) you'd probably be disappointed with the tone even more - the very best examples of a reissue have an open 'sting' like a good beefy Tele - just like the vintage ones did.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Thin sound from LP

This is my Only Gibson brand Les Paul all of the others are Epiphone.

Ive only played strats for 30 years i just recently traded for an Epiphone custom pro and was shocked at its tone, i then got a Traditional pro 2 (Epiphone) after 2 Epiphones and loving their tone i decided to splurge on a REAL Gibson and i was COMPLETLY let down first by how hot the pickups were im not into that EMG over driven blown out high gain sound im wanting a classic 70s vintage low output midrange bark

OK.

Firstly and to contextualize this answer: my first long time use of a Gibson LP dates from the early 80's. Then I've played alternatively with LP’s from Gibson and Epi among other brands (and along with other models). I still own Gibson AND Epi guitars.

For a website of lutherie, I’ve also made a couple of systematical comparisons between some Gibson’s and their Epi clones.

Believe it or not: from Gibson looking Epi’s, I’ve obtained acoustical response graphs that I could have produced with Fender guitars (!).

Comparatively, IME, "real" Gibson’s always tend(ed) to sound more “mid centric”, with relatively less bass and high range. I suppose that this character could be felt as “thinner” or at least as “not fatter” once the guitars plugged. After all, that’s how Malmsteen felt Gibson’s compared to his Fender’s in an old interview: https://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/yngwie-malmsteen


[Parenthesis: I’ve once analyzed an Epi LP “Classic”, supposed to have a mahogany back, a maple top and a glued mahogany neck, according to a catalog from the 90’s.
Actually, it had a composite body including chunks of sycamore and maybe some bits of alder, with a finish to hide it. Its “maple top” was a thin overlay, as it appeared clearly once the cavities sanded.
This guitar sounded acoustically close to an alder body Telecaster.]

I get a good tone from the first 2 Epiphones but they also had to much output probucker 3 pickups and have tamed them back with lower output pickups and they still sound nice and chunky. BUT all of my Epiphones are solid wood bodies

This Gibson is the only solid body/chambered guitar ive ever owned.

I dont think you can compare a 335 to a chambered les paul the mass of a 335 and the size of that guitar is WAY different.


I am seriously considering trading the Gibson for another good Epiphone out of the 7 Epiphones i have im more happy with their tone, feel and playability then i have been with the Gibson.

I use Earnie ball slinkys 010 yellow package. I have more then one amp, Marshall Vintage modern full stack, JCM900 Full stack, Krank chadwick, eavey windsor, Laney GH50L

50 years old been playing sice i was 17 ive had a fair share of equipment but like i said im pretty green with Les pauls i think ive only had these about 3 years been a Steinberger fan since the mid 90s, hot rod strats CHarvel model 1 and so on.

I cant believe ive been missing the les paul tone for all these years wow!

I use to be on the fence about wood and tone but now i am convinced wood indeed makes a difference. The lack of is a big key.

Along with the instruments mentioned in my previous reply, the few guitars that I've built myself make me consider that less wood doesn't systematically equal thin tone : even my "lab test" Strat doesn't sound thin, albeit a large hole has been pierced through its body in order to swap its bridge pickup easily...

Ive messed with the pickups height and i havnt had it make much difference

IF the problem is not a question of lutherie and IF the thin sound syndrome comes only from one pickup, the problem could be a “capacitive humbucker”: a short cut on one coil makes it behave like a 4.7nF cap in series with the other coil. The whole is really thin sounding. It’s a problem that I’ve encountered and repaired several times with humbuckers from various brands.
EDIT - How to check it? If the tone control reacts like a volume one, then the pickup is "capacitive".

 

[ErikH]

Re: Thin sound from LP

I have a buddy's 2009 Gibson LP Traditional Pro at the house. He had mentioned to me that it sounded thin so I asked him if I could take a look at it (we were band mates at the time too). He was all for it and the first thing I noticed was the action was too low and the tailpiece had too sharp an angle. So, I dove in to it and gave it a good setup, and even tweaked the pole pieces on the pickups. I noticed a change right away after the action (along with the truss rod) and tailpiece angle were adjusted. Playing with the pickups' height and pole pieces helped improve on that. I also cleaned the not slots and made sure the strings were binding in it anywhere. Get those strings so they ring well and go from there.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Thin sound from LP

1) did it sound like crap before your pickup swap?

2) you said the pups are used, are you sure you didnt get two random Chinese humbuckers?