What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

msplines

msplines

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My other guitarist could do with some advice on replacing the Pickups on a 80s Gibson 335 with tunamatic bridge and trapeze tailpiece and the coil split switch. The guitar lacks sustain although the split cleans are nice.
Any help would be appreciated. Music is Gary Moorish blues type stuff, but with some "Fendery" rythm work as well. 4 conductor Seths?? 59s?? Antiquities?????
I just have no idea. (Amp is a Hugues and Kettner combo thing 100 watt).
The lack of sustain is the main bug for him.
Ta lots.
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

I'm sure there are people with differing opinions here, but I've never found 335's to be a great sustain machine to begin with. My own 135 isn't great either, but that's not really what they're made for, is it? Larry Carlton played 335s for a long time in the 70's and some of his 335s he had the trapeze tailpiece changed to a stud tailpiece, which seemed to help, he said, probably because there's a little more mass added to the guitar. There was a thread in the pickup lounge regarding higher output pickups and sustain, which might help you some. A little hotter pup (maybe a JB) combined with a compressor might give you a bit more sustain.
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

Thanks for the comments.
Interesting about the change to a stud tailpiece with LC, I think I'll suggest this and see what the reaction is. Perhaps if he fits a tonepros bridge and tailpiece (i think that's the name) with the locking allen screws he might get a bit more.
I agree that the type of guitar doesn't seem to lend itself to natural sustain, so I'll see what we get with the suspension hardware before it's time to start a fishing expedition through the F holes again - not my fave rave.
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

There is not much string angle behind the saddles with a trapeze tailpiece. That string angle can be increased alot with a stop tailpiece. I woiuld recommend the featherweight aluminum stop tailpieces made by Gotoh...they're only $50 including the studs.

The steeper the string angle behind the saddles, the better the sustain, IMO.

Lew
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

My opinon as well. get a stop back setup the guitasr will sustain cosiderably better. I have a 335 61 dot reissue, and the sustain is excellent. IF you are also looking to change the PUPs I would recommend either Antiquities, Seths, or Pearly Gates in this type of guitar. Of course these are all more "vintage" sounding. So it does depend on what type of sound you are looking for.
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

Is there enough wood just to fit the tailpiece without reinforcing blocks? (I don't have the guitar here and he lives miles away!)
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

I agree with changing the tailpiece. You might also try Grover locking tuners or something similar, to add a bit of weight and sustain too. As far as pups go, you can't gp wrong with Antiqs in that guitar.
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

While this thread is running, has anyone tried the fatfinger thing that fits on the headstock and does it work???
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

Yes the Fatfinger works. It just adds weight and mass to the head of the guitar so string energy isn't wasted making the peghead vibrate. It's sort of a gimmick tho...I don't see many famous players using one. Lew
 
Re: What Pups for 335 Trapeze tailpiece for more sustain?

msplines said:
Is there enough wood just to fit the tailpiece without reinforcing blocks? (I don't have the guitar here and he lives miles away!)
Click to expand...

That I don't know. My 135 has a block of Chromyte (type of rainforest wood, I assume) running down the center, and Gibson is making 135's with a stop tailpiece now, so I would think that there would be enough wood to do that, however, check with your luthier. They'll know for sure.
 
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