Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

[bluezguy]

Just wondering about the lightweight aluminum stop tail pieces out there. Gibson is not a contender due to price.

Gotoh or Kluson? The Kluson unit is made in the USA, the Gotoh elsewhere. Weight difference is pretty much negligible. Price may vary $5 - $10 bucks depending on vendor.
Waddaya think?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

I have had good luck with Gotoh. Keep in mind Tonepros is also a Gotoh. There are some others out there I have not tried like Faber, and RS' newer machined tp. I tried RS' older cast alum tp, and did not find itany better than the Gotoh. The machined version is very expensive.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

The Allparts lightweight tailpiece is fine and fairly inexpensive.

 

[bluezguy]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

So nobody really cares if it's made in USA or not?
I have a Gotoh unit and the Kluson unit. I've swapped 'em both on a LP Std and an SG Std. I've really heard no difference at all.
Just wonderin' about your ears ... maybe mine are shot????

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

I think thats 2 questions...

Me, I do prefer stuff made in the US and spend the money on USA made things when possible but as for which is "better" in this case it's 2 hunks of aluminum so I doubt there is much difference.

As for the aluminum replacements vs stock zinc if you don't hear the difference there I can't help you...I won't say better or worse but there is for sure a difference.

 

[bluezguy]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

I think thats 2 questions...

Me, I do prefer stuff made in the US and spend the money on USA made things when possible but as for which is "better" in this case it's 2 hunks of aluminum so I doubt there is much difference.

As for the aluminum replacements vs stock zinc if you don't hear the difference there I can't help you...I won't say better or worse but there is for sure a difference.

Sorry .. I should clarify ... yes, between zinc and aluminum there is. It's between the 2 different 'hunks of aluminum' that I don't hear anything. I wish I had a Gibson Historic to try the A/B test against the USA made Kluson for $34.00 (gold)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

Sorry .. I should clarify ... yes, between zinc and aluminum there is. It's between the 2 different 'hunks of aluminum' that I don't hear anything. I wish I had a Gibson Historic to try the A/B test against the USA made Kluson for $34.00 (gold)

I can't be positive but I am almost sure that the Gibson Historic is made by Gotoh.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

I doubt you'll hear anything between 2 different brands of aluminum stop bars...

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

What's the big deal with light weight taipieces anyway

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

What's the big deal with light weight tailpieces anyway

The aluminum stop tailpiece was used by Gibson in 50's and is part of the sound of a '59 Les Paul or ES-335. They make a Les Paul or ES-335 sound a little more spacious, airy and "acoustic". Also less bassy, less solid and less steely.

To some it's an improvement - to some it's not. To guys who prefer the sound of TonePros tailpieces, the lightweight tailpiece is not an improvement.

It's definitely a personal thing and there's no "right" or "wrong".

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

What's the big deal with light weight taipieces anyway

The same thing that's the deal with any other guitar part that supposedly makes a tonal difference, but doesn't.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

Except an aluminum tailpiece does make a guitar sound different than a zinc tailpiece does.

Not everyone is sensitive enough to hear the difference, and not everyone thinks it's a big enough difference to care about.

But some do hear the difference and do care.

I do hear the difference and do prefer the lightweight tailpiece but I like the way my ES-335 sounds as it is - so I left the original zinc tailpiece on my ES-335 and didn't change it to aluminum.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Which Lightweight Stop tail Piece Preferred?

I put a Gotoh lightweight TP on my SG with RS steel studs, and the sound was definitely better to me.
The Gibson LWTP is heavier than others (like Gotoh, RS, etc.) so I doubt it is made by Gotoh. Don't know how much the newer Kluson one weighs. The Gibson is also heavier than the original vintage TP's on old Gibsons.

Al