Not sure if this was ever discussed

[rfiori9]

I notice when watching videos of Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa etc they have the same tone and sustain on the 20th-22nd fret as the do on the 2nd or 12th fret. I have an 89 standard and several other guitars and whenever I play up on the higher frets on my guitars the tone and sustain dies faster than when playing on the lower frets. Does anyone else notice this? Is there something I can do to maintain the tone and sustain on those 20th frets?

 

[Ruthie58]

I notice when watching videos of Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa etc they have the same tone and sustain on the 20th-22nd fret as the do on the 2nd or 12th fret. I have an 89 standard and several other guitars and whenever I play up on the higher frets on my guitars the tone and sustain dies faster than when playing on the lower frets. Does anyone else notice this? Is there something I can do to maintain the tone and sustain on those 20th frets?

I Think what your missing is a line of VERY LOUD amps being played at large venue volumes. When amps are turned up this way, they create resonant frequencies (ie feedback) that allows a guitar to resonate due to the air waves around it helping the guitar to vibrate at the same freq. as the note being played.

This is a basic way of explaining it, but I am assuming you arent playing for thousands of people and turning up the amps enough to MOVE AIR the way that Joe B and other artists do...aside from them having the top quality setup and instrument.

Try turning your amp waaaay up to 7/10 or more and you will start to hear the guitar pick up sustain simply because it is helping itself to vibrate at that freq. in real time.

This is my explanation...

try finding a good compressor set correctly. this can help fill in the gaps and allow your notes to sustain longer without the added volume.

 

[VictorB]

Higher action = more sustain.


And loud amps. Very loud amps.

 

[TheX]

Compressor = sustain as well.

 

[rfiori9]

Yeah I was thinking of getting a compressor but I'm not sure which one to get

 

[bulletproof]

Yeah I was thinking of getting a compressor but I'm not sure which one to get

I have an '89 Standard as well and that ole girl just sings in the upper registers....

Lets start with your set-up,man....what are you playing through?

 

[Ruthie58]

Yeah I was thinking of getting a compressor but I'm not sure which one to get

Keeley 4knob is a good starting point. Also try the Xotic SP or Wampler EGO. Other than some more botique offerings you should be able to accomplish the compressed sustain with these pedals, and they are usually available at your local music shop (GC or otherwise)

The boss comp/sustainer and MXR Dynacomp are also good but I find they effect the tone more than the xotic SP or wampler EGO (these have a clean blend knob)

 

[GitFiddle]

If you listen very closely, both of them use a very generous amount of delay. That gives you a lot more sound than the original note. There is an old video of Joe B. demonstrating his pedal board. He explains how he uses delay "all the time".

 

[bulletproof]

If you listen very closely, both of them use a very generous amount of delay. That gives you a lot more sound than the original note. There is an old video of Joe B. demonstrating his pedal board. He explains how he uses delay "all the time".

+1.....yaa,theres that,too.....Good point,brother!

 

[rfiori9]

I have an '89 Standard as well and that ole girl just sings in the upper registers....

Lets start with your set-up,man....what are you playing through?

Randall RM50 combo but I don't usually turn it up that loud at practice

 

[bulletproof]

Randall RM50 combo but I don't usually turn it up that loud at practice

Oh my...yaaaa,if you crank that baby up,you should get a really nice surprise!

What modules(module) are you running in it? Ya know,a nice OD pedal might help quite a bit if you are playing at lower volumes....

 

[LtKojak]

Is there something I can do to maintain the tone and sustain on those 20th frets?

Assuming the instrument is set-up correctly, just press the strings correctly with the right amount of pressure and they'll ring as long as they should.

HTH,

 

[yeti]

Agreed, I think it's technique, left hand fingering to be specific. I have an old Silvertone U1, very little sustain yet I was able to record some lead lines with it, set to clean (no delay) between the 12 and 19th fret (IIRC) and it sings. I remember that it to a lot of doing to get the notes to sustain but it's doable with the right technique.

 

[rfiori9]

Oh my...yaaaa,if you crank that baby up,you should get a really nice surprise!

What modules(module) are you running in it? Ya know,a nice OD pedal might help quite a bit if you are playing at lower volumes....

I have a Twox and JCM 5950, I usually run through the twox with my vintage rat or ts 808 pedal. is there another od pedal I should look into?

 

[bulletproof]

I have a Twox and JCM 5950, I usually run through the twox with my vintage rat or ts 808 pedal. is there another od pedal I should look into?

That 808 should be all you need for what you want,brother.....

If you get a chance,turn the amp up till it just starts to get a little hairy and then slam it with the 808. That should make ya smile

EDIT: I might try the JCM module....that is a bit closer to the tone I believe you are looking for.

 

[rabidhamster]

Oops I missed it. Nothing further to add

 

[trickyy66]

Higher action = more sustain.

That would only be the case if the strings, with lower action, were fouling on the following frets and damping vibration. If there is no impediment then higher action will add no sustain.

The only benefit you might see comes from the increased break angle of the bridge as you raise the saddles. That can be effected by altering the tailpiece height without changing the action.

It will alter the intonation though as you need to deflect the strings further to fret.

 

[Brutus]

Vibrato