joe walsh comments on guitars

[Al Russo]

there's a youtube clip w/joe walsh about Carvin guitars. Joe talks about how the bridge is tight against the body. He mentions that it is like the old gibsons. He goes on to talk about how no other guitar makers including Gibson make the bridges down to the body. He talks about how he hates bridges that are high because they lean forward and aren't all that stable. He mentions that Gibson won't make them for him w/the low bridge. I understand what he's talking about. What i don't undrestand is when he mentions that old Gibson's had the desired style bridges but they don't now. If the early les pauls had them don't all of the historics have em that way?

 

[LeftyF]

Historics are similar in many respects to the originals, but are not meant to be exact copies. To get that you either need to send it to a makeover luthier or have a replica made. There are some great builders out there that are making replicas that are deadly close to the originals.

 

[Al Russo]

i know that they aren't "exact" duplicates to the originals. I just made an assumption that something as important as a bridge would have been made like the originals. Joe makes a good point about the bridge leaning forward if it is high above the guitar body. Normally when someone designs something, as they get more experience, they improve upon a design. I don't understand making a bridge design one way, which seems to be a good design, and then deconstructing it to make it worse. That's assuming Joe is correct that the original bridges were excellent.

 

[frazettafan]

I don't understand making a bridge design one way, which seems to be a good design, and then deconstructing it to make it worse.

Well, that's what Gibson did with most of their guitar designs at various points in the companies history, so.........:hmm

 

[LeftyF]

The bridge is not the issue - it's the neck angle that causes the bridge to be higher on the current models.

 

[Al Russo]

i c..so they must have increased the downward angle of the neck which makes me think they would have needed to raise the bridge up more in order to have good string clearance from the frets....

 

[cryptozoo]

Is it possible Joe's not familiar with Historics?

 

[MikeSlub]

there's a youtube clip w/joe walsh about Carvin guitars. Joe talks about how the bridge is tight against the body. He mentions that it is like the old gibsons. He goes on to talk about how no other guitar makers including Gibson make the bridges down to the body. He talks about how he hates bridges that are high because they lean forward and aren't all that stable. He mentions that Gibson won't make them for him w/the low bridge. I understand what he's talking about. What i don't undrestand is when he mentions that old Gibson's had the desired style bridges but they don't now. If the early les pauls had them don't all of the historics have em that way?

I'm surprised Joe has any clear memories of "those days"... :2cool :salude t

 

[LeftyF]

You will also see that the pickup rings on modern Les Pauls are taller to compensate for the higher angle. For the life of me I have no idea why they changed this, but there you are. I'm sure Joe is aware of Historics, but they also suffer from this re-design decision.

 

[reswot]

The original rings were that high. The Historic rings are tall (because the original ones were), but USA rings (and most aftermarket rings) are not.

You've got this wrong....

 

[LeftyF]

Ah sorry, thought they were shorter on the originals. My bad!

 

[Al Russo]

I'm surprised Joe has any clear memories of "those days"... :2cool :salude t

hey mike!...watch what u say about one of my heroes....lol...Actually u should check out the clip..it's on u tube. I don't know how to post it here. Joe is extremely sharp and articulate in this clip.... he plays some of his classic riffs also...

 

[RevPearly]

Here is a link to the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWQ5tujZ54M

Joe rocks............

 

[MikeSlub]

hey mike!...watch what u say about one of my heroes....lol...Actually u should check out the clip..it's on u tube. I don't know how to post it here. Joe is extremely sharp and articulate in this clip.... he plays some of his classic riffs also...

I like Joe Walsh too! No offense meant by my post.

However, if you ever get a chance to review the Dr. Z amps DVD, check out the interview with Joe when Dr. Z gives him a new amp to demo. Let me know how sharp and articulate he sounds to you.... :salude :2cool t

 

[roadhog96]

The bridge is not the issue - it's the neck angle that causes the bridge to be higher on the current models.

This is why when people try to set the relief in the neck as straight as possible the bridge is to high and the string tension bends the post on the ABR1 style bridges. If the neck angle was not as drastic you could run almost a straight neck and have the bridge just about on the body. The higher the bridge the easier to bend them wimpy studs, it's all about leverage.

 

[c_wester]

Historic Les Pauls are made with a lower neck angle and the brdge is the closer to the body like the originals... but they also varied.
I have had a bunch of reissue Les Pauls.
And most of the had a very low bridge also the neck angle was low.

On the other hand the Std classics and what not have a higher bridges witch sucks .. i believe they are made like that so its easier to fit the neck when the tolerance is wider.
And even if you have a production std les paul, wrap it.
I wrap them all and its great.

 

[Wilko]

Higher bridges usually sound/feel better to many players. Historics are very close to the average range. Most of the best Bursts out there have room for at least two thumbwheels with room for adjusting.

I think Joe Walsh has it wrong here.

 

[oceantoad]

Better sustain, is the point of this thread I presume.
And lowering my tailpiece to the body will give more, yes.

My tailpiece sits up higher because it is a Historic that has the 5 degree vs the 4 degree. If I remove the tp washers, worried that my break angle may be too steep causing bridge stress, & bend it one way or the other as a result.

Have already added the longer tailpiece studs, and upgraded the bridges "wimpy" pole pieces.If it aint broke don't fix it, i know, but the quest is always on for better sustain. any further ideas would help. Cheers.

 

[Red Baron]

The neck angle on my 2010 R8 is very shallow. I don't use a particularly low action but to give you an idea of how low the bridge is, if I were to put another set of thumb wheels under the existing ones they would be hard against the surface of the wood.

 

[Red Baron]

Higher bridges usually sound/feel better to many players.

I agree in terms of feel. As you would know there's a lot of neck angle on 68's so they have very high bridge (at least the ones I've owned/played have), and to me they do feel very good in that regard.