Do Thicker Guitars Sustain Longer? - Let's Find Out!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 янв 2018
- Will a thicker guitar shave longer sustain?
We test 6 guitars in a head-to-head sustain challenge!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe :)
T-SHIRTS:
teespring.com/stores/darrell-...
TAB STORE:
Songs, Lesson Worksheets, and Guitar Techniques!
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DarrellB...
SUPPORT:
If you want to give back to help support this channel, you can help me out here:
www.paypal.me/DarrellBraunGuitar
GUITAR COMPARISONS:
• Les Paul vs PRS Single...
GUITAR TUTORIALS:
• Spanish Romance - Guit...
BACKING TRACK:
By Vito Atone - Follow the link and Subscribe!
• Ballad John Mayer Styl...
Enjoy! 
Видеоклипы
That Ibanez is so beautiful, I wouldn't care if it sustained like a ukulele.
not my taste the j custom is more nice looking
@@BFHPET this is the internet, no ones really cares about your opinions here.
@@JohnPork912 well you did obviously. lol
@@BFHPET J customs are nice,,I have 2. I also have a prestige that is a beat
@@realtruenorth im whaitting for a j custom in red they look so awesome wish they gonna make them next year when do they usally update the colours ?
Technique is true sustain. Guy picked up my guitar....and made it weep! We were the band, but the whole party stopped, and turned around...he stole the show. And we loved it!!
*grab popcorn* and read the comment section
you read my mind. tis gonna be fun :)
, 😂noice
T H I C C 👌
I think there are so many factors when it comes to sustain
Absolutely.
Also one can buy things to increase sustain beyond its usefulness for any guitar.
Neck attachment type, high downward pressure on the bridge, bridge saddle and nut material, strings used.
I'm not a luthier but I know they affect sustain.
@@orlock20 can you recommend one such thing to increase sustain?
@@npc2071 Yeah, stick with hardtail neck through mahogany guitars, like Les Paul.
Great comparisons! It really makes me appreciate Leo Fender and the great design work he did in the initial Teles and Strats...he nailed so many things that have passed the test of time.
Darrell.. youre bad for my guitar progress ^^ i keep watching your videos instead of practicing more :( you just seem like such a super nice guy and your videos are so well made.. i cant stop
+Alex R 😄 Thanks man!
I would expect the hardness of the materials to have more of an effect than the thickness of the body.
Agreed. Also a fixed bridge sustains better than a floating bridge.
Great job on getting some good data on this... but all I can focus on right now is the soul stirring playing you were doing. Wow. Going back to listen some more now. Been sick for a while, and this is the kind of sound that makes me forget all that for a while. Amazing.
+Anthony P Thanks Anthony!
Feel better soon ☺
Darrell Braun Guitar Thank you!
What about the guitars being set neck, bolt on, or neck through, wouldn't that affect sustain in pair with body thickness?
Everything effects everything, including pickups.
just like tonewood, it really DOES NOT MATTER
Yes, the difference is very very small tho
@@whatskraken3886 doesn't matter is opinion. But it changes things 100% no doubt.
@@realtruenorth eh
Damn that epiphone had a much nicer looking finish than the traditional Gibson
Epi make some very nice looking guitars. I've got a lemon/honey flame top SG with gold hardware. Not sure of the fretboard wood, but it's not rosewood. Looks awesome and never seen another in a store since I got it, but I'd imagine there's more around.
I've got one of those, too! I'm pretty sure the fingerboard is rosewood, though. I bought it used online. The back of the headstock says "Epiphone Custom Shop."
Mark - I can't get at mine right now (behind a pile of other guitars), but I seem to remember it had a got a custom shop logo on it as well. Yours might be rosewood, mine I'm not so sure as it's a lot lighter looking than rosewood is. It's almost like black butt. Being a custom it could have anything on it! Thick neck on them too.
Mine's behind a pile as well! LOL I wouldn't mind knowing the exact name that they were selling them as, to look up the specs. I saw one for sale on eBay almost 10 years ago... I think the seller listed it as a "custom SG" or something. He was asking almost $700 for it, used. I got mine for around $350.
Your fingerboard could be Pau Ferro... it's lighter than rosewood
Could be right on the fingerboard. I bought mine new over 10 years ago from a local shop, setup was good and actually sounded good acoustically - that's why I bought it - didn't even plug it in! Think I paid around $700AUD for it at the time. But damn they looked good! Promised the missus I wouldn't buy a guitar at the guitar show, so I bought one on the way home!
The intro with the Ibanez earned a like off the bat. I'd love to hear you do an album of tracks like that on that Ibanez. It was beautiful.
This video, while well thought out and informative, proved one thing to me.
I need more guitars.
Nice work!!
+Shaun carter 😄😄😄
Thanks man!
3:24 that solo makes me keep coming back to this video it just beautiful
Glad this was a measured experiment! Good stuff man
Nice playing btw Darrell!
that bit of lead you played on the les paul traditional sounded great
+Music Playlists Thanks!
I love your videos. It is amazing how much can be said about 6 wires stretched over a piece of wood!
Thanks for yet another informative video. Awesome.
+Mutant Baby Anytime! ☺
i have never thought about it. that was very good to learn
thicc vs stick
*sticc*
@@codythedoggo7671 Sthicc
*T H I C C* vs *sticc*
Very nicely put
I just have to say you have very tasteful playing and economy of note choices and phrasing. Would like to hear more of your solo work.
Now that you pointed out the toggle switch on the Ibanez I can't unsee it. Such a silly move by Ibanez.
metalheadblues, I'm sure there is a reason for it, maybe to keep dust out so it doesn't get "scratchy" over time?
Tony Colantonio could be yet most guitars don't have it
+metalheadblues Sorry!!
The S series has a thin edges so the switch is large so the toggle switch has that black dome on it to raise it above the body and cover it up aesthetically.
Kiyu Madkick, makes sense
Another great video Darrell !! The Ibanez S series surprised me, since it is so thin.
Thanks for the very useful presentation
+O T Anytime! ☺
Nicely done Sir Darrell.
+Citadel Thanks! ☺
Great video once again, no surpise there so thanks Darrell!
Just to add my personal experience, I've owned quite few really good guitars and they were all modded in some way. Tried different pups, setups, electronic upgrades etc. My current guitars are a wonderful LP deluxe, a Chapman Ml3RC and the one I want to come to, the underdog, a 1990 Washburn N2 all stock. It's a wee guitar, thin and small bodied, very similar to the S series but that thing out-sustains every single guitar I 've ever owned or played. So much so that every time I went guitar or amp shopping I always bought her with me as a reference point and still haven't found one to beat her. And of course never crossed my mind changing anything on it fearing I might spoil it. Don't know, maybe they hit some kind of sweet spot when they made it and the woods-pups-electronics all came together. Only goes to show that sustain is a combination of many, often not thought of, factors
:23 seconds was really something I haven’t heard quite like that before. Very cool.
Great test!
Those jams in between, loved them :D
+Jawless Python Thanks man!
Awesome work man, u are the best
+Hilai YOLO Thanks man!
Right back at ya ☺
"Team chunk and team skinny-minny" 😆I love it! Awesome playing as usual!
+Andrew Stump 😄 Thanks!
Hey Darrel thanks so much for your videos, I enjoy them so much, they are incredibly interesting... I was thinking, could it be possible to do this test experiment with different woods, necks, guitar setups, tremolo, floyd rose, to find which combination would teorically produce the most sustain and try it!
i enjoy your playing so much man! lot of gilmour in there!
+Bullnec You are too kind! Thanks ☺
Interesting video done well.I especially like the sounds you were able to produce, what amp and set up were you using for the tests? Also, I don't think I have ever seen such shiny guitar tops! Do you use any specific product on them? Thanks
Man love your channel! Great sounds! Can you tell me what amp did you used at that intro which i guess was the same for the test!? Thanks~!
Awesome video again Darrell. You really opened Pandora's Box with this one! Hope you're prepared for the firefight! There is one definitive result shown, and that would be on the floating trem guitar. With so many variables it really is impossible to draw a super accurate conclusion with different materials and densities of the saddles and nuts, (insert inappropriate remarks here) how hard each string was plucked, etc. But, I do like the fact that there is someone with enough cajones to go down this rabbit hole and attempt to be objective about it.
Thanks Darrell!
PS. I've been quietly complaining about that horrid 5-way switch on the S series guitars for YEARS now. You're not alone.
+DaveR 😄 Thanks man! Good to know I'm not alone.
That ibanez s series is a beaut.
You are my favourite guitar channel.. like by far. Just to let you know :)
+Josh Clarke Thanks Josh!
GGWP Dude, i have a question the guitar that you use "Ibanez S series" what the real name can i get in the market? I dont find in indonesia...
Great topic,I would be interested to see how a clamp on sustainer or different strings could measurably affect sustain,or nuts even.Valuable info for anyone thinking of buying a guitar, thanks!
Hi! How do you record the sound in the videos ? (Guitar- interface - computer) or (microphone on the amp - interface - computer )?
I still LOVE that epi. So beautiful and the pick ups..Just wow. You are making me spend money to do an Epi set up like you did with yours. As far as sustain, I have a 24 fret SG that rings forever. Also have some Les Pauls that do but others that don't. With trems I have a Jackson KV2 pre fender that out sustains my PRS Custom 24 so who knows lol. Scale length, string thickness. Ofcourse set up. So many things involved.
Greate! Didn't know that.. But yeah, defenetly a fixed bridge or a vintage style tremolo will give you for sure more sustain and more middle/high tones as well.
Interesting comparison Darrell! Would be great to see more guitars compared. :)
The cherry sunburst Les Paul sounded awesome very sweet and great tone
Super informative
Interesting video Darrell. What modifications have you made to your LP Traditional?
I have a 2015 model in Ocean Blue. I swapped the G-Force unit for Hipshot open gear locking tuners, replaced the brass nut with the custom made for Les Paul height adjustable GraphTech nut, then took it to a shop for a full Plek set up. It plays amazingly now and of the 11 guitars I own wins hands down for sustain. But it's as heavy as a lump of granite and not one I can play comfortably for any long periods.
nothing nerdy about it dude ! rock on .
Hey I'm looking to start playing guitar, is the Ibanez S521 a good starter guitar?
Hi Darren informatie interested video you have especially the fender make over. OK I have a question please can you do video for a kalher installed on Gibson please as there are not many videos on how to install the kalher tremolo on a Gibson les Paul or any other version that they have. Many reasons as I find floyd rose to be discussed with as many of substances is removed from the guitar and loss of their flavours but kalher tremolo are more niche than floyd. Thanks for the quick response and video on here.
Great video, you’re really good 👍🏻
+Acxel Jimenez Thanks man!
What about strings? Do string thickness really make any difference? I got 10-46 on my Strat, had carpal tunnel issues for years, (from work, not guitar). I was thinking of going back to 9-42 strings on the Strat.. is there any real difference just moving between these 2 sets?
Very Good vídeo Darrell.
Thanks! ☺
I have an interesting experiment to try next: See how variations in scale length and string gauge effect sustain!
I always thought it was the weight and density of the wood which helped sustain. Great vid btw :)
From a scientific perspective, the thickness should have less to do with it than the rigidity of the guitar (and the structure where the strings are supported)... If it is more rigid, the strings would be less dampened, therefore they should vibrate longer... You also have the magnets pulling the strings, you have to take that in mind too
Luis Coll if you really want to talk science.. Three things:
1- what you're actually testing for (open string sustain when plucked) is too easily influenced by the human variable (plucking strings differently every time). I find it hard to believe that the force with which he's hitting each string really is consistent. And by only giving each guitar one try, this really can't serve as very conclusive evidence.
2- Magnets: they're actually not gonna make a difference. WillsEasyGuitar made a video where he demonstrated this with a huge magnet, and there was no significant difference.
3- String gauge, anyone? Simple physics says heavier strings will sustain longer.. So why aren't we all loading up with 12s or 13s? That's something that I think would be worth confirming.
But again, when it comes down to just measuring the end result (that being your guitar sound in a mix), these things are pretty trivial. Same applies to the whole tonewood debate.
Now science aside, does it make sense to carry around a very heavy guitar just because it "has more sustain"? I don't think so man. I wouldn't do it. Just use technique, EQ and compression to get the sound you're going for.
All this aside.. Those licks were amazing. I couldn't care less about what you're playing if you play like that. Great job
Also dare I say type / properties of wood used.
And whether chambered for other guitars.
No. 2, very good point Ryan. Lots of people think that magnets pull on strings with any sort of significant effect. You can test this by holding a pickup above the strings while they vibrate. The only time it will dampen the strings is if you're doing something silly like having two neodymium humbuckers and a neo single coil in one guitar. Tried that. Never again! A note would last less than a second!
Ryan Georgi I think because of the seemingly sensitive nature of the guitar, minor things do affect the tone. Which is why I agree with the tonewood. Whether we can hear it is what’s at question. Now, if someone is using something to measure, eh... I can see their reason. Other than that the pickups, headstock, etc... is more important. I think carrying around a heavy guitar because it sustains better sounds like a good idea, if you don’t want to buy more than a few pedals. Which in my case, I’m not a pedal collector. I just need about 5 pedals to get my own tone. I would like that my guitar tone is just as much apart of my sound than just pedals. I also don’t care for light weight guitars. I’m used to heavier guitars, so, I’m comfortable.
I do agree that the amount of force used when plucking the strings is important, but since as I said the guitar seems to be sensitive, it’s difficult to make accurate comparisons. Even in larger strings, that would be difficult. Unless someone builds a machine that has more control. Then you have made sure the guitar exactly set up the same, which according to some techs is nearly impossible. So many different variables. For that reason, the results would if anything just be what is very likely the case.
As to the strings. I don’t think it would be necessary to do that since he was primarily comparing the body of the guitar. To my knowledge smaller gauge string are more common. So, using those strings make more sense. It would be cool to see how this goes for large strings, at least for those who use them. But if I’m just testing the body in a more general way, I think a general approach is good. However, if he were to use larger strings, that would be more about the strings ability to sustain than the body of the guitar alone.
I think a more accurate way of being able to tell, is to do it in a way where the strings or certain factors don’t interfere much. I’m surprised no one has mentioned that the way the guitar is strung, and the full set up of the guitar makes a difference. For example, I have the Jimi Strat, which has the reverse head stock. It is said that the headstock being in reverse allows the low E to sustain. Les Paul’s are known for sustain, but this is said to be the design. How does this design compare to others? Is this design interfering with the results of the test of the body type? But again, the body is the focus, and since there are so many factors to consider, I can see the point. I wonder if a channel will come along and devote the time to doing an extensive scientific test on guitars. That would answer a lot of minor level questions but still fun to know.
The magnetic field has no real effect on sustain...UNTIL the guitar is plugged in. In fact, even unplugged, there is still a small current flowing through the volume pot. That current isn't free. Just like a dynamo that's easy to turn by hand, suddenly becomes harder when you put a load on it, same happens with guitar pickups. A guy just holding a magnet by the strings and expecting that to prove something, is just putting his own ignorance on display. How big the effect is, is another matter. 500mV is a lot for a guitar pickup, and the impedance of the circuit is pretty high, so we're not talking much power. But what there is, is all taken from the kinetic energy of the string.
All the same...I have a feeling that a single pickup guitar would have better sustain, simply from not having a hole routed near the neck pocket. All these tiny details mean nothing. Great guitars don't make great songs; great songs make great guitars. A strat through a fuzz-face would sound like ass to anyone in 1940, cus they'd never heard a good piece of music recorded that way.
Hey Darrell! Awesome videos! What type of hardware and brands do you use to make the audio recordings?
Thanks!
Check out my "studio tour" video for some of the gear I use day to day ☺
Thanks for the video. May I ask what was the amp used?
Those Ibanez S-series are great, my friend had a S2020 back in the early 2000's and it was the best guitar I've ever played. So small, fast and smooth with a ton of tonal options (especially with the Piezo pickup in the bridge). Having said that, I prefer thick, heavy guitars with thick necks.
2:01 why some youtube guitarist always shake the guitar, its not even change anything on the sound?
That top on the ultimate Epi! I'm on the hunt for my own!
+Sean Holifield Good luck! I hope you can snag one 👍
Hey Darrell .great video as always . I wanted to say this although you probably already know . When you buy a new classical guitar in the beginning it doesn't vibrate .After you play it for sometime (maybe months ) the body starts to vibrate when you play it and thus starts having a bigger sound . So its important when somebody buys a classical guitar to know that it won't sound as loud by day one
Cool vid, maybe should be a test between harder wood body vs Softer wood body! ...what was the height of the strings over the pickups?
Nice test
Hey, good job mate, but it would have been really great to include the variables in comparable units, as in how heavy in kg or how thin in mm etc, can also be added in description!
From Leo: Great video. A high end archtop hollow body, especially one with a floating pickup, might be really interesting, of course the usual set of 13 flatwounds may affect the result.
I would like to see a shootout between pickups mounted to pickguard vs pickups mounted straight to the body, given that the guitars are similar in other aspects.
This would be interesting with semi acoustic guitars thrown into the mix
What year was the les paul made in? Trying to get one
Hi,
Did your Ibanez RG have also ZPS in it, please? This is supposed to make it more tuning stable, but also to sustain longer.
My guitars:2017 fender stratocaster American elite and 2016 squier stratocaster classic vibe both floating tremolos
Results:to make it simple the classic vibe outlasted the American elite by as much as 10 seconds on every string, very sad considering the squier is only one 1/4 of the fender price, my loved squier ones again showed me why I love it so much, another great video my friend, life time subscriber here you are one of few I watch all your videos from beginning to end great work keep them comong.
+1111stunna1111 Wow!!!
Thanks for taking the time to report that.
I really appreciate your kind words.
Btw ! Another great comparison Darrell👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
+Dana Everhart Thanks Dana!
Sustain too! A new S Prestige can really hold its own against a vintage Les Paul in loads of surprising areas. Their resale value right now is below par but I reckon they're going to be really collectible in 15-20 years time.
Fun Fact:
Gibson wanted the Les Paul to have a good sustain but not too much(idk why?)!
I am thinking of buying a telecaster deluxe 72, it's a lightweight guitar does it affect the sustain??
Did you buy the Telecaster?
Sorry, but I've gotta ask....where do you get your drum backgrounds from?
i like this video but i want to ask your opinion with the single coil pickups @ fender? i saw Jeff Beck have more sustain with his Fender 🤔
+GuitarUniverse10 Hi!
With distortion, compression, and delay / reverb sustain can be greatly enhanced ☺
Oh cool we get to see your funny guitar face. HA HA Yep got that mouth wiggle going and the one where you just bitten into a grapefruit face. Cheers and more plz :-)
+Snooze00 😄😄😄👍
That's why I usually cut my face out of the frame!
You are the best. Keep making videos. And may one day we can play together. 😀
+Pakiplexx Thanks man!
Right back at ya ☺
Pakiplexx dude has 191,000 subscribers! He's not going anywhere!
Rooster 7six 🐓 funny name. You have to believe in your dreams. 😉
are u using the same tension/ string gauges?
What song do you play in the beginning?
Isn't sustain only dependent on how long the strings vibrate? Why would the body have anything to do with that?
I have a bolt-on neck Kramer with a SD humbucker in there bride position, a through-neck Ibanez C-1, and a glued-in neck Epiphany Les Paul. What mayors the most is what I pump them through. With bass I find it a bit different; my through-neck basses set up standing waves that feed off the strings, neck, and air vibration, and these I need to control the sustain on. This really only makes a difference if my bass amp is moving enough air the vibrate the guitar. I think the biggest thing is how hard it's driven.
How much of a difference does the bridge and/or stainless frets make to sustain? Hmmm... :/
I'm just now building a Tele. Northern Ash body, maple on maple neck. My kitchen scales max at 2kg but I suspect my body is at least 3.5kg, possibly 4. Those ash trees that see real winter are HEAVY! So I'm looking forward to seeing how well it sustains and what it's tone turns out to be. I don't have another tele, so I'll have to use my LP copy and Strat copies.
May i know what is the signal chain??? Its awesome...
What’s the model name of the Ibanez ??
Wish I could find that Ibanez S. Doesn't seem to come up used.
I did the same little experience. But, I realized that an electric guitar isn't supposed to be played directly plugged into a laptop computer, so I did it again with my amp turned up fairly loud (about the same as when I rehearse with the band) and with a tad little bit of crunch. And the results changed quite significantly.
Directly on the laptop the overall winner was my ESP LTD Viper 1000 Deluxe (Seymour Duncan + tunomatic bridge), then my ESP LTD EC-1000FM (Seymour Duncan + tunomatic bridge), then my PRS SE ONE P-90 (BIG SURPRISE !!! wrap-around bridge), then my Gibson Les Paul Less Plus P-90 (tunomatic bridge), then my Paul Reed Smith S2 Standard 24 (tremolo), then my Ibanez S5470 Prestige J-Team Titanium (ZR2 tremolo). I didn't expect both the LTDs to have more sustain than my Les Paul.
Anyway, when plugged into an amp, and recording via a microphone, the game totally changed.
The PRS SE ONE was the winner, then the LTD Viper 1000, then the LTD EC-1000FM, then the Ibanez S5470, then the Les Paul Less Plus, then the Paul Reed Smith S2 Std 24.
I still don't get it !?!!???!??
The LTD Viper 1000 is the heaviest one, the Ibanez S5470 is the lightest one and with a tremolo, but had better sustain than the Les Paul ... and finally the cheap PRS SE ONE with one single P-90 (that i normally only use in open tuning for slide) gave surprisingly good results (but is noisy as f*** due to it's cheap P-90).
ANYWAY ! All that doesn't matter one tiny bit. What matters is which one do I prefer playing, which one sounds the best, which one stays the best in tune, which one has the best neck, etc ... and for me the LTD EC-1000FM surpasses all the others ... I just love that guitar to bits, and after adding a coil-plit (outer coils) on the volume pot and a phase inversion on the tone pot, I can have all the tones that could wish to have.
Have fun Darrel ! Play loud !
Got a '77 Aluminum Neck Kramer..... I think that would out sustain the Les Paul. Also some years back I believe they made a metal plate to attach to the head stock, I think it was called "Flathead", not sure. Any review on the "Kramer" or the "Flathead"?
5:19 I thought I was the only one
I guess that's because a lot of us leant on either classical or acoustic guitars. And because we practiced unplugged a lot
Good day, Darrell. Thanks for your new post. As my hands prefer the classical guitar width for string crossing arpeggios with the great sounding chords I've learned from you, I've been experimenting with 12 string electrics, set up for six string playing. Having used only two, a Dean double cut-away semi-hollow, and a Grote semi-hollow: both professionally set up for me, evenly spacing the strings for the wide neck, the sustain of the Grote HJZ-01 from Skyline Musical Instruments ($260 delivered) with factory pickups dwarfed the Dean with Gibson 491&498s as well as my Epiphone Prophecy with the same Gibsons, and my Squire with aftermarket Fender pickups. Every note will go for half a minute before decay! I've never seen anything like it. And the balance of the tone with Fender .10 strings is far more even throughout the range than my other instruments. Not a single "dead note." I'm selling them! Thanks again, Darrell. Oftentimes you encourage us; but sometimes you discourage us. But that's not your fault! :^)
+Gary McAleer Very cool!
Forgive my exaggeration of "half a minute" sustain. But that's what it seems like.
Just love the PRS ! Just wins all for ‘me, looks/style/sustain/playability/feel/you name it it wins it, having said this it’s just as much about your playing technique and what rig you use !
Very well made video comparison! Thank you! Ibanez s is close to les paul in sustain, being better than Gibson, but weighs quite a bit less. I'd say, Ibanez S is your new Gibson LP! =)
Those were all open strings tested correct? What about zero fret guitars vs bone/tusq vs titanium vs brass nuts?
+Tony Colantonio Yes, open strings.
It's possible the amount of energy that is absorbed vs transmitted through the nut could vary by material.
I'll have to do a nut shootout someday 😄
I have a PRS S2 that is my longest sustaining guitar. Vs quite a few others including a Les Paul etc. This PRS is also my lightest and thinnest guitar BUT it also has a super thin nitrocellulose finish that supposedly makes it more resonant. Could that be the reason (i.e. The finish let's the wood breathe)? It also has a tremolo fyi.
if it lets the wood 'breathe' then its not finished properly and will let moisture in, eventually ruining the guitar. a thinner finish may let the wood vibrate longer, but it doesnt let it 'breathe'. remember, if it breathes out, it has to breathe in too.
Bro your solos make me want to just chill and go to sleep
Hey Darell, I'm a fan of you from Brasil and I would like if you test all of the top guitars sustain like the Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Ibanez, Telecaster, Jackson etc...
+Rafael Fonseca Hi!
I'll see what I can do ☺