Do Dohenys sustain better than Jazzmasters?

[sal paradise]

But why do you want drywall affixed in the first place? What is this obsession with drywall when brick or masonry walls can be just as effective?

I just prefer the tone of a semi-hollow.

So, what you're saying is, get a Casino?...with a Bigsby?

The king of sustain

[bessieboporbach]

Who here has listened to Les Paul’s recordings with Mary Ford? That shit is packed full of stacatto notes played on the quintessential “sustain” guitars.

A fair number of those (especially the famous earlier hits) were actually played on what amounted to a 2x4 with bits of an Epiphone archtop lashed to it.

[Larry Mal]

All discussion of whether sustain is all that good or not, why doesn't this person's current Jazzmaster have all the necessary sustain?

[sal paradise]

All discussion of whether sustain is all that good or not, why doesn't this person's current Jazzmaster have all the necessary sustain?

This is a good question. What would you suspect, Larry: Setup? Amp?

All I’ve got is a photo of Dave Mustaine ready in case we’re playing rhyming games.

[Larry Mal]

I mean I just assume that everyone would have a photo of Dave Mustaine around because you never know.

[marqueemoon]

Who here has listened to Les Paul’s recordings with Mary Ford? That shit is packed full of stacatto notes played on the quintessential “sustain” guitars.

A fair number of those (especially the famous earlier hits) were actually played on what amounted to a 2x4 with bits of an Epiphone archtop lashed to it.

Ok, but even with the log guitar he was after more sustain to play music that doesn’t seem to call for that.

[Larry Mal]

You know, I have to apologize, I am seeing that the Blacktop Jazzmasters have the traditional Jazzmaster bridge and not a Tune-O-Matic like I had thought that they had. I'm surprised no one corrected me on that.

I mean, we are talking about this, right?

Anyway, I was going to question why this guitar didn't have much sustain, but now I think I might have more of an answer.

I have had an MIJ Jazzmaster for twenty years now, and it used to have very, very little sustain to it. That's actually where I started noticing that sustain is overrated, but that's another story.

So over the years I've been modding the shit out of it, I realized today that it's on its fourth set of pickups (and these are the last).

Anyway, I joined here a long time ago after I found out about Mastery bridges, which were new then, and how to really set up a Jazzmaster, which I didn't really know despite having the guitar forever.

Regardless, I put on a Mastery bridge, and it now has a lot of sustain. Well, a lot by my standards, either way, it has a lot more.

So now I think my recommendation to the original poster is clear, the cheapest way to get more sustain in my opinion would be the Mastery bridge, and maybe a shim in the neck, but only a .25 degree one, since the vibrato unit is already moved forward and really should provide a lot of break angle.

This will probably add plenty of sustain, and if not, you can sell the Mastery at very little loss if you want to move towards a Doheny.

[Embenny]

So, what you're saying is, get a Casino?...with a Bigsby?

[ainm]

Some people, like me, just like the way offsets look and have them in all configurations. Can I ask if it's the offset aesthetic or sound you're chasing?

For me it's more about looks and feel than a sound. I do appreciate the traditional Jazzmaster look (bridge/vibrato included) but maybe at the end of the day it isn't the best guitar for me.

As for the whole "sustain" thing, I'm not some blooze boomer trying to sound like [insert preferred denim-clad 70s rock star here], I just like to have notes ring out a while longer at the end of a lead break.

I hear you. Sometimes I want an offset sound; sometimes I want another sound. But I rarely want anything other than an offset look and feel.

My money is on that Invader pickup. They're throaty chuggers not singers. Rip it out and chances are you won't even need to put anything else in or plug it in to hear a difference.

[Fiddy]

When in doubt, follow this advice:

[sal paradise]

[bessieboporbach]

Ok, but even with the log guitar he was after more sustain to play music that doesn’t seem to call for that.

I'm not an expert on Mr Polsfuss but I think what he was aiming for was killing feedback and getting more volume for live performances in a western swing setting -- the increase in sustain was an unintended consequence. And indeed, since he had a makeshift vibrato system installed (and later insisted on a trapeze tailpiece for his signature guitar) there may not actually have been any significant increase in sustain, certainly nothing like what we associate with the later stop tail Les Pauls and SGs.

[JSett]

*right click*save image*

[marqueemoon]

Ok, but even with the log guitar he was after more sustain to play music that doesn’t seem to call for that.

I'm not an expert on Mr Polsfuss but I think what he was aiming for was killing feedback and getting more volume for live performances in a western swing setting -- the increase in sustain was an unintended consequence. And indeed, since he had a makeshift vibrato system installed (and later insisted on a trapeze tailpiece for his signature guitar) there may not actually have been any significant increase in sustain, certainly nothing like what we associate with the later stop tail Les Pauls and SGs.

All good points. Not an LP expert either. I can only speculate about most of this. It does seem like a slightly richer guitar sound would hold up a little better when sped up.

Sustain as an unintended consequence is a funny thing. I use an “always on” compressor in my bass setup, and muting notes cleanly is now the challenge.

[Fiddy]

I wonder what SRVs beyond the grave thoughts are in regards to sustain.