The louder I put my amp, the less sustain I have.

Silence · #1 03-28-2010, 09:13 PM

I have a bugera v55 combo amp that I completely retubed. I am using it in my college jazz band with the half power switch on. I keep the amp at about 6 or 7 with the volume on my guitar at about 3/4 up with room to have a boost for my soloing.

So when I am soloing, I hit certain notes and the just die immediatley. It literally feels like something is stoping the string from vibrating. I don't have a tricky setup, just a Gretsch archtop and I plug straight in....

rpguitar · #2 03-28-2010, 10:20 PM

Maybe I'm not understanding the amp's relation to this phenomenon correctly. Does the same thing happen if you play the guitar acoustically? Some guitars will get dead notes at pitches where the body absorbs nearly all the resonance. Is it notes on the low strings (E, A, D)? The effect is a "thud" where the attack is quick and the note dies rapidly. The amp should just amplify the signal that goes into it. If the guitar is ringing true, then that's another story. But check it acoustically first.

SamBooka · #3 03-28-2010, 10:31 PM

Yeah.. I would follow RPs train of thought first. Google dead spots or wolf tones (they ARENT wolf tones but then again people dont seem to agree what a dead spot is either)

It took a year to notice but D does that on my Epi EmpReg. It does it acoustically (and electrically). It is most noticeable 3rd string 12th fret. If I detune to Db the deadspot moves to the 13th fret so it is definitely pitch specific. I was able to move it out of the way by adding mass to the top of the guitar (two really heavy hard drive magnets). I didnt leave them there. Just did it as a test to confirm my theory. You see it on electric guitars and more often on electric basses. In that case guys clamp a weight in the headstock (google fathead or fatfinger.. i forget which).

If it DOESNT do it unplugged disregard my previous paragraph

Silence · #4 03-28-2010, 10:42 PM

you know what, now that I think of how it feels when I play it unplugged, it sounds like it is a dead spot. I will google those two devices you mentioned. thanks a lot

Silence · #5 03-28-2010, 10:49 PM

weird. . . . groove tubes seems to have discontinued their guitar model of the "fat finger" sustain enhancer, but not the bass. . . . poo : (

SamBooka · #6 03-29-2010, 08:58 AM

fat finger / fat head wont work on an acoustic.
The way I understand it the idea is to change the resonance frequency of the neck since it is the part of a solidbody that vibrates most freely (compared to the body). On an acoustic the neck is rigid compared to the top (since you want the top to vibrate and produce sound).

You can test this by clamping a 1/4 of anything to the headstock. Does it make a difference? I dont know what to suggest to clamp something to the top. I used hard drive magnets but not everyone has a ready supply of them. Maybe carefully clamping something to the bridge?

EDIT: I think GT has reevaluted its product line since the Fender Takeover.

mr. beaumont · #7 03-29-2010, 09:55 AM

why not run the amp at full power but lower volume? seems to me the amp sounds bad when it's cranked. might be driving the amp into a mild bit of distortion, which with the gretsch pickups, sounds tubby and flubby? just a thought?

P.J. · #8 03-30-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Yeah.. I would follow RPs train of thought first. Google dead spots or wolf tones (they ARENT wolf tones but then again people dont seem to agree what a dead spot is either)

It took a year to notice but D does that on my Epi EmpReg. It does it acoustically (and electrically). It is most noticeable 3rd string 12th fret. If I detune to Db the deadspot moves to the 13th fret so it is definitely pitch specific. I was able to move it out of the way by adding mass to the top of the guitar (two really heavy hard drive magnets). I didnt leave them there. Just did it as a test to confirm my theory. You see it on electric guitars and more often on electric basses. In that case guys clamp a weight in the headstock (google fathead or fatfinger.. i forget which).

If it DOESNT do it unplugged disregard my previous paragraph

Use a capo on the headstock if you have one and save some money for picks, strings and other such sundries. =-) PJ