FourT6and2
Well-known member
Ventura":2zywrj7j said:Alright, ALRIGHT!!!!!!! Enough already... I WILL get the facts, and I will post them and that's all I can do. It'll be after Christmas though - everyone's way too busy.
AS FOR MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE LES PAULS, specifically the late '78s to the '81s. I certainly don't want to get into a pissing match, but I have an email direct from Gibson stating (and yes, you're quite right), the lacquer finish is part of the tonal texture, but as well - THE PAINT itself had a metallic quality to it that affected the overall response to the pup's magnets, strings, and resonance between them. I will scourge up this email and post it just FYI. Suffice it to say, there are a NUMBER of things that create Adam's tone - has anyone ever seen the custom made synth the band ports a lot of its music through? It's a piece of work. Furthermore, a story about Clapton (Eric, that is). Showed up to a bar in Chicago for the Bluesfest a few years back. After some hangin' with mutual friends and so forth, he was encouraged to go on stage and join in. Not using his guitar, and definitely not using his amp selection (which is a mix between old school Fenders and a Soldano). ANYWAY - steps up, turns the volume up on the strat, and guess what - sounded just like he always does... Now ain't that something??? Tone is in the hands. I do believe this. But sure, nice gear helps too
Lemme see if I can drum up that email from Gibson's custom shop...
V.
I don't trust anything Gibson says. Hell, a few years ago I sent them an email asking about the years the Silverbursts were made and they told me they had no record of any Silverbursts EVER being made. Go over to My Les Paul and you can find out lots of reliable information, you can even talk with a few guys who built and painted the guitars back in the 70's.
The lacquer finish has nothing to do with any kind of "special" Silverburst tone. It's the exact same Nitro used on every other Les Paul. The "metallic" paint was the same automotive paint used as the rest of the Les Pauls as well. Goldtops have the same metallic flake in them as Silverbursts. The new Silverburst reissues have the same Nitro (or similar) as used back in the '70's and the paint still has a metallic flake in it.
And what would Adam Jones know about all of this? He's one of the ones who helped perpetuate the Silverburst "Myth."
The fact of the matter is, Gibson stopped making Silverbursts, not because of complaints of bad tone, but because they were considered ugly and nobody bought them. There's really nothing different between a '79 Silverburst and a black '79, tone-wise.
The myth about the paint messing with the tone is just that, a myth.
Do you really believe Adam Jones keeps his amps in a freezer to preserve them? Do you really believe Danny Carey cut down the LAST remaining tree in the Amazon that some endangered bird lived in just to make his drum set? These are actual things they have said during interviews. The band likes to fuck with people to get their jollies off. Adam Jones (jokingly) said that he doesn't want to remove a big screw that was sticking out of one of his guitars for fear of it changing how the guitar sounds. C'mon! can't you see that these comments and beliefs are just (bad) jokes.
Go ahead and ask Adam, I'm interested in hearing his response.
I'm not trying to get into a pissing match over this, either. I'm not trying to argue with you or prove to you my superior knowledge or anything. It's just common sense, man. Nitro is nitro, paint is paint. It's not some magic recipe that makes Silverbursts special. They are beautiful guitars and that's why people like them now; being associated with Tool also helps their sales.
Look at any white/cream Custom from the '70's. It has also yellowed. Same thing with the black ones (look at the yellowed binding), same thing with every other color. The Nitro clear is what yellows. the paint does not oxidize or alter the tone in any way. Remove the clear coat and you'll see the paint is still as fresh as it was the day it was sprayed on the guitar.
The dark, evil tone that these guitars have is due (largely) to how they were wired and the electronics that were in them (compared to new Customs). Of course even the same model of guitar from the same year will sound slightly different than others of the same make, model and year.
Anyway, believe what you want I guess. It's just silly to think that these guitars are any different than other Customs because of their paint.
I've played a shit-ton of 70's - 80's Customs and they all pretty much sound the same. I bought a silverburst because they are my favorite color.
