FregGarvinMP
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2021
- Messages
- 44
Gigged with my new Murphy Lab Les Paul finally. Had it for about 6 weeks. Finally got to play it at gig volume. In short, I liked it a lot. Glad I got it. I wouldn't mind tweaking it a bit. So non-haters, please let me know what you think if you have something contstructive to contribute. Here's my experience.
I’m used to a 63 RI 335 with burst buckers and a 2012 G0 Les Paul with Fralin paf pickups. How the MLP compared:
I really liked it. It was light and a pleasure to hold. The 60s neck is not chunky. (Not sure if it’s V3, V2 or whatever.) The body is special. It’s very resonant, like no other LP i've ever played. I picked it for this reason.
The customer buckers are a bit lower output than I’m used to. The bridge and neck are both brighter than my other two Gibsons. On the bridge pickup, I will keep the tone rolled down to about 3-5. I've seen many youtube reviews of custom buckers. Many don't like them. After gigging with it, I really liked them. Before that I had mixed feelings.
So I was concerned it might be too bright and thin at the gig; and that it might need new pickups and tone caps. However, it screamed yet with a satisfying clear note clarity on solos, plus the rhythms had throaty focused punch of a Les Paul, but not too woofy with bass as both my other Gibson’s can be sometimes. It was the most focused non woofy Les Paul/Gibson I've ever played.
Cleaner funky rhythms were surprisingly easy to get perfect. That is, it was easy to dial in a tone for it cause of the lower output pickups; by rolling down the guitar volume. It was not strat single coil-like, of course, but still had a perfect clean warm punchy (throaty) sound for the chunk rhythms. I’m assuming it’s due to the lower output pickups. The neck pickup is very usable in that situation. Often times, it can be too woofy. Anyway, it did not miss using a strat for this type of playing.
Adjustments
Although I love this guitar, I still might tweak it. Let me know your thoughts.
I notice the ol' metallic pinging sound problem when you acoustically pluck the G string hard; a bit when you hit the B string. It’s the bridge/saddles. Especially the G. (it’s not nut). I’ve gotten it to disappear by temporarily putting my other LP’s bridge on it; also by just fiddling with the bridge and pushing down on the saddle screws. My 335 and other LP never had that issue. So it’s a first for me.
• It could be the saddles need cut better, although a tech had just addressed it. I'm going to have him check it again.
• I may upgrade the TOM bridge to be able to lock it down. I’ve never tried those. I hear rave reviews about.
• Also I may put nylon saddles on the three high stings. Apparently even Joe B does that.
The bright bridge pickup. I’m likely going to get an RS Guitar works wiring harness upgrade:
• for the new volume pots (their Super Pot). I was surprised this guitar has audio taper volume pots. Really?!! I prefer linear.
• For the caps: I’ll use the .022uf for the neck, but for the bridge I might get a push pull tone knob to be able to switch between their .022 and .033 (or some value that provides darker cap).
• Right now I have the bridge tone down around 2 to 5.
Down the road, I may consider a warmer bridge pickup, but for now, one step at a time. I'll do the pots first.
Of course for now I will add warmth with pedals or amp EQ tweaks.
I’m used to a 63 RI 335 with burst buckers and a 2012 G0 Les Paul with Fralin paf pickups. How the MLP compared:
I really liked it. It was light and a pleasure to hold. The 60s neck is not chunky. (Not sure if it’s V3, V2 or whatever.) The body is special. It’s very resonant, like no other LP i've ever played. I picked it for this reason.
The customer buckers are a bit lower output than I’m used to. The bridge and neck are both brighter than my other two Gibsons. On the bridge pickup, I will keep the tone rolled down to about 3-5. I've seen many youtube reviews of custom buckers. Many don't like them. After gigging with it, I really liked them. Before that I had mixed feelings.
So I was concerned it might be too bright and thin at the gig; and that it might need new pickups and tone caps. However, it screamed yet with a satisfying clear note clarity on solos, plus the rhythms had throaty focused punch of a Les Paul, but not too woofy with bass as both my other Gibson’s can be sometimes. It was the most focused non woofy Les Paul/Gibson I've ever played.
Cleaner funky rhythms were surprisingly easy to get perfect. That is, it was easy to dial in a tone for it cause of the lower output pickups; by rolling down the guitar volume. It was not strat single coil-like, of course, but still had a perfect clean warm punchy (throaty) sound for the chunk rhythms. I’m assuming it’s due to the lower output pickups. The neck pickup is very usable in that situation. Often times, it can be too woofy. Anyway, it did not miss using a strat for this type of playing.
Adjustments
Although I love this guitar, I still might tweak it. Let me know your thoughts.
I notice the ol' metallic pinging sound problem when you acoustically pluck the G string hard; a bit when you hit the B string. It’s the bridge/saddles. Especially the G. (it’s not nut). I’ve gotten it to disappear by temporarily putting my other LP’s bridge on it; also by just fiddling with the bridge and pushing down on the saddle screws. My 335 and other LP never had that issue. So it’s a first for me.
• It could be the saddles need cut better, although a tech had just addressed it. I'm going to have him check it again.
• I may upgrade the TOM bridge to be able to lock it down. I’ve never tried those. I hear rave reviews about.
• Also I may put nylon saddles on the three high stings. Apparently even Joe B does that.
The bright bridge pickup. I’m likely going to get an RS Guitar works wiring harness upgrade:
• for the new volume pots (their Super Pot). I was surprised this guitar has audio taper volume pots. Really?!! I prefer linear.
• For the caps: I’ll use the .022uf for the neck, but for the bridge I might get a push pull tone knob to be able to switch between their .022 and .033 (or some value that provides darker cap).
• Right now I have the bridge tone down around 2 to 5.
Down the road, I may consider a warmer bridge pickup, but for now, one step at a time. I'll do the pots first.
Of course for now I will add warmth with pedals or amp EQ tweaks.
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