Hey everybody. I've been trying to understand why is it? My AVRI '57 has a very loud acoustical ring to it. (unplugged). My 2010 Am Standard, not so much. However the Am Standard sustains better and responds better on fretted notes when plugged in than the AVRI.

Is it the pickup differences or what? (TS vs. '57/'62) . It's as if something is holding the AVRI back. I can't figure it out. Is it all in my head?

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

The difference may be with the wood used to make the bodies. I believe the 57 RI is made with ash which has more sustain than alder, which is what the Standards are made from. Others might have some more info for you on that but that would be my first guess. I`ve had a Tele with an ash body and it had better sustain unplugged than my Am. Std. Strat plugged in.

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Yes, I agree if the body woods are different, and add that there are other differences, such as the 2 bridge screws vs 6, and different bridge blocks, and maybe more differences too. Does your Am Std have a rosewood fret board?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

No they both have maple fret boards.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

The trem block and trem set up could have some impact on resonance.

Bshane , Texas specials are in the am stdrd right?
Ts are pretty hot pickups compared to 57/62s that might
Explain the plugged in sustain, unplugged, woods, tremblock,
Saddles.
But, yeah still alittle mind boggling

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Being a fellow white blonde 57 AVRI owner, I can sympathize with you on that. My experience was the pickups, which I swapped for Duncan Antiquities (Which I got on sale due to an online store closing ^^), which really helped the volume and overall sound. Probably due to the fact they were wound hotter (5.7k vs 6.5k) among other things I think. Anyways, a PU swap worked for me so who knows, might work for you too.

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Thanks Capo. I intend to change pups pretty soon. Thanks to everyone else too.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

There is a common misconception that what a guitar sounds like unplugged determines how it sounds plugged in. I know for certain there is somewhat of a relationship between the two but I don't think that relationship is nearly as significant as most people think. Woods can affect the character of tone to some extent but once you introduce an amplifier it's an entirely different universe.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Hi bshane: why not?

But before that, howsabout trying adjusting the pickup height downward into the pickguard a coin's width or two and turning the amp up proportionately to compensate for the resulting drop in output. See if that buys you some more sustain.

Just as an experiment.

Cheers - C

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Originally posted by Ceri

Yeah, I tried that as my PUs were set almost flush with the pickguard at one point (That bridge PU had a lot of treble-it was worse then my tele o_O). Worked well for the neck and mid pups but that darn bridge pup just did not want to cooperate. Basically I got fed up with having to turn the amp up 2 notches everytime I switched guitars (I am lazy and my practice amp is a champ, not a lot of room to tweak there ^^) and when I saw pickups for 30% off I had my mouse on the buy button.

It's weird, I played a 62 RI with the same 57/62 pups and it had no overwhelming treble bite on the bridge PU. Maybe it has something to do with that ash/alder or maple/rosewood topic that frequently gets discussed (too frequently). It was either that or the fact that mint green pickguard cut highs more than white pickguard or the possibility that someone at the Fender factory accidentally spilled treble dust on my bridge PU o_O

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Hi Ceri, I've tried the pups at all heights and I messed with them again after reading your post. I'm pretty sure I have them all set at their sweet spots.(at least by my ear). It's not bad, just when compared to the Am Standard, it seems as if something is holding it back.(if that makes any sense).

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

How the trem is set on the body via the screws or bolts could have a impact.

My trem is decked and the 6 screws are backed out just a touch. Could this have something to do with it.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Hi again bshane: fair enough. Just a thought.

So the a pup swap it is!

Privately, I sometimes wonder whether people are changing their pickups for a good reason. In your case your reasoning is good! Be fascinated to see where your quest leads you. Be sure and let us know, please?

Good luck - C

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