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Topic: Curiosity #3. Does a Pad effect Tone or Sustain? |
Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 11:32 am |
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Has anyone experimented to see if having a pad behind the front neck effects the overall tone or sustain on a “S†or “SD†body guitar? Or maybe the pad can be mounted differently to avoid those possible negatives...?
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RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 11:51 am
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It depends on the guitar.
I have an all-pull Marlen SD-10 that sounds identical with or without the pad.
But I have a Carter SD-10 that sounds quite different with the pad removed. Apparently, it has a very lively top deck that is affected by anything screwed in or touching it.
It's such an extreme example that, not plugged in, If I lay a bar on the top deck next to the pad toward the middle of the steel, pick a string, and then pick up the bar, it changes the tone... it sort of goes from Ohhh to AHHH. Louder and brighter, and that's just from having 9 ounces sitting on it! Having the pad on or off really changes things. There's more resonance and roundness to the tone with the pad removed. I can't tell if the sustain is changed enough to matter, but the nature of the tone is more pleasing to my ear.
But I like the pad, so I changed the way it's mounted by suspending it. Instead of having the 5 screws cranking it down to the top along it's entire length, I put small old-school rubber sink-faucet washers under each corner and one in the middle. I then screw the pad onto the top deck just tight enough to hold it on when I flip the guitar over to put it in the case. So, there's a very small gap of air under the pad and it only touches the top at five points: the 5 rubber washers (one in each corner, and one in the middle of the run). If you lean on the pad hard enough, you can flex it down to touch the top.
I experimented with tension, both of the screws and of my arms resting on the pad to check tone difference. I found that the tension at either end of the guitar made less difference than anything pressing in the middle part of the guitar. But any tension, anywhere has some negative effect, so I moved the four corner washers to the extreme corner and glued them in place.
It was an easy fix and made a noticeable improvement in tone. Again, not going to be an issue on all guitars, maybe not on most guitars... but was on this particular one.
Last edited by Tucker Jackson on 22 Oct 2020 12:33 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 12:11 pm
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Marty,
There may be some slight tonal affects with a pad but having played S-10’s, SD-10’s and D-10, probably not a dimes difference IMHO. Now, my hero Lloyd Green has a tone that seems to work “Purty†good 😉. After being spoiled to an LDG myself, I’ve stayed with an SD-10 MSA Studio Pro...as I get more Sunsets under my belt, I appreciate the comfort of an SD-10 and Walker seat w/backrest....Carl |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 4:05 pm Re: Curiosity #3. Does a Pad effect Tone or Sustain?
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| Marty Broussard wrote: |
| Has anyone experimented to see if having a pad behind the front neck effects the overall tone or sustain on a “S†or “SD†body guitar? |
While I've never done or heard of such a study, I would guess that if that were a significant problem in that area, people would simply not be buying guitars with pads. And, as pads are overwhelmingly preferred by players, both amateur and pro, I feel that observation sorta answers the question.
Of course, others may feel differently.  |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 5:36 pm
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| I’ve loafed a few D10’s that I have owned for long time, there was no difference in tone or sustain by removing all those components. I wouldn’t of thought removing a pad would change anything, at least not to the human ear. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 6:18 pm
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I don't think it would be the cushion its self.
The backing board that the pad is attached to, Is screwed down solid against the Steels body would kill some of the tone and sustain.
The 3 steels I have added pads to seemed not to change tone or sustain. All 3 pads were attached by Industrial Velcro near the ends of the guitar and pad. This give about 3/16" space between the body and pad backing board. I used Velcro So no hole drilling in the body and easy removal of pad to fit into case.
Got the space between body and pad for free. |
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Jimmie Hudson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 6:46 pm ????
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What is most important in tone change?? Pad or no pad.
Well I can hear a big tone difference in the sound of a kids fart if they have on Luvs or Huggies.
Butt both have a little bit of a muddy sound.
Huggies has a little more mud in the Bass side.
Luvs gives off that high pitch muddy blues sound.
And with us old farts that play these things I guess it just Depends.  |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Oct 2020 7:32 pm
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| Bobby D. Jones wrote: |
I don't think it would be the cushion its self.
The backing board that the pad is attached to, Is screwed down solid against the Steels body would kill some of the tone and sustain.
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I think the key words there are "screwed down solid". There is really no reason to have a pad screwed down tightly, as almost anything screwed down too tightly to the body could affect the sound. (We know that already with necks - tightening the neck screws too much can kill sustain.) A pad only needs to be fastened tight enough so that it doesn't fall off. Anything else is overkill.
Been there, done that..."over-tightening" thing. But I don't do it anymore!  |
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Jerry Horch
From:
Alva, Florida, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2020 7:50 am Farts
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I can hit a full triad when I fart.and go up a octive on a scale...un muted with no underwear... 
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Franklin D10 /Walker Sterio Steel JBL's /DigiTech Quad4/ Korg Toneworks/ Dobro DM 1000 / Santa Cruz Guitar VA |
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Jimmie Hudson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2020 9:35 am Re: Farts
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| Jerry Horch wrote: |
| I can hit a full triad when I fart.and go up a octive on a scale...un muted with no underwear... |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2020 1:09 pm
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Marty Broussard
From:
Broussard, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2020 1:25 pm
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Lol! We might have to move this over to the Funny and Fun section.
_________________
RETIRED
"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin |
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John Neff
From:
Athens, GA
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Posted 24 Oct 2020 2:40 pm
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| I took the pad off of my Rains SD10 because I wanted to see if it would allow my right hand a better position and I’ve been happy with the results. There were things I’d played before on my JCH D10, that didn’t feel right with the pad. And without the pad it sounds maybe brighter, more resonant - definitely louder acoustically, which may be what I’m hearing. I’ve definitely noticed what Tucker mentioned with the bar, which actually makes a big difference to the tone. |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2020 4:10 am
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I think most would agree that a wrist pad would not effect the tone.
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Rick Barnhart
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2020 4:27 am
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I believe everything affects tone, acoustically. I’m reminded of the story that Buddy could pick out the best sounding guitar by strumming across the strings, then grab the leg to feel the transfer vibrations.
I also believe that pick up choice, amplifiers, and various electronic effects overshadow any perceived tone produced by guitar.
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Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe. |
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