Leon Todd

[Dimiguitar]

What is your view on stainless frets? If I recall, you had some guitars refretted with stainless and plek'd.

I refretted my main guitars over the last years with stainless. I preferred the glass-like feel and there was an emotional reassurance of "eternally lasting" guitars (yes, I know eventually even stainless frets wear away, like all material).

But a year ago I played a strat with nickel. Ended up enjoying it so much. I know it's partly due to the nickel frets. There's more "grip", they polish up differently, and this reflects on the way I bend.

Best way I can describe going back to my stainless guitars is there's a "clinical" feel to the string. I feel more disconnected from the guitar. Both my bends and vibrato are less controllable, even if I've spent substantial time with such frets.

And I've let time pass and see how my perception changes, but it's still the same: nickel feels... better, even though I still appreciate stainless for the durability. I can record for hours and not worry much.

So yeah. How do you feel about stainless these days?

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I've posted this in another thread on the forum, but Leon likely is busy and doesn't look much outside of this thread. What do you think? Should I swap out the bridge 85 for a gold version, or swap in standard black EMG 85/SLV/SLV pickups?

Fender Cory Wong Stratocaster body (smaller than a normal Stratocaster body), Fender American Performer neck, gold Hipshot locking tuners, gold Wilkinson WVP6 bridge, EMG SL20 pickguard (EMG 85/SLV/SLV).

 

[TSJMajesty]

I've posted this in another thread on the forum, but Leon likely is busy and doesn't look much outside of this thread. What do you think? Should I swap out the bridge 85 for a gold version, or swap in standard black EMG 85/SLV/SLV pickups?

Fender Cory Wong Stratocaster body (smaller than a normal Stratocaster body), Fender American Performer neck, gold Hipshot locking tuners, gold Wilkinson WVP6 bridge, EMG SL20 pickguard (EMG 85/SLV/SLV).

Well I missed it there and I'm not Leon..., I assume you're asking about gold so it'll match the tuners and jack.

When I picture black PU's in there, the gold doesn't work for me. But then when I picture black tuners and jack along with the PU's, that to me would look badass!

I'll spend your money.

 

[2112]

@Dimiguitar I personally prefer stainless these days. Slowly getting most of my main guitars re-fretted that way.

@Spaced Out Ace black always works!

 

[paisleywookiee]

@2112 I know Australia is a big continent and not everyone knows each other but are you aware/have you heard what happened with Dead Letter Circus? I absolutely love that band (along with Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect) but it seems like DLC have gone dormant or broken up?

 

[2112]

@2112 I know Australia is a big continent and not everyone knows each other but are you aware/have you heard what happened with Dead Letter Circus? I absolutely love that band (along with Karnivool and The Butterfly Effect) but it seems like DLC have gone dormant or broken up?

I was just talking to a mate about them recently, wondering the same thing! They did really well here for a few years and were great live. From what I gather they're on hiatus.

I know and play with some of the Vool guys here in Perth. Very much looking forward to their new album.

Cog, Chaos Divine, Caligula's Horse and SleepMakesWaves are a few other awesome Ausprog bands

 

[paisleywookiee]

I was just talking to a mate about them recently, wondering the same thing! They did really well here for a few years and were great live. From what I gather they're on hiatus.

I know and play with some of the Vool guys here in Perth. Very much looking forward to their new album.

Cog, Chaos Divine, Caligula's Horse and SleepMakesWaves are a few other awesome Ausprog bands

LOVE Caligula’s Horse, but hadn’t heard of the others; thanks!!! Karnivool is in my top three favorites of all time, ever since Themata. Jon Stockman’s bass tone is THE bass tone. Their new album comes out on my birthday, which is an awesome treat.

Here’s hoping DLC get back on the horse. They were/are SO good as well.

 

[Dave Lewis]

Leon,
Have you got any pictures inside the wiring and switch cavities of your Greco 1978 custom ?
I fancy putting two switches in my modified hand built Chinese version after watching your video earlier today

 

[HotRats]

Very much looking forward to their new album

Me too!

Cog, Chaos Divine, Caligula's Horse and SleepMakesWaves are a few other awesome Ausprog bands

I really love Caligula's Horse but never heard the others. I'll take a listen.

There's another Australian prog band called southern empire that made a couple of nice albums in the 2010s (they are more on the symphonic side of prog)

 

[paisleywookiee]

Me too!



I really love Caligula's Horse but never heard the others. I'll take a listen.

There's another Australian prog band called southern empire that made a couple of nice albums in the 2010s

Don’t forget The Butterfly Effect. I believe they’re Aussies as well.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Just hit up ol Forrester Savell’s page.

https://forrestersavell.com/

He’s done pretty much all the cool stuff in Australia.

 

[2112]

Just hit up ol Forrester Savell’s page.

https://forrestersavell.com/

He’s done pretty much all the cool stuff in Australia.

Yep, he's THE guy for that style here.
He also played bass in another seminal Aussie heavy band "Full Scale".

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

@2112 What current production Les Paul model would you suggest for someone who didn't like the Slim Taper neck, and prefers a Fender modern C (Player, Performer) and thin U (ESP/LTD)? I find Gibson's naming scheme/information for the neck shape and thickness (which isn't listed on their site) rather unhelpful.

 

[paisleywookiee]

@2112 What current production Les Paul model would you suggest for someone who didn't like the Slim Taper neck, and prefers a Fender modern C (Player, Performer) and thin U (ESP/LTD)? I find Gibson's naming scheme/information for the neck shape and thickness (which isn't listed on their site) rather unhelpful.

A full thickness E-II

Sorta kidding, sorta not.

 

[HotRats]

@2112 What current production Les Paul model would you suggest for someone who didn't like the Slim Taper neck, and prefers a Fender modern C (Player, Performer) and thin U (ESP/LTD)? I find Gibson's naming scheme/information for the neck shape and thickness (which isn't listed on their site) rather unhelpful.

If you don't like the slim taper in the current USA line up, I believe the only alternative is the thicker neck you'll find in the Les Paul standard 50s.

They used to put an asymmetrical neck with compound radious in the Les Paul Standards (named Les Paul Standard T) around 2016-2018.

 

[2112]

@2112 What current production Les Paul model would you suggest for someone who didn't like the Slim Taper neck, and prefers a Fender modern C (Player, Performer) and thin U (ESP/LTD)? I find Gibson's naming scheme/information for the neck shape and thickness (which isn't listed on their site) rather unhelpful.

Your guess is as good as mine, I've played a lot of modern Fenders and very few modern LP's. A 50's LP Standard lists for $5k AUD here so used Gibsons, ESP, PRS SE/S2 & Heritage are a lot more common.

 

[ragingplatypi]

How worried should I be that I understood absolutely everything you were talking about in this video?

 

[2112]

How worried should I be that I understood absolutely everything you were talking about in this video?

Seek professional help immediately

 

[HotRats]

Whaaaaaaaat?

 

[Dave Lewis]

Leon