This is on the money. I wish more people would make this point. I hear players talking about sustain like snake oil. Theres plenty of people need to forget worrying how long they can make one note last there's tricks and ways around that.... think of something musical to say in that time instead. I always point them to Gary rossington the sustain makes a point and is the icing on the cake but without a cool phrase before jt and timing and a groove long notes will just turn vanilla. Inertia should be something all musicians should learn about, and mechanical impedance. keep it up Scott more power to ya. Best wishes from wales
By looking at your eyes and your demeanor I would venture to say that lately the thoughts of eternal oblivion have been weighing heavy on your mind.( I can be mistaken)..hence; the analogy of sustain.....no worries friend, ...it weighs heavy on mine as well .....I know that you have been sick for a while,..you look good though....stay well.....wishing you and your family the best !..Always happy to learn new things from you....Thank you !
What you have pointed out makes perfect sense. One of the most important points you made is if you want more sustain without using electronics is put on new strings.
When it comes to sustain, transference of energy is the last thing you want. All that matters is that the points directly in contact with the string absorb no vibration.
Guitar sustain is all about "decay rare" and what can make the decay rate faster or longer, AND there are ways to have a noticeable effect on the decay rate both good and bad...
You've gotta love it when some chump on TH-cam plugs a Les Paul into a Marshall, cranks up the gain to infinity, hits a note, and shouts "listen to that sustain, man !!" How do these guys get through the day without setting fire to themselves ?!
I was just told today by some guy with NO guitar videos that my lack of long sustain is due to my inexpensive guitars. And I've seen SO many posts on the Fender and Gibson boards online where people have been having issues with sustain. So, according to that guy, YOU CAN BUY SUSTAIN by buying a very expensive Gibson or Fender. I just deleted the whole discussion and walked away. I'm so tired of arguing with people.
Nowdays you can download sustaine free from the internet. It's just that your guitar needs to have a USB port or CD/DVD drive, otherwise you can't instal it.
Scott has done a great deal of while work making many, many informative video's to help those beginners who want to learn more about the way Guitars & related gear works. He has spent many years as a " Professional Musician " & also as a Sound Reinforcement Expert. A specialized form of Audio Engineering for Live Musical Events from Bar's to huge concerts. Being a Professional means those who are paid for their knowledge, wisdom, & that have a proven track record of positive results. Who can be trusted to operate and maintain these very costly & also very complex PA Systems. People like Scott are highly respected & sought out by Musicians who know he will do a great job in making them sound the best they possibly can. Making LIVE shows /concerts successful ones'.Its hard work. Keeps paying fans, ticket holders coming back for more. The people who sculpt the live front of house mix, stage & monitor mixes are highly regarded, well respected, have great reputations, travel with Top Acts & very well known by most of the Pro Audio, Sound reinforcement Equipment Manufacturers as well. So the next time you feel the need to challenge or question Scott's Grove's knowledge. Just think about the following information, he's not bragging he's not trying to be little you or to say he's above you. Even when he has earned the right to. He's actually trying to help answer the many questions he receives. Ok so he's not a scholar or a certified instructor he's doing all he can to share what he has learned. & he's getting better each time. just needs a few outline notes to keep him focused, understandable (try doing it yourself) So Please, just give this Man the respect he deserves. How do you think he's been able to acquire all the items you see in his video's ? (Ah da he could a took out a personal loan?) yeah ur Mama, Not quite ! No regular Bank or lender gives loans on Risky Musical Instr. or Pro Audio gear. Period. You'd have to be a huge celebrity to get that treatment & if your raking it in why the hell would you be in need of a loan. Besides they've all been burned too many times before. From those fast talking, big schemers, I got an album coming out next week, & I need what? everything AKA Posers. If anything you shouldn't be returning to a site you dislike, Wasting your time here when you refuse to accept this wonderful information & the help Scott provides at his own cost. You'd probably be better off practicing your axe dude instead, you go practice yeah you ! How about offering him some well deserved support throw a few beans in the pot.? ? or at least just say thanks Scott I've learned allot from that Video, atta boy Scott / Doc. Scott just happens to have been very interested in all parts of his performances to have spent the many hours learning the correct in's & outs of PA systems or he was thrown to into the task of PA, Mixing via an argument. (Oh yeah OK big shot think you can do better) PA Companies trust & depend on these Specialized FOH PA Eng. Operators to act as their eyes and mostly EARS to report how their extremely expensive Mixers, Amps, Crossovers, Mic's, Cables, trusses Direct Boxes, AC line conditioners, Effects, Eq's, Snakes, drivers and other related equipment is preforming in the " Field " or on the job. Many are also qualified technicians who can repair most devices in the Field. with parts Fx'd Overnight many also create modifications which they submit to the Manufacturer's. & have constant 24/7 open lines communications with. Talking about big money these Big Shows are underwritten & backed by investors & know who they can trust for results. Doc This is a very different job than what is done by Recording Studio Engineers, who have much greater control over the environments in which they work. Who seldom record, mix live acts, all in one take. Not the typical way things are done in today's recording prod. While playing music. His years of on the job training in every type of weather condition plus as many different indoor room environments from shitty dumps, bars, Moose Lodge, VFW' halls, Biker Bar's, School Gyms, College, Student Unions. Locations where there is one or even two entire walls of glass, GLASS are you &*()%$#ing kidding me. He's done nothing but to go out of his way, and then shares his many years of experience with Musical Instruments mostly Guitars but that's due to the Collector Market sales that puts money in the bank to take care of his beautiful wife & family. Lets see your wives ? I promise you if he wasn't a great guy, a loving & caring man he wouldn't have been able to attract such a beautiful & wonderful wife. Seems like she knows when to reel him in and he seems very invested in keeping her happy. That my friends does not equal a man who is a jerk or someone who doesn't know what he's doing. These are all the signs of a guy who truly talented & he is for real so stop screwing with him. respect Goggle it ! Learn to respect those who deserve it, because Karma is a Bitch and one day sooner than you could ever know. You're going to be Tomorrows Scott Grove / Doc Groovy. Who thought (hey Hon ? yea Scotty ? ) won't it be nice if I was to share my life long experiences with these up & comers. Like who Scott ? you know all These kids just starting out in their first crappy garage band. Trying to put together songs to play a party and they learn 20 songs & waste 20 mins between each one argueing and tuning up and yellin Hey MORON you're in the wrong key no I am not ? DA take that Capo off @ you dumb ass who you calling dumb ass BTDT. Thanks you very much , Mr. & Mrs Doctor Scott Grove yes you thank the wife for allowing him the personal time away from his family to make his video's. Which he obviously makes whenever the mood strikes from 10:am to 11:pm and sometimes as he awakes with a topic on his mind he can't shake off. So he sneaks out of bed & into his Doc Groovy Cave, trying to be quite but we all know he can't. Scotty ? uhm yes dear where the hell are YOU & W T F are you doing ? um um Nothing Hon i thought I left my shit on I heard it buzzing ...Scotty you promised .. yes dear I'll be right up .that stupid dog I'll clean it up.. You better he only puked because you were giving him Pepperoni Pizza bites, three 3.6 hours later.. A rolling pin hits Scott' foot. UTTO guys signing off Doc Groovy here keep your pick in a vise ? bye Tata for now. Sorry babe u know how it is, I get down here and I'm answering a question for a nice kid and then I see those jerk off comments from some Moron asking the same fn question again or telling me his asshole bass player an 8th grader told him Doc Groovy don't know shit & I was trying to say ...............We Love ya'll please Mrs Grove give him yet another break, he's a good boy. He'll eventually talk himself out of info and rest a cruise perhaps. Like Scott, To anyone who's willing to listen give him praise for all his hard work..
Rick.....sometimes a simple "THANK YOU" doesn't cover it. This is one of those times. Of course, I have printed this so that I can read it from time to time. As you know, I'm not able to recall much NEW stuff (in the past 10 years). I just appreciate that you "Get it" and actually have true appreciation for me trying to do some good for people. A huge thanks to whatever inspired you to write this. So, thanks for simply for the gratitude and understanding of another human being. Scott
Well said Rick. I appreciate Scott's take it or leave it demeanour because it's obvious he's talking with the assurance of an informed and experienced background. I always learn something of value on this Channel so thank you Scott.
rick caruso - You are a very good person. Not only that, but you are right on the money about Scott. Thank you for standing up for one of the good guys!
Sustain is all about DECAY RATE, The longer the decay rate is of a given string the better the "sustain" of a guitar is, AND there are things you can do to "lengthen" or "slow" the strings decay rate and that is all about how both ends of the strings are being held or the strings "anchor points" The more immovable the two anchor points of the strings are the longer the string will vibrate, That's just physics, Like a Floyd Rose tremolos "sustain block", That block of metal serves a few purposes one of which adding "mass" to the bridge which in turn makes the strings bridge "anchor point" more immovable and currently the best material to make them out of is Tungsten! No "bell brass" or "stone" sustain block will give you more sustain than an equal volume of tungsten unless you make your sustain block out of something like Osmium, Iridium, Platinum, Rhenium, or Gold, Hell even Depleted uranium is less dense than Tungsten! That's why Scott's steel guitar sustains so long because everything is mostly made out of STEEL and lots of it which in turn makes the strings "anchor points" VERY immovable and thus the decay rare is very long!
Gutiarded people are just stupid but when the old school guitarists said sustain, they actually meant "more overdrive, more headroom, and more compression." They didn't care about letting a note ring out for any amount of time. Read the interviews where Jimmy Page , Van Halen, and whoever else talks about why they wanted hotter pickups and bigger amps... they called it sustain, yes, but it's obvious they weren't talking about wanting notes to ring out longer. They were talking about headroom, overdrive, and compression. An unfortunate word choice that marketing execs have capitalized on...just like "tonewood." Scott, you were really ahead of the curve with these old videos. You woke a lot of us up to the crazy myths that are out there.
Scott, no wonder the fanboys and message board guys don’t like you. You killed all their sacred cows! 😆🤣 Subscribed sir. Enjoy your reasoning and reasonable opinions backed with actual facts and science and not emotion.
Guitar Dev If I put a graphite nut on my nut will it sustain my life?A while longer maybe! It did work on my Epiphone les paul custom studio mfer!It is a long note holdin' sob!
What happens when you put something up against a bell, it will stop ringing so my way of thinking is that the less attached to the bridge the more freely the strings will ring
best way I found to check sustain is to. place the head stock to a wall or cabinet strike one string listen to how the string responds then check string by string if one string sounds muted start their and check nut slot or bridge slots .
Nice to hear someone actually talking about basic physics to explain how electric guitar works rather then all the MYTHICAL magic. Certain things take away sustain like semi acoustic bodies, bad setups, different bridge systems, all the 'sustain'y players do what you said and fake extra sustain.
Actually, it's the tonewood ;) Seriously though, it dies because parasitic resistance kills it. If you could strap a string down to an infinitely massive body, the body would rob zero energy from the string. If you plucked it in a vacuum, there would be no wind resistance to rob energy from the string either. Unfortunately, carrying infinitely massive bodies around on stage is hard on the back and breathing in a vacuum is a bitch; hence, a compressor is a nice alternative.
one thing Ive tried is get some fairly thick brass sheet 2mm or so and make switchgear covers copying the originals makes a huge difference no idea why. the brass plate on your headstock under the tuners from a company called fathead make a huge difference must be working the same .
You can add some sustain... in space due to less friction on the vibrating string and also... you can lengthen your sustain and life years as you approach the speed of light... so long as your spaceship doesn't explode! True!
The string suspended most firmly without unecessary compression (as in squashed) between the most immovable objects will sustain longest all other things being equal in the absence of further kinetic energy! A+ Mr. Grove sir!
When I learned the song in a blue dream, by joe satriani...i worked out how to keep that high c note going with physical vibrato for about 16 seconds.So you basically dampen and pull the b string out of the way with your index finger with your right hand, and use violent vibrato to keep that sucker going, though not sure it is vibrato...you are basically continuously rubbing the string on the fret..and you can keep it going indefinitely. Touch the b string though and it's over.
Great explanation Scott. Thanks for all the Groovy guitar lessons and advice. Really enjoyed seeing your old touring days photos you shared a while back as well. I wish you continued success and good health...
You are so correct! As soon as I used Nair on my guitar to remove the hair from it and scraped the bubble gum from my bridge my guitar turned into a real SUSTAIN MONSTER!! Good video.
Great stuff. One of the reasons I always liked Floyd rose trems was because of the steel nut. It helps, it really does. I'm building a strat now with a reverse headstock using stainless frets, and the bridge is a decent steel one. I'm also using a brass nut. :)
Actually, playing notes in Just Intonation ratios with each other makes more difference than just about anything else you do; 2 or 3 times longer in some cases; because when notes in a chord don't line up to simple ratios, they take the energy out of each other, or reinforce each other when they match. It's similar to what happens during feedback. If you play a maj third interval like: G,B .. bend the G up until the beats stop. Or min third interval like: G,Bflat bend top string until the beats stop. Just about every 2 note chord has a minor adjustment that cleans up the timbre to make it sustain quite a bit. Some require bending the bottom note a little (shrink the interval), and others require the top note to be bent (stretch the interval).
My Les Paul doesn't sustain well at all. Like any humbucker equipped guitar with that same scale length, it has a unique sound. Doesn't sustain well though. Thing was designed to play Jazz. My bolt on Tele with a maple neck and single coils sustains far better. I honestly think the Les Paul sustain myth mostly originates from Nigel Tufnel and his guitar showroom in Spinal Tap.
Scott's information is not just for inexperienced players have been playing for over 20 years I've learned so much in the past year like so many other people I've been saying the same things about sustain and if it's good enough for blah blah blah it's good enough for me wow I've learned so much from Scott I listen to him anytime I can and learn every time even if it's just one little tidbit you're awesome Scott a little dark today but you're awesome
Interesting comparison with lap steel. The roller nuts are many time larger diameter than any six-string electric. That diameter gives 'huge' torque over rolling friction about the pivot pin.
Brilliant analogy Scott, face lifts and botox do not stop the body decaying either. Decay is just part of nature. Now here is a interesting thoughts on physics. Would a string remain vibrating in zero g. No sound obviously but possible perpetual sustain.
Thanks for the info Scott. As you said, sustain is really just a result of lack of interference to the string(s) itself. The less "stuff" you put in, on, or around a vibrating string the longer it can ring out and thereby deliver more sustain. As ever, less is more.
I think that is all there is to it and that is all the thought that needs to go into it. It's another "beating a dead horse" subject. People can play MIDI guitars and simply sample their own guitars on every single fret and get it that way.....but again....you're not getting REAL sustain. So, you hit the string, it rings until it doesn't and then you hit it again if you really need to hear that note again....................................it's usually called TUNING when doing that. lol Cheers.
Hi Scott, related question for you, how much fret buzz is "normal"? I've recently had my strat set up for me when I had a pick up swapped out and it buzzes a lot more than it did previously. It's not so bad through an amp but it drives me nuts. I'd love to see/hear what you consider normal
I have some notes which will fade faster than other, well the electric guitar is just a lump of wood and metal not a presion surgical tool, probably needs a fret job or just a pickup setup or new strings.
another well made and we'll explained video from the man who knows his shit.thank you for putting know thank you for putting in words that everyone SHOULD understand.
Good stuff as always Scott and I agree 100% in what you're saying. May I just indulge a little. Inertia is remaining in a steady state, which is not really what you mean. I think what you are talking about it is simply energy. In order to keep the note going you need to add energy because as you state quite clearly, musical notes are just energy waves and energy dissipates.
Scott the words you are looking for are "decay rate", That is what guitar sustain is really about! Great guitar sustain is just the strings have a long decay rate AND there are steps a person can take to increase the decay rate of a given guitar, To a point...
I am with Digby's comment, yeah this is deep... You seem to be a pretty cool person, just hearing you talk I can see the common sense, great stuff my friend, take care, great video!
What is your opinion on aluminum tailpieces? Do they improve anything? I have one on one of my SGs, still I'm not quite sure if it really makes a difference.
a long time ago I changed my single coils to humbuckers (bridge and neck) and the dude that helped me with the modification took out a chunk of the body around the part of the cavity near the neck, as much that I get to see the neck through the pickups cavity .......do you think that hinders the guitar's sustain? If so, would gluing a bit of wood there help with the sustain?
The bottom line is MORE MASS in the right places! I have no doubt Scott's steel guitar is very heavy and that's because most everything has a lot of mass!
Hi Scott- I hope all is well my friend. I'm having issues finding the Morley volume pedal you use. What they have now are these "Volume Plus" and "Optical Volume" and also a mini one. Are these ultimately the same as what you use? As always, thanks for your help!!
Depends on your outlook i guess, i see the death of sustain as necessary for the next note to take birth, and in most cases you kill it yourself instead of letting it live for as long as it can, for example playing 99% of music, you kill sustain everytime to play the next note. Yeah i like to hang on one note sometimes but maybe its a good thing the sustain dies, theres many more notes to be played :) (opinion based on suicidal outlook)
Gibson doesn't have a problem with doing it......it's just the cork sniffers that refuse to buy anything from Gibson that isn't the same as it was in the 50's. The GIBSON BRANDS company lists "GUITARS" as one of their least money making businesses. I believe they come in close to dead last.
Wait I thought you liked that 09 Les Paul you had. I was going to buy one based on that video! Did you discover a fault? And what year did they make the non tilted headstock Les Paul's? I can't find that video either. Thanks for all your vids btw!
To me, string vibration = sustain. A metal bridge is fine. Yeah, there might be a slight dampening with the skinny legs and what-not, but the string is still vibrating on its' own. The strings then follow a path down to the tuning pegs, which are also metal. The main dampening between is the nut, and the pickups. In my experience, a plastic nut not only lessens sustain noticeably - it also kills the natural acoustic sound of the string. To me, the nut may very well be the difference between a nice acoustic sound on the electric, and an almost dead acoustic sound. Yeah, some guitars have string trees, as well. The other thing is the pickups. They have magnets in them. If they're too close to the string, they can have an awful effect on them, and the sound, because they act on them. If they're too far away...well, you better have a lot of volume on your amp. I'm speaking of passive pups, of course. Truth to tell, I'd rather increase the volume than raise the pups. The actual sound is better. More organic. It's not how long you can keep a note decaying (sustain), but what you do with the note in the first place. I never really cared about sustaining a note beyond a certain point. I'm more concerned with how to make it sound good in the now.
You are dead on correct about every statement you made. You have NO NEED to think it through any farther. A string can only ring as long as it can ring. You can increase it a LITTLE bit with nut and bridge materials, but....that's about it. You've got it covered my friend.
I've seen lots of debate on whether the body of the guitar has an effect on sound. I do think it has an effect on acoustic resonance. I have a 1984 Carvin 220V. A star shaped guitar, so the body is kind of big. It's also solid maple, so it's dense and heavy. It has a Kahler trem running down to a brass nut, to the tuners. I bought it new, back in the day when a heavy guitar like this didn't bother me at all...unlike now, lol! The pickups have lots of pole pieces to them, as well. What I can say, for sure, is that the body is too dense to add the string vibration. Acoustically, there's nothing pleasing to the ear. Plugging in, there is plenty of sustain. I would assume that that is coming from the pickups. I think I'll lower them a few turns and see.
Woah! Deep man ... Scotty'isms - love it 8^) Completely agree regarding rigid materials. Adding a graphite neck to a guitar will extend the sustain/decay time of plucked notes, it'll alter the tone/harmonic balance as well though so be prepared for a tone change. I have a Modulus Q5 in my collection and it rings for days... Conversely the uneven absorptions of a Precision are what gives it it's character...
Hey Scott this is the only way I know how to possibly reach you. I have a question. Is it possible to have a rosewood neck lacquered?? I bought my sister a ibanez tallman MIK used for her bday and I didn't know that much at the time about guitars. Her hands drip sweat while she plays and I'm worried about the sweat seeping into the fret slots and messing up the fretboard. Its a bolt on maple neck with no finish and rosewood fingerboard. So will sweat make the unfinished maple and rosewood swell the wood?? And is it possible to have the whole neck coated in lacquer? Would they have to re fret it?
Wow, Dr. Groovy, you look like a Knight of the Round Table in this hair cut and beard. Very kewl. ;)PS I always learn something new from your videos, Dr. G. This is why I tune in all the time. :D :D :D
![[Live] : ONE 168 วันนี้!! "โจนาธาน vs ซุปเปอร์เล็ก"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jIN65KgJsI/mqdefault.jpg)
This is fucking deep.
I'm now contemplating my own mortality.
This is on the money. I wish more people would make this point. I hear players talking about sustain like snake oil. Theres plenty of people need to forget worrying how long they can make one note last there's tricks and ways around that.... think of something musical to say in that time instead. I always point them to Gary rossington the sustain makes a point and is the icing on the cake but without a cool phrase before jt and timing and a groove long notes will just turn vanilla. Inertia should be something all musicians should learn about, and mechanical impedance. keep it up Scott more power to ya. Best wishes from wales
You're looking much better these days Scott, hope all's going well.
I just found this channel, can you tell me what happened? :O
CamRebires i think he had a stroke
By looking at your eyes and your demeanor I would venture to say that lately the thoughts of eternal oblivion have been weighing heavy on your mind.( I can be mistaken)..hence; the analogy of sustain.....no worries friend, ...it weighs heavy on mine as well .....I know that you have been sick for a while,..you look good though....stay well.....wishing you and your family the best !..Always happy to learn new things from you....Thank you !
I watched this whole video thinking that it was about Dave Sustain, the frontman from Megadeth.
What you have pointed out makes perfect sense. One of the most important points you made is if you want more sustain without using electronics is put on new strings.
you are making way much sense for today's world. keep being groovy
When it comes to sustain, transference of energy is the last thing you want. All that matters is that the points directly in contact with the string absorb no vibration.
Liz Windsor the more ridged the instrument the better the sustain is correct.
Guitar sustain is all about "decay rare" and what can make the decay rate faster or longer, AND there are ways to have a noticeable effect on the decay rate both good and bad...
You've gotta love it when some chump on TH-cam plugs a Les Paul into a Marshall, cranks up the gain to infinity, hits a note, and shouts "listen to that sustain, man !!" How do these guys get through the day without setting fire to themselves ?!
LOL.....I love that one!
They spill liquids 1--2x per hr.
I use to have a Re-peter, and now I'm just petered out. My GF complains, I have no sustain. (Thanks Scott. I like your vids)
I was just told today by some guy with NO guitar videos that my lack of long sustain is due to my inexpensive guitars. And I've seen SO many posts on the Fender and Gibson boards online where people have been having issues with sustain. So, according to that guy, YOU CAN BUY SUSTAIN by buying a very expensive Gibson or Fender. I just deleted the whole discussion and walked away. I'm so tired of arguing with people.
Nowdays you can download sustaine free from the internet. It's just that your guitar needs to have a USB port or CD/DVD drive, otherwise you can't instal it.
@@metalzonemt-2 XD
Scott has done a great deal of while work making many, many informative video's to help those beginners who want to learn more about the way Guitars & related gear works.
He has spent many years as a " Professional Musician " & also as a Sound Reinforcement Expert. A specialized form of Audio Engineering for Live Musical Events from Bar's to huge concerts. Being a Professional means those who are paid for their knowledge, wisdom, & that have a proven track record of positive results. Who can be trusted to operate and maintain these very costly & also very complex PA Systems.
People like Scott are highly respected & sought out by Musicians who know he will do a great job in making them sound the best they possibly can. Making LIVE shows /concerts successful ones'.Its hard work. Keeps paying fans, ticket holders coming back for more.
The people who sculpt the live front of house mix, stage & monitor mixes are highly regarded, well respected, have great reputations, travel with Top Acts & very well known by most of the Pro Audio, Sound reinforcement Equipment Manufacturers as well.
So the next time you feel the need to challenge or question Scott's Grove's knowledge. Just think about the following information, he's not bragging he's not trying to be little you or to say he's above you. Even when he has earned the right to. He's actually trying to help
answer the many questions he receives. Ok so he's not a scholar or a certified instructor
he's doing all he can to share what he has learned. & he's getting better each time. just needs a few outline notes to keep him focused, understandable (try doing it yourself)
So Please, just give this Man the respect he deserves. How do you think he's been able to acquire all the items you see in his video's ? (Ah da he could a took out a personal loan?)
yeah ur Mama, Not quite ! No regular Bank or lender gives loans on Risky Musical Instr. or Pro Audio gear. Period. You'd have to be a huge celebrity to get that treatment & if your raking it in why the hell would you be in need of a loan.
Besides they've all been burned too many times before. From those fast talking, big schemers, I got an album coming out next week, & I need what? everything AKA Posers.
If anything you shouldn't be returning to a site you dislike, Wasting your time here when you refuse to accept this wonderful information & the help Scott provides at his own cost. You'd probably be better off practicing your axe dude instead, you go practice yeah you !
How about offering him some well deserved support throw a few beans in the pot.? ?
or at least just say thanks Scott I've learned allot from that Video, atta boy Scott / Doc.
Scott just happens to have been very interested in all parts of his performances to have spent the many hours learning the correct in's & outs of PA systems or he was thrown to into the task of PA, Mixing via an argument. (Oh yeah OK big shot think you can do better)
PA Companies trust & depend on these Specialized FOH PA Eng. Operators to act as their eyes and mostly EARS to report how their extremely expensive Mixers, Amps, Crossovers, Mic's, Cables, trusses Direct Boxes, AC line conditioners, Effects, Eq's, Snakes, drivers and other related equipment is preforming in the " Field " or on the job.
Many are also qualified technicians who can repair most devices in the Field. with parts Fx'd Overnight many also create modifications which they submit to the Manufacturer's. & have constant 24/7 open lines communications with. Talking about big money these Big Shows are underwritten & backed by investors & know who they can trust for results. Doc
This is a very different job than what is done by Recording Studio Engineers, who have much greater control over the environments in which they work. Who seldom record, mix live acts, all in one take. Not the typical way things are done in today's recording prod.
While playing music. His years of on the job training in every type of weather condition plus as many different indoor room environments from shitty dumps, bars, Moose Lodge,
VFW' halls, Biker Bar's, School Gyms, College, Student Unions. Locations where there is one or even two entire walls of glass, GLASS are you &*()%$#ing kidding me.
He's done nothing but to go out of his way, and then shares his many years of experience with Musical Instruments mostly Guitars but that's due to the Collector Market sales that puts money in the bank to take care of his beautiful wife & family. Lets see your wives ?
I promise you if he wasn't a great guy, a loving & caring man he wouldn't have been able to attract such a beautiful & wonderful wife. Seems like she knows when to reel him in and he seems very invested in keeping her happy. That my friends does not equal a man who is a jerk or someone who doesn't know what he's doing. These are all the signs of a guy who truly talented & he is for real so stop screwing with him. respect Goggle it !
Learn to respect those who deserve it, because Karma is a Bitch and one day sooner than you could ever know. You're going to be Tomorrows Scott Grove / Doc Groovy. Who thought (hey Hon ? yea Scotty ? ) won't it be nice if I was to share my life long experiences with these up & comers. Like who Scott ? you know all These kids just starting out in their first crappy garage band.
Trying to put together songs to play a party and they learn 20 songs & waste 20 mins between each one argueing and tuning up and yellin Hey MORON you're in the wrong key
no I am not ? DA take that Capo off @ you dumb ass who you calling dumb ass BTDT.
Thanks you very much , Mr. & Mrs Doctor Scott Grove yes you thank the wife for allowing
him the personal time away from his family to make his video's.
Which he obviously makes whenever the mood strikes from 10:am to 11:pm and sometimes as he awakes with a topic on his mind he can't shake off. So he sneaks out of bed & into his Doc Groovy Cave, trying to be quite but we all know he can't. Scotty ?
uhm yes dear where the hell are YOU & W T F are you doing ? um um Nothing Hon
i thought I left my shit on I heard it buzzing ...Scotty you promised .. yes dear
I'll be right up .that stupid dog I'll clean it up.. You better he only puked because you were giving him Pepperoni Pizza bites, three 3.6 hours later.. A rolling pin hits Scott' foot.
UTTO guys signing off Doc Groovy here keep your pick in a vise ? bye Tata for now.
Sorry babe u know how it is, I get down here and I'm answering a question for a nice kid and then I see those jerk off comments from some Moron asking the same fn question again or telling me his asshole bass player an 8th grader told him Doc Groovy don't know shit & I was trying to say ...............We Love ya'll please Mrs Grove give him yet another break, he's a good boy. He'll eventually talk himself out of info and rest a cruise perhaps.
Like Scott, To anyone who's willing to listen give him praise for all his hard work..
Rick.....sometimes a simple "THANK YOU" doesn't cover it. This is one of those times. Of course, I have printed this so that I can read it from time to time. As you know, I'm not able to recall much NEW stuff (in the past 10 years). I just appreciate that you "Get it" and actually have true appreciation for me trying to do some good for people. A huge thanks to whatever inspired you to write this. So, thanks for simply for the gratitude and understanding of another human being.
Scott
Jesus Christ that's a book
Well said Rick.
I appreciate Scott's take it or leave it demeanour because it's obvious he's talking with the assurance of an informed and experienced background.
I always learn something of value on this Channel so thank you Scott.
rick caruso - You are a very good person. Not only that, but you are right on the money about Scott. Thank you for standing up for one of the good guys!
Sustain is all about DECAY RATE, The longer the decay rate is of a given string the better the "sustain" of a guitar is, AND there are things you can do to "lengthen" or "slow" the strings decay rate and that is all about how both ends of the strings are being held or the strings "anchor points" The more immovable the two anchor points of the strings are the longer the string will vibrate, That's just physics, Like a Floyd Rose tremolos "sustain block", That block of metal serves a few purposes one of which adding "mass" to the bridge which in turn makes the strings bridge "anchor point" more immovable and currently the best material to make them out of is Tungsten! No "bell brass" or "stone" sustain block will give you more sustain than an equal volume of tungsten unless you make your sustain block out of something like Osmium, Iridium, Platinum, Rhenium, or Gold, Hell even Depleted uranium is less dense than Tungsten!
That's why Scott's steel guitar sustains so long because everything is mostly made out of STEEL and lots of it which in turn makes the strings "anchor points" VERY immovable and thus the decay rare is very long!
Damn, how did Scott know about my rusty guitar strings and the play dough I put on them?!
This is so well done, Dr. Groovy - you are a clear thinker and communicator. I really appreciate it.
Gutiarded people are just stupid but when the old school guitarists said sustain, they actually meant "more overdrive, more headroom, and more compression." They didn't care about letting a note ring out for any amount of time. Read the interviews where Jimmy Page , Van Halen, and whoever else talks about why they wanted hotter pickups and bigger amps... they called it sustain, yes, but it's obvious they weren't talking about wanting notes to ring out longer. They were talking about headroom, overdrive, and compression. An unfortunate word choice that marketing execs have capitalized on...just like "tonewood." Scott, you were really ahead of the curve with these old videos. You woke a lot of us up to the crazy myths that are out there.
Scott, no wonder the fanboys and message board guys don’t like you. You killed all their sacred cows! 😆🤣
Subscribed sir. Enjoy your reasoning and reasonable opinions backed with actual facts and science and not emotion.
Guitars and life. Thanks Scott!
Guitar Dev If I put a graphite nut on my nut will it sustain my life?A while longer maybe! It did work on my Epiphone les paul custom studio mfer!It is a long note holdin' sob!
You are 100 % correct. Thank you for saying it in a way so that hopefully many will get it too.
I guess you heard this a million times but dude you look to me exactly like Bob Seger
What happens when you put something up against a bell, it will stop ringing so my way of thinking is that the less attached to the bridge the more freely the strings will ring
best way I found to check sustain is to. place the head stock to a wall or cabinet strike one string listen to how the string responds then check string by string if one string sounds muted start their and check nut slot or bridge slots .
Nice to hear someone actually talking about basic physics to explain how electric guitar works rather then all the MYTHICAL magic. Certain things take away sustain like semi acoustic bodies, bad setups, different bridge systems, all the 'sustain'y players do what you said and fake extra sustain.
Actually, it's the tonewood ;)
Seriously though, it dies because parasitic resistance kills it. If you could strap a string down to an infinitely massive body, the body would rob zero energy from the string. If you plucked it in a vacuum, there would be no wind resistance to rob energy from the string either.
Unfortunately, carrying infinitely massive bodies around on stage is hard on the back and breathing in a vacuum is a bitch; hence, a compressor is a nice alternative.
one thing Ive tried is get some fairly thick brass sheet 2mm or so and make switchgear covers copying the originals makes a huge difference no idea why. the brass plate on your headstock under the tuners from a company called fathead make a huge difference must be working the same .
You can add some sustain... in space due to less friction on the vibrating string and also... you can lengthen your sustain and life years as you approach the speed of light... so long as your spaceship doesn't explode! True!
LMFAO!
"That was not sustain from two weeks ago when I last played that acoustic" 😂
Keep keepin it real brother. ✌🏼
The string suspended most firmly without unecessary compression (as in squashed) between the most immovable objects will sustain longest all other things being equal in the absence of further kinetic energy!
A+ Mr. Grove sir!
a good setup and action high enough so the strings dont buzz from touching the frets does wonders too.
you forgot about having a bolt on. I get more sustain from my boltons than my set necks
Thank god for this video. Sustain is great but it won't last.
When I learned the song in a blue dream, by joe satriani...i worked out how to keep that high c note going with physical vibrato for about 16 seconds.So you basically dampen and pull the b string out of the way with your index finger with your right hand, and use violent vibrato to keep that sucker going, though not sure it is vibrato...you are basically continuously rubbing the string on the fret..and you can keep it going indefinitely. Touch the b string though and it's over.
Great explanation Scott. Thanks for all the Groovy guitar lessons and advice. Really enjoyed seeing your old touring days photos you shared a while back as well. I wish you continued success and good health...
You are so correct! As soon as I used Nair on my guitar to remove the hair from it and scraped the bubble gum from my bridge my guitar turned into a real SUSTAIN MONSTER!! Good video.
I think he's saying that guitar is made of....STEEL!
Great stuff. One of the reasons I always liked Floyd rose trems was because of the steel nut. It helps, it really does.
I'm building a strat now with a reverse headstock using stainless frets, and the bridge is a decent steel one. I'm also using a brass nut. :)
Love the thumbnail, I love Spinal Tap!
Who's the guy in the thumb? XD
Great seeing you Grove aka Dr. Groovy!
Great analogy Scott! Finally someone with the absolute idea that’s 100% correct! Well done 👍🏻 my brother, bravo 👏🏻
Actually, playing notes in Just Intonation ratios with each other makes more difference than just about anything else you do; 2 or 3 times longer in some cases; because when notes in a chord don't line up to simple ratios, they take the energy out of each other, or reinforce each other when they match. It's similar to what happens during feedback. If you play a maj third interval like: G,B .. bend the G up until the beats stop. Or min third interval like: G,Bflat bend top string until the beats stop.
Just about every 2 note chord has a minor adjustment that cleans up the timbre to make it sustain quite a bit. Some require bending the bottom note a little (shrink the interval), and others require the top note to be bent (stretch the interval).
My Les Paul doesn't sustain well at all. Like any humbucker equipped guitar with that same scale length, it has a unique sound. Doesn't sustain well though. Thing was designed to play Jazz. My bolt on Tele with a maple neck and single coils sustains far better. I honestly think the Les Paul sustain myth mostly originates from Nigel Tufnel and his guitar showroom in Spinal Tap.
Hi Scott, great to see a new video from you :)
Scott's information is not just for inexperienced players have been playing for over 20 years I've learned so much in the past year like so many other people I've been saying the same things about sustain and if it's good enough for blah blah blah it's good enough for me wow I've learned so much from Scott I listen to him anytime I can and learn every time even if it's just one little tidbit you're awesome Scott a little dark today but you're awesome
I love your opinion because you tell it like it is no candystriping and call out the big boys when needed!
Interesting comparison with lap steel. The roller nuts are many time larger diameter than any six-string electric. That diameter gives 'huge' torque over rolling friction about the pivot pin.
Brilliant analogy Scott, face lifts and botox do not stop the body decaying either.
Decay is just part of nature. Now here is a interesting thoughts on physics.
Would a string remain vibrating in zero g. No sound obviously but possible perpetual sustain.
Thanks for the info Scott. As you said, sustain is really just a result of lack of interference to the string(s) itself. The less "stuff" you put in, on, or around a vibrating string the longer it can ring out and thereby deliver more sustain. As ever, less is more.
I think that is all there is to it and that is all the thought that needs to go into it. It's another "beating a dead horse" subject. People can play MIDI guitars and simply sample their own guitars on every single fret and get it that way.....but again....you're not getting REAL sustain. So, you hit the string, it rings until it doesn't and then you hit it again if you really need to hear that note again....................................it's usually called TUNING when doing that. lol Cheers.
Always enjoy your smart videos Mr. Scott (Bob Seger) Grove..Keep healthy man!
Hi Scott, related question for you, how much fret buzz is "normal"? I've recently had my strat set up for me when I had a pick up swapped out and it buzzes a lot more than it did previously. It's not so bad through an amp but it drives me nuts. I'd love to see/hear what you consider normal
I have some notes which will fade faster than other, well the electric guitar is just a lump of wood and metal not a presion surgical tool, probably needs a fret job or just a pickup setup or new strings.
I swear this dudes voice can help with my insomnia, just let him read you a story book and by page 5 you'll be out for the count😂👌
another well made and we'll explained video from the man who knows his shit.thank you for putting know thank you for putting in words that everyone SHOULD understand.
She doesn't want to sell the guitar for a different guitar with a lacquered neck cuz the one I got her is sentimental hahah
Love that patch you made that allows sustain by using the frequencies and boosting some and lowering others.
I think it was a johnson j station.
The Philosopher. The wisdom is to be digested. Learn it. Know it. Live it. "Think it through kids."
Here's another thought, bud: If sustain's all about wood, weight and mass... why does the double-neck Gibson SG Bass/6-string have shit sustain?
Good stuff as always Scott and I agree 100% in what you're saying. May I just indulge a little. Inertia is remaining in a steady state, which is not really what you mean. I think what you are talking about it is simply energy. In order to keep the note going you need to add energy because as you state quite clearly, musical notes are just energy waves and energy dissipates.
Scott the words you are looking for are "decay rate", That is what guitar sustain is really about! Great guitar sustain is just the strings have a long decay rate AND there are steps a person can take to increase the decay rate of a given guitar, To a point...
I am with Digby's comment, yeah this is deep... You seem to be a pretty cool person, just hearing you talk I can see the common sense, great stuff my friend, take care, great video!
Hello Geetar people, today's special word of the day is.. Steel... steel, steel, steeeeel..
Mass, density and contact makes it last longer, except for human bodies.
Acoustic high impedance = sustain. Solid structure or thick soundboard = high impedance. You probably covered, don't know why I should mention.
It's decay rate...
Yeah OK! I can't add sustain.... Just try to not take away so much of what's there!
Gotta love listening to the old heads. Wisdom comes with time lol I’m just tryna get a little step ahead
I really enjoy your logic and honest approach to explaining guitar.
This is why I want a metal guitar that's fully metal, steel, aliminum to lighten it up
You made me think of those telecaster bridges. Why do they even need saddles?
So what if you put the roller bridges in
Another great video Doc! Thanks
With so much steel, there ought to be a sapphire for decoration. At least British Tv watchers of the 80's should get this. :)
It`s official - this is the guy from Spinal Tap.
I haven`t seen the resemblance before, but now I see it.
What is your opinion on aluminum tailpieces? Do they improve anything? I have one on one of my SGs, still I'm not quite sure if it really makes a difference.
a long time ago I changed my single coils to humbuckers (bridge and neck) and the dude that helped me with the modification took out a chunk of the body around the part of the cavity near the neck, as much that I get to see the neck through the pickups cavity .......do you think that hinders the guitar's sustain? If so, would gluing a bit of wood there help with the sustain?
Doctor Groovy completely correct yet again.
The bottom line is MORE MASS in the right places! I have no doubt Scott's steel guitar is very heavy and that's because most everything has a lot of mass!
like a small tuning fork, hardened stainless steel, great sustain, good vid, liked the steel demo.
Hi Scott- I hope all is well my friend. I'm having issues finding the Morley volume pedal you use. What they have now are these "Volume Plus" and "Optical Volume" and also a mini one. Are these ultimately the same as what you use? As always, thanks for your help!!
Depends on your outlook i guess, i see the death of sustain as necessary for the next note to take birth, and in most cases you kill it yourself instead of letting it live for as long as it can, for example playing 99% of music, you kill sustain everytime to play the next note. Yeah i like to hang on one note sometimes but maybe its a good thing the sustain dies, theres many more notes to be played :) (opinion based on suicidal outlook)
I don't understand why Gibson doesn't change their bridges to a more solid type of bridge.
Gibson doesn't have a problem with doing it......it's just the cork sniffers that refuse to buy anything from Gibson that isn't the same as it was in the 50's. The GIBSON BRANDS company lists "GUITARS" as one of their least money making businesses. I believe they come in close to dead last.
Wait I thought you liked that 09 Les Paul you had. I was going to buy one based on that video! Did you discover a fault? And what year did they make the non tilted headstock Les Paul's? I can't find that video either. Thanks for all your vids btw!
Yeah, that was an awesome axe. I wish I still had that one.
Scott,
Where do you play? I would like an autograph.
I make a wierd I am in artist pain face when I bend strings. I swear to God I get 2 to 3 milli-seconds more sustain. It works everyone try it.
To me, string vibration = sustain. A metal bridge is fine. Yeah, there might be a slight dampening with the skinny legs and what-not, but the string is still vibrating on its' own.
The strings then follow a path down to the tuning pegs, which are also metal. The main dampening between is the nut, and the pickups. In my experience, a plastic nut not only lessens sustain noticeably - it also kills the natural acoustic sound of the string. To me, the nut may very well be the difference between a nice acoustic sound on the electric, and an almost dead acoustic sound. Yeah, some guitars have string trees, as well.
The other thing is the pickups. They have magnets in them. If they're too close to the string, they can have an awful effect on them, and the sound, because they act on them. If they're too far away...well, you better have a lot of volume on your amp. I'm speaking of passive pups, of course.
Truth to tell, I'd rather increase the volume than raise the pups. The actual sound is better. More organic.
It's not how long you can keep a note decaying (sustain), but what you do with the note in the first place. I never really cared about sustaining a note beyond a certain point. I'm more concerned with how to make it sound good in the now.
You are dead on correct about every statement you made. You have NO NEED to think it through any farther. A string can only ring as long as it can ring. You can increase it a LITTLE bit with nut and bridge materials, but....that's about it. You've got it covered my friend.
I've seen lots of debate on whether the body of the guitar has an effect on sound. I do think it has an effect on acoustic resonance.
I have a 1984 Carvin 220V. A star shaped guitar, so the body is kind of big. It's also solid maple, so it's dense and heavy. It has a Kahler trem running down to a brass nut, to the tuners. I bought it new, back in the day when a heavy guitar like this didn't bother me at all...unlike now, lol!
The pickups have lots of pole pieces to them, as well.
What I can say, for sure, is that the body is too dense to add the string vibration. Acoustically, there's nothing pleasing to the ear. Plugging in, there is plenty of sustain. I would assume that that is coming from the pickups. I think I'll lower them a few turns and see.
RIGHT ON ,BROTHER. DISABLED VET.
I'm not quite clear, is your Steel guitar made of...steel?
Woah! Deep man ...
Scotty'isms - love it 8^)
Completely agree regarding rigid materials.
Adding a graphite neck to a guitar will extend the sustain/decay time of plucked notes, it'll alter the tone/harmonic balance as well though so be prepared for a tone change.
I have a Modulus Q5 in my collection and it rings for days...
Conversely the uneven absorptions of a Precision are what gives it it's character...
I would like to know what wireless guitar setup companies or models Scott uses.
You were conceived while Bob was "waitin' on the thuuunnddeeerrrr!"
Steel... you see? Steel! Best video about sustain ever!
Onya Mate, take care.
I want to live next to Scott Grove. Fun chats!
Hey Scott this is the only way I know how to possibly reach you. I have a question. Is it possible to have a rosewood neck lacquered?? I bought my sister a ibanez tallman MIK used for her bday and I didn't know that much at the time about guitars. Her hands drip sweat while she plays and I'm worried about the sweat seeping into the fret slots and messing up the fretboard. Its a bolt on maple neck with no finish and rosewood fingerboard. So will sweat make the unfinished maple and rosewood swell the wood?? And is it possible to have the whole neck coated in lacquer? Would they have to re fret it?
sal christy no
I cant watch the entire clip but Im assuming he is going to get to Pickup height, and neck adjustment at some point which do help with sustain.
You guess wrong.
those fretboard markers on the pedal steel look damn confusing
Well, you could always buy a Hernandez sustainer.
Wow, Dr. Groovy, you look like a Knight of the Round Table in this hair cut and beard. Very kewl. ;)PS I always learn something new from your videos, Dr. G. This is why I tune in all the time. :D :D :D
Hi Scott, nice to see you again.
scott have you tried the new elixir optiweb strings? what do you think?
many good points. thanks.