Ventura":2ii049ee said:
For what it's worth, I may be able to find the answer to the original question personally. I have an 'in' with Maynard and therefore 'the band', but have never exploited this 'in' because I never want to come across as a grovelling weirdo groupie loser. But I'll ask, and I will post.
One most important thing to realize is that his LP's are all of the silverburst varietal, and a vintage that used a metallic paint that ended up changing the tone of the guitar, to what most people felt NOT for the better. They age yellow/green due to the metallic content. Gibson discontinued this finish due to the fact it really screwed with the guitar's tones and pick up relationship with the strings. Having said all this, this weird "effect" the "faulty" paint job that once adorned these vintages of Les Paul are a huge part of what creates Adam's tone. Gibson has re-released this version but has changed the paint to not have this "flaw" in its composition.
I'll get more for y'all...but if this is a secret of his, no dice - but I will find out.
Peace,
V.
This is all complete B.S.
Not your "in" with Maynard, but about the guitar.
I own a '79 silverburst. I have played other Silverbursts. Yes, they sound different. No, it's not because of the paint. They turn green/yellow because of the top, clear coat of Nitro that is also found on every other Custom from the same time period. If you were to remove the clear coat, the paint underneath would still be silver as the day it was sprayed. They ALL green/yellow over time, not just Silverbursts. Gibson didn't discontinue the guitar due to the paint or the tone, but because sales sucked. The newer Silverbursts still have the same Nitro clear coat and metallic paint, although it's probably from a different paint supplier, but in 30 years they, too, will fade and yellow/green.
The tone of late 70's - early 80's LP Customs is due to the wiring and the pots used, which rate around 280k. This gives them a dark sound.
That said, Silverbursts tend (for whatever the reason) to be awesome sounding and playing Customs, even compared to other from the same time period. But, it ain't the paint.
The amps Adam used on the new recordings are also no big secret as both he and the producers have said what the gear was many times: Marshall Superbass, Diezel VH4, Rivera K-Tre, Bogner Uberschall, Mesa Boogie Rectifier, Sunn.
If you do have a word with Adam, though, ask him how he wires his guitars and if he really does use a Duncan JB in the bridge.
That is probably a trade secret, though.
