Dudes...
I have to say, that after all that work and money spent, the Squirecaster destroys my Gibson for tone....
I have to say, that after all that work and money spent, the Squirecaster destroys my Gibson for tone....
Of course!
I won't be home until after midnight, and I will send you a pic, but here's my basic settings:
2015 Marshall DSL40C - no Internal modifications
7025-WA TAD preamp tubes
Electro-Harmonix EL-34's
Stock 70/80 speaker in this amp - I have a 90 watt Celestion Creamback in my other one.
Red Channel (Ultra)
Lead 1 setting (I think - will confirm)
Bass - Full
Mid - Full
Treble - 10 O'clock
Gain 1/2
Volume - 11 O'clock (loud)
Tone Shift - Out (I think - will confirm)
Presence - 9 O'clock
Resonance - 3 O'clock
Reverb - Full
I pretty much just leave everything here even on the Gibson.
I will send you pics of the settings tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure these are correct...
Thanks man, appreciate it. No hurries either, just trying to learn.
I am surprised to hear you still have the 70/80. I do too, and I like it. I figured you would have a creamback. I have recently added a 70/80 single 12 extension , and it really adds a punch when I use it.
Your settings are much different than mine. I love the tone im getting with my strat, and with my ibanez. But I'm struggling with my Gibson's. My SG sounds decent, but my LP, well im not so sure. So, id like to try some differing amp settings.
To be honest, I'm thinking im not a classic 57 guy. I thought it was the height, but I haven't been able to dial it in. I like gain, and I don't think they handle it as well as I had believed. I took a chance, but I think I'm ready to swap them out already.
I'm thinking of trying a dimarzio Mo joe/paf joe combo. I love this combo, just don't know anyone who's used them in a Gibson....but, they're not to expensive, so be it.
To be honest, I'm thinking im not a classic 57 guy. I thought it was the height, but I haven't been able to dial it in. I like gain, and I don't think they handle it as well as I had believed. I took a chance, but I think I'm ready to swap them out already....

57 Classic's are not too bad, but they need to be at 4/64" from the strings (when fretted at the 21st fret) for optimum output. My GFS Classic II's measure 7.93k bridge and 7.88 neck @ 56°F. I think most pickups are measured at about 70°F.
Gibson advertises the 57 Classic as 8.3k, so you are very close to my Gibson in terms of bridge pickup output.
One important thing is bridge pickup angle. Until I bent my mounting ears and aligned my pickup with the strings, the bridge had a really thin tone. Once I straightened it out, the tone fattened up a LOT.
Notice that i am using the Faber locking tailpiece with spacers, but you can get the same string angle by top-wrapping the tailpiece. Bonamassa's tech adds the brass ball from the end of an old set of strings to shorten the string slightly where it wraps over. I was told it prevents string breakage. I am not sure, because I have no trouble with the system I am currently using, so I'm done experimenting.
I think the Faber tailpiece improves sustain, because it locks the tailpiece to the body, but again, I have no scientific data to support his claim.
You need to PM me for some additional details...
View attachment 3263
Here are the photos of the settings used in the video...The close-ups show switch positions - Lead 1-2 switch OUT - Tone Shift Switch OUT