Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

The Frequensator


Greasy Ivan

Recommended Posts

Let’s talk about the legendary and patented tailpiece that Epiphone started using almost 80 years ago.

 

The shorter fork should provide a deeper tone on the bass string and the longer fork more brilliance on the treble strings.

But does it really work?

I’ve discussed this with a luthier and his opinion is that shorter fork provides more tension on the strings and therefore creates a sharper sound (as with a mandolin).

 

At first I couldn’t believe that the sound of the string could be influenced by anything that happens after the bridge. Untill, I’ve wrapped a piece of cloth around the strings on my Broadway.

Before my guitar made a annoying 'zing-zing'-oversound when unplugged but now it’s gone.

If anybody has an idea how I can eliminate the ‘zing-zing’-sound in a more discrete manner please let me know.

 

So apparently it DOES make a difference.

What do you think about the Frequensator?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let’s talk about the legendary and patented tailpiece that Epiphone started using almost 80 years ago.

 

The shorter fork should provide a deeper tone on the bass string and the longer fork more brilliance on the treble strings.

But does it really work?

I’ve discussed this with a luthier and his opinion is that shorter fork provides more tension on the strings and therefore creates a sharper sound (as with a mandolin).

 

At first I couldn’t believe that the sound of the string could be influenced by anything that happens after the bridge. Untill' date=' I’ve wrapped a piece of cloth around the strings on my Broadway.

Before my guitar made a annoying 'zing-zing'-oversound when unplugged but now it’s gone.

If anybody has an idea how I can eliminate the ‘zing-zing’-sound in a more discrete manner please let me know.

 

So apparently it DOES make a difference.

What do you think about the Frequensator?

 

[/quote']

 

Well it's an Epiphone exclusive but IMO not the best tp. Howard Roberts didn't like them and

insisted on either the ES-175 cast tp or the L5 tailpiece on his models. According to

the patent issued to Herb Sunshine (on behalf of Epiphone back then), there was

several versions of it considered in the patent application. The best design would

have been more expensive to make, so they settled on the cheapest design

to manufacture and that's what it is. The longer bass section allows the bass strings

to be longer and you get more harmonics from them. The shorter treble section

is made short on purpose to get more "zing" out of the strings being tauter.

Some legendary jazz players decided to make both sections the same..others

experimented with it reversed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A guitarist I admire the "Funk Brother" Dennis Coffey had photographs of his 5 guitars on his old website. One was a Gibson Byrdland and on this beautiful Byrdland between the bridge and the tailpiece were about 5 wraps of masking tape making a broad, ugly, efficient dampener for any unwanted input to his sound from that area of the guitar.

 

Dennis, or someone mixing the goods in the studio must have heard something they wanted to cut out.

 

I have a Levin 335 and the Levin designers made a very long tailpiece that reaches very close to bridge maybe for the same reason.

 

P1010163-1.jpg

 

In 10 days I pick up my first guitar with a frequensator looking forward to the experience. I think aesthetically the Freaky-Sators are beautiful. Being an amateur any adverse elements it may have will be attacked with pipecleaners and masking tape if I ever become a session musician......LOL [drool]:^o#-o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a photo of the various frequensator options that Herb Sunshine filed in his

patent application. I don't understand the stepped adjustable screw principle

because it would need something more than the flat screw heads to anchor

the strings, but I like the idea of compensating the strings according to tuned

pitch of the strings.

 

The other one next to it should have been the one that would have made more

sense than the current one, but for some reason, the current design was chosen.

 

04_09_2.jpg

 

Truth be told, the nicest tp that EPI NYC produced was the one on this 40s Deluxe

04_09_3.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is another example of older designs leaving shorter string length between the tailpiece and the bridge 1941 Epiphone Ritz just posted by Epinder it is for sale on Craigslist....

 

1959 Levin

1940's Epiphone Deluxe

and

1941 Epiphone Ritz

all similar in this respect

 

3na3pf3oc5V15P35X1a494c206cf8a9a7128c.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone for your tips and reactions.

 

Here's a picture of Dennis Coffey's Byrdland, Joe was referring to.

 

DennisCoffeyGibsonbyrdlandSmall.jpg

 

I've solved the problem at the moment in a simular way.

 

IMG00112-20100410-1238.jpg

 

Pipe cleaners are cheap and easy to get but not very aesthetic as a durable alternative.

Rubber grommets would be the best solution but I couldn't find any smalls ones on the amazon and others sites yet (for strings the diameter should be very small).

They should even exist in transparent rubber like the ones on the cables of my mountain bike.

If anyone knows a site where I can order them, please let me know. It would be very much appreciated.

 

Most modern archtop guitars have wooden tailpieces (mahony I think), the sound is probably better but it has less sex appeal. But Jazz guitarist often don't care too much about that.

 

Thanks to for the picture of Herb Sunshine's design, Carverman. If you have more of that please post.

I hope you don't mind that I post this picture on my blog somewhere in the future.

 

SamBooka, another forum member, made the forks on his frequensator longer.

He actually cut pieces of rod to the desired size and bend them to fit the fixed part of the frequensator.

Here's a picture of the very well looking result:

 

frequensatorselfmadeM.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone for your tips and reactions.

 

Here's a picture of Dennis Coffey's Byrdland' date=' Joe was referring to.

 

[img']http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/ivan1970photobucket/Epiphone%20Broadway/DennisCoffeyGibsonbyrdlandSmall.jpg[/img]

 

I've solved the problem at the moment in a simular way.

 

IMG00112-20100410-1238.jpg

 

Pipe cleaners are cheap and easy to get but not very aesthetic as a durable alternative.

Rubber grommets would be the best solution but I couldn't find any smalls ones on the amazon and others sites yet (for strings the diameter should be very small).

They should even exist in transparent rubber like the ones on the cables of my mountain bike.

If anyone knows a site where I can order them, please let me know. It would be very much appreciated.

 

Most modern archtop guitars have wooden tailpieces (mahony I think), the sound is probably better but it has less sex appeal. But Jazz guitarist often don't care too much about that.

 

Thanks to for the picture of Herb Sunshine's design, Carverman. If you have more of that please post.

I hope you don't mind that I post this picture on my blog somewhere in the future.

 

SamBooka, another forum member, made the forks on his frequensator longer.

He actually cut pieces of rod to the desired size and bend them to fit the fixed part of the frequensator.

Here's a picture of the very well looking result:

 

frequensatorselfmadeM.jpg

 

 

 

"Van" that is one beautiful Broadway you have there, are they M90's or P94's in there... I bet that sounds beautiful....I pick my Zephyr Blues up in 9 days hollow box with P90's and I want it here right now!!!!!.....

 

Yes and as you can see having the image of the very Byrdland I referred to, if that method was good enough for "funk brother" Dennis, I suppose it is a good enough fix for us...#-o

 

Thanks for posting the photo of your Broadway very nice....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

#-o

 

Must have missed this thread...

 

Tape, and pipe cleaning stuff wound up around the strings, just looks bad, IMOP

 

I simply use tortex picks, slide em between the strings that need muting, right above the tailpiece.

 

 

1000305.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

#-o

 

Must have missed this thread...

 

Tape' date=' and pipe cleaning stuff wound up around the strings, just looks bad, IMOP

 

I simply use tortex picks, slide em between the strings that need muting, right above the tailpiece.

 

 

[img']http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9071/1000305.jpg[/img]

 

 

 

Smips you have given me an idea......what about a piece of clear, transparent plastic just over the width of the strings same thickness as a plectrum and about an inch wide interwoven between the strings between tailpiece and bridge would hardly be noticeable and would certainly dampen any unwanted sound from that area...Dennis probably just saw the Byrdland as a tool of his trade I know what you mean about the tape from an aesthetic point of view...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks!

 

Those are GFS Dream 90's.

They look great and are nicely priced but have a very high output.

I am not too satisfied with the sound.

I have to turn down to volume, lower the tone knops to 4-5 and turn the bass all the way open on my amp before I get some warmth.

 

I guess my quest for a nice sound that keeps the mid between jazz, rockabilly and blues continues.

 

I just gave the tip from Smips65 a try and the pic works perfectly too.

Rubber grommets keep their first place in the aesthetic chart for me.

But as they say in french: les gouts et les couleurs ne se discuttent pas (colours and taste are just a matter of opinion).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks!

 

Those are GFS Dream 90's.

They look great and are nicely priced but have a very high output.

I am not too satisfied with the sound.

I have to turn down to volume' date=' lower the tone knops to 4-5 and turn the bass all the way open on my amp before I get some warmth. [/quote']

 

The high output can be tamed down somewhat by substituting a 250K volume instead

of a 500k. It provides more load on the pickup. Gibson used 300k volume controls

on some of their LPs, and the 300k are available from some online vendors, but

expensive. The easy experiment is to bridge a 500k resistor across the volume

control outer taps..because of ohms law..the resistance will be cut in half.

That's easy to do, and won't result in expensive mods.

 

I guess my quest for a nice sound that keeps the mid between jazz, rockabilly and blues continues.

 

I like their vintage 59s and have a few sets of those..but looking at the lastest version

of their pickup offerings, it doesn't seem that they are selling those

anymore..just the Classic IIs, alnico IIs these days..their pickup section seems to

be more sparse these days than last year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone for your tips and reactions.

Rubber grommets would be the best solution but I couldn't find any smalls ones on the amazon and others sites yet (for strings the diameter should be very small).

Try automotive supplies or fastener stores..that's where you would likely find them.

A 1/2 inch OD and a 3/8 inch (or less) ID would do it. All you would need is 4 of them.

 

EDIT: Home Depot sell these in the fastner section in 3 sizes (5/16' date=' 3/8 and 1/2). The

1/2 inch looked a bit large for some reason, so most likely the 3/8.

 

Most modern archtop guitars have wooden tailpieces (mahony I think), the sound is probably better but it has less sex appeal. But Jazz guitarist often don't care too much about that.

 

You mean like the Benedetto violin style ebony tp? I'm sure they do the job, but I'm a traditionalist when it comes

to tp,my favorite is the style they use on the Es-175..the cast one..not the thin metal one with the crinkle wires

beside it.

 

Thanks to for the picture of Herb Sunshine's design, Carverman. If you have more of that please post.

I hope you don't mind that I post this picture on my blog somewhere in the future.

 

It came out of my book "House of Stathopoulo"..the original Epiphone NYC company. I didn't take a picture

of the entire drawing, so being a patent (and an expired one at that), I believe you could post it.

Personally the nicest tp and the my choice if I had the bucks is the D'Angelico solid brass tp.

There is something about solid brass and string tone....can't put my finger on it..but there is a reason

brass is used in so many musical instruments.

 

These tp were offered separately at one time for $200US...I don't know if that is still the case now..but

this is the ideal type of tp, because you have enough mass and string compensation provided in the design.

 

http://www.dangelicoguitars.com/

 

SamBooka, another forum member, made the forks on his frequensator longer.

He actually cut pieces of rod to the desired size and bend them to fit the fixed part of the frequensator.

Here's a picture of the very well looking result:

 

Yes, fortunately with the design, you can diddle with customizing it easier than most. Get some brass rod

of the same OD and bend it carefully in a vise to get the rounded corners, cut the rod to whatever bent

and length you want, and then using a 4/40 tap (I believe) thread the ends with a small die.

 

You can extend the bass as well with this method to make both segments shorter. To fill in the open spaces

on each "fork", you can make walnut or some other wood fller piecs that slide into the round rods, then

you put on the string bar and the acorn nuts. Note, that the filler panels have to be slightly shorter than

the rods to allow space for the strings to slide out, when changing them.

This is fairly easy to do and will change the looks of the guitar giving it a more "solid look".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Smips you have given me an idea......what about a piece of clear' date=' transparent plastic just over the width of the strings same thickness as a plectrum and about an inch wide interwoven between the strings between tailpiece and bridge would hardly be noticeable and would certainly dampen any unwanted sound from that area...Dennis probably just saw the Byrdland as a tool of his trade I know what you mean about the tape from an aesthetic point of view...

 

 

[/quote']

 

 

I just go for the basic fix so to speak, if someone calls me out for the pick in the strings, I claim old age....

 

damn, is that where it was all this time????

 

It works, so who cares....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just go for the basic fix so to speak' date=' if someone calls me out for the pick in the strings, I claim old age....

 

damn, is that where it was all this time????

 

It works, so who cares....[/quote']

 

J that sounds like a good strategy, that's what I like about this forum there is always more than one way to skin a cat and we all do things the way that suits us and share our experiences...great stuff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The high output can be tamed down somewhat by substituting a 250K volume instead

of a 500k. It provides more load on the pickup. Gibson used 300k volume controls

on some of their LPs' date=' and the 300k are available from some online vendors, but

expensive. The easy experiment is to bridge a 500k resistor across the volume

control outer taps..because of ohms law..the resistance will be cut in half.

That's easy to do, and won't result in expensive mods.

 

[/quote']

 

Thanks for the tip.

The technician who installed the pickups (I really would love to learn to solder myself) gave me the same advise when I told him that I wasn't that satisfied. If the result doesn't please and I decide to go for PAF's, does the resistor work well on those too? Or should it be removed again?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been using little strips of foam for years. I also put them behind the nut to shut it the hell up. I also shrink wrap my trem springs and pup mounting springs for the same reason.

 

I don't know what I should imagine about those 'little strips of foam'. Would I be too demanding if I'd ask you to post a picture ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

J that sounds like a good strategy' date=' that's what I like about this forum there is always more than one way to skin a cat and we all do things the way that suits us and share our experiences...great stuff

 

 

[/quote']

 

I couldn't agree more, Joe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the tip.

The technician who installed the pickups (I really would love to learn to solder myself) gave me the same advise when I told him that I wasn't that satisfied. If the result doesn't please and I decide to go for PAF's' date=' does the resistor work well on those too? Or should it be removed again?

[/quote']

 

Well first of all you have to use a standard resistor increment and that would be 470K...

close enough. Most pots are within 10 percent tolerance so that would be somewhere

450k and 550k when they sold as 500K pots. Some people match them with a Ohmeter

before putting them in a guitar. Usually, if they are from the same batch of resistive

carbon paste (used on the resistor plate) they will be reasonably close.

 

As far as soldering on parallel resistors and then swapping p_ups, you would need

to determine from the volume levels whether to remove the additional resistors or

not. Most medium o/p humbuckers will have some reduction in volume. It depends

on how far you have to crank up the volumes on the guitar and amp and what

range you have left..it may still work. On an LP or any guitar that has a

cover plate it's easy to snip off the ends of the parallel resistor with a pair

of electronic cutters. The hassle would be to pull the pots out of an archtop

to snip off the resistors.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...