Improving Sustain

Is there any way to increase the sustain of a guitar without drastically altering it? My Danelectro DC59 is a nice guitar for me, just it has really bad sustain.

Any way to improve it? I once read on Harmony Central about someone clamping a metal capo to the headstocks- although i cant see how that would work.

Ideas?

Hi Matt

There was a purpose-built clamping gadget for this very purpose in one of the guitar mags before christmas. The mag in question is on my desk at work, I can get the relevant URL and post it up for you tomorrow. Basically, it's a big lump of brass that clamps on the headstock to add density or mass or

1) Heavier gauge strings. (Higher tension = higher sustain.)

2) Does that have the standard U2 bridge (single wooden saddle)? Fit a metal U3 bridge; not only will you get the extra sustain from the extra mass, but you'll get more accurate intonation, too. It's a direct replacement for the U2 bridge, so no major modifications will be needed.

Is it the fat finger you are talking about ( http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1200 ) ?

never tried one but it looks like it should work like it's meant to

Isnt the problem with Danelectro guitars that the bodies are made of blockboard or some other not very dense material.

OK found it - the product is the Fat Finger Tone Enhancer, and it's available from www.groovetubes.com

HTH

I'm certain I'v ebeen told that a compressor pedal will do this......I may be wrong, as I've never actually tried it, but it might be a usefull line of

Do you have a supplier for the U3 bridge? I bought a Badass bridge for my DC59 a long time ago but haven't had the heart to take a drill to the guitar to install the posts.

You might want to avoid fitting something like that altogether. IIRC, Danelectro's are hardboard over a wood frame, and you might find that a different bridge could be more than it can cope with.

According to Melvyn Hiscock (you there Mel?) someone did indeed make a guitar out of solid granite. It did indeed sustain, but the added inconvenience of the fork-lift truck required to lift it made it somewhat impracticable...

It will, but you'll have to be careful of the settings as it will also rob you of some of the attack of the guitar.