parker_knoll
Senior Member
Here are the results!
If you need the context, check this thread.
THE EQUIPMENT:
1 x Duesenberg Vibrola Short
1 x Mastery OMV-P Vibrato
1 x Dearmond M55 sacrificial guitar for UK£70, with the same bridge arrangement as my M65.
3 x the cheapest string sets I could find, GHS 10-38 - a strange gauge a bit light in the bass but the point here was comparison.
THE RESULTS
So I recorded the guitar after each step directly into Logic using the onboard Guitar Amp Pro set to US Combo 40 and UK 2x12 closed.
I just played each string open, then strummed the same chord pattern, and then tested the range of the trems when installed.
Audio Samples
Fixed bridge
Duesenberg Vibrola
Mastery Vibrato
EQ overlay
I used a spectrum analyser plug in to view the EQ response of each recording and average them. Here they are overlaid.
PURPLE = MASTERY
ORANGE = DUESENBERG
GREEN = FIXED
So how do the different units change the sound?
NOT MUCH!
Arguably there's a small loss of bass with the Mastery but it's pretty insignificant. There's also a resonant peak around 120Hz with the Duesenberg, but again nothing huge. What do your ears tell you rather than your eyes?
Sustain
Sustain wise there's not really anything in it. Perhaps the Duesenberg has a slight edge but it's not dramatic.
General
Aside from the sound, both vibrato units work very well. The Duesenberg has a slightly softer spring than a Bigsby B5 but it's great to have the adjustable arm, both for height and length. Range is pretty similar to a Bigsby.
The Mastery has a far greater range, but I'll have to get used to how high the arm is off the body. I guess it could be bent. It would look better if I spent the extra bucks for a metal tip.
Now for what to do with the M65 I'm not sure. I'll muse on it.
If you need the context, check this thread.
THE EQUIPMENT:
1 x Duesenberg Vibrola Short
1 x Mastery OMV-P Vibrato
1 x Dearmond M55 sacrificial guitar for UK£70, with the same bridge arrangement as my M65.
3 x the cheapest string sets I could find, GHS 10-38 - a strange gauge a bit light in the bass but the point here was comparison.
THE RESULTS
So I recorded the guitar after each step directly into Logic using the onboard Guitar Amp Pro set to US Combo 40 and UK 2x12 closed.
I just played each string open, then strummed the same chord pattern, and then tested the range of the trems when installed.
Audio Samples
Fixed bridge
Duesenberg Vibrola
Mastery Vibrato
EQ overlay
I used a spectrum analyser plug in to view the EQ response of each recording and average them. Here they are overlaid.
PURPLE = MASTERY
ORANGE = DUESENBERG
GREEN = FIXED
So how do the different units change the sound?
NOT MUCH!
Arguably there's a small loss of bass with the Mastery but it's pretty insignificant. There's also a resonant peak around 120Hz with the Duesenberg, but again nothing huge. What do your ears tell you rather than your eyes?
Sustain
Sustain wise there's not really anything in it. Perhaps the Duesenberg has a slight edge but it's not dramatic.
General
Aside from the sound, both vibrato units work very well. The Duesenberg has a slightly softer spring than a Bigsby B5 but it's great to have the adjustable arm, both for height and length. Range is pretty similar to a Bigsby.
The Mastery has a far greater range, but I'll have to get used to how high the arm is off the body. I guess it could be bent. It would look better if I spent the extra bucks for a metal tip.
Now for what to do with the M65 I'm not sure. I'll muse on it.