by noelford » Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:53 pm
Interestingly, over Christmas, I replaced all the hardware on my 1988 American Vintage '57 reissue with a Fender gold set. When the guitar was reassembled and roughly set up, I gave it a quick try and was amazed at the difference in the sound due, no doubt, to the change in set-up. I normally use this guitar for non-Shads instrumentals and switch to my Masterbuilt for classic Shads, but I'm now considering not doing any more to the set-up as the sound is so good as it is. Like Dave, I also use a Bose system, with a Pod X3 Pro providing a Vox AC15 modelled tone.
I also agree that a huge factor in the tone is the attack of the pick.
Cheers
Noel