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No problems with my Les Paul going out of tune. Luck or Set Up?

Wiggy1956

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Jul 27, 2018
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31
Since buying my Historic 58 Standard I've learnt that Les Pauls are prone to going out of tune,. especially the G string after large bends. I've had no such trouble with mine. Am I just lucky or are Custom Shop models just set up better?
 

Tim Plains

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Aug 1, 2013
Messages
795
What year?

2009/newet historics have nylon nuts, which is much better than corian. Corian nuts are the heart of most Gibson tuning issues. Even with corian nuts, I would take a file to them and use powdered graphite in the grooves. That, and with properly stretching strings, I can't say I've come across many Gibsons that wouldn't stay in tune.
 

Wiggy1956

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Jul 27, 2018
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What year?

2009/newet historics have nylon nuts, which is much better than corian. Corian nuts are the heart of most Gibson tuning issues. Even with corian nuts, I would take a file to them and use powdered graphite in the grooves. That, and with properly stretching strings, I can't say I've come across many Gibsons that wouldn't stay in tune.

Hi Tim. It's a brand new 2018 with a nylon nut. It's pretty rock solid, although I don't gig for the first time until Friday. So far so good though.
 

Black58

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Oct 28, 2005
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10,139
With properly stretched strings, neither of my R8s (1997 and 2009) go out of tune. :)
 

Tom Wittrock

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Aug 2, 2001
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Since buying my Historic 58 Standard I've learnt that Les Pauls are prone to going out of tune,. especially the G string after large bends. I've had no such trouble with mine. Am I just lucky or are Custom Shop models just set up better?

I virtually never have tuning problems, with any of my Les Pauls.
In your case it is partly a good set up, and you stringing and tuning correctly. [a lot of people don't :ganz]
 

Tom Wittrock

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Aug 2, 2001
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42,567
Since buying my Historic 58 Standard I've learnt that Les Pauls are prone to going out of tune,. especially the G string after large bends.

Just to clarify more, this is primarily caused by "operator difficulty" and not the guitar. :ganz
 

filtersweep

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Mar 1, 2015
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Just to clarify more, this is primarily caused by "operator difficulty" and not the guitar. :ganz

Not true at all. Production Gibsons have dreadful nuts that bind, combined with the odd angles that are unique to Gibson. I floss them with a bit of abrasive string when if I have issues- and I had issues for my three production Gibsons. My R8 was also going out of tune- but I bought it used with old strings. I flossed the slots and put new strings on, and it is all good.
 

MeHereNow

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Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
677
My R8 was also going out of tune- but I bought it used with old strings. I flossed the slots and put new strings on, and it is all good.

So the previous R8's owner did'nt take care of the build-up grime which causes the "ping.." & "screeech.." and the few Hz off after a bend.
Isn't that a direct derivative of his inabbilty to "operate" his guitar properly?
In other words: keeping his guitar set-up so, that it won't have issues?
 

Tom Wittrock

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Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
In your case it is partly a good set up, and you stringing and tuning correctly. [a lot of people don't :ganz]

Just to clarify more, this is primarily caused by "operator difficulty" and not the guitar. :ganz

Not true at all. Production Gibsons have dreadful nuts that bind, combined with the odd angles that are unique to Gibson. I floss them with a bit of abrasive string when if I have issues- and I had issues for my three production Gibsons. My R8 was also going out of tune- but I bought it used with old strings. I flossed the slots and put new strings on, and it is all good.

You missed the "clarify more" part. I already mentioned set up plus other operator responsibilities.
Your example seems to confirm my statements.
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
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Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
So the previous R8's owner did'nt take care of the build-up grime which causes the "ping.." & "screeech.." and the few Hz off after a bend.
Isn't that a direct derivative of his inabbilty to "operate" his guitar properly?
In other words: keeping his guitar set-up so, that it won't have issues?

Exactly.
Even if Gibson does a poor job on set up, it merely needs proper attention and maintenance that any guitar owner should expect to do over time.
 

iloveguitars79

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Joined
May 24, 2018
Messages
12
With properly stretched strings, neither of my R8s (1997 and 2009) go out of tune. :)

Agreed. I hardly ever have to retune on any of my guitars, even the cheap junkers. The key is:

A) Rub some pencil graphite in the nut string grooves.
B) Put the strings on properly. I use one wrap over and 2-3 wraps under the hole.
C) Stretch the strings and retune. I do this 3 times before playing.


Voila! :hank
 

Black58

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Oct 28, 2005
Messages
10,139
Agreed. I hardly ever have to retune on any of my guitars, even the cheap junkers. The key is:

A) Rub some pencil graphite in the nut string grooves.
B) Put the strings on properly. I use one wrap over and 2-3 wraps under the hole.
C) Stretch the strings and retune. I do this 3 times before playing.


Voila! :hank

Mix a lil Chap-Stik in with that pencil graphite, brother, and it'll stay in there better and longer! :)
 

Wiggy1956

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Jul 27, 2018
Messages
31
Thanks to all for your really helpful comments. I restrung my guitar yesterday incorporating the posted thoughts and gig it for the first time today. Wish me luck!!!:)
 

Joe Boy

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Dec 1, 2004
Messages
515
You know it's a Les Paul when...hair messed up, tired and tossed from last night, when you set up and..
...go to check your tuning...:dude:...let's do this!
 
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