59 Reissue - brand new - strings feel stiffer compared to my standards

[Jasonj]

I have played Les Paul's for a long time and have owned many standards (still have 2 nice ones) and an old 1990 classic. I just got my first ever CS - 59 Reissue light aged murphy lab in dirty lemon. This guitar is a beauty and the aging is really cool and not over the top, looks like a vintage instrument. But, does anyone here know why the same gauge strings might feel stiffer on the R9 as compared to my two LP standards? I have been using Ernie Ball Hybrid slinkys (9 to 46) for years and they feel very good to me on my standards. I got this R9 a couple of weeks ago and it feels stiffer and I have noticed my fingers getting a bit more sore, and I play every day for at least an hour. I measured the action and they are all very close, so just wondering why it feels different. I am considering doing a hybrid of 8s for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and 9s for the 4th 5th and 6th. Thanks!

 

[garywright]

assuming you’ve installed the EB’s ..if the neck is perfectly straight you might want to add a little relief..also, if the stop tp is fully cranked down try raising it an 1/8” or so

 

[jb_abides]

Yes, raise stop tail or top wrap

 

[Jasonj]

assuming you’ve installed the EB’s ..if the neck is perfectly straight you might want to add a little relief..also, if the stop tp is fully cranked down try raising it an 1/8” or so

Thanks for the feedback. So this CS experience has been interesting. I initially bought the same model (but it was "ultra light aged) but ended up returning it because it not only felt stiff but had a high action and my tech said he didnt think it was a good one. So i lost like 300 in shipping costs. Another one popped up at a different shop (but this one was "light aged") so i was able to get a good discount, no tax, and free shipping. I found this one to be much more playing out of the case than the last one, but after a couple of weeks, and going back and fourth between my standards, it definitely feels stiffer.

It may need some relief. I did the test where you fret the 1st and last fret and then touch the 12th, and there is still a tiny space, but not much. Incidentally, i did this with my other 2 standards and it seemed about the same. I have been reading about raising the TP or top wrapping, so maybe thats next. I also ordered some 8s and 8.5 hybrids so i may see how that feels as well. I usually use hybrid 9s /10s EBs but i ended up putting the rest of a 9 set on it. The 3rd 4th and 5th feel just fine, and the g string isnt too bad, but the 1st and 2nd are stiff, and those are strings i am bending a lot. Love the guitar otherwsie, the aged lacqer feel of the neck is really nice.

 

[Jasonj]

Yes, raise stop tail or top wrap

Thanks, that seems to be a common suggestion. If i do those things will I in turn need to add relief to the neck? I usually play hybrid EB slinkys 9s (a fair amount in Eb but standard too).

 

[charliechitlins]

I think a lot of "stiffness" is related to fret height.
All my guitars become slinkier when I put big frets on them.

 

[garywright]

sounds like the relief is ok, I’d leave it alone

 

[Jasonj]

sounds like the relief is ok, I’d leave it alone

Cool, I guess i'll start with adding some lighter gauge for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and see how that feels. The lower strings feel fine with 9s so i'll experiment with my own hybrid set i guess. After that Maybe it will be top wrapping or raising the tail piece. It still plays pretty well now and has a great tone, but it it's more work to play, reminds of playing my strat - fingers getting deeper callouses and more soreness.

 

[Jasonj]

I think a lot of "stiffness" is related to fret height.
All my guitars become slinkier when I put big frets on them.

Do current USA standards have different frets than current 59 reissues? Changing frets sounds super involved!

 

[garywright]

Cool, I guess i'll start with adding some lighter gauge for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and see how that feels. The lower strings feel fine with 9s so i'll experiment with my own hybrid set i guess. After that Maybe it will be top wrapping or raising the tail piece. It still plays pretty well now and has a great tone, but it it's more work to play, reminds of playing my strat - fingers getting deeper callouses and more soreness.

you’ve already got the string gauge that you prefer. Loosen all 6 strings and raise the tp up ..retune and check it out

 

[Jasonj]

you’ve already got the string gauge that you prefer. Loosen all 6 strings and raise the tp up ..retune and check it out

Ok great, I'll try that, have never adjusted a TP before. It's low but not quite all the way, but close. Thanks

 

[garywright]

the thing is you don’t want to crank up one side then the other..i always do 1/4-1/2 turn on one side then do the other..otherwise you could have the tp too cocked and it will lock up

 

[charliechitlins]

Do current USA standards have different frets than current 59 reissues? Changing frets sounds super involved!

If you have feeler gauges, you can put a straightedge across 2 frets and measure down to the fretboard.
That will let you know if you're dealing with a height difference.

 

[krlpuretone]

Top wrapping can be your friend!

Also might want to try a different brand of strings; I played Ernie Balls for 30+ years and in the last few, found them to be way more variable in terms of consistency.
Switched to Stringjoy and problem is solved, plus the guitar is always in tune!!!

 

[Jasonj]

If you have feeler gauges, you can put a straightedge across 2 frets and measure down to the fretboard.
That will let you know if you're dealing with a height difference.

Thanks. Yea i have been a bit frustrated because i am finding this guitar more work to play as compared to my standards. Stiffer feeling strings, fret buzz..... I actually returned one like this a month ago and hoped to have better luck with this one. I have passed the point of the return policy now so I have to just get this thing playing well. I have to think that it just needs a neck adjustment, intonation work, and perhaps raised tail piece.

 

[Jasonj]

Top wrapping can be your friend!

Also might want to try a different brand of strings; I played Ernie Balls for 30+ years and in the last few, found them to be way more variable in terms of consistency.
Switched to Stringjoy and problem is solved, plus the guitar is always in tune!!!

Thanks, i'll keep that in mind. I have EBs on my 3 other guitars and it's all good, but something to consider. Thanks!

 

[MrNubs]

I have played Les Paul's for a long time and have owned many standards (still have 2 nice ones) and an old 1990 classic. I just got my first ever CS - 59 Reissue light aged murphy lab in dirty lemon. This guitar is a beauty and the aging is really cool and not over the top, looks like a vintage instrument. But, does anyone here know why the same gauge strings might feel stiffer on the R9 as compared to my two LP standards? I have been using Ernie Ball Hybrid slinkys (9 to 46) for years and they feel very good to me on my standards. I got this R9 a couple of weeks ago and it feels stiffer and I have noticed my fingers getting a bit more sore, and I play every day for at least an hour. I measured the action and they are all very close, so just wondering why it feels different. I am considering doing a hybrid of 8s for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and 9s for the 4th 5th and 6th. Thanks!

first - you said you use 9s
second - nowhere did you say you changed the strings
third - cs 59s come with 10's
forth - if 1,2 are true then 3rd is the reason for the stiffer feel
fifth - if buying online you sure as shit need to be able to judge a guitar when you receive it - first thing you do is pick the treble E string, if don't feel any vibration in the guitar body, send that anchor back for a refund.

 

[corpse]

I will share some stuff- this is by no means the do-all-end-all- this is my experience on Historic LP's. It is random babbling.
I like a very "slinky" feel to strings- and i don't like action that is too low. I love the stock strings on Historics and when they were available I liked to use the Vintage Gibson strings- post-CV they are not available best I can tell. i change a set when I break a string or they don't hold in tune.
I have tried Pyramid Nickels- and found them "brittle" feeling. They do last a long time. Kinda pricey.
Pure Blues Nickel DR's- unreliable- break and lose life sort of quick (<6 hrs playtime). I bought a box at a show and they were about $4/set.
Blue Magic- a newish Tampa maker- has a nice Rock, vintage (pure Nickel) and even a set optimized for P90's. Low end of pricey- nice tone- stay in tune right away with very little fiddling- i put a set on and beat on them for 45 minutes and almost zero retuning.
Stringjoy- -very very nice- same as above but a little nicer maybe- at $12/set. But I found I broke a string (see my D-string dilemma in the tech forum). To me these are the recreation of the Gibson vintage- $12 breaks the bank for me. Maybe a $12 set of strings is what belongs on a $5000 guitar. On a $10K guitar for certain.
I think supply chain has had a big impact on this- my tech here in extreme eastern MA calls some of these issues "covid strings". Once someone identifies a cheaper source, getting them to go up with a prior source takes a real commitment to brand quality/consistency.
I would make sure the nut slots are wide enough and have a little pencil lead in them. The G strings on all of mine needed one or two passes per SIDE (not down) with emory cloth. The pinging stops and I never have binding issues and I always like the feel. Higher action does equate to a slinkier feel.
Stiffness is the opposite of slinkiness to me. Maybe this will help be a guide.
Joe Bonamassa uses EB Slinkeys. Rumbleseat uses what ever is cheapest...

 

[jb_abides]

I think supply chain has had a big impact on this- my tech here in extreme eastern MA calls some of these issues "covid strings". Once someone identifies a cheaper source, getting them to go up with a prior source takes a real commitment to brand quality/consistency.

There is truth in the Lockdown Supply Chain thesis: I've been through 3 new OEM batteries from Acura, at their expense, due to failure. Never had such a problem before. The dealership shrugs and replaces under warranty and tells me they are seeing at lot of parts quality issues post-Lockdown.

 

[Jasonj]

first - you said you use 9s
second - nowhere did you say you changed the strings
third - cs 59s come with 10's
forth - if 1,2 are true then 3rd is the reason for the stiffer feel
fifth - if buying online you sure as shit need to be able to judge a guitar when you receive it - first thing you do is pick the treble E string, if don't feel any vibration in the guitar body, send that anchor back for a refund.

Thanks for the info. I did change to 9s, sorry that was not clear. Point well taken about buying unseen. Unfortunately no good shops anywhere close to me. I did return a very similar CS recently because of how it played and such. This one felt good out of the case but just a bit stiff. It looks great and sounds great, just some of the issues i mentioned. I have now passed the point where I can return it for refund so it's mine. I think it's a set up issue and finding which strings work for this one. But regardless, i'm stuck with it now so i'm gonna figure it out.