Epiphone Les Paul Problems

[RGX]

Hi guys, great forums you have here, and I'd like your advice on my guitar. :smoker:

My Les Paul has a few issues (go epiphone :laugh2: ) and I'm really not sure what to do about them.

For a start, my D string rattles when played open, no matter how high I raise the action. It's fine when fretted, but I'd really like to get rid of it. I've narrowed it down to several options.

1) The D string nut slot is cut too low (it does look a little lower than the others)

2) The neck is beginning to twist (this is worrying, I think it's the neck twisting, as when you look from the bridge to the nut, the nut appears to sink towards the higher strings)

3) The nut itself may be sinking (based on the above observation)

4) The truss rod needs adjustment. (the neck looks too concave to me)

5) I have accidently replaced my D string with a rattlesnake with every string change.

My problem is this: I'm a poor UK college student, and I don't have much money. I have enough for a set-up, but I don't want to take it into a guitar shop, pay for the set-up, and find it needs the nut replaced. (pricey)

Am I just going to have to pay for a new nut, and starve for a while? :yell:


2nd problem. I am planning a pickup change soon from the stock epiphone humbuckers. They arn't bad for the price, but I'm sure as you pickup gurus know, they get pretty muddy and undefined. When I hammer on notes, or play legato, the notes sound a little clipped and...well crappy. In your opinion do you think this is related to the setup problems above, or the pickup?

Now I know what you're thinking, practice hand strength, do hammer on excersises etc, but when I play my friends Fender 72 reissue telecaster (seymour duncan hot rail in the bridge), I don't seem to have this problem. The notes sound defined and fluid, just like I want them to, so I'm pretty sure it's not me.


I have a 1.3 megapixel camera phone (birthday present), so I can take pictures of the issues if it makes it any easier.


Thanks for any help guys, I appreciate it.

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

Welcome to the forum. :beerchug:

i won't be of much assitance for your first problem, but from your description your axe really need someone to take a look at. How come the neck get twisted?
Some pics might be useful as the gurus around have the eye for guitar defect and materials.


For you second problem, I'd say go for it :burnout: defenetly ! If you want to use it for jam or even gigs, you will need to. I myself got an Epi and am about to have
the whole electronic changed. In 3 weeks time I'll be enjoying my "new axe" with a real sound ('59 set).
The neck pickup was so muddy I never used it and the damn thing couldn't stop hissing when I half cranked my 80W SS amp.

Check out previous threads epi related, it'll give you some ideas !

 

[MikeS]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

Welcome aboard!

My first reaction would be that the nut is slotted too low (since the buzzing goes away when fretted. A neck with too much bow will be more likely to begin to buzz when fretted than when open). A warped neck would likely produce buzzing on multiple strings at multiple frets. Also, becaue of the way nuts are often filed, looking down the neck at the nut can produce an optical illusion, being that the nut is filed lower at the high E than it is the low E.

As far as pickups are concerned, you've come to teh right place. Go browse the pickup lounge and the product profiles on teh website. Once you've got an idea of the type of sound you may be looking for, ask away and people will shoot you opinions galore and give you even more to think about.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

Hey RGX, Welcome to the Forum man!

My first question is this, did you buy the guitar new?

My second question, have you messed with the truss rod before?

If you answered yes to either of these I would take it to a shop. Why? Limited lifetime warranty on most epi LP's. If the neck is actually twisting then a pro needs to look at it, or the shop replace it. If you didn't buy the guitar new and are on your own hold tight and check your post often to see if any of the luthiers have responded for the truss rod issue.

Now as far as your nut goes, if the slot is cut badly (which is common) you should (conceivably) be able to raise your action and get rid of it. It might not be comfortable to play, but you will know that that was the problem.

On the electronics topic though, new pots, switches, pups, and caps and your guitar will definitely be gig ready.

Luke

 

[ErikH]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

I have an Epi LP too. No problems with mine but from what you're describing, I have to agree with what others have said, it's most likely the nut.

Don't underestimate what a good setup can do to a guitar, no matter how much it costs. I've played Gibson Les Pauls that played like crap because they were not set up properly.

The first thing I did with my Epi when I bought it was to do a complete setup. I checked the truss rod, intonation, inspected the frets (no problems there), pickup height, action, the works. It plays wonderfully and to me the stock pickups sound ok. I can do everything on it that I can do on my JB/Jazz loaded guitar.

Of course, no two guitars are the same and when shopping some of the Epi's, you really have to shop. I have found the recent Chinese models (2004 - present) to be of better quality than the prior Korean models.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

I had an Epi Lp come into the shop i worked at and had the same trouble.... D string buzzed when played open and when fretted at the 2nd fret it went away... it was the 2nd fret that popped up..... a careful hammer blow with a soft piece of wood to take the blow pressure, seated the fret back down.. This can be tricky and i do not expect anyone to start hitting their frets with hammers.... But sometimes it can be as simple as that......

Take it to a store or tech before you do anything.. Take it into a store and tell them you do not have much money and just ask them what they think it needs done. Sometimes the sale reps at Music Stores can see the trouble and tell you what needs work.... Once you know for sure what the real problem is you can make a plan of action.. Here in Canada most shops i go to will take a quick look at a repair job and not charge you for the quick inspection.... can't say if it is the same in the UK.. worth a shot.

WhoFan
my Epi LP has to be completely refretted..... the neck was broken in 2 and teh glue job didn't work out that well for teh guy who tried to repair it... now it is my baby to repair..

 

[RGX]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

Thanks for the replies guys, and all the welcoming.

Looks like it's a new nut then I guess, may as well save up for a while and get the truss rod etc set up whilst it's there. Annoying though, I heard Epi quality control wasn't that hot but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad.

And yeah, I bought it new, and I did attempt to correct the truss rod problem, but the neck didn't flatten very much and it made the D string buzzing worse. I'm not sure if the Epiphone warranty applies to the UK or how I have to prove I got it new, but it's worth a shot, thanks.

So you are pretty sure it's the pickup that causes the notes to sound undefined and clipped? I was thinking of a seymour duncan alnico pro II to replace it (big slash fan), do you reckon this should sort it out?

Thanks for all replies and help!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

1) The D string nut slot is cut too low (it does look a little lower than the others).

If a single string slot is cut low, you could raise the nut (get someone to do that) or just get a new nut - best solution.

2) The neck is beginning to twist (this is worrying, I think it's the neck twisting, as when you look from the bridge to the nut, the nut appears to sink towards the higher strings)

The nut may just look that way. The imprtant thing is that the slots/strings are the right depth/height. But if you are worried, have someone look at guitar shop - free! If twisted, check into the warantee situation.

3) The nut itself may be sinking (based on the above observation)

The nut sits on wood - not mud. The slots can wear, or the fretboard could peal up. DOubtful on both counts!

4) The truss rod needs adjustment. (the neck looks too concave to me)

There are a ton of "do it yourself guitar books out there. everyone is afraid of the truss rod. Learn to do this yourself. The key is to just go slowly. I like a little relief because I play fairly heavy handed. But sometimes I go for flat neck with ultra low action. The truss/bridge height thing on a Paul is easy to do. And weather can effect neck bow. You really should learn to do this.

5) I have accidently replaced my D string with a rattlesnake with every string change.

???

My problem is this: I'm a poor UK college student, and I don't have much money. I have enough for a set-up, but I don't want to take it into a guitar shop, pay for the set-up, and find it needs the nut replaced. (pricey)
[/QUOTE] Suck it up for the nut, unless the guitar is new - then the warantee should cover it. Otherwise, teach yourself how to do the setup. You'll hate yourself if you ever learn to do it after you see how much people charge for it and find out how easy it was. You can goof with the axe for hours until it's perfect for YOU! For free!

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Epiphone Les Paul Problems

Hey man, and welcome!

I have an Epi 335, and I really like it, but now that you mention it my D string buzzes a bit too.... dunno what's wrong exactly, but I'm gonna play about with it in the near future to try and fix it. I also have problems with muddy pup,s and I'm gonna get an SD put in the bridge fairly soon. So, my advice (much like the guys above) is to get a pro to look at it, and then save up for (a) new pickup(s). Happy playing!