Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

S

Studflower

New member
Hi guys, first post here!

I don't know if it's the tuner or the nut, but my G-string keeps going out of tune.

I was wondering if I could get some recommendations on tuner replacements that don't require drilling or anything of that sort (I don't want to deal with a split headstock or something...)
It's my first upgrade I'm ever doing to any guitar.

Also, while I'm here, may I ask a question about ground? Is it normal for the guitar to make static noise (as if it's not grounded properly)? Or is it something that I can fix up with a simple re-solder?

Thank you guys,
Sean
 
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Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Welcome.

If you haven't done anything with it since you got it, there's a 99% chance the issue is with the nut. They never get the slots cut perfectly right from the factory. They needs to be fine tuned to be correct for the correct angle and opening. Your string is getting bound up in there. If you aren't experienced in that area, take it to a good qualified tech who can fix it for you.

The static noise could be as simple as a lose ground or it could be the cable or the electrical current in the room you're in. Just depends on how much of it there is and if it happens with just that guitar or several.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Studflower said:
Hi guys, first post here!

I don't know if it's the tuner or the nut, but my G-string keeps going out of tune.

I was wondering if I could get some recommendations on tuner replacements that don't require drilling or anything of that sort (I don't want to deal with a split headstock or something...)
It's my first upgrade I'm ever doing to any guitar.

Also, while I'm here, may I ask a question about ground? Is it normal for the guitar to make static noise (as if it's not grounded properly)? Or is it something that I can fix up with a simple re-solder?

Thank you guys,
Sean
Click to expand...

I've always had that problem, and new tuners won't fix it. Get some Big Bends nut sauce, or chapstick, or even Vaseline- any lube- and put it in the nut slot. Also make sure the nut slot is clear. The nut sauce does wonders.

The guitar will have a certain amount of noise if you're using gain. Active pickups are quieter. Typically, if you take your hand off the bridge, you'll hear noise, put your hand on, noise is gone, but you may still have a little if using any amount of gain. That's what noise gates are for.

Check all connections, make sure you don't have a bad cable.

Other than that you have to find the source of the noise
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

I agree with the responses about the nut but also make sure that the screw holding the knobs on the tuners are snug
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

+1 on the nut. I changed my LP Studio tuners for the same reason, and that I thought they looked like banjo tuners. I bought nickel Grover lockers. My older brother told me I was an idiot. Between him and his son he's worked on many Gibson guitars. He told me to have the luthier file the nut slots. The locking tuners do make strings easier to change, but you don't "need" to spend the money.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Fold a tiny piece of fine grit sandpaper over a little piece of a B string, and slide it through the G slot a few times. It'll widen the slot a tiny bit and then your G string won't get hung up in there.
A tiny bit of vaseline or Chapstick in the slot will allow strings to glide through without binding.

That's a layman's method for doing what a Luthier would do with a file. Don't go overboard and cut the slot too low. You're just trying to widen it a little.

If you tune your guitar and hear a 'ping noise' when turning the tuner looser or tighter, that's an indication that the slots need widening. Often, a guitar has one gauge heavier strings than what came with the guitar.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Take your guitar to a QUALIFIED tech. Have the nut slots cut for the string gauge you are using. Leave the tuners alone. May it for a month or so, then if you continue to have tuning issues take it back and have new tuning machines installed. This would not be something I would tackle as my first mod. Better off leaving it to someone qualifief


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Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

I agree with the others. It's almost never the tuners, even the cheapest ones though they might feel like crap will still hold tune pretty well. And Gibbys all come with nice tuners so I would look at the nut first.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Gearjoneser said:
Fold a tiny piece of fine grit sandpaper over a little piece of a B string, and slide it through the G slot a few times. It'll widen the slot a tiny bit and then your G string won't get hung up in there.
A tiny bit of vaseline or Chapstick in the slot will allow strings to glide through without binding.

That's a layman's method for doing what a Luthier would do with a file. Don't go overboard and cut the slot too low. You're just trying to widen it a little.

If you tune your guitar and hear a 'ping noise' when turning the tuner looser or tighter, that's an indication that the slots need widening. Often, a guitar has one gauge heavier strings than what came with the guitar.
Click to expand...

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions!!!

As quoted above, I did hear that ping!!! It almost always makes a "ping" noise when I'm tuning... Didn't even think twice about it.
I'll definitely get the nut taken care of. (may it be a qualified luthier or... myself.............. :smack:)
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Gearjoneser said:
Fold a tiny piece of fine grit sandpaper over a little piece of a B string, and slide it through the G slot a few times. It'll widen the slot a tiny bit and then your G string won't get hung up in there.
A tiny bit of vaseline or Chapstick in the slot will allow strings to glide through without binding.

That's a layman's method for doing what a Luthier would do with a file. Don't go overboard and cut the slot too low. You're just trying to widen it a little.

If you tune your guitar and hear a 'ping noise' when turning the tuner looser or tighter, that's an indication that the slots need widening. Often, a guitar has one gauge heavier strings than what came with the guitar.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with this poster, but I would add one thing. It isn't just the width of the slot. I was told that the machine cut slots have very squared off edges. On wound strings the grooves hang up on these edges. The luthier files these to round them off a bit. This allows the string to slide back and forth without hanging up. After I did all the mods (*locking tuners, had the nut filed, and new strings) the guitar stays in tune very well now. No more issues.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

+1 for proper finishing of the nut slots. Minimise friction points.

Also, the way that you wrap strings around the posts makes a difference. There are several methods that arrange the wraps of the string to lock itself against the machine head post.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

If you retune it and you hear a loud 'ping' it is almost certainly the nut.

Bit of a hazard on any 3+3 tuners.

Always be sure to tune up to pitch, not down.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Guitars that I've had tuning issues with were absolutely NEVER improved by "better" tuners.
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

Yeah, Gibson QC's dirtiest laundry tends to focus around the nuts. Those things are seeeeeeriously grotesque and nasty.

Sarcasm aside, I can't recall any other brand, in any price point, to ever have nuts quite that cheap and inconsistent. Btw, if you DO choose to take it to a pro, or start yourself and blow it, don't pay their steep labour charges on evening out slots in that sorry piece of plastic - get em to bone you instead. Similar price, but the diff can be downright orgasmic sometimes (sry sry, no more nut/bone/sex cracks outta me, shutting up now)
 
Re: Gibson LP Studio Tuner Upgrade?

^^ Yup. Get rid of that Corian crap and get a properly slotted bone nut.
PC
 
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