justFred
Well-known member
didn’t realize there was a problem that needed fixing…
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/tune-voodoo-skull
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/tune-voodoo-skull
Les Paul voodoo tune
- Thread starter justFred
- Start date
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
The best solution I've found is to cut the nut slots for the G and D slightly at an angle. This prevents the binding without any dumb skull necessary.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
*Awesome skull
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
There was already something called the string butler that did this. It looks horrible, though. And I honestly don't have all that much trouble with my D and G strings in my Les Pauls, Epiphone or even Gibson.
Then again, I do use heavy strings and a wound G. I don't know if that helps any, but my guitars all came with Graphtech nuts, and I lube them with Big Bends stuff. I also use locking tuners and a roller bridge in my Gibson even. There are of other things you can do to help the issue that don't take away from the classy look of a Les Paul.
Then again, I do use heavy strings and a wound G. I don't know if that helps any, but my guitars all came with Graphtech nuts, and I lube them with Big Bends stuff. I also use locking tuners and a roller bridge in my Gibson even. There are of other things you can do to help the issue that don't take away from the classy look of a Les Paul.
Last edited:
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
String butler was a cool idea if you have a guitar that needed this mostly non-issue fixed. I have seen a few guitars a local builder designed have that idea except it was just screws and rollers. It was a much cleaner design
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I think the String Butler is a better solution than a 3-D printed skull.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
The string buttler looks every bit as distasteful, TBH. Kinda looks like one of those parastic structrues in architecture. Kinda makes every headstock look like those attrocious designs they were using in the Moderne and the Futura in the 70's.
JMO, but I'd rather deal with tuning my Les Pauls a couple of times during the set. Honestly, if you've got a nut made out of good material that's cut well and lubed, and you have tuners that are stable, I don't think it's ever an issue to where you'll need to tune mid-song ever. At least, IME. Yeah, the headstock design is kinda dated on Gibsons, but I find dry bone nuts and Kluson tuners don't help either.
That, and I bet even the string butler is not a perfect solution. I mean, yeah, it gets you past the break angle thing. But now you've got another point of contact, and more friction to deal with. Plus it adds mass to the headstock, and that's the last thing you want on an SG.
JMO, but I'd rather deal with tuning my Les Pauls a couple of times during the set. Honestly, if you've got a nut made out of good material that's cut well and lubed, and you have tuners that are stable, I don't think it's ever an issue to where you'll need to tune mid-song ever. At least, IME. Yeah, the headstock design is kinda dated on Gibsons, but I find dry bone nuts and Kluson tuners don't help either.
That, and I bet even the string butler is not a perfect solution. I mean, yeah, it gets you past the break angle thing. But now you've got another point of contact, and more friction to deal with. Plus it adds mass to the headstock, and that's the last thing you want on an SG.
Last edited:
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Honestly, yes. Totally.
I just love the looks and tone of a classic Les Paul so much that I'm willing to let the quirks slide. My Les Paul Tribute is far from high-end, it's far from the best playing guitar I've ever had, and while it's not too bad either, it's not like my old RG570 which could just not be thrown out of tune at all. But honestly, it just sounds like I've wished every guitar I've had sounded like. At least every chugg-chugg oriented guitar, I mean. And I don't think it would sound that way if it weren't for the idisioncracies in design.
I mean, I've had LTD EC's and PRS Singlecuts. And while all of them have been good, all of them have fallen slightly short. At least for what I look for in a guitar's sound.
Last edited:
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Just angle the string slots at the nut! No need to redesign the headstock.
Would that work the same? Won't strings have to veer a little somewhere?
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
The problem that causes the binding at the nut is the break angle. If you angle the way the string passes over the nut just a little bit towards the tuning post, you reduce the break angle. The strings still have to veer at both ends of the nut, but not as sharply - reducing binding. At least that's how it has always been explained to me.
80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
Last edited:
80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
Wish I could edit a post...
That was supposed to read Unless you really like skulls...
all of my Lester's got new tuners, only one of them has any sort of tuning issues, it will get the skull..
That was supposed to read Unless you really like skulls...
all of my Lester's got new tuners, only one of them has any sort of tuning issues, it will get the skull..
Last edited:
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
Report back to us if it works or if you got skull ****ed . . .
It could be a bonehead move....
Gonna try to use my noggin....
