Need help with a few tuning issues

[That90'sGuy]

I just got in my RI '60 Gibson Les Paul Special DC today. The only thing I dislike about the guitar are the tuners... they are horrible. When I tune up or down, I hear the string "kink". I've heard this with older tuners that were worn, but not on a new instrument.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? I'm questioning if it's the cut of the nut or just bad tuners. I'm not even sure what would be considered proper "drop in replacements" for the stock ones. I really love the Gotoh locking tuners on my Grosh and wouldn't mind them on the Gibson, but I don't know if there would need to be any holes drilled (in which I couldn't do it... not to a custom shop instrument). I noticed the tuners don't tighten/loosten right away when I turn them, these take a good half turn before they start to change pitch. I'm assuming this is the turn ratio that I see displayed on many tuners these days?

Thanks

 

[rspst14]

Re: Need help with a few tuning issues

I told you to buy the Hamer, but did you listen? :yell: :damnit:

:joke: I'm willing to bet it's the nut. New Gibsons sometimes have problems with the nut not being cut right. Take a piece of 220 grit sandpaper and rub it in the nut slots. Don't use too much pressure, you don't want to change the size of the slots. After that, lube the nut with some graphite. I'm assuming you know how to properly wind strings. I'm also assuming that it's not the tuners. One of the biggest misconceptions in the guitar world is that the tuners are to blame for tuning problems. It can happen, but in almost every case, it's either a nut or string winding problem. When you hear that pinging sound while tuning, it's usually a good sign that the string is binding in the nut. That sound is a result of the string being stuck, and then breaking free of the nut.

Ryan

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Need help with a few tuning issues

Thanks Ryan (that's what I was thinking).

Hamer can kiss my *** because I love the Gibson. :laugh2: I have to take photos of this bad boy in the sunlight tomorrow when I get out of school. No flaws whatsoever on there and the wood grain and unplugged tone is really magical... it's definitely a keeper I'm even impressed with the stock pickups, and that's extremely rare for me.

Looks like I'll have to cut the nut a bit tomorrow and if I ever screw up, maybe that'll be a sign for me to upgrade to something like an Earvana nut. (the guitar did wipe out my bank account though)

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Need help with a few tuning issues

Alright, everyone take note of this post. the Chris properly side-stepped the Hamer and went with Gibson. Let's applaud his courage! Just say no to Hamer USA!

Ryan's right, IMO. It's usually an improperly-cut nut that is causing the problem.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need help with a few tuning issues

Sanding the nut should solve your tuning issues.

BTW, Gotoh Kluson copies fit in my friend's 57 Strat with no problems, fitting perfectly in the indentations that are in the laquer. I assume gotoh makes an equallly faithful repro for Gibson style tuners.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Need help with a few tuning issues

Alright, everyone take note of this post. the Chris properly side-stepped the Hamer and went with Gibson. Let's applaud his courage! Just say no to Hamer USA!

Ryan's right, IMO. It's usually an improperly-cut nut that is causing the problem.

:laugh2:

I've had some bad experiences with Gibson guitars in the past, but I managed to get a really fantastic one this time. :dance: I'll go more in depth tomorrow when I have a good amount of playing time with it and can take lots of eye candy pictures. The look may not work for everyone, but it sounds, feels and looks like "the" guitar for me.

Sanding shouldn't be too bad

Thanks Hamer, Ryan and Benjy for steering me in the right direction with this. I will look into Gotoh locking tuners for my new girl, but she's going to need some slight treatment tomorrow with that nut