Trem for my les paul
- Thread starter phil_104
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CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
do it! I'm so ready to order one for my les paul studio, but I have a few necessary expenses in front of it
do it! I'm so ready to order one for my les paul studio, but I have a few necessary expenses in front of it
J Moose
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
The Lestrem is a joke... functionaly it's a bigger pain in the ballz then a Bigsby which is saying something... doesn't stay in tune for krap. Between that & the super uber limited range I give it two thumbs & two big toes down.
Bigsby's are fine on a Paul if you really, REALLY need a trem. I have a Bigsby loaded Tele & while I love Gretches & all kinds of things... well... they're sort of a pain too.
I'm going to side with the people who are saying don't do it.
Live with the stock guitar for a bit and see if you really miss having a trem.
One of the things I love about Lesters is how 'stable' they can be. A Bigsby would shoot that to krap.
Besides, if you're looking for a trem you can "really" use & abuse you'll probably want to put a Kahler on there & won't be happy with a Bigsby...
The Lestrem is a joke... functionaly it's a bigger pain in the ballz then a Bigsby which is saying something... doesn't stay in tune for krap. Between that & the super uber limited range I give it two thumbs & two big toes down.
Bigsby's are fine on a Paul if you really, REALLY need a trem. I have a Bigsby loaded Tele & while I love Gretches & all kinds of things... well... they're sort of a pain too.
I'm going to side with the people who are saying don't do it.
Live with the stock guitar for a bit and see if you really miss having a trem.
One of the things I love about Lesters is how 'stable' they can be. A Bigsby would shoot that to krap.
Besides, if you're looking for a trem you can "really" use & abuse you'll probably want to put a Kahler on there & won't be happy with a Bigsby...
CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
I tell ya what, ever since I installed locking tuners on my SG, my bigsby almost NEVER goes out of tune...it's very solid. I feel like locking tuners should be on every trem equipped guitar (with the exception of floyd's, obviously)
I tell ya what, ever since I installed locking tuners on my SG, my bigsby almost NEVER goes out of tune...it's very solid. I feel like locking tuners should be on every trem equipped guitar (with the exception of floyd's, obviously)
J Moose
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
My Tele has non-locking tuners & generally no tuning issues. But, I'm not using the Bigs for anything more then light vibrato...
Psychedelic rock makes me think that there's some impending whammy use & abuse which I don't think a bigs would hold up to well, even with locking tuners. It's stable sure, but nowhere near as stable as a strat trem.
My Tele has non-locking tuners & generally no tuning issues. But, I'm not using the Bigs for anything more then light vibrato...
Psychedelic rock makes me think that there's some impending whammy use & abuse which I don't think a bigs would hold up to well, even with locking tuners. It's stable sure, but nowhere near as stable as a strat trem.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: Trem for my les paul
Dunno man, I'm kinda thinking of sth like that for the future and I'm more into looking for LP alternatives, axes that have the feel and the sound but wear a tremolo (a wilki type is sufficient for me) just so that I won't be in that boat...
But you already have it and it's a beauty to boot so, dunno, I say forget the aesthetic part of the thing and go for reversible functionality.
If there's a (usable) trem that will retrofit an LP without permanently changing it (drilling routing etc) then regardless of how goofy it might look that's what you should be getting.
Dunno man, I'm kinda thinking of sth like that for the future and I'm more into looking for LP alternatives, axes that have the feel and the sound but wear a tremolo (a wilki type is sufficient for me) just so that I won't be in that boat...
But you already have it and it's a beauty to boot so, dunno, I say forget the aesthetic part of the thing and go for reversible functionality.
If there's a (usable) trem that will retrofit an LP without permanently changing it (drilling routing etc) then regardless of how goofy it might look that's what you should be getting.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
I wouldn't do it. As said by someone else it will change the tone of your guitar and not only that but if you ever decide you don't like it your pretty much screwed....
I wouldn't do it. As said by someone else it will change the tone of your guitar and not only that but if you ever decide you don't like it your pretty much screwed....
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Trem for my les paul
www.rondomusic.net
Not a whole lot more money than a Bigsby would run you...then you could use your Gibson as a Gibson and have this whacky hybrid thing for psychedelia.
www.rondomusic.net
Not a whole lot more money than a Bigsby would run you...then you could use your Gibson as a Gibson and have this whacky hybrid thing for psychedelia.
lex666
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
Yeah dude, I'm gonna +4 against drilling anything into your guitar, or even adding that les trem thing.
I'd really consider getting a different guitar already equipped with a trem. Try looking into some Epi LP's with a bigsby. After a pup swap, I'd be willing to bet it sounded just as good as your Gibby. Or try one of those PRS SE guitars. I hear those are very nice guitars. Alot of Shecter are available with trems. Take a look into those too.
Either way, leave the Gibson alone. IMO, you should have 1 trem and 1 non trem guitar in your aresenal anyways. There's no regrets to having a pristine les paul. There's plenty to regret if your additon of a trem goes wrong...
Yeah dude, I'm gonna +4 against drilling anything into your guitar, or even adding that les trem thing.
I'd really consider getting a different guitar already equipped with a trem. Try looking into some Epi LP's with a bigsby. After a pup swap, I'd be willing to bet it sounded just as good as your Gibby. Or try one of those PRS SE guitars. I hear those are very nice guitars. Alot of Shecter are available with trems. Take a look into those too.
Either way, leave the Gibson alone. IMO, you should have 1 trem and 1 non trem guitar in your aresenal anyways. There's no regrets to having a pristine les paul. There's plenty to regret if your additon of a trem goes wrong...
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Trem for my les paul
My God what a bunch of whiners! Scaredy cat bunch of wusses.
Are you a player or a poser dude? If you are a PLAYER and need some trem action, serious TREM action - get the &^$% Khaler and put it in! Best trem for an LP period - end of story. Stop wussy-footing aound the topic with Stets, Les Trems or even Bigsby!!!
Or are you a Collector? In which case what the H-E-double toothpicks is a vintage mahogany studio? Do you mean one of the recent all mahog Studios? That's not vintage anything!!! You just collected an 800 dollar guitar that in 10, 20, 30, or 40 years will be worth...400-600. WITHOUT the trem!!!!! Trem will actually increase the value IMO. Just becasue it's Gibson DOES NOT MEAN IT's INVESTMENT GRADE!
I'm sorry to rant, and appologize if I've offended. But really; It's an uber low end LP and the dude needs some whammy. Khaler - done. If the guitar is more important than your chops you're a poser and a fool for getting an uber low end LP and treating like it's an original 59.
flame away....
My God what a bunch of whiners! Scaredy cat bunch of wusses.
Are you a player or a poser dude? If you are a PLAYER and need some trem action, serious TREM action - get the &^$% Khaler and put it in! Best trem for an LP period - end of story. Stop wussy-footing aound the topic with Stets, Les Trems or even Bigsby!!!
Or are you a Collector? In which case what the H-E-double toothpicks is a vintage mahogany studio? Do you mean one of the recent all mahog Studios? That's not vintage anything!!! You just collected an 800 dollar guitar that in 10, 20, 30, or 40 years will be worth...400-600. WITHOUT the trem!!!!! Trem will actually increase the value IMO. Just becasue it's Gibson DOES NOT MEAN IT's INVESTMENT GRADE!
I'm sorry to rant, and appologize if I've offended. But really; It's an uber low end LP and the dude needs some whammy. Khaler - done. If the guitar is more important than your chops you're a poser and a fool for getting an uber low end LP and treating like it's an original 59.
flame away....
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: Trem for my les paul
I wish I had Steve Clark's guitars he used on the Hysteria Tour. You've gotta love those two Les Paul Customs.
http://www.steveclarkguitar.com/StevesHysteriaTourGuitars.html
I wish I had Steve Clark's guitars he used on the Hysteria Tour. You've gotta love those two Les Paul Customs.
http://www.steveclarkguitar.com/StevesHysteriaTourGuitars.html
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Trem for my les paul
btw, that cheap ass Bigsby LP I pictured never goes out of tune, it's incredible.
btw, that cheap ass Bigsby LP I pictured never goes out of tune, it's incredible.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: Trem for my les paul
Wow, kinda brings things to perspective. I didn't know it was a low end Gibby but still.
Dunno man, now I'm kinda lost for words.
He is basically right you know. The guitar is just a tool used to express yourself and convey your music to people. Sure there is plenty of inspiration to be found on the tool itself but what good is that if it's not doing the job you want it to do?
Let me re-evaluate my earlier answer. If you can find a tremolo that can be retrofitted without permanently altering the guitar AND it does your job right (meaning probably no LesTrem) then go that way. If not forget the visual part of the thing (aka the IMHO poor-excuse-for-a-tremolo Bigsby that basically is still used solely because that's the only trem people expect to see in an LP) and simply go for what will do what you want it to do best.
With that said I think I'm gonna go in a corner and reflect in shame...
Wow, kinda brings things to perspective. I didn't know it was a low end Gibby but still.
Dunno man, now I'm kinda lost for words.
He is basically right you know. The guitar is just a tool used to express yourself and convey your music to people. Sure there is plenty of inspiration to be found on the tool itself but what good is that if it's not doing the job you want it to do?
Let me re-evaluate my earlier answer. If you can find a tremolo that can be retrofitted without permanently altering the guitar AND it does your job right (meaning probably no LesTrem) then go that way. If not forget the visual part of the thing (aka the IMHO poor-excuse-for-a-tremolo Bigsby that basically is still used solely because that's the only trem people expect to see in an LP) and simply go for what will do what you want it to do best.
With that said I think I'm gonna go in a corner and reflect in shame...
Captain Tightpants
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
+1 Jolly, I've been gassing for his White Custom for 20 years!!!
+1 Jolly, I've been gassing for his White Custom for 20 years!!!
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: Trem for my les paul
The Stetsbar is really expensive but after seeing Snowy White in concert with it I have to say the results are not bad at all. You would probably need to add locking tuners and a graphite nut so the price would even go a little higher - if you're willing to pay the price I say go for it.
The Les Trem and Bigsbys felt good to me when I've tried them, but the main problem is that they are pretty useless compared to all other models.
The Stetsbar is really expensive but after seeing Snowy White in concert with it I have to say the results are not bad at all. You would probably need to add locking tuners and a graphite nut so the price would even go a little higher - if you're willing to pay the price I say go for it.
The Les Trem and Bigsbys felt good to me when I've tried them, but the main problem is that they are pretty useless compared to all other models.
