Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

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Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

greekdude said:
That goes along with the design i guess. My Ibanez ARZ800 also has this problem, but it doesn't have any fancy locking tuners either. But when i say problem, i mean, e.g. going slightly off tune after one day or so, and then bringing this to pitch has this weird effect of jumping a little sharper than it should even with the slightest turn of the tuner. But its definitely tolerable.
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Maybe my Les Paul is abnormally bad. I have to deal with the G string's tuning after performing every other song, and on some occasions it noticeably out of tune during performance. I'd be happy if it held out for a whole day. I replaced the nut with a "Graph Tech" low friction nut, but that didn't seem to make any difference. I'll give Nut Sauce a try, what the heck.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

DreX said:
The main reason I don't play the Les Paul I have is because the G string wouldn't stay in tune for God himself. I'm astonished to hear that this is a common problem which people somehow tolerate. I have fewer issues with vintage trems on my strats.
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I'm astonished that I have never experienced this problem in 40 years and believe me my LP has had lots of use. I wind the string once or twice around the post and then lock it. Stays in tune no problem.

Guitars 1.jpg
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

DreX said:
Maybe my Les Paul is abnormally bad. I have to deal with the G string's tuning after performing every other song, and on some occasions it noticeably out of tune during performance. I'd be happy if it held out for a whole day. I replaced the nut with a "Graph Tech" low friction nut, but that didn't seem to make any difference. I'll give Nut Sauce a try, what the heck.
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What about fully stressing the strings after installation? Also tightening this specific tuning machine? G string in all guitars is the most prone to pitch alterations regarding its tension, that's why guitarists prefers this G string for wild "Dimebag Darrell"-type squealies.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

DreX said:
Maybe my Les Paul is abnormally bad. I have to deal with the G string's tuning after performing every other song, and on some occasions it noticeably out of tune during performance. I'd be happy if it held out for a whole day. I replaced the nut with a "Graph Tech" low friction nut, but that didn't seem to make any difference. I'll give Nut Sauce a try, what the heck.
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make sure its properly wrapped around the tuning post as well. could be slipping
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

thats why i took it upon me to get rid of most design flaws but maintaining the meaty tone and keeping the hefty, solid feel of a les paul, too.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Haha after I put a new G string I lift the damn guitar up by that sucker and give it a couple of good shakes! I think it causes trouble on a lot of guitars, guess it's the nature of the beast.

For the record, I am not really agonizing over the Les Paul thing... I just found it interesting, mostly from the standpoint that guitars are *such* a personal thing, every guitar is different, every player is different. In my case I think I enjoy seeing others make the most out of what are really iconic, great sounding axes.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I think its a combination of things for me.

1) Bad weight balance sitting, lower cutout puts the guitar far right on your leg forcing your hand to lower frets, back edge of guitar is round so not easy to prop between legs like a V.
2) Dislike short scale length
3) Lacquered back neck not particulary fast for me
4) Prefer bolts on for maintenance reasons
5) The Les Paul vibe is either "tough guy" or retro, not my thing.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

hydro said:
Part of my deal is, what the hell do I do with my thumb on a single cutaway?

I wonder how much of the sound of the LP has to do with the contact the 12th fret and beyond has with the wood that would otherwise be cut out on an SG or other double cutaway style?
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Well, if you're soloing standing up, pull a Slash, and sit the butt of the guitar on your upper thigh.

I'm not a luthier or a sound engineer, however I suspect the thick, full tone of the Les Paul can simply be attributed to the mass of the wood the tailpiece is anchored to. If it works anything like how it does on Floyd Rose sustain blocks, the more mass you have making contact to the vibration of the strings, the fuller your sound is.

Really, the only portion of the guitar body contributing to sustain and vibration is the center block. Eddie Van Halen's Ibanez Destroyer sounded like S#ITE after he took a chainsaw to it.
 
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Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

It all contributes. Its why a DC LP sounds different to a single cut (traditional shape) one.

Guitars are a certain confirmation of the saying ' the whole is a sum of the parts'
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Top-L said:
I think its a combination of things for me.

1) Bad weight balance sitting, lower cutout puts the guitar far right on your leg forcing your hand to lower frets, back edge of guitar is round so not easy to prop between legs like a V.
2) Dislike short scale length
3) Lacquered back neck not particulary fast for me
4) Prefer bolts on for maintenance reasons
5) The Les Paul vibe is either "tough guy" or retro, not my thing.
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1) The weirdest guitar to hold, standing or sitting, is a V.
2) Short scale lengths make it easier to fret complex chords; are you a 'power chord' kind of guy?
3) Don't just about all guitars come with the back of the neck finished?
4) 'Prefer bolts for maintenance'...what, like an oil change?
5) LP's aren't necessarily for 'tough guys', but they do have a hard-hitting sound that can be associated with testosterone.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

blueman335 said:
1) The weirdest guitar to hold, standing or sitting, is a V.
2) Short scale lengths make it easier to fret complex chords; are you a 'power chord' kind of guy?
3) Don't just about all guitars come with the back of the neck finished?
4) 'Prefer bolts for maintenance'...what, like an oil change?
5) LP's aren't necessarily for 'tough guys', but they do have a hard-hitting sound that can be associated with testosterone.
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Short scales are horrible up the neck, IMO.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

AlexR said:
It all contributes. Its why a DC LP sounds different to a single cut (traditional shape) one.
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Yeah. Hamer Sunbursts, which is basically a double cup LP with a flat (still maple) top, is very different from a normal LP.

I think that the body holding on to the top of the neck make a huge difference.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

garryspicer said:
I'm astonished that I have never experienced this problem in 40 years and believe me my LP has had lots of use. I wind the string once or twice around the post and then lock it. Stays in tune no problem.
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+1 I have never experienced any tuning problems with stock tuners and I bend pretty deep and often.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

Letus said:
I can't sweep very well, and my fingers don't quite fit on the frets past the neck screws, but bending works very well and quick runs are easier there.
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I think it's just what instrumet feels comfortable when one starts playing. I found my telecaster and stratocaster incredibly hard to play at first, don't get me wrong I love them but after playin them I find playing the Les Paul is like playing air. It's not just the Les Paul either, the ES 335 feels the same. I'm not saying either one is better than the other. I read somewhere that a Gibson neck is like playng a classical guitar ie the thumb pivots from the middle of the neck whereas a Fender neck is more suited to playing in a blues style ie the thumb can be hooked over the top of the neck. At the end of the day it's whatever works for you, anything else is irrelevant.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I've been testing several high end guitars, les pauls, SGs, strats teles... i haven't loved any of them.

im starting to wonder if I should even play guitar.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

astrozombie said:
I've been testing several high end guitars, les pauls, SGs, strats teles... i haven't loved any of them.

im starting to wonder if I should even play guitar.
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Listen to some music which you feel embodies your personality, and is beyond your technical abilities. Then take an acoustic, put 13's on it, and try to learn to play that music on the acoustic exclusively for a month, and then go back to your electrics.

Enjoy the experience.
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I love my LPs both for the rich tone and the heft. I do admit the upper fret access bothers me because I have hands on the smaller side. This is why I'm building this:

ary2e7a4.jpg



Words are cheap, let your fingers do the talking
 
Re: Why can't I dig on Les Pauls?

I wonder how much of a Les Paul's tone is owed to the single cut-away. The body makes a bit more contact with the neck than most electrics.
 
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