I know it's not comparable, but I'm getting an esp 1000 with an evertune bridge and passive Seymour Duncan pickups for $850. It won't sound like a Les, but it'll be more versatile and literally NEVER go out of tune for a third of the price.
I am getting a Epiphone Les Paul Jr, & a Epiphone Les Paul Special GT(made in Indonesia). They hold tune better than the Gibson's with Gibson deluxe tuners.
That's a real shame. Hopefully you will win the lottery so you can buy a severely overpriced 1950s technology prehistoric guitar with an uncontoured body that pokes you in the ribs and forearm. Everybody is doing it so it must be good!!! :P
Might be so but That's the theory! The reality is : lack of know how! Gibson (and maybe less Fender) simply can not make better quality instruments nowadays because they don't have the skilled people any more to do so. There are also fenders who have tuning issues btw, so neck angle is not that important...
@@pittbrat7963 They push a high production and the workers are not as skilled as they used to be. i had worse problems with my fenders that were hard to resolve
No need to turn it into one, I found one with some horrible water-damage into the wood under the paint and finish... SO after a careful strip-sanding, I added some wood-stabilizer, and inserted a power control and a socket for cell-phones or MP3 Players with a small "door" in the back... Now instead of tone, selector, or pot'... There's two "dummies" and a power switch. The pickups are "dead" replacements, so I could help out a buddy restoring a vintage LP from the 60's... And you can run an MP3 through the amp. The "strings" are painted on, since I won't be playing it anyway... AND the hardware is only for looks until someone needs or wants it more than I do... ...but at least it never has tuning issues! ;o)
I’ve never had issues with my LP coming out of tune, in fact, last night I played for like an hour and a half at a youth conference (which is fairly aggressive playing, as those who have been to a youth conference will know) and I was 100% in tune at the end
I had a 2010 50’s traditional and I couldn’t keep it in tune, sold it, turned around a few months later and bought another one and I’ve had zero issues.
brian lucore well dude I think this is a false thing going around I have multiple epiphones and they suck I love my gibsons I have a studio and a anaconda and I don’t have any problems. So I would recommend you an older one if you’re looking for a studio
@@ravenjames3873 No he isn't. You must not know anything about guitar, you're really dumb. If you don't know anything about guitar, don't say anything! Lil Wayne is way better than everybody, he puts a lot of soul in his guitar playing. He's really good, way better than Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. All those guys suck.
I've spent most of my life in Canada, and the only people I've ever heard say "aboot" for "about" were either from Newfoundland, or were Americans trying (unsuccessfully, of course) to "imitate Canadians." (In other words, "it ain't necessarily so.")
Not hardly. But I heard the word pronounced Aboot commonly in Calgary. The dead give a way is his shirt. The spelling of "Flavour" . That is English not American.
Completely agree. Les Pauls are still around because they make people think they are a Rockstar form the late 60s and 70s. My first guitar was a Les Paul copy (felt and played like every authentic Les Paul l I ever held). I HATED that thing, bulky, uncomfortable,terrible heel design (ARIA pro PE series solved this), and of course the tuning issues. I ended up switching to an SG (which sounded the exact same as my old Les Paul Copy by the way, no stupid "Flame Maple Top Tonewood, and Warm Rich Mahogany mass to facilitate true Marshall/Les Paul tone) HAHA what a crock of shit..... The SG is better (IMO) but still not as ergonomic as say a super strat or some of the PRS guitars out there today. Gibson Les Paul is the Air Jordan of the guitar industry. Bring on the hate, you are only fooling yourself....
Mike nelson im not sure what is so buly about a Les Paul. I have owned about 50 guitars over the yrs if not more and I find the LP very comfortable. Well unless you find it heavy as I have heard alot say but weight don't equal bulky. I find the body style a gem to play over my semi hollow or hollw bodies. Outside of the gibson Lp or epiphone versions the only guitar i found more comfortable was a cheap chinese highland dbl cut way electric or my solo thats strat style but very light basswood with a maple top veneer. Guess its all in our own preference and our strength on holding an extra lb.
@@MartiniPinball What works, works. But when you have something that clearly begs for improvement, it makes no sense to not want change it because traditional/vintage.
@@MartiniPinball in fact they did drastically change the wheel. Cars now don't have a solid wooden wheel, do they? Instead we have air filled rubber tires on either steel or magnesium aluminum alloy rims. It is like going from a gibson to a prs headstock. Both are a "wheel" but the two are drastically different from each other.
I have two vintage epiphones and I love them. Both are 30 to 40 years old. Don't forget it's all in the fingers. I prefer a good musician on a 300$ Epiphone rather than a bad musician on a 3000$ Gibson.
I like to buy American, Canadian or Japanese, mostly for resale value, but I got a 'cheap' Epiphone ES-339 for $600CDN delivered, loved it, decided to get the Gibson version, I actually prefer the Epi. The quality is obviously there in the Gibson, but it was more than 3 x the price of the Epi & I still prefer the cheap one. It just plays better.
1. Big Bends Nut sauce and/or TUSQ self-lubricating nut. Miraculous. 2. Don't use a ton of winds on non-locking tuners (takes forever for the strings to stretch) or try locking tuners. Several brands have vintage-looking locking tuners now. 3. Lock down the tailpiece and bridge with TonePros or similar units. It took me a couple of years to arrive at this :( Hopefully, this will shed some light and save others the headache.
Never had any problems with my LP studio. Had it for 11+ years and I've always loved how it stayed in tune compared to other people's instruments. Took me a while to even notice that this was a common problem.
My Gibson LP Special rarely goes out of tune. I generally replace my nuts with bone, as soon as I get a new guitar, but I can't bring myself to do it on this Special. I could only make the tuning stability worse, so it remains with the Corian (I believe) nut.
You guys must not bend much or use heavy strings. Every gibson i've ever played has had D and G string issues to some extent, some more then others. Especially if they had heftier strings. It's quite literally the only thing thats kept me from making the purchase for a long time. I absolutely love their styling. (Although their apparently lacking quality control is what's scared me away in recent years, they used to be THE example of perfect QC, but now you just kinda gotta hope you get one of the good ones it seems)
@@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342 Only cowboys *stay* in tune. If he had to tune in the middle of a gig, he is failing to stay in tune :P Maybe I just interpreted him differently in the context that if you are doing a lot of bends, you are falling out of tune.
I think the headstock Brian May made for his Red Special is probably one of the best headstock designs in history, and way ahead of it's time, considering when he built that instrument. It's similar to the PRS in regards to tuner placement, but it's arrow-tip shaped, kinda like in a Flying V. He used a zero-fret, as well as a roller bridge, which further help with tuning stability. Keeping your strings free to roll over the nut and bridge is, in my mind, the best way to keep in tune.
Every Les Paul, SG, 335 and Explorer I've ever owned over the last 41 years has always stayed in tune. No nut sauce or graphite needed, i never used any of that stuff. Most of the time people bring the stop tailpiece too close to the body. When you have the tailpiece too low your strings will first hit the bridge then hit the bridge saddle. So your strings are getting hung up on the bridge it self. What works for me is raising the height of the stop tailpiece to just hit and come across the bridge saddle. Okay if your stop tail piece is to high up now lower the stop tail piece and do a wrap around with all six strings coming over the stop tailpiece. Then make the final adjustments to insure the string is coming over the bridge saddle without touching the bridge itself. And logically check to see if the strings are getting hung up in the nut. If they are run a piece of wet and dry sandpaper very carefully through the string slots to get rid of any problems. And change you're strings regularly. I am gigging fairly often, 3 to 5 times a week so what ever guitars I'm bring with me are at the most two gigs old then I change my strings. I can hear the difference and I dont like the sound or feel of strings that aren't new. Plus if you buy strings in bulk you can get them much cheaper. And you have to stretch the hell outta the strings several times for your guitar to stay in tune. I also found out the hard way that if you are using a Floyd Rose or any kinda floating bridge you should use the same strings made by the same manufacturer. I've always used Ernie Ball or D'addario strings. I had one of my old early 80's Jackson soloist set up with Ernie ball 9 to 42 set on the guitar. Then when i changed my strings and put on D'Addario 9 to 42. Turned out that the Floyd rose went from being level to being physically pulled forward outta level relatively to the Jackson's flat top. Which raised my action by a light eighth of an inch. Just enough to be unplayable. Stay well everyone and happy pickin' and grinnin'
That's amazing, because in 50 something years I have never owned a guitar by any maker that has stayed in tune. Temp changes, humidity changes, string stretch, and micro dirt and skin collecting on the strings has affected tuning on my guitars. Improperly cut nuts are usually the reason most people bring in guitars to the shop for having tuning problems (easy to fix with a good file set), an angled headstock compounds the that problem.
Joe D Joe D nothing wrong with a top wrap my sg’s intonation is spot on with it but couldn’t hold anything before. Slinkier feel with the tone of 10s is amazing, hands down the best feeling guitar I own. And my back is grateful too. But the point is like others have said all guitars are different. My lp will stay in tune for weeks and she doesn’t even mind being tuned down to eb. Intonation stays nearly spot on. Until I bend the g that is.. which is why I solo at the end of songs with her or try to bend another string if I really have to. The way I see it is that’s the price to pay for a full resonating tone. Personally, I just prefer a bad girl that likes to party(sg) over the girl next door(lp)
What he conveniently left out are the advantages to the Gibson design. There is nothing objectively "wrong" with the design, it just prioritizes different things. A greater angle on the headstock creates more pressure on the nut and therefore greater sustain. The tuners are not angled in because it looks idiotic. There is a reason most people prefer the Gibson headstock shape.
@@SoloDallasII there is absolutely nothing aboot that headstock angle that increases sustain tone or whatever magic mumbo jumbo you got going on, this is called brain washing. You been told over and over again so many times how changing 1 little thing on your guitar can improve sustain or tone, i say its time to stop believing in this bullsheet wake up and smell the coffee cuz this is a real problem
I was never a Fender guy as a teenager, they were too country and I was too much of a metal head to want anything with single coils, but as an adult I increasingly admire how smart Leo was with everything. And I've gone from all pointy guitars and thinking the Tele looks pretty good sometimes to being a massive Tele shape fan. Still a rock and metal guy, but also discovered single coils sound huge and great downtuned, amazing for solos (Jimmy Page's Stairway to Heaven Tele tone is just beautiful), and I've got T shape guitars with humbuckers for maximum rock and metal rhythm sounds. Leo Fender, thank you.
I have often wondered why Gibson doesn't use the flying vee headstock on more guitars? It has a much straighter string pull and is elegant and not too large!
I've owned a half dozen Gibsons and a half dozen Epis and none of them had tuning issues. Lube the nut, stretch the strings and lube the saddles. If the nut pings get a tech to file it out. Also never broke a headstock.
Well said! I've a few Gibsons, and ZERO tuning problems! As for breaking the headstock, I can tell you how that happens 100% of the time: some FOOL left their instrument in a stand, and it fell backward onto the floor. I'm sorry, but the "design flaw" here is not with the guitar but with those TREACHEROUS STANDS! That's why I will NEVER own one! There's only TWO places you'll find one of my guitars; in my hands, or IN IT'S CASE!
flurng, some extra caution may prevent a Gibson headstock breaking, but the design is incredibly flawed. A simple volute on the back would make the area behind the nut significantly stronger and not negatively impact playability at all. Some simple wood working knowledge goes a long way, but sometimes it feels like the guys at Gibson skipped school on the shop class days.
Howdy Gang - just got a notification of a response to my post by a TH-camr called; Vivi2372For some reason, his response is not showing up when I search the comments, but in any case, Vivi2372 says; "Bolt on necks aren't design flaws if they're done right (which they probably aren't on every strat because hi there mass production). There should be zero difference in tuning stability with a set neck, and a well made bolt on will tend to actually have better sustain believe it or not. And it's less like saying "I left my toddler on the highway and it was hit by a car," and more like saying "my toddler was crawling on the floor, bumped their head on the coffee table and now their brains are everywhere..." First off, I must admit, you're correct that, PROVIDED your bolt-on neck gives the performance one would expect for your instrument (tuning stability, sustain), then it is no more a "design-flaw" than Gibson's headstock angle. I'm sure there are countless well-made instruments with bolt-on necks, which perform flawlessly - this has just not been my experience. And regarding my "toddler" analogy, admittedly, I exaggerated a bit to make a point, however, regardless whether your toddler is doing battle with automobiles or coffee tables, the point is; DON'T LET YOUR "TODDLER" BUMP IT'S HEAD! Assuming one takes proper care of their instruments, this should NEVER be a problem, as evidenced by the countless vintage Gibson instruments floating about with perfectly "healthy" headstocks. And certainly, there are as many, possibly MORE vintage instruments around with headstock damage, but I ask you; did these instruments spontaneously "decide" they were going to break, or were they mis-handled? I'll let you be the judge.
flurng The reason I went with my toddler analogy is because you can't keep a child from ever getting hurt no matter how careful you are. Maybe you get lucky and they, through some miracle, never bump their head. But most children will bump their head at some point. Just like most people will probably, at some point or another in their gigging lives, have their guitar suffer a similar bump. Either way, the result of a bump being a small ding or a scratch is expected. The headstock breaking off (ie: the toddlers head exploding) is not something anyone should have to expect or even tolerate. It's a design flaw. End of story. There is no sonic benefit to having a headstock that weak and no detriment to making it stronger in that area. I could accept a flaw like that if this were 1959 and electric guitars were still fairly new and they didn't have years of use and abuse put on them yet. But it's 2016 now. Gibson knows they're more fragile than any other headstock I've ever encountered and through a combination of them not caring that much and purists having their heads so far up their ass on the vintage stuff, they've never bothered to fix it.
I think Brian Mays solution of rollers at the bridge and nut combined with a pointed headstock is the best solution I’ve seen. Strings go straight through, short distance pull. Looks ideal.
This is one reason many of us changed to Teles, I did years ago back in the 90s. Not as fancy of a guitar, but as you say, function over flash. Plus you can repair or just try new pots and switches without removing strings. The pure simplicity of the Tele grows on you over time. I've put them in cases and left them alone for a year and come back and they are almost perfectly in tune. Go watch Keith Richards smack a guy on stage with his Tele, and then put it back on and it is still in tune. It is a big deal to lots of us.
I don't think he actually hit him with it, it looks like he swang at the guy who grabbed the guitar, the wrestled with it for a second and he kept running. If he actually made good contact there probably would have been tuning issues (at least). He bailed the guy out of jail that night and is still owed 200 bucks. I can only afford frankenstrats myself..
Hi ! one way to reduce the problem is to wrap the D and G string up instead of down on the tuning machine. The angle of the string on the nut will decrease, and the tension too. Putting some lube on the nut helps too. Keep on and thanks a lot for your channel ! Greetings from France .
Right On Dude, I am studying Lutherie and just finished my Art of Guitar Design course and this was exactly some of the material we covered. Now I love my Epiphone Les Paul, Hope to Someday afford a Gibson but you are right that 17 degree angle is the main component of their issues. I can do ten times the amount of string bends on my strat before I even consider checking the tuning, many times I sit down and first thing I always check is my tuning and I rarely make an adjustment on my Strat where as the LP seems to need a little adjustment each top. And PRS does do an excellent job of thinking their guitars through. Paul seems to be very aware of design aspects of his guitars from the interviews I have seen of him. Right On Man!! Good Show Ole Chap!!
Darrell (if I may address you by your first name), I just started watching your videos a week ago. I have now subscribed to your channel. I must say I am really impressed with your combination of "technical" information, complete with sound (pun intended) reasons why you like certain things about the guitars and what you don't like. And you sure can play! All in all a format I really like, personally. I do not play guitar myself but have gotten a bug to learn how about a month ago. I am, however, a long time musician as a drummer (since 1974). I am also a retired engineer and research scientist. Keep up the great work. Kind regards, Kevin.
Hi Kevin I'm Bobby, sometimes you will come across a TH-cam video that will definitely try to make other guitar look bad just because that person is trying to promote a musical instrument such as this video, the only real way to find out the truth is that you might end up doing it yourself and I may be different from you but I'm the type of person who doesn't believe everything he hears, reads or sees, you can read my post on this topic, it's like I said I been playing so many types of guitars for over 35 years and I have had several that was total junk and some that plays like a dream, including, Jackson, Ibanez, fender, Paul Reed Smith, Gibson les Paul, epiphone, squire and ect....
Hi Kevin, I am a follower of Darrell, but in this case don't have any sense this comment. The shape of the Les Pauls are the most old spanish guitar design.... do you think that for centuries the guitar player... (not only rockers) had problems with this shape to keep the guitar in tune.... I don't think so... looks a problem of lack of knowledge
I worked as a roadie in the 70's and saw a few accidental headstock breaks, as far as I remember(it was the 70's,so.) they were largely Gibbos and Epis.We were terrible roadies,all unemployed muzos, so the band could get us to do the soundcheck for them. Love your vids bredrin'.Thank you.
Les Pauls don't stay in tune,because Gibson is too busy milking the vintage market,with their overpriced,inferior product, instead of building instruments for the modern player.(Same goes with Fender and their crappy vintage trem systems.) Other companies who build singlecut style guitars,like PRS,ESP,Kiesel/Carvin,Framus etc. have volute joints,locking tuners,selflubricating graphite nuts(TUSQ nut by Graphtech is imho the best) and a headstock design and construction that increases tuning stabillity.The fact,that a Korean ESP/LTD Eclipse,stays better in tune then a USA Gibson,which costs 3 times the money,is ridiculous.Sadly,guitarplayers and people in general are dumb and continue to buy these outdated and overpriced guitars,because of the name on the headstock or because ''only a Gibson/Fender has mojo'' or some other bullshit.
TheGoldenChodeTV My advice to anybody who wants a quality,oldschool L/P-style guitar is try to get yourself an Edwards.Unfortunately,you have to order them online and import them from Japan,because Gibson threatend to sue them into oblivion,if they sell them in the US & Europe,in stores.
i have an edwards les paul custom and it smokes my 69 Gibson les paul custom,and it hasnt had 2 neck breaks like my 69 has had either.the guys/girls at esp edwards are stunning craftsman,best les paul ive ever owned and ive easily had 15(5 gibsons)
trillriff-axegrinder That's because the Edwards has a volute joint,between the neck and the headstock.It prevents the infamous headstock snapping and also improves intonation.Putting a volute joint,doesn't cost much money nor is it complicated technically,Gibson just doesn't give a crap.Same thing with Fender and their crappy nuts/tremolos.
It looks like that is exactly what he's done, and is letting others know about the alternative. Don't get ass hurt over someone not liking the same overpriced hunk of wood that you do. There you go problem solved
I wanted to buy one of these Gibson SG Standard '61 Maestro Vibrola in Vintage Cherry for a while. After watching your video on this guitar i was totally discouraged from making my purchase due to you not being able to keep it in tune. But I went down to my local Guitar center here in Las Vegas and they had one in stock. I held it, the neck is outstanding the fret work is wonderful, the wood grain and color were so beautiful. I tuned it up and played a few cords and check the tuning, for sure it was out of tune. I fooled around trying to keep it in tune for three hours and became totally discouraged because this guitar was beautiful. So I did the only reasonable thing, I said to the salesman I am going to flip this Guitar Center pick, "blank side it stays here written side I buy it". It landed on written side so home with me it went, and boy am I glad it did. The next day I set out to find out why it wouldn't stay in tune and I discovered why, (fixed it) and now it's hard to knock it out of tune. First the tuning keys were lose and the screws holding the tuners on were striped from the factory, so i fixed that. Second the angle on the Vibrola is wrong from the factory, you need to tweak the angle and shim the Vibrola slightly, the E-string should not be touching the trem bar while in the resting position. Now polish the frets and do a complete set up. This guitar now when using the Vibrola as intended will stay in tune wonderfully. This guitar is a great guitar and if you take the time and put in the work to set it up properly, YOU WILL LOVE THIS GUITAR! I think that from the factory they just assemble the parts and are done, not realizing or having the time that it needs to make this fine guitar function together as a whole instrument. Glad I took the time and made the purchase. Please let your viewers know this is an amazing Gibson Guitar after the corrections are made. I Have no connection with Gibson and I am not a professional Luthier, so if i can fix it this guitar is fixable. Thank you
They are beautiful guitars and I love to buy American when possible, but for the price they should be perfect out of the box. The things you fixed weren't design flaws as much as poor quality control. It sucks. I have a 95 standard and it plays great, but who knows what adjustments the previous owners did.
Damn, Darrell. Could you please be more digressive like most humanoids? ...Just kidding. Always amazed how focused your videos are. I love that you waste zero time in your videos. Keep doing you!
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The Ernie Ball Music Man headstock design it's simple amazing and holds the tuning like none of the guitars I've ever seen
I've got a 335, a Howard Roberts Fusion, an SG classic and a LP goldtop. None of them have tuning problems of any kind. So long as you have properly cut nuts and some graphite in the slots... there aren't issues.
In the past I have had an SG, a LP and a 335. Took me a long time (slow learner lol) to figure out I was spending way too much money. The Les Paul had consistent tuning issues. The SG had cracking in the joints (no I'm not rough on my instruments) but the 335 was all good. I now play a Sterling Cutlass (awesome head stock!) , a MiM Tele and an Ibanez Gibson copy - Straight headstock. I replaced the nut. Never have tuning issues any more. Just play. Next step is to make my guitar sound like I've been playing for 50 years - yup. That's how long it's been.
@@mikeaddison-saipe5820 Actually.. thats true. I forget I had a 70's L:P deluxe that was almost never in tune. I suspect it was the neck moving around in the joint.
Widen the string slots a bit and lube with Carmex. It's stiffer that Vaseline and smells great. That's what Joe Perry's tech says anyway. So if it's good enough for Joe...
From the great Joe Walsh, I learnt this trick: -Lube the nut with graphite -tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed. -play And my guitar stay in tune always!!!!!! for weeks!!!!!
I don't have a Les Paul at the moment but I do have an SG and 335. When I bought the 335, I had a choice of two but when the guy opened the case to show me 'the other one' the headstock was hanging off - on a new guitar! The new acoustic that I just bought is a disgrace to Gibson, badly finished frets, sharp nut etc. I think that the point here is that Gibson will make cosmetic changes to their guitars, some quite terrible to my eye, but functional changes are a nono. If they were to actually 'improve' the Les Paul, and your points are very valid Darrell, people would turn around and say, wow, this is much better - why have you been selling us c**p for all these years. It is very difficult for a company to admit that they were wrong - especially when they can say that it is a very successful line.
Another option is to use tuning machines that have longer stems on the tuning knobs so that the headstock can retain the same shape but the shaft that holds the string works its way towards the center of the headstock.
Yep, that would make sense. Much more sense than zero nuts and e tune machines. Maybe just removing the tuners isn't innovative enough for a company that regards itself innovative ;)
I have a 1974 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul Deluxe which I upgraded to Grover Tuners. I've played professionally and taught for nearly 40 years. My Les Paul stays in tune consistently. I have found that most people don't put the strings on correctly. Pull the string completely through the gear hole. Give yourself a little slack. I grab it at the nut and pull it back 1 to 2 frets depending on the string. Then, bend the string in the direction away from gear knob around and under the string allowing the string to wrap the first wind on itself. The slack gives yourself enough winding around the post for downward pressure. Don't let the string overlap at the bottom. Stretch 'em out and play. This works for all my instruments and I have many.
Well, I didn't change the headstock angle, but...I installed good locking tuners, a file narrowed bone nut, roller bridge with locking intonation, and a TP6 tailpiece with fine tuners. It stays in tone incredibly well, but it took some work to get it right.
I don't understand why most guitar makers don't use a zero fret to start with. I know that a lot of cheaper guitars have them, but that doesn't make them a bad idea. and, of course, don't make them out of soft metal. That way the only function the nut serves is to align the strings. I have had a couple of decent guitars that have zero frets and I can't think of a single bad thing about them. and you don't have to worry about your nut being filed correctly for your gauge of string or ever binding.
Everyone I know who owns a Les Paul loves them. They have never complained about tuning problems. If staying in tune was such a problem, then no one would be buying Les Pauls.
I can take my in-tune Les Paul, put it in its case, immediately take it out of the case, and the G string can be out a full semitone. Why don't you ask the people you know who own Les Pauls if they have problems keeping their D and G strings in tune? Or better yet, ask them how often they tune their Les Pauls. Then ask the same question of the people you know who own Strats or PRS guitars.
The most peaceful and calmest rant I have ever seen XD Good video though, I have an explorer limited edition Korina by Vintage and it does have tuning issues.. not a lot but sometimes on the high E
I've owned many LP's over the last 40 years. Never had a problem with tuning with any of them. In fact, I've never had a problem with tuning any guitar I've ever owned because I took the time to learn how to identify the issues that cause tuning problems and didn't buy a guitar that had any of them. I learned how to tie a luthier's knot. Very important. I always replaced factory tuners with a set of good, high quality tuners whenever necessary. I always replaced the nut if it wasn't bone. I always checked the neck for proper alignment and I always checked the intonation of the guitar myself to see if it can be properly intonated before I bought it. I practice good fretting technique, which is most definitely a perishable skill and I learned early on that changing string gauge and major changes in tuning require the guitar to be intonated once again. Follow these easy steps and you will have many long years of guitar playing bliss.
Gibson eliminated the neck volute in the 90s to pander to the vintage reissue freaks. This made the cracking you mention more likely. I'd prefer the 70s, 80s models with the volute to the more modern ones. Bring back the volute I say!!
I been playing guitar for over 35 years and every guitar I have ever played and owned will go out of tune at any given moment I've owned Ibanez, fender, Gibson, prs, peavey Jackson ect... just do a search why won't my prs stay in tune, why won't my fender stay in tune.. It's wood and wood changes with the weather and temperatures, it has metal and metal changes with the weather and the temperatures, the strings come into play and how the guitar is strung up,.. Just about every guitar player on the face of the earth has a digital footswitch tuner in front of them and every guitar player I've ever known and seen always tunes their guitars before and during the time they play, I seen SRV do it, Billy Gibbons, EVH, Carlos Santana and even myself check my guitars on stage to see if it's still in tune
That is true but gibson is definitely worse with tuning stability and all the things you listed only amplifies the tuning issues found with them. Every guitar goes slightly out of tune when playing and you can always tune between songs and sets which is true but I've played Gibson's before where the G string goes noticeably out of tune and i cant stop playing to fix it right then I have to wait until I have a point to, this a problem I never have with my strat.
@@khill3530 I never really have any tuning issues with my Gibson les Paul gold top or my Gibson les Paul bfg, when I string them up I make sure that the strings are perfectly seated on the tuners and have enough wrapped around to avoid slipping, and I have heard that Billy Gibbons will put his strings in the front and wrap around over the top of the stop bar on one of his les Paul's, I never did that but apparently it works for him, I seen a video clip of Eric Johnson and he talked about his fender and how he tunes his low e, a, and d strings to 440 and his g,b high e tad bit flat or maybe sharp just to avoid tuning issues, I even have a buddy of mine that has a 08 Gibson sg and he was so frustrated with it because the g, b and high e would not stay in tune, he brought it over put new strings on I set the truss rod, action, intonation and adjust the pickups for him and it played very good and he said it hasn't had any tuning issues since
I've been collecting Gibsons for almost 30 years and haven't noticed a tuning issue anymore or any less than the other brands I currently own. A good set up goes a long way. My PRS Cust24 isn't set up currently and goes out of tune pretty easily. That doesn't mean it's a bad guitar, just not set up right. The last time Gibson came out with their PRS styled headstock then all the sudden they were straying from their roots. Can't please everyone especially the broke ass folks.
@@wiseguy9202 gibson isnt high end.they just tell you that..its just expensive for a flawed design..look at the new sg..they are all 3 piece body .they were 2 and gibson tell you its fine ..that being said is $3000 expensive? well no..but if it comes with issues and the angle of the headstock is wrong..its too steep..then yes it is expensive..or is a $15,000 greenfield expensive or $40,000 monteleone expensive? what we find is cowboys make electric guitars on a production line and craftsmen make acoustics..and the best electrics come from craftsmen..not a factory...ask slash
I've owned many Les Paul guitars over the last 40 years. I can't recall having major issues with tuning. Clean and polish the nut slots (this is very important). Lubricate the nut slots at every string change. You don't need that fancy lubricant. I have always just used regular Chap Stick. Use good quality tuners. I like Grovers but I've also had good luck with Schaller keys. If your nut slots are not properly dressed and lubricated that is operator error.
10 friggin' 4, what year did the Les Paul come out....if it was a problem other than "operator error" (as you so wisely pointed out) I think Gibson would have changed it by now..
@David Gipson while I agree that the Les Paul should have better design for tuning stability, lubricating the nut and saddles is part of basic maintenance on ANY guitar. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's magic.
hey Darrell, would you check out a Heritage H150 version of the les paul, curious how it plays and if the headstock solves the tuning issues. Keep up the good work!
Got a cherry burst used h 150 on reverb for 1400 roughly. It's in banged up shape but you know what? Plays like a dream. Weighs about 9 pounds. Sounds great with those 57 humbucker seamours. And finally... You guessed it. It stays in tune. Sounds better than most gibson les pauls too. If you can get one for 1-2 grand I think it's worth it. And don't let brand recognition get in your way of purchase choice. So what if it doesn't say gibson on the headstock? Heritage is the real deal. Made by the same guys who put the les paul on the map back in the day in the first place. Heritage is just as good as a well made gibson les paul if not better and less over priced.
To me, it's the G string more than the D string and Gibsons have been like that for a long time. They should be ashamed. To pay Gibson prices and have this problem is really un- acceptable. Go ahead, rant on. Your diagnosis and comments are on the money. The so called "zero fret" nut and that tuning system are cheap fixes that are, as you say, only band-aids. That's no solution to a very expensive problem, imho. I love my Gibsons but had to have them tweaked to stay in tune and I will not buy another one unless that problem has been already taken care of. Leo Fender had it right. He just used common sense and simple engineering principles and that was that.
Yeah definitely G and B strings for me. Just as it almost gets to the perfect pitch it stops changing for just a second (string binding in the nut) and then "TING!" it goes sharp...
@@humbucker1414 Yeah, I have the same problem, B string from time to time, and G string goes sharp after 5 minutes. I play blues rock in my LP Custom '91, sometimes picking agressively with one and a half bends, so no way for staying in tune, even with new strings and well lubricated nut… but I love it, too much comfortable for me in compare with my Charvel 87 or Fender Strat
Very nice video, thanks. The only Gibson I have is a 339. I've not had huge tuning issues with it but my son managed to knock it over and break the neck. Why don't they just put a volute in it? I have several acoustics with raked necks and a volute, which seem to withstand being knocked down much better.
Have a 2015 LP Standard (Honeyburst) with the brass nut and g-force. G string is an issue, will try a wound g string next as Ive heard this can improve the situation. Other strings stay in tune pretty good. Yours is my favourite guitar channel right now! You deserve way more subscribers sir!
It doesnt fix the angle, but its a little solution to get tuning stability www.kickstarter.com/projects/98508740/the-string-butler-a-new-guitar-hardware?lang=de
I just purchased my first LP. Brand new 2019 studio that's blacked out with a floyd rose bridge. Plays like a dream, but it did need a little bit of adjustment to lower the action when it arrived. Best guitar I have ever played.
When I bought my les Paul I was outraged by the crap tuning issues then I put graphite on the nut and lubricant on the bridge and it stays in tune as well as my tele. Traditional 2016 T for the record.
I fixed my Les Paul Custom tuning problem by playing my reliable Stratocaster. Rock solid and stable. I got fed up. As much as I hate to sell my Les Paul Custom, that will happen in 2024. I just don't have the patience for it going out of tune. It has been on display and in it's case throughout the year. Beautiful but, frustrating. I tried all the things in these youtube videos and even installed a string butler. A bit better here and there but, still goes out with a couple of bends and some hard playing. I can't use it performing. The Stratocaster stays in tune even if I put it in the case for 3 days, comes out in tune.
pablo rages Or maybe each instrument is unique despite overall tendencies in designs. Maybe you just never noticed. Maybe it’s a million things. Your observation of them being the same is no more evidence than one person’s observation that they’re different. Are you sure it isn’t confirmation bias with you either? Seeking to confirm your belief that they are the same. Have you ever tested it scientifically? Besides, it’s not like they noticed the LP went out of tune more because of this video. Noticing something yourself when you have no predisposition to notice it is not confirmation bias; it’s an observation. Observations can be accurate or inaccurate. Neither of you have collected empirical data, so don’t act like your observation, or rather lack of one, is somehow superior for no logical reason.
I was at my wits end with a gorgeous 98’ Les Paul DC due to this issue, and stumbled upon this video yesterday. I went to work on it and I’m happy to report the issue has been resolved. I had even posted the guitar for sale and ended the listing following this fix. Thank you!
It's really weird but I've never noticed the tuning problems on Gibson headstocks despite having played over a hundred and owning 4... Some people really notice the problems but I only notice tuning problems on fenders. I have 4 gibson and have never actually had to adjust the nut on any of them but every fender I've owned has always needed nut work (especially a Johnny Marr Jaguar I had). I can tell just by looking that the PRS design is made to reduce string binding etc but it looks so ugly to me.
Me either. The only guitar that I own that won't stay in tune is a Tele with the vintage saddle. I installed a Joe Barton and it helped but still not great. Graphtech saddles on my Strat help IMO.
There's more of an issue with Gibson head stocks cracking from drops and falls then with tuning. Damn near every acoustic guitar has the same design and yet I've never heard players pissing and moaning about tuning issues. Wrap the strings on the tuners the right way and you're fine.
Same, and I love to bend the hell outta them g and b strings. the only time it goes out of tune is during hot weather, but only by a quarter tone at most.
My epi lp only ever goes out with temperature which is normal because wood expands and contracts. I have Ernie ball heavy gauge strings and it sits for weeks without going out.
I have the same problem on my gibson 335 Ibanez look-a-like. I read some where that you can just scrape some pencil lead into the the nut where the G string passes?
Ive always wanted to find some fault to criticise on prs's but the more you learn about them from great guitarists/guitar experts the more brilliant you find out they are
Never had any tuning problems with any of my les pauls or other Gibsons. There just great guitars. as long as intonation, nut and tuners are ok you should not experience any problems. Any good luthier should be able to address and solve your tuning issues so you can keep rocking on your favourit les paul ;-)
Made me look more closely at my Ernie Ball Music Man, which never goes out of tune. I now realise how genius of a design it is. It's hardly angled at all with it headstock just being back a little, the strings are perfectly straight through the nut. I've literally had to leave the guitar alone for a couple of years only to come back thinking "I'll need to tune this"..... nope! lol
My first guitar was a Kalamazoo guitar, I hear they changed their name later to Gibson. I much prefer the 3 and 3 set up of Gibson than all 6 on one side with big fingers on those sometimes I tuning the g and hitting the D, story of my life 1969 - 72 Gibson SG best guitar for rock on the planet
I'll be damned if I spend several G's for a Paul that has that monstrosity on the back of the headstock. Just correct the geometry of the headstock itself, or would that make too much sense for Gibson?
I've never had a problem with my les paul studio staying in tune...usually will stay in tune for months as long as its not subjected to a lot of temperature changes. Mine is a 2007 model
Me too. I have one LP tribute, one nighthawk and one EPI... all are in tune for weeks. Doing this: -Lube the nut with graphite -tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed. -play
Hi! Well that's what they will tell you lol! The truth is, my Epiphone sustains longer than my Gibson's and they have a shallower angle. Even Music Man guitars sustain great and they have no tilt-back! So I'd chalk this one up to advertising :)
Exactly - it was a fantastic idea but purists hated it so they got rid of it. I can understand that maybe the volute isn't the most attractive feature, but it strengthened the weakest part of the neck so who really cares what it looks like if it'll help you avoid possibly fixing your guitar?
That's the major reason why Gibson don't change things. They do produce the odd (!) dose of rebellion and they have to keep on producing the same old thing they invented in the Fifties as well as the innovations. It's all because of the purists who think they know better. Sad.
My ESPs have volutes and I think they're great. It doesn't get in the way (unless you're somehow fretting behind the nut :) ). The edge of my hand does touch it, but totally worth it for neck strength.
i had one one my 1974 gold top Deluxe . it actually stayed into very well. but the Norlins are not that good of Pauls. the body was a sandwich of Mahogeny and thin layer of maple. Sustain ok but not great.
Graphite nuts will solve the problem...I have graphite nuts on two of my Les Pauls and locking tuners as well on three...don't have much in the way of tuning problems there...
If you think locking tuners are unnecessary, you've probably never had a guitar with them. Not only do they add to tuning stability, but new strings break in a lot faster because there's no possibility of getting any kink in the string where it wraps around the post, since there's no wrap...and string changing is a heck of a lot easier and faster. I have them on the three DC's here, from the factory btw...and I'm going to put locking Grovers on the yellow one here next month, and get rid of that damn locking nut. Locking nuts and fine tuners on a bridge are a real pain imho...and if graphite changes the tone, I couldn't tell you because the red and white ones here came from the factory with them...and I added graphite bridge pieces to the black one here because I was having an issue with string breakage...and graphite pieces will definitely solve that problem as well. Haven't really noticed a significant change in tone myself... www.pinterest.com/alanjankowski/guitars-i-own/
+Adrian Johannessen Nothing really to say. I don't do anything special, they just work fine. I did have tuning issue with an ESP LTD. That guitar had no headstock angle, but terrible binding at the nut.
I have an SG which pretty much stays in tune. My Epi LP has been professionally set up but isn't as good as SG but not far off. My Carvin is the best of the lot and is super stable tuning even with Floyd Rose. Not sure on neck angle of Carving but it's definitely less than EPI and Gibson
But how do you explain that there's no tuning problems in acoustic guitars that have the headstock very similar to Gibson's (the angled headstock and the strings splitted behind the saddle)?
I solved my LP tuning problems by not being able to afford one
I know it's not comparable, but I'm getting an esp 1000 with an evertune bridge and passive Seymour Duncan pickups for $850. It won't sound like a Les, but it'll be more versatile and literally NEVER go out of tune for a third of the price.
I am getting a Epiphone Les Paul Jr, & a Epiphone Les Paul Special GT(made in Indonesia). They hold tune better than the Gibson's with Gibson deluxe tuners.
@@alexmurphy5289 There are Gibson LPs for less than 2k bucks.
That's a real shame. Hopefully you will win the lottery so you can buy a severely overpriced 1950s technology prehistoric guitar with an uncontoured body that pokes you in the ribs and forearm. Everybody is doing it so it must be good!!! :P
I would 100% get an LP studio over an esp... you’ll save $50 and have an American made Les Paul.....
Nah, let's not evolve the Les Paul by solving real issues. Let's bankrupt the company by trying to turn it into an iPod.
LOL!
I thought they had pitch to help tuning and intonation?
Might be so but That's the theory! The reality is : lack of know how! Gibson (and maybe less Fender) simply can not make better quality instruments nowadays because they don't have the skilled people any more to do so. There are also fenders who have tuning issues btw, so neck angle is not that important...
@@pittbrat7963 They push a high production and the workers are not as skilled as they used to be. i had worse problems with my fenders that were hard to resolve
No need to turn it into one, I found one with some horrible water-damage into the wood under the paint and finish... SO after a careful strip-sanding, I added some wood-stabilizer, and inserted a power control and a socket for cell-phones or MP3 Players with a small "door" in the back...
Now instead of tone, selector, or pot'... There's two "dummies" and a power switch. The pickups are "dead" replacements, so I could help out a buddy restoring a vintage LP from the 60's... And you can run an MP3 through the amp. The "strings" are painted on, since I won't be playing it anyway... AND the hardware is only for looks until someone needs or wants it more than I do...
...but at least it never has tuning issues! ;o)
Never had tuning problems on my Gibsons.
-Lube the nut with graphite
-tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed.
-play
Same. I own 7 Gibsons and 0 issues with all of them.
I’ve never had issues with my LP coming out of tune, in fact, last night I played for like an hour and a half at a youth conference (which is fairly aggressive playing, as those who have been to a youth conference will know) and I was 100% in tune at the end
Ditto, also, wrapping around post definitely helps with stability.
I had a 2010 50’s traditional and I couldn’t keep it in tune, sold it, turned around a few months later and bought another one and I’ve had zero issues.
I have 2 studios,one 2012 and one 2014. Silverburst 2012,alpine white with maple neck 14. Haven't had an issue with either one.
Headless guitars: No headstock problems.
But you need it there to keep you hand from flying off. Why do you think we helmets on out shlongs?
@@ericb.1384 hahaha if you're using your guitar to get laid, you're not getting laid😂
formanbradley you don’t even get any head, either.
I thought Gibson was a headless guitar? 😂
And f'n uuuuuuugly
My $200 telecaster stays in tune like a champ. I'd be so mad if I paid $3000 for a gibson and my $200 guitar stayed in tune better.
Because Leo was smart enough to solve the design problem.
I solved the tuning issues with my Les Paul Classic. I took it to the guitar store near me and sold it. Problem solved.
+Kevin Goodrich 😄
Lol
brian lucore well dude I think this is a false thing going around I have multiple epiphones and they suck I love my gibsons I have a studio and a anaconda and I don’t have any problems. So I would recommend you an older one if you’re looking for a studio
The guitar has led a great life since he split with this dude.
I don't think you ever owned ,,,or could afford any Gibson
just play like lil wayne, you don't have to worry about this kind of stuff
Lil Wayne sucks
Little Lame is more like it. I think I'll be changing my last name now!
Not a fan of his, but he’s rich and you’re likely not lol
I've just listened to a lil Wayne guitar solo. Brilliant. I think he actually managed to create new notes while hitting none of the existing ones
@@ravenjames3873 No he isn't. You must not know anything about guitar, you're really dumb. If you don't know anything about guitar, don't say anything! Lil Wayne is way better than everybody, he puts a lot of soul in his guitar playing. He's really good, way better than Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. All those guys suck.
I noticed when I dropped my LP and the headstock snapped off it got knocked out of tune pretty bad. Try to avoid this.
Damn most of been so out of tune it like there just stings nothing else
lol
Have you tried unplugging and plugging it back in?
lol!! Condolences
@@losFondos Too funny. 😂
This guy is the most canadian canadian there is.
I've spent most of my life in Canada, and the only people I've ever heard say "aboot" for "about" were either from Newfoundland, or were Americans trying (unsuccessfully, of course) to "imitate Canadians." (In other words, "it ain't necessarily so.")
Lol you've clearly not spent much time in eastern Canada
JamesShore1990 Yeah I didn't know he was Canadian until he said ABOOT. Then I was immediately like ooooh no wonder he's so friendly.
are you saying Americans aren't friendly, because im pretty friendly.
Not hardly. But I heard the word pronounced Aboot commonly in Calgary. The dead give a way is his shirt. The spelling of "Flavour" . That is English not American.
buy the guitar not the brand - too much snobbery i prefer to play a guitar that works and plays
Exactly. All brands have their gems and dogs.
Completely agree. Les Pauls are still around because they make people think they are a Rockstar form the late 60s and 70s. My first guitar was a Les Paul copy (felt and played like every authentic Les Paul l I ever held). I HATED that thing, bulky, uncomfortable,terrible heel design (ARIA pro PE series solved this), and of course the tuning issues. I ended up switching to an SG (which sounded the exact same as my old Les Paul Copy by the way, no stupid "Flame Maple Top Tonewood, and Warm Rich Mahogany mass to facilitate true Marshall/Les Paul tone) HAHA what a crock of shit..... The SG is better (IMO) but still not as ergonomic as say a super strat or some of the PRS guitars out there today. Gibson Les Paul is the Air Jordan of the guitar industry. Bring on the hate, you are only fooling yourself....
Mike nelson im not sure what is so buly about a Les Paul. I have owned about 50 guitars over the yrs if not more and I find the LP very comfortable. Well unless you find it heavy as I have heard alot say but weight don't equal bulky. I find the body style a gem to play over my semi hollow or hollw bodies. Outside of the gibson Lp or epiphone versions the only guitar i found more comfortable was a cheap chinese highland dbl cut way electric or my solo thats strat style but very light basswood with a maple top veneer. Guess its all in our own preference and our strength on holding an extra lb.
exactly
Name brands hold value better if you need to sell
That Gibson headstock angle is like a hockey stick.
If you want a hockey stick guitar look at vintage kramers
I have one of those. 😎
hockey stick headstock? See 12 string fender acoustics. That's literally what it's called
Or vintage Hamers.
I blame the guitarists themselves with their obsession with tradition and "vintageness".
Vitor Roma nothing wrong with that, when they invented the wheel didn’t need drastically alter it any more either.
@@MartiniPinball What works, works. But when you have something that clearly begs for improvement, it makes no sense to not want change it because traditional/vintage.
Well said. If they spent more of their time practicing, and less time obsessing over "correct" design, they'd be much better players.
@@MartiniPinball in fact they did drastically change the wheel. Cars now don't have a solid wooden wheel, do they? Instead we have air filled rubber tires on either steel or magnesium aluminum alloy rims. It is like going from a gibson to a prs headstock. Both are a "wheel" but the two are drastically different from each other.
They should rid of their headstock design and have one that doesnt angle the strings
Makes me glad I was only able to afford an Epiphone.
one day you may get the real deal??
@@nosbig11 why bother
I have two vintage epiphones and I love them. Both are 30 to 40 years old. Don't forget it's all in the fingers. I prefer a good musician on a 300$ Epiphone rather than a bad musician on a 3000$ Gibson.
I like to buy American, Canadian or Japanese, mostly for resale value, but I got a 'cheap' Epiphone ES-339 for $600CDN delivered, loved it, decided to get the Gibson version, I actually prefer the Epi. The quality is obviously there in the Gibson, but it was more than 3 x the price of the Epi & I still prefer the cheap one. It just plays better.
@@nosbig11 "Real deal" ;)
As a owner of a PRS SE Santanta II, I feel a huge relief when you came to point with PRS designed.
1. Big Bends Nut sauce and/or TUSQ self-lubricating nut. Miraculous.
2. Don't use a ton of winds on non-locking tuners (takes forever for the strings to stretch) or try locking tuners. Several brands have vintage-looking locking tuners now.
3. Lock down the tailpiece and bridge with TonePros or similar units.
It took me a couple of years to arrive at this :( Hopefully, this will shed some light and save others the headache.
#2 exactly
No 2. For years I've been doing it wrong!! I always put a load on thinking the more wrap the more secure, I will try this out.
"Self-lubricating nut" ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
(What is wrong wih me...)
Oh I posted a pic of the packaging to Facebook for a few laughs:)
Nut sauce... definitely.
Never had any problems with my LP studio. Had it for 11+ years and I've always loved how it stayed in tune compared to other people's instruments. Took me a while to even notice that this was a common problem.
My LP Studio is the same way. However, my SG was HORRIBLE.
My Gibson LP Special rarely goes out of tune. I generally replace my nuts with bone, as soon as I get a new guitar, but I can't bring myself to do it on this Special. I could only make the tuning stability worse, so it remains with the Corian (I believe) nut.
I recently got an epiphone les paul studio E1 and it has not gone out of tune yet
You guys must not bend much or use heavy strings. Every gibson i've ever played has had D and G string issues to some extent, some more then others. Especially if they had heftier strings. It's quite literally the only thing thats kept me from making the purchase for a long time. I absolutely love their styling. (Although their apparently lacking quality control is what's scared me away in recent years, they used to be THE example of perfect QC, but now you just kinda gotta hope you get one of the good ones it seems)
me too, i think it's a band wagon thing. my 2 lps are fine and i'm mr bendio all day long
"Only cowboys stay in tune anyway" -Jimi Hendrix
Didn't he also politely ask his audience to be patient while him and his band tuned up though? So... I think he was just being silly...
@@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342 Only cowboys *stay* in tune. If he had to tune in the middle of a gig, he is failing to stay in tune :P Maybe I just interpreted him differently in the context that if you are doing a lot of bends, you are falling out of tune.
@@rich1051414, Jimi tuned in mid-song... yeah, he was that bad ass....
I think the headstock Brian May made for his Red Special is probably one of the best headstock designs in history, and way ahead of it's time, considering when he built that instrument.
It's similar to the PRS in regards to tuner placement, but it's arrow-tip shaped, kinda like in a Flying V.
He used a zero-fret, as well as a roller bridge, which further help with tuning stability. Keeping your strings free to roll over the nut and bridge is, in my mind, the best way to keep in tune.
Flying V is the worst heardstock ever to me lol
Yep, the strings apparently have almost zero friction.
@@fabiostamato2199 Where did you hear that? I've heard only really good things about his range, even if they're stupid expensive and a bit of a niche
Every Les Paul, SG, 335 and Explorer I've ever owned over the last 41 years has always stayed in tune. No nut sauce or graphite needed, i never used any of that stuff. Most of the time people bring the stop tailpiece too close to the body. When you have the tailpiece too low your strings will first hit the bridge then hit the bridge saddle. So your strings are getting hung up on the bridge it self. What works for me is raising the height of the stop tailpiece to just hit and come across the bridge saddle. Okay if your stop tail piece is to high up now lower the stop tail piece and do a wrap around with all six strings coming over the stop tailpiece. Then make the final adjustments to insure the string is coming over the bridge saddle without touching the bridge itself. And logically check to see if the strings are getting hung up in the nut. If they are run a piece of wet and dry sandpaper very carefully through the string slots to get rid of any problems. And change you're strings regularly. I am gigging fairly often, 3 to 5 times a week so what ever guitars I'm bring with me are at the most two gigs old then I change my strings. I can hear the difference and I dont like the sound or feel of strings that aren't new. Plus if you buy strings in bulk you can get them much cheaper. And you have to stretch the hell outta the strings several times for your guitar to stay in tune. I also found out the hard way that if you are using a Floyd Rose or any kinda floating bridge you should use the same strings made by the same manufacturer. I've always used Ernie Ball or D'addario strings. I had one of my old early 80's Jackson soloist set up with Ernie ball 9 to 42 set on the guitar. Then when i changed my strings and put on D'Addario 9 to 42. Turned out that the Floyd rose went from being level to being physically pulled forward outta level relatively to the Jackson's flat top. Which raised my action by a light eighth of an inch. Just enough to be unplayable.
Stay well everyone and happy pickin' and grinnin'
That's amazing, because in 50 something years I have never owned a guitar by any maker that has stayed in tune. Temp changes, humidity changes, string stretch, and micro dirt and skin collecting on the strings has affected tuning on my guitars. Improperly cut nuts are usually the reason most people bring in guitars to the shop for having tuning problems (easy to fix with a good file set), an angled headstock compounds the that problem.
I know right? I guess some stay in tune some don't?
Yeah one thing I learned About the many many guitars I've played in the last 50 years a tuner should be kept very handy!
Joe D Joe D nothing wrong with a top wrap my sg’s intonation is spot on with it but couldn’t hold anything before. Slinkier feel with the tone of 10s is amazing, hands down the best feeling guitar I own. And my back is grateful too.
But the point is like others have said all guitars are different. My lp will stay in tune for weeks and she doesn’t even mind being tuned down to eb. Intonation stays nearly spot on.
Until I bend the g that is.. which is why I solo at the end of songs with her or try to bend another string if I really have to. The way I see it is that’s the price to pay for a full resonating tone.
Personally, I just prefer a bad girl that likes to party(sg) over the girl next door(lp)
the lp's little sister loves to party lol
Stretch the strings properly and make sure the nut is cut properly and lubed up if necessary, I have no tuning issues with my Les Pauls.
Totally correct sir!
Why did my eyes water when he said "binding in the nut"?
excidedous Hey. I didn't come here to be insulted. I go to work for that.
There`s much binding in the marsh !!.
I've found that my nuts get too cold and moist when bound and left in marshy conditions.
lol
Mandolinic i dont know , maybe you are an idiot
It's cool how calm you always are. When I saw "Rant" I was not expecting this calm, informed video. Lol
Amazing, Gibson have only had 65 years to get it right!
William Skinner precisely. and why should anyone pay extra for band-aid fixes, when they have had so long to evolve the design.
@@hypersonicmonkeybrains3418 The have no need to evolve the design.
What he conveniently left out are the advantages to the Gibson design. There is nothing objectively "wrong" with the design, it just prioritizes different things. A greater angle on the headstock creates more pressure on the nut and therefore greater sustain. The tuners are not angled in because it looks idiotic. There is a reason most people prefer the Gibson headstock shape.
@@SoloDallasII This is like saying: I want to lose weight so I will amputate my legs
@@SoloDallasII there is absolutely nothing aboot that headstock angle that increases sustain tone or whatever magic mumbo jumbo you got going on, this is called brain washing. You been told over and over again so many times how changing 1 little thing on your guitar can improve sustain or tone, i say its time to stop believing in this bullsheet wake up and smell the coffee cuz this is a real problem
I was never a Fender guy as a teenager, they were too country and I was too much of a metal head to want anything with single coils, but as an adult I increasingly admire how smart Leo was with everything. And I've gone from all pointy guitars and thinking the Tele looks pretty good sometimes to being a massive Tele shape fan. Still a rock and metal guy, but also discovered single coils sound huge and great downtuned, amazing for solos (Jimmy Page's Stairway to Heaven Tele tone is just beautiful), and I've got T shape guitars with humbuckers for maximum rock and metal rhythm sounds. Leo Fender, thank you.
I have often wondered why Gibson doesn't use the flying vee headstock on more guitars? It has a much straighter string pull and is elegant and not too large!
Because it only looks good on that guitar, it would look ugly as sin on any other guitar.
😂😂😂
The Flying V headstock looks good on the Billy Gibbons SG's imo 👍
I've owned a half dozen Gibsons and a half dozen Epis and none of them had tuning issues. Lube the nut, stretch the strings and lube the saddles. If the nut pings get a tech to file it out. Also never broke a headstock.
popped a couple,only on gibsons though
Well said! I've a few Gibsons, and ZERO tuning problems! As for breaking the headstock, I can tell you how that happens 100% of the time: some FOOL left their instrument in a stand, and it fell backward onto the floor. I'm sorry, but the "design flaw" here is not with the guitar but with those TREACHEROUS STANDS! That's why I will NEVER own one! There's only TWO places you'll find one of my guitars; in my hands, or IN IT'S CASE!
flurng, some extra caution may prevent a Gibson headstock breaking, but the design is incredibly flawed. A simple volute on the back would make the area behind the nut significantly stronger and not negatively impact playability at all. Some simple wood working knowledge goes a long way, but sometimes it feels like the guys at Gibson skipped school on the shop class days.
Howdy Gang - just got a notification of a response to my post by a TH-camr called; Vivi2372For some reason, his response is not showing up when I search the comments, but in any case, Vivi2372 says;
"Bolt on necks aren't design flaws if they're done right (which they probably
aren't on every strat because hi there mass production). There should
be zero difference in tuning stability with a set neck, and a well made
bolt on will tend to actually have better sustain believe it or not.
And it's less like saying "I left my toddler on the highway and it was hit
by a car," and more like saying "my toddler was crawling on the floor,
bumped their head on the coffee table and now their brains are
everywhere..."
First off, I must admit, you're correct that, PROVIDED your bolt-on neck gives the performance one would expect for your instrument (tuning stability, sustain), then it is no more a "design-flaw" than Gibson's headstock angle. I'm sure there are countless well-made instruments with bolt-on necks, which perform flawlessly - this has just not been my experience.
And regarding my "toddler" analogy, admittedly, I exaggerated a bit to make a point, however, regardless whether your toddler is doing battle with automobiles or coffee tables, the point is; DON'T LET YOUR "TODDLER" BUMP IT'S HEAD! Assuming one takes proper care of their instruments, this should NEVER be a problem, as evidenced by the countless vintage Gibson instruments floating about with perfectly "healthy" headstocks. And certainly, there are as many, possibly MORE vintage instruments around with headstock damage, but I ask you; did these instruments spontaneously "decide" they were going to break, or were they mis-handled? I'll let you be the judge.
flurng
The reason I went with my toddler analogy is because you can't keep a child from ever getting hurt no matter how careful you are. Maybe you get lucky and they, through some miracle, never bump their head. But most children will bump their head at some point. Just like most people will probably, at some point or another in their gigging lives, have their guitar suffer a similar bump.
Either way, the result of a bump being a small ding or a scratch is expected. The headstock breaking off (ie: the toddlers head exploding) is not something anyone should have to expect or even tolerate.
It's a design flaw. End of story. There is no sonic benefit to having a headstock that weak and no detriment to making it stronger in that area. I could accept a flaw like that if this were 1959 and electric guitars were still fairly new and they didn't have years of use and abuse put on them yet. But it's 2016 now. Gibson knows they're more fragile than any other headstock I've ever encountered and through a combination of them not caring that much and purists having their heads so far up their ass on the vintage stuff, they've never bothered to fix it.
That's amazing! I personally own 2 PRS guitars, and never noticed the string angle! Makes sense!
If the nut is cut right, there is no issue. I've owned several LPs and not had tuning issues with any of them.
firebirds are the best gibsons.... they do everything you just said
I think Brian Mays solution of rollers at the bridge and nut combined with a pointed headstock is the best solution I’ve seen. Strings go straight through, short distance pull. Looks ideal.
This is one reason many of us changed to Teles, I did years ago back in the 90s. Not as fancy of a guitar, but as you say, function over flash. Plus you can repair or just try new pots and switches without removing strings. The pure simplicity of the Tele grows on you over time. I've put them in cases and left them alone for a year and come back and they are almost perfectly in tune. Go watch Keith Richards smack a guy on stage with his Tele, and then put it back on and it is still in tune. It is a big deal to lots of us.
I don't think he actually hit him with it, it looks like he swang at the guy who grabbed the guitar, the wrestled with it for a second and he kept running. If he actually made good contact there probably would have been tuning issues (at least). He bailed the guy out of jail that night and is still owed 200 bucks. I can only afford frankenstrats myself..
Hi ! one way to reduce the problem is to wrap the D and G string up instead of down on the tuning machine. The angle of the string on the nut will decrease, and the tension too. Putting some lube on the nut helps too. Keep on and thanks a lot for your channel ! Greetings from France .
Right On Dude, I am studying Lutherie and just finished my Art of Guitar Design course and this was exactly some of the material we covered. Now I love my Epiphone Les Paul, Hope to Someday afford a Gibson but you are right that 17 degree angle is the main component of their issues. I can do ten times the amount of string bends on my strat before I even consider checking the tuning, many times I sit down and first thing I always check is my tuning and I rarely make an adjustment on my Strat where as the LP seems to need a little adjustment each top. And PRS does do an excellent job of thinking their guitars through. Paul seems to be very aware of design aspects of his guitars from the interviews I have seen of him. Right On Man!! Good Show Ole Chap!!
Wow, where do you study?
You should also know that increased string tension from the greater angle will increase sustain...
Just get a fender
Never had a problem with my Les Pauls.
Never had a tuning issue with my 82 custom
The way that some people wind strings is the main issue
Wayne A
And the way they tune. And stretch strings. And set up.
Edward Van Buren exactly
@THE ACOUSTIC CAGE Yeah, for real. These guys in here don't seem to want to accept it just has problems...
Exactly, wind it over-and-under so its locked by it’s own force on the string, plus lube the nut whenever changing the string.
@@hectichive889
I had zero issues so why would I accept a lie?
Darrell (if I may address you by your first name), I just started watching your videos a week ago. I have now subscribed to your channel. I must say I am really impressed with your combination of "technical" information, complete with sound (pun intended) reasons why you like certain things about the guitars and what you don't like. And you sure can play! All in all a format I really like, personally. I do not play guitar myself but have gotten a bug to learn how about a month ago. I am, however, a long time musician as a drummer (since 1974). I am also a retired engineer and research scientist. Keep up the great work. Kind regards, Kevin.
Hi Kevin I'm Bobby, sometimes you will come across a TH-cam video that will definitely try to make other guitar look bad just because that person is trying to promote a musical instrument such as this video, the only real way to find out the truth is that you might end up doing it yourself and I may be different from you but I'm the type of person who doesn't believe everything he hears, reads or sees, you can read my post on this topic, it's like I said I been playing so many types of guitars for over 35 years and I have had several that was total junk and some that plays like a dream, including, Jackson, Ibanez, fender, Paul Reed Smith, Gibson les Paul, epiphone, squire and ect....
Hi Kevin, I am a follower of Darrell, but in this case don't have any sense this comment. The shape of the Les Pauls are the most old spanish guitar design.... do you think that for centuries the guitar player... (not only rockers) had problems with this shape to keep the guitar in tune.... I don't think so... looks a problem of lack of knowledge
I worked as a roadie in the 70's and saw a few accidental headstock breaks, as far as I remember(it was the 70's,so.) they were largely Gibbos and Epis.We were terrible roadies,all unemployed muzos, so the band could get us to do the soundcheck for them. Love your vids bredrin'.Thank you.
Also because they are heavy
Les Pauls don't stay in tune,because Gibson is too busy milking the vintage market,with their overpriced,inferior product, instead of building instruments for the modern player.(Same goes with Fender and their crappy vintage trem systems.)
Other companies who build singlecut style guitars,like PRS,ESP,Kiesel/Carvin,Framus etc. have volute joints,locking tuners,selflubricating graphite nuts(TUSQ nut by Graphtech is imho the best) and a headstock design and construction that increases tuning stabillity.The fact,that a Korean ESP/LTD Eclipse,stays better in tune then a USA Gibson,which costs 3 times the money,is ridiculous.Sadly,guitarplayers and people in general are dumb and continue to buy these outdated and overpriced guitars,because of the name on the headstock or because ''only a Gibson/Fender has mojo'' or some other bullshit.
TheGoldenChodeTV My advice to anybody who wants a quality,oldschool L/P-style guitar is try to get yourself an Edwards.Unfortunately,you have to order them online and import them from Japan,because Gibson threatend to sue them into oblivion,if they sell them in the US & Europe,in stores.
Inferior wood and and finish material. Looks like a duck...but gobbles like a turkey.
i have an edwards les paul custom and it smokes my 69 Gibson les paul custom,and it hasnt had 2 neck breaks like my 69 has had either.the guys/girls at esp edwards are stunning craftsman,best les paul ive ever owned and ive easily had 15(5 gibsons)
trillriff-axegrinder That's because the Edwards has a volute joint,between the neck and the headstock.It prevents the infamous headstock snapping and also improves intonation.Putting a volute joint,doesn't cost much money nor is it complicated technically,Gibson just doesn't give a crap.Same thing with Fender and their crappy nuts/tremolos.
It looks like that is exactly what he's done, and is letting others know about the alternative. Don't get ass hurt over someone not liking the same overpriced hunk of wood that you do.
There you go problem solved
I've never had a single problem with mine. It's perfect. 1969 Gold Top. One of the reasons Jimmy Page went to Les Pauls was for tuning stability live.
this is the calmest rant I've seen on youtube
I wanted to buy one of these Gibson SG Standard '61 Maestro Vibrola in Vintage Cherry for a while. After watching your video on this guitar i was totally discouraged from making my purchase due to you not being able to keep it in tune. But I went down to my local Guitar center here in Las Vegas and they had one in stock. I held it, the neck is outstanding the fret work is wonderful, the wood grain and color were so beautiful. I tuned it up and played a few cords and check the tuning, for sure it was out of tune. I fooled around trying to keep it in tune for three hours and became totally discouraged because this guitar was beautiful. So I did the only reasonable thing, I said to the salesman I am going to flip this Guitar Center pick, "blank side it stays here written side I buy it". It landed on written side so home with me it went, and boy am I glad it did. The next day I set out to find out why it wouldn't stay in tune and I discovered why, (fixed it) and now it's hard to knock it out of tune. First the tuning keys were lose and the screws holding the tuners on were striped from the factory, so i fixed that. Second the angle on the Vibrola is wrong from the factory, you need to tweak the angle and shim the Vibrola slightly, the E-string should not be touching the trem bar while in the resting position. Now polish the frets and do a complete set up. This guitar now when using the Vibrola as intended will stay in tune wonderfully. This guitar is a great guitar and if you take the time and put in the work to set it up properly, YOU WILL LOVE THIS GUITAR! I think that from the factory they just assemble the parts and are done, not realizing or having the time that it needs to make this fine guitar function together as a whole instrument. Glad I took the time and made the purchase. Please let your viewers know this is an amazing Gibson Guitar after the corrections are made. I Have no connection with Gibson and I am not a professional Luthier, so if i can fix it this guitar is fixable.
Thank you
They are beautiful guitars and I love to buy American when possible, but for the price they should be perfect out of the box. The things you fixed weren't design flaws as much as poor quality control. It sucks. I have a 95 standard and it plays great, but who knows what adjustments the previous owners did.
Damn, Darrell. Could you please be more digressive like most humanoids? ...Just kidding. Always amazed how focused your videos are. I love that you waste zero time in your videos. Keep doing you!
The Ernie Ball Music Man headstock design it's simple amazing and holds the tuning like none of the guitars I've ever seen
I've got a 335, a Howard Roberts Fusion, an SG classic and a LP goldtop. None of them have tuning problems of any kind. So long as you have properly cut nuts and some graphite in the slots... there aren't issues.
In the past I have had an SG, a LP and a 335. Took me a long time (slow learner lol) to figure out I was spending way too much money. The Les Paul had consistent tuning issues. The SG had cracking in the joints (no I'm not rough on my instruments) but the 335 was all good. I now play a Sterling Cutlass (awesome head stock!) , a MiM Tele and an Ibanez Gibson copy - Straight headstock. I replaced the nut. Never have tuning issues any more. Just play. Next step is to make my guitar sound like I've been playing for 50 years - yup. That's how long it's been.
@@mikeaddison-saipe5820 Actually.. thats true. I forget I had a 70's L:P deluxe that was almost never in tune. I suspect it was the neck moving around in the joint.
Widen the string slots a bit and lube with Carmex. It's stiffer that Vaseline and smells great. That's what Joe Perry's tech says anyway. So if it's good enough for Joe...
From the great Joe Walsh, I learnt this trick:
-Lube the nut with graphite
-tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed.
-play
And my guitar stay in tune always!!!!!! for weeks!!!!!
I don't have a Les Paul at the moment but I do have an SG and 335. When I bought the 335, I had a choice of two but when the guy opened the case to show me 'the other one' the headstock was hanging off - on a new guitar! The new acoustic that I just bought is a disgrace to Gibson, badly finished frets, sharp nut etc. I think that the point here is that Gibson will make cosmetic changes to their guitars, some quite terrible to my eye, but functional changes are a nono. If they were to actually 'improve' the Les Paul, and your points are very valid Darrell, people would turn around and say, wow, this is much better - why have you been selling us c**p for all these years. It is very difficult for a company to admit that they were wrong - especially when they can say that it is a very successful line.
p1xelp Hence my H-D comment
how is it i've been playing gibbys for 40 years and i've never had a problem with tuning???
Another option is to use tuning machines that have longer stems on the tuning knobs so that the headstock can retain the same shape but the shaft that holds the string works its way towards the center of the headstock.
Yep, that would make sense. Much more sense than zero nuts and e tune machines. Maybe just removing the tuners isn't innovative enough for a company that regards itself innovative ;)
I have a 1974 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul Deluxe which I upgraded to Grover Tuners. I've played professionally and taught for nearly 40 years. My Les Paul stays in tune consistently. I have found that most people don't put the strings on correctly. Pull the string completely through the gear hole. Give yourself a little slack. I grab it at the nut and pull it back 1 to 2 frets depending on the string. Then, bend the string in the direction away from gear knob around and under the string allowing the string to wrap the first wind on itself. The slack gives yourself enough winding around the post for downward pressure. Don't let the string overlap at the bottom. Stretch 'em out and play. This works for all my instruments and I have many.
Well, I didn't change the headstock angle, but...I installed good locking tuners, a file narrowed bone nut, roller bridge with locking intonation, and a TP6 tailpiece with fine tuners. It stays in tone incredibly well, but it took some work to get it right.
I don't understand why most guitar makers don't use a zero fret to start with. I know that a lot of cheaper guitars have them, but that doesn't make them a bad idea. and, of course, don't make them out of soft metal. That way the only function the nut serves is to align the strings. I have had a couple of decent guitars that have zero frets and I can't think of a single bad thing about them. and you don't have to worry about your nut being filed correctly for your gauge of string or ever binding.
I do think the shape of their headstocks is pretty iconic, too much change and people will hate it.
This guy's voice is so calming.
Everyone I know who owns a Les Paul loves them. They have never complained about tuning problems. If staying in tune was such a problem, then no one would be buying Les Pauls.
Agree. My R7 can be in the case for a week or more and will be in tune when I pull it out. Same with my 28 year old SG.🤷♂️
Right!
Exactly!
Black swan fallacy.
I can take my in-tune Les Paul, put it in its case, immediately take it out of the case, and the G string can be out a full semitone. Why don't you ask the people you know who own Les Pauls if they have problems keeping their D and G strings in tune? Or better yet, ask them how often they tune their Les Pauls. Then ask the same question of the people you know who own Strats or PRS guitars.
The most peaceful and calmest rant I have ever seen XD Good video though, I have an explorer limited edition Korina by Vintage and it does have tuning issues.. not a lot but sometimes on the high E
This is the best rant about Gibson I have seen.
You earned a subscriber dude. Great videos and I love hownyou dont waste your time
+P Jn Thanks man!
Welcome to the channel ☺
this is not a rant just a nice explanation.
I've owned many LP's over the last 40 years. Never had a problem with tuning with any of them. In fact, I've never had a problem with tuning any guitar I've ever owned because I took the time to learn how to identify the issues that cause tuning problems and didn't buy a guitar that had any of them. I learned how to tie a luthier's knot. Very important. I always replaced factory tuners with a set of good, high quality tuners whenever necessary. I always replaced the nut if it wasn't bone. I always checked the neck for proper alignment and I always checked the intonation of the guitar myself to see if it can be properly intonated before I bought it. I practice good fretting technique, which is most definitely a perishable skill and I learned early on that changing string gauge and major changes in tuning require the guitar to be intonated once again.
Follow these easy steps and you will have many long years of guitar playing bliss.
Stop making sense. Cheers.
Gibson eliminated the neck volute in the 90s to pander to the vintage reissue freaks. This made the cracking you mention more likely. I'd prefer the 70s, 80s models with the volute to the more modern ones. Bring back the volute I say!!
I never have any trouble with my Les Paul Classic.
I been playing guitar for over 35 years and every guitar I have ever played and owned will go out of tune at any given moment I've owned Ibanez, fender, Gibson, prs, peavey Jackson ect... just do a search why won't my prs stay in tune, why won't my fender stay in tune..
It's wood and wood changes with the weather and temperatures, it has metal and metal changes with the weather and the temperatures, the strings come into play and how the guitar is strung up,..
Just about every guitar player on the face of the earth has a digital footswitch tuner in front of them and every guitar player I've ever known and seen always tunes their guitars before and during the time they play, I seen SRV do it, Billy Gibbons, EVH, Carlos Santana and even myself check my guitars on stage to see if it's still in tune
That is true but gibson is definitely worse with tuning stability and all the things you listed only amplifies the tuning issues found with them. Every guitar goes slightly out of tune when playing and you can always tune between songs and sets which is true but I've played Gibson's before where the G string goes noticeably out of tune and i cant stop playing to fix it right then I have to wait until I have a point to, this a problem I never have with my strat.
@@khill3530 I never really have any tuning issues with my Gibson les Paul gold top or my Gibson les Paul bfg, when I string them up I make sure that the strings are perfectly seated on the tuners and have enough wrapped around to avoid slipping, and I have heard that Billy Gibbons will put his strings in the front and wrap around over the top of the stop bar on one of his les Paul's, I never did that but apparently it works for him, I seen a video clip of Eric Johnson and he talked about his fender and how he tunes his low e, a, and d strings to 440 and his g,b high e tad bit flat or maybe sharp just to avoid tuning issues, I even have a buddy of mine that has a 08 Gibson sg and he was so frustrated with it because the g, b and high e would not stay in tune, he brought it over put new strings on I set the truss rod, action, intonation and adjust the pickups for him and it played very good and he said it hasn't had any tuning issues since
try:
-Lube the nut with graphite
-tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed.
-play
I like how you always have a smiling face and a kind voice
My LP stays in tune perfectly idk what r u guys talkin about
said no one ever!..haha
Mine has no tuning problems at all, I took the strings off 4 years ago, it has been great ever since.
I've been collecting Gibsons for almost 30 years and haven't noticed a tuning issue anymore or any less than the other brands I currently own. A good set up goes a long way. My PRS Cust24 isn't set up currently and goes out of tune pretty easily. That doesn't mean it's a bad guitar, just not set up right. The last time Gibson came out with their PRS styled headstock then all the sudden they were straying from their roots. Can't please everyone especially the broke ass folks.
@@wiseguy9202 gibson isnt high end.they just tell you that..its just expensive for a flawed design..look at the new sg..they are all 3 piece body .they were 2 and gibson tell you its fine ..that being said is $3000 expensive? well no..but if it comes with issues and the angle of the headstock is wrong..its too steep..then yes it is expensive..or is a $15,000 greenfield expensive or $40,000 monteleone expensive? what we find is cowboys make electric guitars on a production line and craftsmen make acoustics..and the best electrics come from craftsmen..not a factory...ask slash
Same here. Maybe the ones I’ve owned have all been special, or maybe I just know how to properly tune a guitar
I've owned many Les Paul guitars over the last 40 years. I can't recall having major issues with tuning. Clean and polish the nut slots (this is very important). Lubricate the nut slots at every string change. You don't need that fancy lubricant. I have always just used regular Chap Stick. Use good quality tuners. I like Grovers but I've also had good luck with Schaller keys. If your nut slots are not properly dressed and lubricated that is operator error.
10 friggin' 4, what year did the Les Paul come out....if it was a problem other than "operator error" (as you so wisely pointed out) I think Gibson would have changed it by now..
My Epiphone holds it better than my Studio...
That’s says nothing for me though like do you play like a pansy or do you actually dig in on your guitars?
Yeah it’s the same with Stratocasters and the floating bridge. Set them up poorly and they won’t stay in tune follow your simple practices they do.
@David Gipson while I agree that the Les Paul should have better design for tuning stability, lubricating the nut and saddles is part of basic maintenance on ANY guitar. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's magic.
hey Darrell, would you check out a Heritage H150 version of the les paul, curious how it plays and if the headstock solves the tuning issues. Keep up the good work!
Got a cherry burst used h 150 on reverb for 1400 roughly. It's in banged up shape but you know what? Plays like a dream. Weighs about 9 pounds. Sounds great with those 57 humbucker seamours. And finally... You guessed it. It stays in tune. Sounds better than most gibson les pauls too. If you can get one for 1-2 grand I think it's worth it.
And don't let brand recognition get in your way of purchase choice. So what if it doesn't say gibson on the headstock? Heritage is the real deal. Made by the same guys who put the les paul on the map back in the day in the first place. Heritage is just as good as a well made gibson les paul if not better and less over priced.
Would getting Grover locking tuners on SG help keep guitar in tune?
To me, it's the G string more than the D string and Gibsons have been like that for a long
time. They should be ashamed. To pay Gibson prices and have this problem is really un-
acceptable. Go ahead, rant on. Your diagnosis and comments are on the money. The so
called "zero fret" nut and that tuning system are cheap fixes that are, as you say, only
band-aids. That's no solution to a very expensive problem, imho. I love my Gibsons but
had to have them tweaked to stay in tune and I will not buy another one unless that
problem has been already taken care of. Leo Fender had it right. He just used common
sense and simple engineering principles and that was that.
Yeah definitely G and B strings for me. Just as it almost gets to the perfect pitch it stops changing for just a second (string binding in the nut) and then "TING!" it goes sharp...
@@humbucker1414 Yeah, I have the same problem, B string from time to time, and G string goes sharp after 5 minutes. I play blues rock in my LP Custom '91, sometimes picking agressively with one and a half bends, so no way for staying in tune, even with new strings and well lubricated nut… but I love it, too much comfortable for me in compare with my Charvel 87 or Fender Strat
Very nice video, thanks. The only Gibson I have is a 339. I've not had huge tuning issues with it but my son managed to knock it over and break the neck. Why don't they just put a volute in it? I have several acoustics with raked necks and a volute, which seem to withstand being knocked down much better.
+Tom Vernon Oh man! That sucks 😨
Let me know if you have a LP and how your experience has been - good or bad :)
Have a 2015 LP Standard (Honeyburst) with the brass nut and g-force. G string is an issue, will try a wound g string next as Ive heard this can improve the situation. Other strings stay in tune pretty good. Yours is my favourite guitar channel right now! You deserve way more subscribers sir!
+Johannes Rudolph Nice LP!
Thanks, I'm glad you are enjoying the channel :)
It doesnt fix the angle, but its a little solution to get tuning stability www.kickstarter.com/projects/98508740/the-string-butler-a-new-guitar-hardware?lang=de
interesting
Darrell, didn't Gibson add structure to the headstock to the new 2016 range? i heard about it in one video but i can't be sure..
I just purchased my first LP. Brand new 2019 studio that's blacked out with a floyd rose bridge. Plays like a dream, but it did need a little bit of adjustment to lower the action when it arrived. Best guitar I have ever played.
When I bought my les Paul I was outraged by the crap tuning issues then I put graphite on the nut and lubricant on the bridge and it stays in tune as well as my tele. Traditional 2016 T for the record.
I am always wondering, because o neuer had tuning Problems on my les Paul. It hold tune as fine as my ibanez
Change the tuning machines an use a properly slotted GraphTech nut, and lube.
I fixed my Les Paul Custom tuning problem by playing my reliable Stratocaster. Rock solid and stable. I got fed up. As much as I hate to sell my Les Paul Custom, that will happen in 2024. I just don't have the patience for it going out of tune. It has been on display and in it's case throughout the year. Beautiful but, frustrating. I tried all the things in these youtube videos and even installed a string butler. A bit better here and there but, still goes out with a couple of bends and some hard playing. I can't use it performing. The Stratocaster stays in tune even if I put it in the case for 3 days, comes out in tune.
I spent years playing Gibsons and struggling to get/stay in tune. After I switched to playing Telecasters and it all went away.
I have both ... and they are no different ... I think it's confirmation bias
@@pablorages1241 continuing to struggle with the Les Paul would have been constipation bias.
pablo rages
Or maybe each instrument is unique despite overall tendencies in designs. Maybe you just never noticed. Maybe it’s a million things. Your observation of them being the same is no more evidence than one person’s observation that they’re different. Are you sure it isn’t confirmation bias with you either? Seeking to confirm your belief that they are the same. Have you ever tested it scientifically?
Besides, it’s not like they noticed the LP went out of tune more because of this video. Noticing something yourself when you have no predisposition to notice it is not confirmation bias; it’s an observation. Observations can be accurate or inaccurate. Neither of you have collected empirical data, so don’t act like your observation, or rather lack of one, is somehow superior for no logical reason.
common problem.....heard it many times.... shouldn't be for a $2000+ guitar
You can tune a guitar
But you can't tune a fish
Ya also can't tune a Les Paul either
... But what about the people who play bass?
@@JohnvanCapel Play fish
@@JohnvanCapel so you can tune a fish!
And BTW... I totally don't get what ever OP said.
No. You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish.
I was at my wits end with a gorgeous 98’ Les Paul DC due to this issue, and stumbled upon this video yesterday. I went to work on it and I’m happy to report the issue has been resolved. I had even posted the guitar for sale and ended the listing following this fix. Thank you!
What did you do?
Johann Mynhardt I gave it a good set up, trimmed and lubricated the nut, and made sure to tighten the tuning pegs up a lot better
It's really weird but I've never noticed the tuning problems on Gibson headstocks despite having played over a hundred and owning 4... Some people really notice the problems but I only notice tuning problems on fenders. I have 4 gibson and have never actually had to adjust the nut on any of them but every fender I've owned has always needed nut work (especially a Johnny Marr Jaguar I had). I can tell just by looking that the PRS design is made to reduce string binding etc but it looks so ugly to me.
I have never had any problems with my Les Paul's either and I own two! They stay in tune outstandingly well.
Me either. The only guitar that I own that won't stay in tune is a Tele with the vintage saddle. I installed a Joe Barton and it helped but still not great. Graphtech saddles on my Strat help IMO.
There's more of an issue with Gibson head stocks cracking from drops and falls then with tuning. Damn near every acoustic guitar has the same design and yet I've never heard players pissing and moaning about tuning issues. Wrap the strings on the tuners the right way and you're fine.
Bingo.
My Epiphone lp stays in tune for weeks
Mine too
epiphone version is awesome
Same, and I love to bend the hell outta them g and b strings. the only time it goes out of tune is during hot weather, but only by a quarter tone at most.
My epi lp only ever goes out with temperature which is normal because wood expands and contracts. I have Ernie ball heavy gauge strings and it sits for weeks without going out.
@@zzzslayerzzz same bro, living in Australia, the heat in summer tends to cause her to go sharp on hot spells.
I have the same problem on my gibson 335 Ibanez look-a-like. I read some where that you can just scrape some pencil lead into the the nut where the G string passes?
Ive always wanted to find some fault to criticise on prs's but the more you learn about them from great guitarists/guitar experts the more brilliant you find out they are
Never had any tuning problems with any of my les pauls or other Gibsons. There just great guitars. as long as intonation, nut and tuners are ok you should not experience any problems. Any good luthier should be able to address and solve your tuning issues so you can keep rocking on your favourit les paul ;-)
Made me look more closely at my Ernie Ball Music Man, which never goes out of tune. I now realise how genius of a design it is. It's hardly angled at all with it headstock just being back a little, the strings are perfectly straight through the nut. I've literally had to leave the guitar alone for a couple of years only to come back thinking "I'll need to tune this"..... nope! lol
My first guitar was a Kalamazoo guitar, I hear they changed their name later to Gibson. I much prefer the 3 and 3 set up of Gibson than all 6 on one side with big fingers on those sometimes I tuning the g and hitting the D, story of my life 1969 - 72 Gibson SG best guitar for rock on the planet
I'll be damned if I spend several G's for a Paul that has that monstrosity on the back of the headstock. Just correct the geometry of the headstock itself, or would that make too much sense for Gibson?
You actually expect logical solutions from the producer of tone polish(finish thinner)?
agreed. It's uglier than a war wound!
Tone polish turned my epi into a gibson
I've never had a problem with my les paul studio staying in tune...usually will stay in tune for months as long as its not subjected to a lot of temperature changes. Mine is a 2007 model
I have found temperature a big issue.
Me too. I have one LP tribute, one nighthawk and one EPI... all are in tune for weeks. Doing this:
-Lube the nut with graphite
-tune to pitch, bend strings, retune to pitch if needed.
-play
Hmm I've never had and tuning issues with any of the Gibson Les Paul's I've owed and own .
I put a brass nut and a Stew Mac roller bridge and Hip Shot open back kocking tunners on my LP custom and it stays in tune now.
I have a Les Paul, but consider PRS an apex in excellence.
My Les Paul stays in tune perfectly
The Vinyl Word with Howlinblind mine too and my 73 SG
Mine too
Same with my les paul and sg.
Mine too. Jan 1980.
My 79 Custom stays in tune as well.
Now name the guitar brands that hold their value...
martin gibson fender you just have to buy the oldest cleanest and no wear
Fender for sure
Doesn't the greater headstock angle increase sustain though? Not a LP or Gibson guy, just curious
Hi!
Well that's what they will tell you lol!
The truth is, my Epiphone sustains longer than my Gibson's and they have a shallower angle. Even Music Man guitars sustain great and they have no tilt-back!
So I'd chalk this one up to advertising :)
Sweet thanks for the info! You rock man, greetings from Philly!
Ive never had a LP with tuning issues and i have 2.
I don't understand why Gibson doesn't use a volute like other manufacturers to increase the amount of wood at the headstock joint.
Exactly - it was a fantastic idea but purists hated it so they got rid of it. I can understand that maybe the volute isn't the most attractive feature, but it strengthened the weakest part of the neck so who really cares what it looks like if it'll help you avoid possibly fixing your guitar?
That's the major reason why Gibson don't change things. They do produce the odd (!) dose of rebellion and they have to keep on producing the same old thing they invented in the Fifties as well as the innovations. It's all because of the purists who think they know better. Sad.
I have seen them on some of the Norlin era Gibsons.
My ESPs have volutes and I think they're great. It doesn't get in the way (unless you're somehow fretting behind the nut :) ). The edge of my hand does touch it, but totally worth it for neck strength.
i had one one my 1974
gold top Deluxe . it actually stayed into very well. but the Norlins are not that good of Pauls. the body was a sandwich of Mahogeny and thin layer of maple. Sustain ok but not great.
Graphite nuts will solve the problem...I have graphite nuts on two of my Les Pauls and locking tuners as well on three...don't have much in the way of tuning problems there...
thanks for the tips. I'll look into it
you shouldn't have to. the design is dated.
Graphite nuts change the tone and locking tuners are unnecessary on guitars without a trem.
Unnecessary on a guitar without a trem...if it stays in tune. Les Pauls have a bad habit of not staying in tune.
If you think locking tuners are unnecessary, you've probably never had a guitar with them. Not only do they add to tuning stability, but new strings break in a lot faster because there's no possibility of getting any kink in the string where it wraps around the post, since there's no wrap...and string changing is a heck of a lot easier and faster. I have them on the three DC's here, from the factory btw...and I'm going to put locking Grovers on the yellow one here next month, and get rid of that damn locking nut. Locking nuts and fine tuners on a bridge are a real pain imho...and if graphite changes the tone, I couldn't tell you because the red and white ones here came from the factory with them...and I added graphite bridge pieces to the black one here because I was having an issue with string breakage...and graphite pieces will definitely solve that problem as well. Haven't really noticed a significant change in tone myself...
www.pinterest.com/alanjankowski/guitars-i-own/
From the official Canadian English dictionary:
Rant (noun): a thoughtful, well-reasoned, and constructive critique
It really does piss me off that my SG has this problem. They really should update their design.
I own a 2012 SG standard and it stays in tune better than my strat. Try to tune, then bend generously and tune again. Hope It helps solving your issue
Manuel González de la Asunción i have a Gibson sg Standard 2010 and stays in tune perfectly. I also use the bend and tune trick. It works very good
My Epi and Gibson Les Pauls have ZERO tuning issues.
Good for you! Care to elaborate?
+Adrian Johannessen Nothing really to say. I don't do anything special, they just work fine. I did have tuning issue with an ESP LTD. That guitar had no headstock angle, but terrible binding at the nut.
I play every single day for at least an hour. Been at it 30+ years.
I have an SG which pretty much stays in tune. My Epi LP has been professionally set up but isn't as good as SG but not far off. My Carvin is the best of the lot and is super stable tuning even with Floyd Rose. Not sure on neck angle of Carving but it's definitely less than EPI and Gibson
My Gibsons stay in tune also... My band-mate tunes his Tele more often than I tune my Gibson
Never had any issues either on my les Paul or 339.
But how do you explain that there's no tuning problems in acoustic guitars that have the headstock very similar to Gibson's (the angled headstock and the strings splitted behind the saddle)?