Is it me or do Les Pauls go out of tune way too often?

[Page/lespaulfreak]

I've tried everything from stretching to lubricating the nut with graphite. When i change the strings, i wrap the string around the post one time and then insert it into the hole and end up with two or three windings per post. I use this methods on all of my guitars and they stay in tune alright except for the Les Paul. Is there anything I'm doing wrong or do i need to replace something on the guitar?

 

[56GT]

It's you.

Lube or replace the cheap plastic nut.

 

[Quill]

A Les Paul should be a very stable guitar, but always there is the guitar that will give you trouble.

I find the angled headstock on these guitars does well with fewer wraps on the post. I bend an upside-down "Z" into the string, with the bends tight against the post. One wrap goes actually above the free end of the string, the second wrap below it, and I try to stop with those two wraps. Mind you, my guitar would stay in tune for a week with only minor tweaks (this is playing five hours a night, six days a week, plus maybe some practice during the day) long before I started with the fussy nonsense I've just described ...

Something to consider: what are the other guitars, and what is their scale length? If they are very different and you are more used to them, perhaps you may benefit from a bit heavier string on the Les Paul. If, say, you play a Stratocaster and are comfortable on that Strat with a set of strings running .009-.042, then you will balance the string tension and response of the two guitars better if you use something like .010-.048 on your Les Paul. Because we get used to playing our guitars a certain way, you see ... your Strat with very light strings will tolerate a certain touch and technique, and that same touch and technique on a Les Paul with the very same gauge might wander on you.

I hope it is obvious that this suggestion is offered in addition to getting the nut looked at, which is advice you have already received and is definitely the more important thing to do.

 

[IGRocker]

Kudos to Quill. He stated it all. My 2011 LPC holds tune for years (ok, months ) and it's only an Epiphone! Just about every Les Paul I've played has held tune quite well. Like Quill said, maybe its how your strings are wrapped around the posts, or maybe you got that "one guitar" that just doesn't hold tune! Either way, good luck!

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

A Les Paul should be a very stable guitar, but always there is the guitar that will give you trouble.

I find the angled headstock on these guitars does well with fewer wraps on the post. I bend an upside-down "Z" into the string, with the bends tight against the post. One wrap goes actually above the free end of the string, the second wrap below it, and I try to stop with those two wraps. Mind you, my guitar would stay in tune for a week with only minor tweaks (this is playing five hours a night, six days a week, plus maybe some practice during the day) long before I started with the fussy nonsense I've just described ...

Something to consider: what are the other guitars, and what is their scale length? If they are very different and you are more used to them, perhaps you may benefit from a bit heavier string on the Les Paul. If, say, you play a Stratocaster and are comfortable on that Strat with a set of strings running .009-.042, then you will balance the string tension and response of the two guitars better if you use something like .010-.048 on your Les Paul. Because we get used to playing our guitars a certain way, you see ... your Strat with very light strings will tolerate a certain touch and technique, and that same touch and technique on a Les Paul with the very same gauge might wander on you.

I hope it is obvious that this suggestion is offered in addition to getting the nut looked at, which is advice you have already received and is definitely the more important thing to do.

My other guitars are a Strat with ,009-.42 and since i had it for two years before having the Les Paul im more used to the feel of the neck. The other guitars are a Takamine acoustic with .011-52, strung with the same method and keeps tune just fine. And finally a 12 string acoustic with .011-.52, also with the same method and not tuning problems. Ive had all of these guitars before the Les Paul and thats my only guitar to have .010-.48 on it.

 

[Paulie C]

Don't overlook the tuners. Over time, the hardware can loosen up enough to cause a problem. If you have the metal Grovers, check the tension on the small screws, as well as the retaining nuts.

 

[Quill]

... Ive had all of these guitars before the Les Paul and thats my only guitar to have .010-.48 on it.

From all those, sounds like you probably have some strength in your hands. You know, a Les Paul sounds very, very good with a set that runs .011 - .049 or .050. I think you could probably handle it. Just a thought!

 

[56GT]

From all those, sounds like you probably have some strength in your hands. You know, a Les Paul sounds very, very good with a set that runs .011 - .049 or .050. I think you could probably handle it. Just a thought!

You know it sounds good with 10-46 too.

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

From all those, sounds like you probably have some strength in your hands. You know, a Les Paul sounds very, very good with a set that runs .011 - .049 or .050. I think you could probably handle it. Just a thought!

Won't having .11 gauge strings on my guitar make it harder to perform bends and play fast licks?

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

Don't overlook the tuners. Over time, the hardware can loosen up enough to cause a problem. If you have the metal Grovers, check the tension on the small screws, as well as the retaining nuts.

I hated how the stock grovers looked and swapped them with the Gibson Kluson style tuners with cream colored buttons but im not sure if that was such a smart choice to make in the first place.

 

[Stinky Kitty]

Won't having .11 gauge strings on my guitar make it harder to perform bends and play fast licks?

Not once your hands adapt. Sure maybe super fast shredding might be a little slower. Depends on what you want to play. Did SRV's .013 to .058s (albeit tuned down a half step) slow him down?

 

[Quill]

You know it sounds good with 10-46 too.

Well, yes ... a decent Les Paul will sound great with .008 - whatever, if those strings suit the hands that are playing it. I suppose I was just being a little bit rhetorical, as some worry about the heavier gauges.

Won't having .11 gauge strings on my guitar make it harder to perform bends and play fast licks?

It's generally the third string that gives us trouble, as we go up - but you can play with the size of that one string. A typical "medium gauge" set has a third of size 0.018"; you could keep that at .017 ... anyway I really don't know what the tuning trouble might be - it's only a suggestion.

If you do want to try a heavier gauge, it sometimes helps to take the guitar to a good tech and have the nut and bridge slots widened a touch to accommodate the larger gauge, and maybe have the truss-rod tweaked. Of course you can do all this yourself if you have the tools.

I've found that heavier strings vibrate differently, and with my own very heavy attack I can actually get the action lower with a larger string and still get a good sound. With lighter strings, I keep the action up a bit. But this is all incidental to the tuning issues. Hope you find something that works!

... Grovers to Klusons ... did you put on the special bushings? The shaft on a Grovers tuner is a bit larger; some outfits make a special bushing for a Kluson that fits the Grovers-sized hole in the headstock, but has a hole sized just right for the Kluson. You must have done this, the guitar wouldn't work at all without them, stupid question. Sorry about that.

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

Not once your hands adapt. Sure maybe super fast shredding might be a little slower. Depends on what you want to play. Did SRV's .013 to .058s (albeit tuned down a half step) slow him down?

I don't usually play shred style music anyway (im more of a blues, rock and jazz player) but im learning Glasgow Kiss by John Petrucci and the song is already hard enough on my hands while playing with .10s, i cant imagine it with .11s

 

[Stinky Kitty]

It's possible that you have a tuner or two that may be wearing out, or just need to adjust the nut, as was suggested. Do the strings make a slight popping or cracking noise when you are tuning up? This could be the sign of a string binding at the nut. If all of your hardware is set to right, then maybe . . .

Getting right up on the nut side edge of the fret and using light pressure keeps from 'heavy hand clutching' the lighter strings and pulling them out of tune.

I go through this balance as I move from my Classical with nylon, to the 12 string and back to the electrics. Lighten up my touch and keep the very corner edge of the fret in mind.

HTH

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

It's possible that you have a tuner or two that may be wearing out, or just need to adjust the nut, as was suggested. Do the strings make a slight popping or cracking noise when you are tuning up? This could be the sign of a string binding at the nut. If all of your hardware is set to right, then maybe . . .

Getting right up on the nut side edge of the fret and using light pressure keeps from 'heavy hand clutching' the lighter strings and pulling them out of tune.

I go through this balance as I move from my Classical with nylon, to the 12 string and back to the electrics. Lighten up my touch and keep the very corner edge of the fret in mind.

HTH

When i tune it i don't hear a clicking so it must be a tuner that could be wearing out. If its a tuner that is wearing out, is there a way to fix it or do i have to buy another set?

 

[Stinky Kitty]

When i tune it i don't hear a clicking so it must be a tuner that could be wearing out. If its a tuner that is wearing out, is there a way to fix it or do i have to buy another set?

Someone posted earlier in this thread what to look at to tighten it up if needed.

You can replace one at a time as needed, or go for the whole set, just to know they are all solid from here on.

Possibly time to think about sticking with the stock type, (definitely if you only replace the worn ones,) or upgrade to another favorite type.

There just happens to be a set of stock Klusons up in the MLP classifieds now. But if you buy used you never know. I've had mixed luck with some used sets. Buy new and you have the manufacturer's and the vendor's warranty.

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

Someone posted earlier in this thread what to look at to tighten it up if needed.

You can replace one at a time as needed, or go for the whole set, just to know they are all solid from here on.

Possibly time to think about sticking with the stock type, (definitely if you only replace the worn ones,) or upgrade to another favorite type.

There just happens to be a set of stock Klusons up in the MLP classifieds now. But if you buy used you never know. I've had mixed luck with some used sets. Buy new and you have the manufacturer's and the vendor's warranty.

The tuners are Gibson Kluson style with plastic tuning keys so tightening or loosing isn't an option. If indeed they are worn out, my next purchase will be a set of 18:1 grover tuners.

 

[Bobbyk1978]

The tuners are Gibson Kluson style with plastic tuning keys so tightening or loosing isn't an option. If indeed they are worn out, my next purchase will be a set of 18:1 grover tuners.

if you go with the grovers, get the locking ones that have the radial dial underneath the head stock. much easier to use than the ones on the T+

 

[Mike-t]

Maybe I'm doing something right but all of my guitars stay seem to stay in tune fairly well. I always stretch the strings after putting new ones on and I always detune below the desired pitch and tune up.

 

[Page/lespaulfreak]

Maybe I'm doing something right but all of my guitars stay seem to stay in tune fairly well. I always stretch the strings after putting new ones on and I always detune below the desired pitch and tune up.

I stretch the strings but i dont detune. Ive never heard of that tuning method.