New Epiphone Les Paul Custom Questions???

[Paul-Rox]

I recently went through a major headache trying to buy a new Les Paul Epi. I purchased a Les Paul Standard 1060s with the Tea burst. Beautiful Guitar!! Played great but had grounding issues. I returned it to the store and the 2 others they had both had a horrible hum when not touching the strings or tuners. So they suggested I leave the guitar with them to have their tech fix the issue and it would take them a week. So I said no and tried the Les Paul Custom. Boom! No hum played great a slight buzz on one string, nothing a good setup wouldn't fix. But here is where my question comes in. The guitar as advertised comes with Grover Tuners, and when I got home I discovered the tuners were Wilkinson. Not a big deal or so I thought, I haven't been able to keep the guitar in tune for more than 1 song and if I have to bend a note it goes right out. So I called the store and called Gibson who told me they had the right to replace hardware without notice. The store offered me $70.00 back to buy the correct advertised tuners, but no one has been able to tell me which Grover would be a direct replacement. Here are a few Picture and the Model I think should fit are the Grover Romantic 102 18G

Please help !!! Also, is this light streak in the ebony normal?? Thanks, everyone.

 

[gitmohair]

Hmmm. Some decent pictures of the whole guitar might help here.

 

[James R]

The fretboard is made of wood, wood has streaks, completely normal.

Personally, I'd be suspect of the nut slots before I went changing any tuners.

My suggestion would be to take the $70 and put it towards a set up from a well trusted and experienced tech or luthier.
They will likely cut you a new nut to match your string size, and my guess is the tuning problems would be far less of an issue.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[James R]

Not to be weird or anything, but just wondering if you changed strings on it at all, and if you did, if you properly stretched them?
Just trying to eliminate possible causes of the guitar going so badly out of tune after only a couple of minutes.

 

[Zacknorton]

the tuners very likely aren't the problem. 99.999% of the time tuning issues are caused by bad nut slots and/or bad saddle slots.

take the $70 and get the nut/saddles dealt with by a really well trusted tech/luthier etc.

 

[gitmohair]

Sorry, I'm missing something here. Is this guitar new or used? If the latter, there's nothing wrong with Wilkinson tuners. See above comments, or, better still, take it to a tech for a good set up (which, TBF, makes sense whether new or used). If it's new I'm a tad surprised to see Wilkinsons on a stock Epi but others will know better than me whether this is an issue or not.

 

[rbraad68]

I wouldn't stress the tuners yeah it sucks you got the non grovers. I don't think that is your problem though. I would have the guitar set up I think you would be happy with it then. Did you change the strings when got the guitar? Those stock strings aren't the greatest. If you did change the strings your self make sure you streatched them real good. I have owned two of these new customs I have never had a problem with tunning....

 

[DrBGood]

Nut problem for sure, not sure it needs to be replaced, just adjusted ... and learn to properly lock the strings on tuner posts.

 

[Paul-Rox]

Wow, thanks for all the answers. Ok, it is brand new in the box from Epiphone. When I opened the box there was even a registration card from Grover. It has not been to a Tech for a proper setup yet and these were the strings that came. As far as the nut it is supposed to be this Graphtech. Here is a few more pics

 

[Mockbel]

First I think you are one of those picky buyers
No issue with that at all and you have the absolute right to be as picky as you want

For the tuning issue, it is not tuners issue

 

[James R]

Wow, thanks for all the answers. Ok, it is brand new in the box from Epiphone. When I opened the box there was even a registration card from Grover. It has not been to a Tech for a proper setup yet and these were the strings that came. As far as the nut it is supposed to be this Graphtech. Here is a few more pics

I think you'll be quite surprised at the difference a good set up can make.
It got a rough set up at the factory and then it went on a tour of the world, through a few climate changes, so the rough factory set up is pretty much a starting point to getting your guitar in good playable condition.

It's best to leave set ups to the experts when you're first starting out (if, in fact, you are just starting out... making an assumption here), but it's good to learn the parts of the guitar and how they interact with each other, which will help you to troubleshoot issues.
Read a ton on the internet and books, and pick the brains of anybody that is knowledgeable, and you'll be doing the wrench work on your own guitar(s) in no time!

Good luck, and play the shit out of that LPC, it's a beauty!

 

[Paul-Rox]

I think you'll be quite surprised at the difference a good set up can make.
It got a rough set up at the factory and then it went on a tour of the world, through a few climate changes, so the rough factory set up is pretty much a starting point to getting your guitar in good playable condition.

It's best to leave set ups to the experts when you're first starting out (if, in fact, you are just starting out... making an assumption here), but it's good to learn the parts of the guitar and how they interact with each other, which will help you to troubleshoot issues.
Read a ton on the internet and books, and pick the brains of anybody that is knowledgeable, and you'll be doing the wrench work on your own guitar(s) in no time!

Good luck, and play the shit out of that LPC, it's a beauty!

Thanks! Not really a newbie Had the exact guitar from Gibson when I was in HS 30+ years ago and really haven't played much since. Just getting back in the Epiphone seems to have stepped up their game to the point I don't need to spend all my money on the Gibson version just to jam a few times a month.!!!

 

[rbraad68]

Wow, thanks for all the answers. Ok, it is brand new in the box from Epiphone. When I opened the box there was even a registration card from Grover. It has not been to a Tech for a proper setup yet and these were the strings that came. As far as the nut it is supposed to be this Graphtech. Here is a few more pics

Those are some nice guitars man. I picked a 2021 custom up from a friend second hand. Mine did not stay looking like for more than a couple hours.... Here is what i did with mine.

 

[James R]

Thanks! Not really a newbie Had the exact guitar from Gibson when I was in HS 30+ years ago and really haven't played much since. Just getting back in the Epiphone seems to have stepped up their game to the point I don't need to spend all my money on the Gibson version just to jam a few times a month.!!!

Nice!
Welcome back!

 

[Paul-Rox]

Those are some nice guitars man. I picked a 2021 custom up from a friend second hand. Mine did not stay looking like for more than a couple hours.... Here is what i did with mine.

Nice!

 

[gitmohair]

Done a bit of research and the Wilkinsons on a new Epi look entirely plausible They're well decent tuners and you'll also find Mr WIlkinson's stuff on some seriously high-end kit. Get the guitar set up (see loads of comments above) and play the shit out of it

 

[LocoTex]

New strings and a good setup are in order.

 

[rbraad68]

New strings and a good setup are in order.

I agree man. I have bought 12-14 Lp's in the last couple years and not one of them needed work on the nut. Get the thing set up some new strings you should be good....

 

[nadzab]

As everybody already mentioned or alluded to, the tuners are probably the culprit in 1% of cases (maybe less). Get those nut slots properly dressed by someone who knows how to set up a Gibson, and it'll be smooth sailing from there.

PS Congrats on the new guitar!

 

[DrBGood]

... by someone who knows how to set up a Gibson ...

Or an Epiphone ?