Traditional upgrades

[Thornosac]

I have an '18 traditional I picked up in march.
I notice the same occasional buzz when playing unplugged.
Never hear it when plugged in so I just figured it was my heavy right hand combined with low action.
Guess I'll be looking into an aftermarket bridge.

 

[shupe13]

I have minimal buzzing on all of my guitars (acoustically). That's the price for super low action. It has no effect in my sound that I'm aware of.

 

[Greeley]

I have an '18 traditional I picked up in march.
I notice the same occasional buzz when playing unplugged.
Never hear it when plugged in so I just figured it was my heavy right hand combined with low action.
Guess I'll be looking into an aftermarket bridge.

Just try the few things I did first to rule out any other possibilities.
Loosen the strings alot first and raise the bridge along with the stop tail, raise it a fair amount to rule out any fret buzz, just make a note of how many turns u make just so you know the original height of the bridge, check the strings are not contacting against the rear of the bridge on the tail piece side make sure it's clear, causes undue tension I read ? And can cause problems, try pressing gently against the bridge spring on the offending strings, see if the noise disappears ? On mine there was indeed a tiny gap between the saddle screw and the spring and I think it should be constantly applying pressure with the screws to stop them rattling, I noticed the screws on the abr bridge to be quite loose and screw in and out very easily I can adjust them easily with my fingers once removed, the new Faber bridge screws are much tighter to turn hence no slop at all, it also sits a bit tighter onto the posts than the original abr bridge, hope this helps

 

[Thornosac]

I just went down stairs to mess around with my mistress for a few.
I really have to lay into it to get that buzz to rear it's ugly head, and it's only the low E.
When I'm plugged in, I don't even notice anything.
I looked closer at the bridge and I have that tiny gap between the screw and the spring like you were saying.
I could probably still come down a little further on the stop bar on the low E side.
High e just clears the back of the bridge.

It hasn't bothered me in the 5 months I've been playing her.

The rattling of all the stuff on my shelves when I crank my amp is far more annoying

 

[dju]

To MSB
Where can I get some of those pick up rings ? Good quality ones ?
Sorry for the long post guys and all your lovely comments and likes are really appreciated.

I used gibson historic rings on a couple of my guitars. I filed the bottom of the bridge ring giving it a rounded contour to match the carve of the top of the guitar. the neck pickup ring flexed enough that I didn't need to do anything for it to fit.
If MSB has a source for already curved bottom historic rings I would also like to know.

dj

 

[Classicplayer]

I'm wondering re: the ABR-1 bridges if a dab of clear nail polish might help to keep those bridge screws in place. It could be applied during the intonation process.

The ABR-1 on my 18 year-old Classic can buzz a bit now and then, but I can't say I hear it through my amp; only when played acoustically. I don't dislike the ABR-1 really. I think it just may add some harmonics and character to the guitar's tone.

The Nashville and similar bridges are an improved design over the ABR type, providing better stability, but do they detract a bit from tone. It seems most who use these say
it does not seem to.



Classicplayer

 

[Hatefulsob]

A tiny bit of wax (carefully) dropped on to the retaining wire will keep it from buzzing.

 

[MSB]

I used gibson historic rings on a couple of my guitars. I filed the bottom of the bridge ring giving it a rounded contour to match the carve of the top of the guitar. the neck pickup ring flexed enough that I didn't need to do anything for it to fit.
If MSB has a source for already curved bottom historic rings I would also like to know.

dj

PLT sells curved rings that are almost historic height. That said, I've installed historic rings on at least a dozen guitars now and never had an issue with them conforming to the top. I'd get them almost snug, let them sit a day, then tighten down.

 

[dju]

PLT sells curved rings that are almost historic height. That said, I've installed historic rings on at least a dozen guitars now and never had an issue with them conforming to the top. I'd get them almost snug, let them sit a day, then tighten down.

Sorry to say I'm not familiar with them, who is PLT?

thanks,
dj

 

[moreles]

Glad you found the source of the hum. It can get really maddening.

 

[moreles]

Truth is, the original rings are not contoured, so if you're trying to stay completely true to what Gibson did, you need to go with flat bottomed rings and let them flex. A little ridiculous... yes, but I don't think that Gibson contoured to bottoms -- leading to cracking over time.

 

[MSB]

Sorry to say I'm not familiar with them, who is PLT?

thanks,
dj

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/mounting-rings/

 

[519tbarr]

Beautiful guitar brother! Enjoy it with all those upgrades!

Hello everyone, I was recently playing my 2018 les Paul traditional unplugged one night after work and I noticed that the 3 lower strings did in fact have a occasional buzz coming from them ? Quite loud to sometimes and quite hard to trace exactly where it was coming from, being reasonably new to guitars I started to do some research into the matter and after a few hours of searching the net and a bit of tinkering, I figured it could well be the bridge retaining wire, I never even knew it had a wire ? My 2016 tradish was already upgraded and I just didn't realize this, anyway I was a pit peaved off because it's only 3 weeks old, bought new from one of my local dealers, I did contemplate on whether to return it to get sorted out but ii figure it may well happen again down the line.
So upgrade time it was and with a little bit of research I worked out which bridges would and would not fit, good time to fit some other upgrades as well I thought. I was also getting some unpleasant hum when I wasn't grounding the thing out with my hands so first job was to line all the cavaties with copper tape from the local hardware store, ordered a Faber abrh 59 wireless bridge, faber aluminium tail piece as per original Gibsons, hosco gold top hats, hosco amber switch tip and a gotoh metal jack plate, and finally restrung her with Ernie's custom slinkie 10's . All the parts arrived this morning and I've been a busy little boy all day but now she's finished and Ohh my what a difference these have made, she's quiet now with no hum, no string buzz either and she seems to have a bit more honk to the tone ? Could this be the Faber bridge and tail piece by any chance ? Either way she sounds absolutely fantastic and I'm a happy chap now, so just wondering what upgrades you have done to your Lester and why ? Some pics of her now she's finished.
View attachment 325636

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Worth while upgrades imo, some may argue that a new guitar shouldn't really need money spending it on it but she is a 60 plus year old design.

 

[Greeley]

Thank you 519tbarr

 

[bryvincent]

the spring only prevents the saddles from falling off when you break a string. common fix for rattling saddle screws is putting clear nail polish on the saddle screw threads. but for me, i just make sure the screw is "snug" by turning it counter clockwise until the screw catches the bridge body just before the saddle moves. or just push the saddle towards the neck, then check intonation, adjust and repeat.

 

[dju]

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/mounting-rings/

thanks for the update.
i do know who Piladelphialuthiertools. I just wasn't familiar with the PLT acronym and didn't figure it out until you spelled it out for me.

 

[Coldacre]

2013 Traditional here. a fair few upgrades:

* replaced the stock nut with a bone nut
* swapped hardware out for locking Faber (tailpiece, ABRN-1 & iNsert posts)
* replaced Classic 57's with Rewind "JPPost72's". replica of the PAF / T Top set in Jimmy Pages #1
* rewired the guitar, using braided shield wiring, genuine late 50's Bumblebees, CTS pots.
* Creamtone plastics & switch tip
* top hats instead of speed knobs
* metal input jack plate

 

[Classicplayer]

2013 Traditional here. a fair few upgrades:

* replaced the stock nut with a bone nut
* swapped hardware out for locking Faber (tailpiece, ABRN-1 & iNsert posts)
* replaced Classic 57's with Rewind "JPPost72's". replica of the PAF / T Top set in Jimmy Pages #1
* rewired the guitar, using varied shield wiring, genuine late 50's Bumblebees, CTS pots.
* Creamtone plastics & switch tip
* top hats instead of speed knobs
* metal input jack plate

Let us know how you get on with that Rewind set. I may yet make the move for that pair.


Classicplayer

 

[Coldacre]

Let us know how you get on with that Rewind set. I may yet make the move for that pair.


Classicplayer

I've had them in the guitar for nearly 5 years. best pickup set I have ever heard / played. they're in there for life. they blow the Classic 57's out of the water.

 

[Greeley]

2013 Traditional here. a fair few upgrades:

* replaced the stock nut with a bone nut
* swapped hardware out for locking Faber (tailpiece, ABRN-1 & iNsert posts)
* replaced Classic 57's with Rewind "JPPost72's". replica of the PAF / T Top set in Jimmy Pages #1
* rewired the guitar, using braided shield wiring, genuine late 50's Bumblebees, CTS pots.
* Creamtone plastics & switch tip
* top hats instead of speed knobs
* metal input jack plate

Being quite new to the guitar world I had never heard of those humbukers before, I have just had a look on the website and they do indeed sound extremely tasty, I quite fancy a set of those rewind pre 72's, no prices on there though ? I was considering a set of Seymour's antiquities in one of my Les Pauls but these look quite nice as well, i love this forum to learn of new makers and skilled craftsmen like this, I'm learning so much.