Twang Gang

On the guitar front, my search for wood for the body continues. My neighbor is letting me take an ash log (about 10 ft long by 14 in. diameter or so) and a cherry log just a bit smaller, but has splits in it. I'm now trying to figure out how to go from log to 2" thick slabs I can use for body wood. Got a couple local saw mills, might need to call in the big guns for it. Anyone ever slab a log, have tips? Rabs is right - you have to let it cure (dry out) for a couple years. They may already be old, but if laying outside in the moisture more drying is needed. As to cutting it up, the right saw is critical to get a smooth straight cut and doubtful you have a saw that can go through a 14 inch diameter in one cut. So the saw mill is probably a good idea.

Well it's says it's for "metal/plastic/rubber" doesn't say anything about bone or nylon or whatever else a guitar nut might be made of? I have always used "Guitar Grease" that I got at a guitar shop, it's a StewMac product, a little plastic container about the size of a quarter and it's just gooey graphite that I put into the slots on the nuts using a sewing needle or the like. Then wipe any excess off. Works well enough. Was not expensive maybe $2, I don't recall. If the slots in the nut are cut properly they don't need much lubrication. Almost all nuts on my Gibsons had some ping in the tuning and I would get a luthier to file them for a couple minutes and then they were good.

The guitar you are looking at is certainly a beauty. As Kidblast mentioned though guitars that are on the sales floor at Guitar Center take a beating. But assuming it is in brand new condition you couldn't go wrong buying that guitar. That being said - you don't have to spend $4000 to get a good Les Paul. There are so many out there, different models, new and used that you probably could get one just as good for less. It sort of depends on what you are looking for. Some of us buy guitars because we are in working bands and the sound and playability are way more important that looks. Others don't make a living playing guitar and it's more of a hobby where how the guitar looks is really important. Get out to some stores and play a few different ones with different pickups so you can decide what you like as to the tone and feel. Then you can make your own informed decision as to what feature you want and how much you have to spend to get them.

You have the same L5CESN as me...great choice you made. Mine is a 2015 Custom Crimson one, what year is yours? We're hijacking the OPs thread - but mine is also Custom Crimson built in 2013. Unlike many other models they don't mess with perfection and they don't change from year to year!!

That is a beauty. 5 years old and from the photos looks brand new. Enjoy it. I too had wanted one for a long, long time so when some unexpected funds came along I had to finally get one. Don't play it as often as I should, but couldn't give it up. As long as we're not being bashful about posting L5 photos:

I don't think a Gibson sealed in Nitro will fade like Rab's example as he just stained it and oiled it. I've seen some examples of the Pelham Blue that turned greenish over 20 years or so. It will change some over time, but depends on the light it is exposed to. If you keep in the case when your not playing it, it will hold the color for a long time.

Hopefully you've solved this problem as the post is month old. But if not I would tend to think that there is too much relief in the neck, and you need to make the neck straighter (flatter) - this will make the strings more parallel to the neck all the way from nut to bridge and prevent the buzzing. Gibson's set up specs say to get the fingerboard completely straight then back off the truss rod nut 1/8th of a turn for slight relief. (always loosen truss rod nut first then adjust back to where you want it). I don't have metric measurements, but their specs say string height at the 12th fret should be about 3/64 in. for high E and 5/64 in. for low E. These are from top of the fret to bottom of the string. As to the strings touching the back of the bridge - don't move the bridge saddles up and down, move the stopbar up to get the strings away from the bridge (assuming it's a Nashville bridge). If you have an ABR-1 bridge the strings will clear with the stopbar all the way down to the body. Hope that helps.

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head - "orchestral pop" by Burt Bacharach. Also "RC Cola and a Moon Pie" by NRBQ

Unless he is a really big guy - it looks smaller than a 335 or others you mention. But not sure what model would not have anything on the headstock? Was thinking it could be a 336 or 339, but they have markings on the headstock

and Gold hardware which you don't see very often on 335s unless it's a Custom Shop model, and that would probably be more expensive. No longer available through Sweetwater, so they must have sold what they had to someone.

Not something most SG players would think of, but if you can get the sound you want, the playability of an SG is great. More power to you to think outside the box

Fun stories to read guys. Like Dennis G and Old Cowboy I am lot older than most of you. My first guitar was a Roy Rogers model from Sears or Montgomery Ward about 1956 or 57. It was bright red with white silk screened pictures of Roy and Trigger on it. Top/body was some sort of pressed board, just a little sturdier than cardboard. The neck was wood, but the fingerboard was plastic with the frets molded right in (nylon strings). It came with instructions on how to tune it. Tune the low E to your piano, then press the fifth fret to get the A, fifth fret to get the D, G, press the fifth fret on the G to get the B and then 5th fret again for the E. No matter what I did, it just didn't sound right. The error in the instructions made the B string into a C and the high E into an F (not a popular tuning to this day). So since it always sounded bad it collected dust in the corner for a couple years. Finally a friend of my Mom's from out of state came to visit and she tuned it properly pointing out the error in the instructions. After that at least I was able to play a few chords and get started on learning guitar.

Not sure they are still putting those stickers inside every guitar. I bought a 2013 L-5 and is has a sticker inside the body. Also bought a 2017 CS 356 and there is no sticker in that one. I have COAs for both, and I think that should be proof enough that it is real and genuine. I wouldn't worry about it. Really nice looking ES by the way - hope you enjoy it. [thumbup]

Back in 2009 when this post started I didn't own a Standard - but I do now. 2017 LP Standard T Burstbuckers, Honeyburst finish, compound radius fretboard - my big mod was I added the poker chip.

On my LPs and a 356 the pick-up ring butts right up against the edge of the binding that is at the bottom of the neck/fretboard. Sort of looks like your pickup was installed too far away from the fingerboard and thus left that little gap. I am not real familiar with 330s though, they may all be like that?

Did our first show this year at our club the other night. We usually play outside on a deck, but the building is being remodeled this year so that section was a construction zone - result we played inside upstairs in the club proper and it was a blessing to be in the air-conditioning as it was very hot and humid outside. First live gig using my Eleven rack and it was a great improvement. We don't use amplifiers anymore, electronic drums (great for controlling volume), bass through direct box and guitar through the Eleven rack, everything mixed down through the PA. Results in a very hi-fidelity stereo sound. Don't use wedge monitors anymore either (no feedback issues) and use earbuds instead. Feed the exact same mix to the earbuds as what is going out front so we hear exactly what the audience is hearing. Big crowd of about 200 people who all seemed to be having a good time - lots of dancers. When the remodel is finished in the fall we hopefully will play the Grand Opening - time to work on different material. Audience likes what we are doing, but we're getting a little tired of playing mostly the same stuff each time. For decades I was never a fan of electronic drums and digital signal processing but after being with this set up for a couple of years and getting the right tools it has come together to result in a better sound than any of my other bands had in the past. Very fortunate to have a drummer who is a retired recording engineer and has an excellent ear for the mix.

Personnel changes can be tough, especially if you've been with someone a long time. You mentioned he started the band, was lead singer and owned the PA so sounds like a lot to replace, but usually you come out the other side better off. A couple of bands ago the bass player quit. No big problems, but he had a full time job and just wasn't into it anymore. We had a gig coming up soon and couldn't get a replacement so the rhythm guitar player moved over to bass. He had played a little bass over the years, but did not consider himself a bass player by any means. Because he was new at it - he kept it very basic. The band sounded much better with him on bass, because what we found out was he was really mucking up the sound with his rhythm guitar playing. So we got a very simple, in the groove bass line and eliminated a lot of mid-range clutter in the sound of the band. Sometimes you need a change or a fresh start to rejuvenate things. Hope it works out to your advantage.

Rack Em Up - Johnny Lang

Nothing wrong with your guitar. The hum is being caused by something else in the house. Almost unavoidable with all the stuff going on as mentioned, light bulbs, refrigerators etc.

Maybe you got a bad set, but you could try a couple other things before replacing them. First have you had the nut filed at all? Often the Gibson nuts aren't accurately filed and the string will stick in them and ping when it releases. A luthier that knows what he is doing can solve that problem in 10 minutes. Also a basic thing, that you probably already know, but can cause tuning problems - make sure you always tune the string UP to pitch. If you go a little sharp and then loosen slightly, the string will almost always go out of tune if you stretch it a little. I agree the Grovers seem a lot smoother and easier to work with, but Klusons can be lived with if you're careful with them.

Did our fall gig on the clubhouse patio where we live. Perfect evening, about 72 degrees out. These are fun gigs, only play from 6:00 to 8:00 PM (2 sets). They always have a buffet, usually make your own tacos, but this time upgraded to a baked spaghetti/salad/garlic bread/ and cake for dessert. We had a great crowd, there is a covered veranda that seats about 60-70 at tables, and then there is more space that is uncovered. We got about 120 or so out which is the biggest turnout they've had so we should get invited back. Mostly retirees live in this community so we play more oldies that we might otherwise. Used my 2017 LP Standard and it was great. Before the second set I checked the tuning, and it needed no adjustment even after bashing it pretty good on the last two songs of the first set. Perfect weather contributed to that. Set list: Eerie thing - first time we had played "You Wreck Me" and "End of The Line" (which Petty sang on with the Willbury's) and it was the day he was hospitalized. Rumor at the time was that he had died, which turned out to be false, but I guess he passed the next day on Tuesday. Promo Poster: Finished about 8:05, tore down by 9:00 and home by about 9:15. That's probably it until Spring for us. But the best part was a bass player that just moved into the community showed up and we got to talking so we are going to audition him in a couple weeks and if it works out the current bass player will move to guitar and we will be able to expand material with double leads and rhythm/lead guitar. Hope that works out.

Glad you decided to go with a carve with the Walnut and not put a cap on it. The Walnut by itself will finish out real nice I think. I know you normally go with just oil so the natural grain and color of the wood comes out, and I am a strong supporter of that, but I might recommend a little stain on the Walnut to make it somewhat darker brown. I think with the neck inlays you did, it would really stand out. But of course since I'm not custom ordering it, you must do what you are most comfortable with.

Oh yeah, B flat is just such a joy to play on the guitar.

that worked, can see them now. Cool looking build.

Sorry Rabs, but here in the US we get a little black box that says "the image you are requesting does not exist or is no longer available imgur.com" I can see Dub's photo, but none of yours. :angry: