Proclaimer888 Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 So I got this Les Paul the other day.....Tuning it is driving me crazy. I use a Snark tuner and it works fine with my acoustic guitars. This Les Paul, the G string in tune but when I play a D chord, it sounds awful?? Not in tune?? Something is not right?? Understand that this is my first electric guitar....I noticed the bridge is adjustable, do I need to make adjustments?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Might be worth checking the intonation, if you hold the G string at the 12th fret you should get a G on your tuner. If it's out the bridge needs adjustment. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Hello! Probably, the slot of that string is not cut deep enough. You are pushing it sharp when fretting the chord. Fret the 3rd fret of that string. Measure the gap between the string and the first fret. It should be around 0.010". Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proclaimer888 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks for the feedback.....Did a quick test, doubt intonation...harmonics at 12th fret spot on. While playing a basic D chord, the G string....fretted should be an A and it is way sharp. Guess its a "nut" issue....as mentioned on a reply to this thread. I am going to change strings and do a bit more research to see if this is something I can resolve at home. Ironic, I thought an electric would be spot on, no environmental issues....just keep it in the case. Thanks again for the replies and look forward to chatting with the Gibson crowd!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engineer Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Perhaps it's time to retrofit a G-force? :-" (sorry, I had to say it...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobK Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yep, GForce will solve the issue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the dog Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I don't understand what a G-force will do if the string slot in nut is not deep enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobK Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 It tunes it perfectly irrespective of the nut groove. 100% every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks for the feedback.....Did a quick test, doubt intonation...harmonics at 12th fret spot on. Do yourself a favor and intonate your guitar using an open note and a fretted note at 12, or two fretted notes like a G at the 5th on the D followed by a G at the 17th on the D. An open note is basically a note fretted at the 0 and should be compared to another fretted note, not a harmonic. Harmonics start sharp and fall off over time, the longer the more they fall. Tricksy hobbitses. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yep, GForce will solve the issue! no it wont (not sure if this was sarcasm or a suggestion) Chances are the problem is what Bence has already pointed out the nut regulation is not right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck S Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Could it be just a bad core in your string or maybe you're use to having to fret really hard and now you don't have to. High quality guitar, great set-up = less effort to fret and play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proclaimer888 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Could it be just a bad core in your string or maybe you're use to having to fret really hard and now you don't have to. High quality guitar, great set-up = less effort to fret and play Hi Chuck and thanks to you and everyone else regarding my LP issue. Quite sure it is a "nut" issue. You bring up a point...been playing acoustics and I am new to this electric guitar stuff....I am going to put new strings on tomorrow and might look into a few swipes of sand-paper on the nut. Nothing radical...Kinda funny, with all my experience playing acoustics, I have never had this happen. It is surly a quick fix. Neck and action seem fine, strings feel like noodles compared to my Larrivee's. I will post some pics shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Yep... you've got good ears. If you intonate the G string correctly...it will still be sharp because the frets are not true temperament. You could slightly tune an open G slightly flat as a compromise so that the D chord sound better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Use your tuner, and check not just the intonation at the 12th fret vs open, but ALL the frets. If the nut is indeed cut too high for that string, it will reveal itself by the notes getting progressively sharper to a big degree as you get closer to the nut. If you want to "test" this, do a capo on the first fret, and the notes should be the same or out by the same amount using the same "test". Personally, I don't intonate to the nut. I check every note, and find the best average. The nuts are almost always likely to be out more often than the frets. If it's THAT far out it I address it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantobrien Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Not trying to be a jerk here, but if you're coming from acoustic to electric, then it is really easy to over grip your fretting hand. Check your hand pressure to make sure you're not pulling the string sharp. If so, you've got some work to do in adjusting your feel. One thing I've heard recommnded is using heavier gauge strings to help compensate during the transition. Just an idea, but again not trying to be a jerk. Good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 ^-- he makes a good point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I find I do a lot of acoustic work for choir,, when I finally get around to playing for me, I grab my Les Paul. I find that I'm either mashing the strings to the fret board that pull the strings out of tune or I'm bending a string enough to pull it out of tune. I find the LP is more touch sensitive that my other guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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