nut/machines questions

[Vette77]

ive been having trouble with the tuning on my custom for a while now and ive done everything except replacing/fixing the nut, which has been on the top of my list since i first started having problems, just never got around to fixing it. this was one of the first things i wanted to do because i would always hear clicking coming from the headstock, so i though the strings were getting caught in the nut. im curious though, ive read that bone nuts are the best, especially in terms of vintage sound, would an 08 custom have a bone nut already? because if that is the case i might just get it filed down. also im thinking of replacing the tuning machines since they seem to jump right over the correct spot when tuning, theyre just not very progressive in tuning the guitar, it just jumps around a lot. what brand of tuning machines are on an 08 custom? and what are the most suggested of tuners(especially for vintage spec. kluson? grover?).

[Yaff]

Have you tried lubing the Nut with Pencil led or even better,Big Bends Nut Sauce? Its very common for string to stick when tuning, if not lubricated.

 

Regards

[Vette77]

ive used graphitall, a really good lubricant, but no real change.

[swleary]

Sounds like to me that you may need the nut slots filed..take it to a trusted Luther and have it filed a touch . That is what I would do. Also a setup might be in order.

[KL]

ive been having trouble with the tuning on my custom for a while now and ive done everything except replacing/fixing the nut' date=' also im thinking of replacing the tuning machines since they seem to jump right over the correct spot when tuning, theyre just not very progressive in tuning the guitar, it just jumps around a lot. what brand of tuning machines are on an 08 custom? and what are the most suggested of tuners(especially for vintage spec. kluson? grover?). [/quote']

 

I'm having problems at the moment with my Les Paul Deluxe. It will NOT stay in tune and so it is off to the luthier some time soon to have the nut checked. If it's not that then I will give serious consideration to replacing the tuners (but of course keeping the originals!). It's a 1975 or 76 guitar (hmmm . . . I've just forgotten which year . . . . duh!). If I bend a string, that's it . . . out of tune. I change strings frequently.

 

Let me know how you get on with your custom. How old is it?

[Vette77]

I'm having problems at the moment with my Les Paul Deluxe. It will NOT stay in tune and so it is off to the luthier some time soon to have the nut checked. If it's not that then I will give serious consideration to replacing the tuners (but of course keeping the originals!). It's a 1975 or 76 guitar (hmmm . . . I've just forgotten which year . . . . duh!). If I bend a string' date=' that's it . . . out of tune. I change strings frequently.

 

Let me know how you get on with your custom. How old is it?

[/quote'] mines an 08, bought it new at the end of the same year(winter 08). it definitely is annoying as hell considering how much we spent for these things, ya know? personally though all the trouble i go through with my lp is completely worth it because i know when i get her just right with all the parts and tunings that all the annoyance and struggling will pay off when i have my perfect tone. i hope you have more luck that i did with visiting a luthier. not that the one i went to was a bad one or anything, but the problem just really didnt seem to fix itself afterwords, all the adjustments he made didnt really change much of anything except throw off the action i was used to(which i ultimately redid myself anyways lol). anyways though, good luck with your lp

[sktn77a]

I'm having problems at the moment with my Les Paul Deluxe. It will NOT stay in tune and so it is off to the luthier some time soon to have the nut checked. If it's not that then I will give serious consideration to replacing the tuners (but of course keeping the originals!). It's a 1975 or 76 guitar (hmmm . . . I've just forgotten which year . . . . duh!). If I bend a string' date=' that's it . . . out of tune. I change strings frequently.

[/quote']

 

It's not the tuners (it's rarely, if ever, the tuners) - its the nut. Widen out the nut slots and use some nut sauce. Not all luthiers seem able to cure this chronic Gibson problem (I think it's the nylon material they use for the nut), so I'd question several before you turn your guitar over to one of them.