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Need Help With My New LP Traditional.


denny1948golf

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Hi guys, this is my first post on the forum.

 

I bought a Les Paul Traditional (Ice Tea) and love the neck and looks. It has the 57's in it which are one of my favorites. That being said, I think the pickup hight needs to be adjusted. The LP is very loud at "3" on the volume. It's also a little bass heavy in the middle position with both tone knobs turned to "10". I'm playing through a Victoria, Victorilux 115 and a Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue.

 

I have a ES-339 with the same pickups. In comparison, the 339 is not bass heavy at all. I understand there is going to be a difference going from a solid body to a Semi Hollow like the ES-339, but I didn't think there would be this much difference.

 

The 339 neck pickup is set to 3/32" when fretted at the last fret. The LP is set to the same.

 

One other thing I'm experiencing with the LP. I'm getting a lot of "pinging" when tuning on a few of the strings. Been having trouble keeping it in tune. Especially on third strings bends.

 

All advice is appreciated

 

Thanks, Denny

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Go ahead and lower the pickup heights and see if it helps, i suspect it will a little bit but not drastically, unless you bury them in the pickup cavity. The neck pup on Les Pauls does tend to be a little bottom heavy but you'll get used to it and come to appreciated it. That 'pinging' sound you hear are the strings binding in the nut. Glad to see that with all the new processes and procedures and technology Gibson still can't cut the nut properly. Quick fix - rub some pencil graphite in the slots of the strings that 'ping'. This is all I use and just refresh it every string change. Big Bends Nut Sauce is also quite popular.

 

Congrat's on the new ax by the way.

 

For newbies it's manditory to post pictures of their new babies.

 

 

 

For seasoned vets, well, we can't get them to shut up about their babies #-o

 

j/k

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If you don't already have one, open an account on Photobucket.com. You'll be able to use a url that will be associated with your picture(s). Copy the URL and click on the little mountian/sun icon and there you go -

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First off, welcome to the forum. Lots of great info to be had here.

 

That being said' date=' I think the pickup hight needs to be adjusted. The LP is very loud at "3" on the volume. It's also a little bass heavy in the middle position with both tone knobs turned to "10".[/quote']

 

Lower the pickups. I usually keep mine almost level with the pickup mounting ring (bezel) on the neck pickup and sticking up about 1/4 of an inch on the bridge pickup. Play around until you find what you like. If it still seems bassy, lower the bass side of the pickup below the treble side. If that doesn't do it, adjust the individual screws for each string with a screwdriver (carefully) - lower the low E and A strings for example.

 

 

One other thing I'm experiencing with the LP. I'm getting a lot of "pinging" when tuning on a few of the strings. Been having trouble keeping it in tune. Especially on third strings bends.

 

Most people use a very sharp or mechanical pencil to coat the nut slot with a little graphite. (You have to have the strings off of course to do this). Coat up the ones that ping and you should be okay. I have heard others get good results from Nut Sauce. But maybe they just like saying nut sauce. #-o

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Thanks guys, I'll play around with the PU hight and see what I come up with and report back. As for the Pinging, has anyone tried Silicone Spray? It a very safe lub that you can use on just about anything. It has a non stain carrier that evaporates quickly leaving only the Silicone behind. It's a non petroleum product. I'm not suggesting to spray it on. I would spray it on a Q-tip and apply it that way. It's slicker than graphite for sure. It also holds up for a long time. It wouldn't leave the black on the nut either.

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As for the Pinging' date=' has anyone tried Silicone Spray? It a very safe lub that you can use on just about anything. It has a non stain carrier that evaporates quickly leaving only the Silicone behind. It's a non petroleum product. I'm not suggesting to spray it on. I would spray it on a Q-tip and apply it that way. It's slicker than graphite for sure. It also holds up for a long time. It wouldn't leave the black on the nut either.[/quote']

 

Worth a shot anyway. Lets us know if that works well so we can add it to our arsonal of sticky nut knowledge -

 

The black coating in the nut slot left by graphite is almost completely obscured by the string, unless you are really sloppy!

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Worth a shot anyway. Lets us know if that works well so we can add it to our arsonal of sticky nut knowledge -

 

The black coating in the nut slot left by graphite is almost completely obscured by the string' date=' unless you are really sloppy!

 

 

[/quote']

 

Well, I was going to try the Silicone, but can't find it. Then I remember I took to the lake to use on teh boat. I'm heading out later today for the weekend. I'll be back on Sunday. I'll let you know how it works.

 

Royal Gurner, I looked for over a year for an LP with a neck I liked. The true 50's "C" shaped neck on the Traditional is perfect for me. It plays like a dream. I wasn't crazy about the chambered models. I wanted an LP with the weight and feel of the Traditional. I'm glad I waited.

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When tuning, drop the string at least a half step and tune back up to correct pitch.

If the string is slightly sharp, simply tuning down to correct pitch will not work - it will slip in the nut and go further flat.

 

So, when tuning, drop every string and go back up to pull the string thru the nut for stable tuning.

 

Does that make any sense?

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So' date=' when tuning, drop every string and go back up to pull the string thru the nut for stable tuning.

 

Does that make any sense? [/quote']

 

Well explained. Tuning "up" is advice every new player should heed. If you are still having trouble with the pesky G string, here's a tip. After tuning it "up" as described above, give the G string a good 2 step bend at the fret of your choice, just smear it across the fret board like you were Stevie Ray, then tune it up to pitch.

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I can't help with your situation, but I just ordered my first Gibson, a LP Traditional in Gold Top, it will be here on monday, man, this is going to be the longest weekend EVER. I played it a few weeks ago and I just loved the weight, neck size, non-chambered and those '57's really sound great thru a tube amp. I'm a blues and 'old' country player so it really compliments my other guitars and style. Look forward to seeing pictures.

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