jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hey fellas (and gals), I'm a first-time owner of a Les Paul (Studio, Worn-Faded Brown). Any tips from those of you who've been playing LP's for a while? (Care, Maintenance, Performing, whatever...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hey fellas (and gals)' date=' I'm a first-time owner of a Les Paul (Studio, Worn-Faded Brown). Any tips from those of you who've been playing LP's for a while? (Care, Maintenance, Performing, whatever...)[/quote Here are a few.... 1. Don't use silicone-based polishes (buy virtuoso polish) 2. Don't put your guitar on a stand (the rubber will eat away the nitro) 3. the headstock is vulnerable to breakage 4. use graphite on the nut to ensure the strings stay in tune 5. save for a nice tube amp to complement your new axe And play the hell out of it and enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 nice...i hadn't heard about the graphite thing...i'll check it out. thanks! keep em comin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 i use stands even though half my guitars are nitro...and by the way i have a vintage mahogany as well and i love the f-in thing! my way around the stand issue is simple...the petroleum in the rubber i guess eats away at nitro so i just wrapped over all the rubber with white athletic tape...looks a little dorky i know but its keeps my wood off of rubber! so i say get a stand...just prep it first! also take off the pickguard! you can get away with it on your les paul seeing as though it doesnt have 4lbs of extra paint on it...also its a vintage mahogany so play the hell out of it and make it look vintage! good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Paul Fanatic Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hey another fellow Vintage Mahogany owner, mine just came in yesterday, stand issues just pull the rubber off and wrap cloth around it( clean cloth that is). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 i can't tell you guys just how much i dig the vintage mahogany. i can respect those who like the "pimped-out" look of the more expensive bodies, but the rawness and yet simplicity of this body is freaking sweet (as you said newhaven). you know that commercial with the girl driving the car who says when you turn it on...it should return the favor? definitely happens with this one. it's pretty cool when a guitar inspires you to make better music! love the tips...please keep em comin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 2. Don't put your guitar on a stand (the rubber will eat away the nitro) Never heard of this, any more info please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 hello kubog...taking a look at your gear i can tell your pretty serious when it comes to guitars...i heard that the rubber that comes on most stands is petroleum based and thus has a negative effect when in contact with Nitrocellulose...it may take a while but there is definite proof that it will eat away guitar finishes...just google rubber and nitrocellulose finishes and i am sure a million sites will pop up going into more detail than i just did about the effects... if this isnt the truth, then i apologize for feeding into the rumors and spreading them...but just as a note of caution i cover the rubber regardless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Certain poly's in the foam on stands will damage the nitrocellulose finish on your guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 hello kubog...taking a look at your gear i can tell your pretty serious when it comes to guitars...i heard that the rubber that comes on most stands is petroleum based and thus has a negative effect when in contact with Nitrocellulose...it may take a while but there is definite proof that it will eat away guitar finishes...just google rubber and nitrocellulose finishes and i am sure a million sites will pop up going into more detail than i just did about the effects... if this isnt the truth' date=' then i apologize for feeding into the rumors and spreading them...but just as a note of caution i cover the rubber regardless![/quote'] Wow thank you very much guys, looks you are right! I owe you a big one now :P . Saved my R7 from disaster. Best regards from Slovakia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Paul Fanatic Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Never heard of this' date=' any more info please? [/quote'] Oh yes, the kind people of Gibson have even went as far as to put it in the owners manual that rubber stands will eat away nitro finishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubog Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Oh yes' date=' the kind people of Gibson have even went as far as to put it in the owners manual that rubber stands will eat away nitro finishes.[/quote'] Well I naively thought that reading the manual is a waste of time :D . Well I am much wiser now thanks to you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 yeah, those manuals are hard to stay awake through some times... any more tips fellas? while we're at it, anyone else name their guitars or am i an oddity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV-Zeppelin Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Congrats on the new axe, jmac! I don't name my guitars, but trust me, you're not the only one. I can't remember whose LPs are named "Amanda" and "Brooklyn"... It's hard to think of tips that haven't been already mentioned, but here's a few: 1) If you have a dog, don't keep your guitar on your stand by the stairs. Trust me. I know. 2) Don't polish your guitar every single day unless you want to wear out the finish. Wash your hands before playing and wipe it down with a dry cotton cloth afterwards, but daily polish is not required. 3) PLAY IT TILL YOUR FINGERS HURT. It's a Gibson, you should enjoy it. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBENDS Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 When your guitar is in it's case, store it flat on the floor. If the case is upright leaning on a wall and falls, you could end up with a broken headstock/neck. Don't drop it. SCHALLER STRAPLOCKS. I don't have names for my guitars, but out of curiosity, what did you name yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 the LP's name is Dax (yup, I'm a Trekkie DS9 fan) the Breedlove acoustic is Rosy it just builds the connection between me and my axes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil325 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 yea i also didn't know about the stand eating the nitro :/ i just want to head home right now and take it off the stand or cover up the parts that need coverin! but ill have to wait 3 hrs before i get home yea i don't have a name for mine. yet. maybe someday i'll think up something significant and cool soundin similar to B.B.'s "lucille" hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGBENDS Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 yea i also didn't know about the stand eating the nitro :/ i just want to head home right now and take it off the stand or cover up the parts that need coverin! but ill have to wait 3 hrs before i get home yea i don't have a name for mine. yet. maybe someday i'll think up something significant and cool soundin similar to B.B.'s "lucille" hehe Phil325, from the picture on your avatar she looks like a "Ginger" to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enchong Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 What about stands with FOAM as the holder and not rubber? Will this damage the nitro finish also? Should I put cloth also on the foam? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Yes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarooster52 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 I've got one of the pimped up customs but I really like the satin wood look...and a satin finished neck would be really nice! Congratulations! I stopped naming them and only call them names when they give be trouble! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 i do like the "Ginger" suggestion. Rooster, perhaps they're giving you trouble b/c you don't respect them enough to give them proper names! Guitars are like horses, spend enough time with them and they'll tell you what they're name is... (soft reflective music playing in the backround) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikko18 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 phhhhhp stands, i dont need no stinking stands i just lean it on the wall next to my bed or leave it in the case. but if i ever do have finish using all my money to mod the guitars (only 31 more dollars and then i can order my bigsby, yeeesss X] ) and get a stand i will remember this. also i dont name my guitars but my friend erin named her strat slayer, after her hero buffy the vampire slayer :P and she wants a red LP to name bloodfire another character from the show i think :] guitar rooster if you want a smooth satiny neck just take some 300 grit sandpaper and water and just sand all the finish off the neck !!!! >:D im pretty sure you dont want to do that to your custom though. i did to my custom, my epiphone custom :P i think it looks good still and feels awesome. swooosh swooosh swooosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Congrats! Rock solid axe, my 1st gibson. Having said that- over the years, **** happens. I'll share my experience with mine: USE A STAND. Slip black cotton athletic socks over the spots that contact your guitar's finish (I call it gibson-proofing). I once had a dumb girlfriend knock mine over while vacuuming and a couple of the tuners broke. Looking back on it, maybe they absorbed the shock and saved the headstock, but I slapped some sealed grover tuners on that bad boy. Heavier duty and smoother winding action. Over time the stock plastic jackplate cracked, I replaced it with a metal one. Wiring crapped out after years of sweaty gigs and I had to pay somebody to touch up the wiring. This is expensive, so learn how to solder but also buy some electrical contact cleaner at radio shack for post-gig tlc for switch/pots. Also snapped in some graphite bridge saddles to prolong string life (and use GHS Fast Fret like a mofo and you'll wonder what you ever did without it). Strap locks & guitar stands are your friends, remember that. And if you need to put your guitar down and the stand's not gibson-proofed, just realize it takes months and years of just sitting there for the finish to melt, so don't get your guitar kicked over by some dummy because you were afraid that a few minutes on that mean ol stand would turn your paul into a turd. Its a damn good guitar, have fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 i agree with brundaddy...it wont be an overnight thing...the nitro melthing that is...so dont go nuts but address the issue for long term exposure! also straplocks are a great investment as well! the oem gibson strap buttons are a bit small in my opinion making it easy for the strap to slip off! other than that...have fun man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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