durtyDevil Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Hey everybody, to make a long story short, I recently sold some gear and purchased a new SG Original. Basically, this is the SG I've been waiting a long time for Gibson to release. I'm having a problem though, in that I cannot turn the arm clockwise to rest along the bottom plate and out of the way when I'm playing.....the angle won't allow it to go over the toggle switch and knobs. I like to keep it down there when I'm playing so it doesn't get in the way. To store it in the case, I have to turn the arm counterclockwise so it's pointing up at me. When I turn it back clockwise in order to play, it is then very loose and I have to constantly tighten it, going out of tune everytime it moves position. I hope that made sense to those of you reading it haha. I had a Tweedy SG that didn't have this problem, and also a Custom. Unfortunately, I had to buy it online without playing first (i hate doing that) but I contacted Sweetwater and they have been great and offered to replace it. I'm afraid if I do, I won't like the look and feel as much as the one I just got. Plus it's just a hassle to ship it there and wait for a new one etc... Is this something I can fix myself by maybe bending the arm a bit, or is it just normal for some of these Lyre/Maestro to have different angles. I don't have a camera at the moment, so I'll post the Sweetwater pictures of my guitar. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sellen Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 hey man congrats with a super cool guitar I bought a replica maestro for my '69 special, and the same thing there as yours. But i really put it on there for the looks of it and have locked it anti clockwise between maestro cover and control knobs. The maestro unit is rock steady that way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 . I have a Maestro and when I case it I swing the arm over the trem and spring steel. No problems since 1965 :lol: . You might want to loosen the arm a bit and carefully lube the surfaces of the washers to cut the friction. I use Big Bends Nut Sauce, but you could use light oil, machine oil, graphite, or whatever you have handy. If you still have it loosen, get it adjusted just right, and if there's some thread left out, put a second nut on to lock the retainer nut in place. BTW, that's a real beauty. So glad Gibson brought back the Lyre on a non-sig regular production model. Congrats. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durtyDevil Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Thanks for the replies, guys. Sellen...I would like to twist it around and lock it into place beside the maestro cover, but when i swing it around over the knobs and place along side the cover, the plastic tip presses hard into the guitar, and i don't want to damage the finish. Does yours have a bit of a gab between the arm and the guitar top? Big Kahune, I put a drop of Nut Sauce as you suggested and it did the trick! But I noticed there is no retaining nut on the underside to lock into place. Is there supposed to be one? And does yours clear the knobs if you turn it clockwise? I figure since yours is vintage, it's the way they should be made. I'm trying to figure out as much as I can, because I don't really want to exchange it....I love the color on this one and I'm pretty sure it's a one piece slab of wood. More importantly, I love the sound and feel of it, and knowing my rotten luck, I'll exchange it and wait weeks only to receive a new one I can't bond with or possibly has other issues. Thanks so much, guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 .... I noticed there is no retaining nut on the underside to lock into place. Is there supposed to be one? And does yours clear the knobs if you turn it clockwise? I figure since yours is vintage, it's the way they should be made. I'm trying to figure out as much as I can, because I don't really want to exchange it....I love the color on this one and I'm pretty sure it's a one piece slab of wood. More importantly, I love the sound and feel of it, and knowing my rotten luck, I'll exchange it and wait weeks only to receive a new one I can't bond with or possibly has other issues. ... I forgot to mention, some came with a nut (see here). About bending the arm: you could buy one here, store the original in the case, then swap in the new one and bend as you like it. BTW, good move on not exchanging a guitar you really like for the sound and play. Stick with it, you'll find a solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durtyDevil Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Just ordered the arm from AllParts, when it arrives I will see how it fits and if I need to bend it. Thanks for all the advice! Now I'm gonna go enjoy playing this thing all weekend ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durtyDevil Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Got the allparts arm, didnt look right so i just left the original one one. This thing plays so great...sounds so great, i'm impressed every time i pick it up or look at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I too, just purchased an SG "Original." It's AWESOME! The "problem" with the Lyre/Maestro handle seems to be common, to this guitar. I had a '68 (in '68) that also had the Lyre/Maestro, but it DIDN'T have this (now) common problem. So, I don't know, if Gibson has changed the angle of the handle, or what the deal is???! But, it IS a small annoyance, on an otherwise "Perfect" SG model guitar! The Lyre/Maestro has never been a "dive bomber" vibrato, so WHY the handle has to be that high, of an angle, I have NO idea! It never was, in the '60's models. As it is now, it's more annoyance, than useful...IMHO. LOVE the look, of the Lyre/Maestro though, and the rest of the guitar is exactly right where it should be, design, finish, tone, and playability! Aside, from that handle issue... GREAT JOB, Gibson!! [thumbup] CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg50 Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 I too, just purchased an SG "Original." It's AWESOME! The "problem" with the Lyre/Maestro handle seems to be common, to this guitar. I had a '68 (in '68) that also had the Lyre/Maestro, but it DIDN'T have this (now) common problem. So, I don't know, if Gibson has changed the angle of the handle, or what the deal is???! But, it IS a small annoyance, on an otherwise "Perfect" SG model guitar! The Lyre/Maestro has never been a "dive bomber" vibrato, so WHY the handle has to be that high, of an angle, I have NO idea! It never was, in the '60's models. As it is now, it's more annoyance, than useful...IMHO. LOVE the look, of the Lyre/Maestro though, and the rest of the guitar is exactly right where it should be, design, finish, tone, and playability! Aside, from that handle issue... GREAT JOB, Gibson!! [thumbup] CB When I read, your posts, I am reminded, of the Shatner comma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Got the allparts arm, didnt look right so i just left the original one one. This thing plays so great...sounds so great, i'm impressed every time i pick it up or look at it. Sorry to hear that. I'm curious - Is it because the Allparts is nickel and the original is chrome? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibsonfreak Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Hi everybody, Does anyone know whether this issue has been solved on the new production models? I'm a little bit worried cause I'm gonna get mine within a few days.... Thanks..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Hi everybody, Does anyone know whether this issue has been solved on the new production models? I'm a little bit worried cause I'm gonna get mine within a few days.... Thanks..... I have had a problem with mine but I bought mine months ago. I compared the new unit to some old ones that I have had lying around for 30 or 40 years and they were the exact same angle. As such, it is very hard to move the handle around to the back. I contacted Gibson about the problem and they sent me a replacement unit but it turned out to be exactly the same as the unit already on the guitar. At that point I dropped the issue. I usually just wiggle the guitar when I want vibrato and it gives me the same effect as I would've probably gotten the way I would've used the handle anyway. I just leave the bar tucked around on the back because I think it looks funny without the bar. The bar doesn't even need to be on the guitar for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hi13ts Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Hi everybody, Does anyone know whether this issue has been solved on the new production models? I'm a little bit worried cause I'm gonna get mine within a few days.... Thanks..... The ones that were shipped around March or April of this year should have the corrected angle from what I saw on the wall of my guitar shop. I bought mine when it was fresh off the press and the angle was bent to the point where the bar could not rotate past the knobs. Gibson sent me a new one and it works fine now. I would assume that they've rectified this problem earlier in the year, so if you're getting a "new" guitar, my bet is that you'll probably be okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibsonfreak Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 The ones that were shipped around March or April of this year should have the corrected angle from what I saw on the wall of my guitar shop. I bought mine when it was fresh off the press and the angle was bent to the point where the bar could not rotate past the knobs. Gibson sent me a new one and it works fine now. I would assume that they've rectified this problem earlier in the year, so if you're getting a "new" guitar, my bet is that you'll probably be okay. Thanks for the reply.... I still don't get how come Gibson could make such a big mistake......anyways, the most important is that they corrected it. She should arrive soon can't wait Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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