The Les Paul thread

[rifftrauma]

Ended up getting some new hardware from Corsa-Faber for my LPC. Went with a tone-lock master kit, essentially an ABR that locks in place and won't fall off when the strings are removed. I wanted to try the top wrap method so here we are... also sacrilegiously replaced the original Grover tuners for the locking version and added strap locks as the coup de grace. Plays wonderfully!

 

[wiretap]

Ended up getting some new hardware from Corsa-Faber for my LPC. Went with a tone-lock master kit, essentially an ABR that locks in place and won't fall off when the strings are removed. I wanted to try the top wrap method so here we are... also sacrilegiously replaced the original Grover tuners for the locking version and added strap locks as the coup de grace. Plays wonderfully! View attachment 147255

I’m not really into figured tops all that much but the cobra burst finish is super rad. I could see myself falling victim to gas for one in a flame-top and tear drop shape.

My local tech decided to do a top-wrap on one my LP’s and I switched it back immediately, but I also have my string tension worked out exactly how I like it with the low tunings I use and the top-wrap made it too slinky for my tastes. YMMV

 

[budda]

Ended up getting some new hardware from Corsa-Faber for my LPC. Went with a tone-lock master kit, essentially an ABR that locks in place and won't fall off when the strings are removed. I wanted to try the top wrap method so here we are... also sacrilegiously replaced the original Grover tuners for the locking version and added strap locks as the coup de grace. Plays wonderfully! View attachment 147255

I was considering the improved studs for my abr/nashville setup on my goldtop, but it still means a bushing on the body.

Enjoy!

I take strings off one by one so no need yet for a lock.

I’m not really into figured tops all that much but the cobra burst finish is super rad. I could see myself falling victim to gas for one in a flame-top and tear drop shape.

My local tech decided to do a top-wrap on one my LP’s and I switched it back immediately, but I also have my string tension worked out exactly how I like it with the low tunings I use and the top-wrap made it too slinky for my tastes. YMMV

Yeah top wrapping isnt for me either. Make sure the strings clear the bridge and set up from there. I may still try a lightning guitars bridge eventually. I run lighter strings than ever before

 

[rifftrauma]

I was considering the improved studs for my abr/nashville setup on my goldtop, but it still means a bushing on the body.

Enjoy!

I take strings off one by one so no need yet for a lock.

Yeah top wrapping isnt for me either. Make sure the strings clear the bridge and set up from there. I may still try a lightning guitars bridge eventually. I run lighter strings than ever before

I've been sitting here trying it all day and I'm not sure how I feel. I normally play a hybrid set (9-46) which is fine in standard for me on a normal setup. I feel the slink... which I just guessed I didn't expect it to be so noticeable? I know Bonamassa throws a heavier set on, with the idea that the top wrap makes it feel like it's one gauge lower. Could be fun, either way it's been a interesting experience.

 

[budda]

Shoutout this thread being over 2 years old and (for me) 79 pages

Trying an experiment before I just list guitard, hope for sales and end up making the wrong call

 

[Jon Pearson]

Man I was trying to hold off and sell some stuff before I buy a Lester, but I just keep thinking about them

 

[budda]

Man I was trying to hold off and sell some stuff before I buy a Lester, but I just keep thinking about them

Get those ads up.

Signed, a few grand worth of guitars I need to sell.

 

[cardinal]

I top wrap with the stock frets but string normally if the LP's been refretted with something taller. With lower frets, I need the slinkier feel to get a better grip on the strings for bending/vibrato.

 

[budda]

I top wrap with the stock frets but string normally if the LP's been refretted with something taller. With lower frets, I need the slinkier feel to get a better grip on the strings for bending/vibrato.

1. Why not go up a gauge or two?
2. Lightning guitars bridge.

 

[wiretap]

Was gonna leave my relic’d black LPC stock until I got it refinished but decided to hop on another tour coming up in month and a half and wanna bring it, but I gotta put locking tuners on it now because I’m lazy. Gonna have to do a little arts and crafts so that it doesn’t look ridiculous completely relic’d with brand new tuners. If anybody has any gold hardware relicing tips, feel free to shoot them over. Otherwise I’m just gonna take some fine grit micromesh to those suckers.

 

[budda]

Was gonna leave my relic’d black LPC stock until I got it refinished but decided to hop on another tour coming up in month and a half and wanna bring it, but I gotta put locking tuners on it now because I’m lazy. Gonna have to do a little arts and crafts so that it doesn’t look ridiculous completely relic’d with brand new tuners. If anybody has any gold hardware relicing tips, feel free to shoot them over. Otherwise I’m just gonna take some fine grit micromesh to those suckers.

How does one simply hop on tours!? Tuners for faster string changes ya?

Coffee grounds, but also just use it in a humid spot a lot lol.

 

[Crungy]

@wiretap I haven't tried these but thought it might be a good starting point.

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy/mod-garage/how-to-relic-a-guitar

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy-relicing-tuners-part-1

 

[wiretap]

How does one simply hop on tours!? Tuners for faster string changes ya?

Haha, was in a decently known international band for about ten years, and the last few years they had been doing a 3 guitar thing from time to time and one of the new guys decided to focus solely on his studio and leave so they’ve been hitting me up about doing tours again. My wife and I own rental property so I don’t have a real job haha (although my wife is a lawyer but just part time and from home these days), so I’ve got plenty of time to tour whenever, its fun to just go play shows and hang and not have to worry about the music career aspect.

And also yeah, faster string changes.

 

[wiretap]

@wiretap I haven't tried these but thought it might be a good starting point.

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy/mod-garage/how-to-relic-a-guitar

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy-relicing-tuners-part-1

The steel wool/sandpaper thing was pretty much what I planned to do. Used some ultra fine grit sandpaper on some old Sperzels I had and it seemed to do ok: (just the shaft here, the rest of the machine was coated in a thick matte gold that’s not like the shaft and didn’t take well but isn’t what’s on the grovers at all)

 

[Crungy]

The steel wool/sandpaper thing was pretty much what I planned to do. Used some ultra fine grit sandpaper on some old Sperzels I had and it seemed to do ok: (just the shaft here, the rest of the machine was coated in a thick matte gold that’s not like the shaft and didn’t take well but isn’t what’s on the grovers at all)

View attachment 147361

That looks pretty good!

I liked the idea of the bin with rocks/nails/chunks of metal, I thought it was an interesting idea. I also wonder how well a case tumbler with some course media would work.

 

[budda]

Haha, was in a decently known international band for about ten years, and the last few years they had been doing a 3 guitar thing from time to time and one of the new guys decided to focus solely on his studio and leave so they’ve been hitting me up about doing tours again. My wife and I own rental property so I don’t have a real job haha (although my wife is a lawyer but just part time and from home these days), so I’ve got plenty of time to tour whenever, its fun to just go play shows and hang and not have to worry about the music career aspect.

And also yeah, faster string changes.

Ah with the old band vs having people in bands hit your line, gotcha. Thought more like live session work (thus copping lpc’s for refins )