Is it me or my Les Paul??

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

I picked up a Les Paul Custom Classic a while back. Such a beauty and overall I dig it.. Except it feels like it's really killing my legatto hand as far as clarity and ease go. I mean, nothing really shines through like I'm used to hearing/feeling it. The frets are pretty massive on it but I figured I was used to that from years of playing on my Ibanez RG 320. Right now the strings are set just about as low as they can be without any fret buzz.

I played a VOS a while back and the playability on that thing was outta this world.. Even the strings felt so much friendlier and I play the same gauge and tuning. What the crap?!

I was wondering if anybody has any setup recommendations around this or is a refret/dressing my only option? Or do I just have shitty technique of a sudden??

Thanks!

-Dave

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I have a classic as well. It has a slim 60's neck... THIN... did the VOS?

My SG has the 59 neck and it's a bat compared... two totally different feels...

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

Yeah, it's the slim 60's which I've also gotten used to after the RG. Nowhere near that slim though. Feels and plays great otherwise! Just can't quite nail down. The VOS was a fatty. Really dug that too. I mean, mine's not a "bad" LP by any stretch. Just on my little journey to find the proper setup to match my groove.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

I get my guitars dialed in by my luthier, but it generally involves having the nut string notches cut properly, adjusting the neck bow to around .010, dressing the frets properly and setting the string action as low as possible without buzzing. Then he sets the intonation and it's done.

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

Yeah, I got the neck dialed in pretty good. Slapped the strings down while avoiding excess noise, hit the nut and saddle with a spot of graphite grease and dialed in the saddles for intonation. Guess that just leaves the frets.. of course it had to be the most difficult part of the job!

 

[threadkiller]

I can't play LP's. Something about the way the neck is shaped or the frets or something, I can't really put my finger on (pun intended). I've never picked one up that felt right to me and I've picked up a bunch trying to like them. I cut my teeth on an Ibanez as well so maybe it's that.

What I have found with LP's is that I tend to overfret and press way too hard. Try a super light fretting hand touch, which will take some practice because you still want to pick with normal force. You might even have to raise the action a bit.

 

[Badronald]

I was able to rip ok on my Les Paul Custom but it was WORK. I had to let it go. My Strats are so much easier to play.
Also that heel on the LPC was stupid.

 

[AndyK]

Funny, when I saw this thread, I knew I wasn't nuts! My R8 Les Paul is my LEAST favorite guitar to play, and is such a PITA, I never use it. My other guitars practically play themselves, and I can dig in and get great sustain and harmonics. The LP feels like a torture device next to the other guitars.

What makes it almost bearable? Less relief in the neck, and cranking the stop tail as low as it can go without the strings hitting the bridge edges. Action at 1/16th on the treble side, 5/64ths on the bass.

 

[Phrygian]

I love the look of Les Paul Customs but most of them haven't been a "go to" lead guitar for me. I get around way faster on a Standard...the 89's being my absolute fave! Those ones are shredders.

 

[Ventura]

Meh... Somedays they're blazing, somedays they're not. Just depends for me. I don't think - in my particular case - that it's the guitars fault

 

[rockstah]

Something overlooked, on Les Paul's and their ability to be dialed in, is the height of the tail piece. Raise that sucker up to get some good spongy feel, lower it to the body if you need it "tightened" up.

This has as much of an affect in that you can make 10's, with the tail piece raised off the body, feel like 9's with the tail piece as low as it will go on the same guitar.

I think Billy Gibbons would wrap his strings around the tail piece claiming it gave more sustain but overlooked is that now that guitar plays differently compared to having the strings go through the tail piece. Think about what angle the strings now come in at to the bridge with them wrapped around the tail piece.

Food for thought!
Mark

here is mine-

 

[racerevlon]

I've never had any issues with any of my LPs--R9, R8, Studio, Limited Edition--all have great playability and I've not had any problems doing legato runs on the variety of necks--everything from the slim 60's neck to the thick R8 neck. I find the slim 60's neck on my Limited very easy to play, but that may be more attributable to the ebony fret board instead of the neck profile. The "hardest" to perform on is my Studio Raw Power. The R8 and R9 almost play themselves.

Maybe just the different feel?

 

[thegame]

This has as much of an affect in that you can make 10's, with the tail piece raised off the body, feel like 9's with the tail piece as low as it will go on the same guitar.

Any negative drawbacks to lowering the tail piece so low the strings are touching the back of the bridge ?

 

[rockstah]

This has as much of an affect in that you can make 10's, with the tail piece raised off the body, feel like 9's with the tail piece as low as it will go on the same guitar.

Any negative drawbacks to lowering the tail piece so low the strings are touching the back of the bridge ?

The only one i can think of is it may affect the guitar from staying in tune as well as there is potential for them binding up in that spot.
one way to find out!

also i see it like this on a les paul - go for the strings that have the sound you want ( 10's are a fatter sound than 9's) and then make them feel the way you want to with the adjustment of the tail piece.
Mark

 

[killertone]

My Les Paul Customs are my #1 go to guitars. When properly set up, like any guitar, you should be able to shred all day long. No probs here.

 

[lester]

This has as much of an affect in that you can make 10's, with the tail piece raised off the body, feel like 9's with the tail piece as low as it will go on the same guitar.

Any negative drawbacks to lowering the tail piece so low the strings are touching the back of the bridge ?

Dude, I'm nervous enough about those bridge posts on the abr setup. I don't want any unnecessary pressure on those things. I raise the tailpiece up so the strings aren't touching the bridge at all.

 

[jabps]

Something overlooked, on Les Paul's and their ability to be dialed in, is the height of the tail piece. Raise that sucker up to get some good spongy feel, lower it to the body if you need it "tightened" up.

This has as much of an affect in that you can make 10's, with the tail piece raised off the body, feel like 9's with the tail piece as low as it will go on the same guitar.

I think Billy Gibbons would wrap his strings around the tail piece claiming it gave more sustain but overlooked is that now that guitar plays differently compared to having the strings go through the tail piece. Think about what angle the strings now come in at to the bridge with them wrapped around the tail piece.

Food for thought!
Mark

here is mine-

Excellent point! Just playing around with that will produce a pretty big difference in feel.

 

[AndyK]

Maybe I'll give raising the tailpiece a try. That might make the tone less bright and make the guitar easier to play.

Edit: I raised the tailpiece, and, just like Mark said, I got a much easier to play LP! Spongier, and it sounds better. I guess it's true there is a sweet spot for the tailpiece! Thanks for the suggestion and photo Mark! Here's how mine looks now:

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

Maybe I'll give raising the tailpiece a try. That might make the tone less bright and make the guitar easier to play.

Edit: I raised the tailpiece, and, just like Mark said, I got a much easier to play LP! Spongier, and it sounds better. I guess it's true there is a sweet spot for the tailpiece! Thanks for the suggestion and photo Mark! Here's how mine looks now:

Nice! I'll have to give 'er a shot when I get back in town. Glad your LP is back in action And thanks, 'erbody!

 

[Audioholic]

Just got a classic after a long departure from Gibson. It has taken a little bit to adjust but I am finding it easier to play rhythm on for me. Just plays really well. I am not much of a lead plyer nd I still find my prs to be easier specially for higher note access but I can do aight on the Paul. Gotta watch the top string from sliding off fret board. But a few minor adjustments in my playing. Something about the tension of the strings is just killer for me on rhythm stuff. Chugga is easy and sounds great