Need help/advice. LP copy has extremely stiff action

[glassjaw7]

Guys, my LP custom copy has 24 3/4 scale so it's standard Gibson scale and I currently have light strings on it (9-46) tuned to E standard.

The action is so stiff that when I do a full-step bend it literally peels my fingernails back and it's painful! I don't understand what could be causing the tension. Light strings, short scale...so what could it be? Could my action be set too low? I don't think it could be the bridge as it's just a standard stop tailpiece/tune-o-matic style.
Help!

 

[XSSIVE]

without seeing it my first guess is too much relief in the neck and perhaps a high nut or a combo of the two.

 

[glassjaw7]

without seeing it my first guess is too much relief in the neck and perhaps a high nut or a combo of the two.

The neck was my first thought so I had it set up professionally. The nut height is pretty good too. Thanks for the reply though. I did just raise the action a touch and it got a tiny bit better, but there's definitely something not right here...

 

[Ventura]

My guess is a combination of bad cut nut and an improper head angle. If the head angle is too steep, this will definitely contribute to stiffer strings, as well, if the nut's not cut accordingly, the strings get hitched in there and it feels like rebar. Nut can be fixed, head angle can only be fixed by taking it to its builder and bludgeoning him over his head with it

Good luck
V.

 

[chunktone]

Wrap the strings over the top of the tailpiece. This makes the strings feel much slinkier.

 

[ke2]

Wrap the strings over the top of the tailpiece. This makes the strings feel much slinkier.

Definitely this.
Also try slackening the truss rod (giving the neck "more bow"), and lower the TOM to compensate. It helped on a couple of mine.

 

[glassjaw7]

Wrap the strings over the top of the tailpiece. This makes the strings feel much slinkier.

Cool, I'll try it! I can't believe I didn't think of this. I've heard of people doing this many times before.

 

[Doubleneck]

Wrap the strings over the top of the tailpiece. This makes the strings feel much slinkier.

Cool, I'll try it! I can't believe I didn't think of this. I've heard of people doing this many times before.

I've seen several LP or PRS guitars set up like and always wondered why?

 

[Stramm8]

I always thought the height of the tailpiece portion of the bridge determined how "stiff or loose" the action felt??? I always tune down to E flat so can't say I've ever experienced your specific issue.

 

[ke2]

Wrap the strings over the top of the tailpiece. This makes the strings feel much slinkier.

Cool, I'll try it! I can't believe I didn't think of this. I've heard of people doing this many times before.

I've seen several LP or PRS guitars set up like and always wondered why?

I started doing it after seeing Zakk in a picture. I then found out that Norum also did it (at least in one picture). Gave it a shot, and it made a world of difference.

 

[jsnbaxter]

Hello,

I have two of these guitars and a real les paul(traditional plus). I have checked everything and have the same problem as you. I have cut the nuts very low, adjusted truss rod, adjusted the bridge raised the stoptail etc. I even lowered the action of the reallly stiff one and found it still to be stiff. Lowered the action below factory specs. I think I hit 3/64 on the low end and 2/64 on the high end. It's been a while since I messed with it. I also measured neck angle of the real and the 2 copys. The two copys actually have different neck angles, but are very close. The one that is stiff has a neck angle that perfectly matches the real. It hits right below the base of the bridge above the adjustment screws... I would say about 1/4" below the string. The other copy hits less than 1/4" below the string, but feels much better. So there is more neck angle in the copy that feels better. Keep in mind that neck angle is a control of how low you can get the action without buzz occuring at the upper fretz verses the lower frets. Truss rod adjustments to even out tension caused by the force of the strings. Of the two copy one is heavier than the other. The heavier one is the stiff one. Now keep in mind real gibsons have their nuts cut real high and I have not adjusted it, but it actually plays better than the stiff one with the nut cut high. The other copy that is not stiff plays comparable to the real one with the high nut. With all this said I don't have answer for you, but it may lead you the answer. It could be nuance of the neck angle, but I highly doubt it, because I was able to get my actions down and below factory spec without buzz and still feel the tension. Another possible theory I have is the break angle at the nut possibly could cause high tension. I did change my tuners so the angle has changed there a little bit. Anyways hope this helps.