Problems With 2013 LP Standard G String Staying In Tune

[Chizzy]

Hello:

I recently purchased a slightly used 2013 Les Paul Standard. I had a luthier perofrm a setup and had some changes made to the guitar (replaced factory nut with a Tusq XL nut changed the string size to 11 - 49's).

Even with the new nut I have still having to tuning stability issues, in particular with the G string (3rd string).

I made a couple of videos to demonstrate the issue I am having, I apologize in advance for my poor guitar playing.

Video #1
Les Paul G String Tuning Issue Example 1 - YouTube

Feel free to skip to this link after the first 23 seconds of tuning (your ears will thank you.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1qoAFixmC-8#t=332

Video #2 (Illustrating the same issue a second time)
Les Paul G String Tuning Issue Example 2 - YouTube

Feel free to skip to this link after the first 56 seconds of tuning to see the issue with the G string on my tuner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ojUU0_1E1Y8#t=244

Does anyone have any idea of where I should be looking next for the cause of this issue?

Could it be a bad tuning machine? (They are factory Grover locking tuning machines that are on the guitar).

Thank you for your assistance with this issue. I want to like this guitar, however, having it go out of tune every 5 minutes is getting tiresome.

Sorry for the long posting. Thanks in advance for your time.


Regards,

Chizzy

 

[paco1976]

Sorry I cannot see well your videos from my phone...Have you tried with more winds of the string in the tuning peg?
In reality it is not mandatory that more winds provide more stability, but sometimes it works.
My second thought is that after a set up maybe give the guitar a rest of a couple of days, then try again.
If it is still happening it can be either the tuning peg either the nut.
Talk to the tech who helped you with the nut...

 

[icantbuyafender]

Stretch the strings. Especially the G.

Some wraps are the post.

 

[Malchik]

This is a common problem found in Gibsons. Some worse than others, it seems.

 

[iavera]

I have the same issue, but mine still all stock...will take it to the tech soon.

 

[The_Nuge]

Hi!

Did the luthier actually cut the nut to suit the 11-48s? If not, it might be that the slot is too narrow. If you hear a "ping" when turning the tuner the first time, the slot is too narrow.

What also helps is locking the strings. For the G, feed the string through the hole in the tuner post and pull it tight. Then pull the string 2 inches back towards the nut and wind the tuning post approx 1/3 of a turn with your left hand while keeping the string firmly in place with your right thumb. Now, pull the string up towards the bass side of the neck and pull it tight - all while keeping your right thumb firmly in place! Feed the top of the string below the part of the string between tuner and nut and pull it tight and up. Now you can start winding the string - while still keeping the lower part tight!

Once that's done, stretch it by pulling on it fairly hard!

Further, a bit of "nut sauce" in the slots is also good!

Cheers

Es

 

[Tonemeister]

I didn't hear pinging I any of those clips. What's the problem? You tune it and then play a bit and go back to the tuner and it's out of tune? Sorry I didn't have the patience to listen to you play pentatonic runs for 8 minutes. You need to be sure the nut is cut well. Here's a trick I use. Tune the g string. Now press behind the nut on the string a few times. Go back and check tuning. If the note is now sharp it means that the string is getting pinched in the slot when you are playing. This means you need to widen the slot and/or smooth it out.

 

[Chizzy]

Hi!

Did the luthier actually cut the nut to suit the 11-48s? If not, it might be that the slot is too narrow. If you hear a "ping" when turning the tuner the first time, the slot is too narrow.

What also helps is locking the strings. For the G, feed the string through the hole in the tuner post and pull it tight. Then pull the string 2 inches back towards the nut and wind the tuning post approx 1/3 of a turn with your left hand while keeping the string firmly in place with your right thumb. Now, pull the string up towards the bass side of the neck and pull it tight - all while keeping your right thumb firmly in place! Feed the top of the string below the part of the string between tuner and nut and pull it tight and up. Now you can start winding the string - while still keeping the lower part tight!

Once that's done, stretch it by pulling on it fairly hard!

Further, a bit of "nut sauce" in the slots is also good!

Cheers

Es

To the best of my knowledge he "cut" the nut from a blank with the knowledge that it was for strings 11-49.

I also lubed the nut and string at the point of contact, I will try some new strings with your method and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your response.

Chizzy

 

[Chizzy]

Sorry I cannot see well your videos from my phone...Have you tried with more winds of the string in the tuning peg?
In reality it is not mandatory that more winds provide more stability, but sometimes it works.
My second thought is that after a set up maybe give the guitar a rest of a couple of days, then try again.
If it is still happening it can be either the tuning peg either the nut.
Talk to the tech who helped you with the nut...

The way my luthier cut the strings there are no extra winds around the post, (I always thought that was a benefit of locking tuners). The guitar was had a few weeks to settle in since having the setup completed. I will try some new strings.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[Chizzy]

I didn't hear pinging I any of those clips. What's the problem? You tune it and then play a bit and go back to the tuner and it's out of tune? Sorry I didn't have the patience to listen to you play pentatonic runs for 8 minutes. You need to be sure the nut is cut well. Here's a trick I use. Tune the g string. Now press behind the nut on the string a few times. Go back and check tuning. If the note is now sharp it means that the string is getting pinched in the slot when you are playing. This means you need to widen the slot and/or smooth it out.

I used to have "pinging" with the factory nut, that was one of the reasons I had the Graph-Tech Tusq XL nut installed.

The problem is just like you stated, going out of tune after a short amount of playing.

Sorry about the playing, I didn't want to edit the video as I wanted a length of time reference, and I didn't know how long it would actually take before being out of tune. That is the reason I gave the Exit to the end of the video URLs, so nobody would have to suffer through my playing.

I will try your method to see if the string stays sharp. Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[Chizzy]

One more quick question, before I head to my tool room and pull out a bastard file to widen the nut (I kid), would it make sense for me to temporarily step back to a set of 10-46 strings (even though the guitar's setup was done with 11-49s in mind).

Would the thinner gauge strings potentially provide relief at the nut in the interim before I take my guitar back to my luthier?

Would doing that "mess up" my setup given the fact that the string tension on the neck would be lighter?

Can I hurt anything doing this? Thanks for your time.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[02589]

Going to 10-46 should not have any tuning issues. The relief MIGHT change which could be detected in fret buzz. Going back to 11s would put you back at square 1.

Much like the nut, Gibson is notorious for making poor cuts on the bridge saddles also. It is usually not as bad as the nut though.

 

[Chizzy]

Going to 10-46 should not have any tuning issues. The relief MIGHT change which could be detected in fret buzz. Going back to 11s would put you back at square 1.

Much like the nut, Gibson is notorious for making poor cuts on the bridge saddles also. It is usually not as bad as the nut though.

Thank you. I will give it a try after I hit the guitar store to buy some new strings. Thanks for your time.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[gitmohair]

This all seems a long winded way of dealing with the problem (and expensive if you keep buying sets of strings at the rate you appear to be). Surely the easiest way to solve this would be to take it back to the tech and demonstrate the problem to him. He should be able to fix it (or explain the cause if it's technique related, say).

 

[JMB1984]

How did you lube the nut? In my experience nut sauce or even Chapstick works much better than a pencil.

Sometimes coated strings are less of an issue due to the fact of the added slickness. It doesn't solve the problem, but is worth a try.

 

[Chizzy]

This all seems a long winded way of dealing with the problem (and expensive if you keep buying sets of strings at the rate you appear to be). Surely the easiest way to solve this would be to take it back to the tech and demonstrate the problem to him. He should be able to fix it (or explain the cause if it's technique related, say).

Agreed, my luthier is about 1 1/2 hours away from me and is currently on vacation. I will be going up to see him in the near future as he is doing some work on another one of my guitars.

I was just thinking the thinner gauge strings would be a quick interim solution. But you are correct, getting the guitar back to him should provide a resolution.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[Chizzy]

How did you lube the nut? In my experience nut sauce or even Chapstick works much better than a pencil.

Sometimes coated strings are less of an issue due to the fact of the added slickness. It doesn't solve the problem, but is worth a try.

I am using Super Vee's "Super Glide Nut Evolution" along with some Elixir Nanoweb strings. I am trying to get some Super Bend Nut Sauce to give it a try.

Regards,

Chizzy

 

[John Vasco]

Stretch the feckin' strings as much as you can. Then re-tune, play the shit out of them, then re-tune. Then stretch the shit out of them again. Repeat and repeat until the stability is there in EVERY string.

You've got to bed each individual string in fully before you can even start talking about a tuning problem...

 

[Justin_Case]

It could be a bad tuning peg, but not likely.

If your going flat, take John's advice above - the string is not seated and a good tug on it will do the trick.

If your going sharp, it's binding at the nut.

 

[John Vasco]

If your going sharp, it's binding at the nut.

The dreaded 'ping'. If so, open up the string slot carefully.