Gibson Maestro Lyre Vibrola Survival Guide

[@thecaveofthedead]

This vid needs to be shared with every person who owns a vibrola equipped guitar.

[@kennyblackbird5674]

Yep!

[@DrAgan_tortojed]

Not only that: with every guitarist who owns SG and/or LP that is NOT equipped with vibrola (=many among these people do not even know that their guitar can be easily "armed" with one).

[@andrefludd]

Amazing. Wish I had this video to reference earlier in 2023. I might have to give a Vibrola another try in 2024...

[@bassfingers]

Your LP Studio is fast becoming my favourite guitar sound on KZbin.

[@Panic42000]

I believe people use these wrong. These aren’t made for dive bombs. I heard someone say it’s made for more of a shimmer. I have one on my SG and I barely push on it and it stays in tune fine. I believe that’s what they were meant for. It’s not a Floyd Rose.

[@CamiloVelandia]

Man!! I bought one of these SG's like 6 months ago, and I had to go through hours and hours of internet search to get to THIS very information right here. You're going to make a lot of people happy. Thank you!

[@captainobvious254]

For the price of these it sure would be nice if Gibson took care of this before they shipped it.

[@PsionicAudio]

The Maestro in me honors the Maestro in you.

[@neopythagorean]

Before I watched this video, I honestly thought that this vibrola was a hopeless piece of trash but you totally set me straight, man.

[@JulianA-tr6pt]

Cool to see these in action and the setup tips. I've never owned anything Gibson, and never tried these trems, but was always amused by the big tickler tip on the bar LOL

[@maxpeck4154]

I'm a big fan of the Lyre/Maestro. Mike is spot on. Aside from the pivot point of the arm itself there are no moving parts, just a stout bent piece of metal that flexes. For all its maligned reputation just remember that it's fitted to a Gibson which virtually always has rough cut nut and bridge slots from the factory. Zero reason it can't be stable with a little TLC. I also like the position of the arm - very natural. EDIT: With my old SG I used to wrap the strings ABOVE the holes in the tuning posts to slightly decrease break angle and allow the strings to slide even easier through the nut slots.

[@raihanwp7652]

New Puisheen Video, always makes my day.

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

Very similar to the RIC Accent vibrato, which stays in tune quite well and the handle stays at just the right tension. 👍👍

[@seanzinger]

Some of the coolest playing on the internet.

[@paulallas7665]

Exactly what I was looking for to fix the tuning issues on my 61 SG Maestro. My old '67Standard never had any problems , however. Thanks Puisheen.

[@mikemcsween1847]

Dude! Uber helpful. My go-to channel before checking out at SW! Cheers!

[@dandylion6]

Mike is The goat of guitar tech videos. Second note: Do I want an SG now? Probably.

[@PK_TANG_PK]

Great! I have to dig up my blue SG with vibrola that have been lying in my unplayed guitars pile for more than ten years! Thx bro!🎉

[@londonztoa6359]

Absolute gold. And that includes the playing.

[@user-me5fh3yu1j]

The guitar doctor strikes again. So cool.

[@maxpeck4154]

Mike: I had one of those SGs and the bar did become loose over time but the plate that the flathead screw goes into is also threaded and essentially sets the tension. The nut underneath is a jam nut to hold it. When my arm would get loose the jam nut was NEVER loose, just as tight as I left it. It seemed that the arm became loose from fatigue/wear/compression of the nylon bushings after repetitive motion, not from the nut or screw loosening.

[@amguanakickbooty5019]

Blue Lock Tite on that tremolo arm nut.

[@michaelpacinus242]

I always thought the word puisheen was disgusting but this video (which is the first of yours I’ve watched) won me over. You’re preaching the gospel-I feel this way about bigsbys. Amen.

[@oldasrocks9121]

I thought it was that Canadian cheese snack...

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

I am the proud owner of a 1967 Gibson ES 345 with that tremolo system. Organically wonderful effect with no issues. 1:31 says it all.

[@SpacetimePilgim]

It is great to see someone giving the old vibrola a fair evaluation. I have one on my SG Special and I love the resistance that it gives and how that makes for a very smooth fluctuation in pitch.

[@offdutyjie]

You are so Invaluable Puisheen! Had my Vibrola on my Tri-Humbucker SG Guitar for a long time and didnt know the proper steps to checking and seeing if this was the main issue! Will have to put it on the bench and double check these symptoms with your tips here! Hope to see a Future Video with this going forward! Also, hope you are doing well! You are one of the Masters of Offsets and Odd ideas! Love your vids!

[@trent69marc]

just received a long maestro over crazy parts ( a German Seller, it´s Gibson liscensed ) and cant wait to install it on my 61 SG Standard in Silver Mist. I tested before Göldo and Duesenberg Les Trems and i knew the Bridge would move. Maybe a Roller Bridge would solve this problem better, nice Video!

[@paulv5643]

Wow, really considering some Patreon action, if not just for the coolest looking LP. Excellent channel, glad I stumbled in.

[@LeMonsieurPoulet]

Thats some beautiful playing mate. Might add this Les Paul looks stunning!

[@rich.mahogany]

You da man Mike! This was great.

[@tituschalk]

Mike could we potentially get a vibrato arm technique video from you, a bit like your playing behind the bridge one? Your ability with it is always super inspiring

[@LennySugiono]

That’s amazing. I love how you managed to get one of these bad boys on the les Paul there. Love the one pick up and blocked out cavity. I’ve not ceased to be impressed by some of the Gibson studio and tribute Paul’s on the used market that have some great worn in charm. I have a 61 RI sg and it’s a joy ! The maestro is a bit of a wild bull but that’s my favourite thing about Gibson electrics. Even if you get it near perfect set up wise it will still regularly require a bit of tuning and tlc but it makes them feel more alive and personable. I love my strat and modern guitars and how reliable they can be. Reliable modern guitars often feel sterile in comparison to Gibsons I’ve played where the set in neck can make the pitch wobble incrementally and the Klusons require a little more attention. Excellent video

[@tabodee]

Great video, Thanks for the helpful tips about the nut and the saddles! I’d like to add one additional observation. I have had a 69 sg and currently the Krieger VOS. I immediately noticed tuning issues with the Krieger… However, I discovered the issues were not caused by the nut nor by the saddles. I actually stumbled onto the cause quite by accident. It was caused by the angle of the string comb, which is a solid piece, and is part of the tremolo system. On the Krieger SG, the comb is at a different angle than the angle on my 69. (As I look at your video, I see a little clearance between the strings, and the comb.) That is not a bad thing but it can eventually change more with increased usage. Robbie Kreiger rode his SG arm pretty heavily… and the custom shop replicated it to a fault. On my Krieger SG, if the arm is attached when I place it in the case, and close the lid of my guitar case, it presses the arm down slightly, and holds the comb in that position until I take the guitar back out of the case. When I remove it from the case again, the solid comb does not return to its shape instantly, like the springs of a Strat do, but rather it takes several minutes, but usually less than an hour. As it slowly returns to original shape the guitar has to be retuned a few times to accommodate the shift. I decided to store the guitar in the case with the arm unattached, and that solved the problem. But your additional fine tuning certainly is another layer in understanding how the great guitars can be perplexing at times. Thanks again! 👍🎸

[@docdeens4030]

i'm not much of a les paul guy, but I like yours. The more hacked up a Gibson gets, the better I tend to like it. I tend to use roller bridges and half round strings or flats on non locking trems.

[@joaoburatto3258]

Why not replace the bridge with one with rollers?

[@maxpeck4154]

Definitely an option but can change the tone and sustain slightly. The vibrato itself already makes the guitar a bit snappier and brighter than one with a stop bar or wraparound and it will sustain slightly less. No biggie if you're playing AC/DC but if you do a lot of clean fingerpicking you'll notice it more. A vibrato equipped SG is super versatile. Better yet, install a treble bleed or drop in some humbucker-sized p90s and you can really turn down the volume control on the guitar for some sparkle.

[@DaCostaGuitars]

Trickier depending on which roller TOM bridge you end up getting. Some have those roller saddles taller than your standard ABR/Nashville style TOM where the saddles are lower/closer to their enclosure. Which in turn will affect the overall set up (since the strings will sit a little higher off the fretboard in the 15th-22nd fret region). Some exist where the rollers are lower set (like Schaller, or the likes).

[@joaoburatto3258]

@@maxpeck4154 yeah I installed one on mine and I plan to install on a Les Paul when I get one. Thanks for the tips, the pickups I have on my SG are super bright to it might control them a bit if that’s the case.

[@joaoburatto3258]

@@maxpeck4154 thanks for the tip, will consider that.

[@Puisheen]

There's also the thing where roller bridges stop rolling after a while. With corrosion they often end up freezing, defeating the entire purpose of the bridge. I hate those things

[@2dazetake]

My SG came with a roller bridge, and I'm charging it back to the ABR tuneomatic, definitely more stable,feels more solid and looks more original,and once you learn how cut your nut and saddles,like in this video,your guitar will stay in tune, no matter how hard you dive,thanks man great video.

[@2dazetake]

I'm afraid you have done the research already,thru your own trial & error, the company should be calling on you, to help set up their guitars, before shipping them out,to unsuspecting buyers,Gibson needs to hire you brother.

[@johnleahy9862]

Babe wake up, new Puisheen video dropped

[@Duncanlinc]

I love whatever song you were playing around the 1:40 mark

[@DrAgan_tortojed]

05:33 the high "E" is also lower for almost half a tone.

[@Releasethebats123]

Mike, you’re the best. Truly a legend. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@russell.berman]

Love the whole video and I can’t wait for the information you are researching!

[@jeromewagschal9485]

Excellent and helpful video 🙂🙂 on top of that I really like the looks of your Les Paul Studio with the removed neck pickup and the empty unused holes... I have modified many of my guitars like that...

[@Jellobucket]

Your playing is always top tier 🔥🔥🔥

[@PetefromSouthOz]

Hey Mike, another reminder that set up that is relevant to the style of the Guitar, and is the first thing you check if something is off. I have found your Jazzmaster/Jaguar set up tips invaluable and my Squier CV Jag and my Hosco Kit Jazzmaster are great to play and stay in tune after a proper set up. From that experience I also found a fix for a set up issue with my Squier CV Starcaster (yes the Semi hollow Offset). The Tune-o-matic style bridge was really high and the tailpiece was low and this meant the strings touched the back of the bridge and it rattled. When I raised the tailpiece to the right height it was really high. So both had a lot of thread exposed above the inserts and It still sounded buzzy. I checked the Neck and it had a lot of angle on it. Ok I thought why not do a reverse neck shim to get a better angle. I had spare neck shims and turned one around and reset everything lowering the Bridge/Tailpiece so they have clearance, while getting the action the way I like it. It has made a huge difference to the feel and sound of the Guitar.The shaped shim sticks out of the top of the neck pocket so I'll get a blank shim and tidy it up. Cheers Pete

[@clockwork914]

Mike the Vibrato Master & that ain’t no lyre 😉

[@mattcalendinemusic5661]

great tone and playing! Just bought the same SG... Looks like I'm gonna need to get some nut files ha! I saw another vid on this subject where u can get replacement posts for the bridge so it doesn't move, seems like a roller style bridge would work with that, too.

[@Memes_a_million]

That trem looks awesome on that studio. Making me consider putting one on mine!

[@karlargstromm]

Merci pour cette vidéo. Je vais enfin envisager d'avoir une SG vibrola. Avant ta vidéo, j'avais des doutes sur la qualité de ce vibrato, alors encore merci

[@sefton1972]

What a revelation this video is. Top, top, top tips. Amazing playing too. Such a beautiful touch. Subscribed.

[@aperezdeal]

I love the vibrola.

[@thesunman108]

My 64 CS SG thanks you.

[@mcdingus5081]

You know, I've watched your videos on properly setting up Jags and Jazzmasters many times over and it's been my reference to getting those guitars setup properly as I have had an infatuation with those guitars for quite some time now. So, I just got a new SG standard 61 with the Maestro- and wouldn't you know it you made a video working on the tuning issues of one of these too. I'm so glad I found this before I began to start tinkering- because there is a lot of people having problems with these and I think they're doing things that maybe aren't going to help with the issues- and quite frankly are a bit drastic. To be honest though- I was skeptical with some of their solutions just from having worked on the Fender/Squiers using your suggestions. Thanks much for the info- it just makes playing these wonderful guitars so much more enjoyable.

[@telecasterbear]

I'm a ChapStick man myself, Mike. Preferably cherry, or candy cane. Mmm, minty. I had a 1968 les paul with nylon saddles. I love them.

[@RushMayhemIV]

looks so good too!

[@RushMayhemIV]

and the guitar aint bad either! 🤣😂

[@Cinestudi0]

This video is golden baby'o, I would love to see a instalation video, I've been dying to install one of those on my sg, but there is no info how to do it, and in my country you cant even take it to a guitar tech because is a very unusual mod

[@bear1084]

I have the Epiphone version of this in the olive drab green. Did a pretty similar treatment with the nut, but so far haven't had to file the saddles yet and the vibrola hasn't given me any issues whatsoever. I did put locking tuners and a string butler on it as well (but those are pretty standard actions for me with this style of guitar anyway 😂) and I couldn't be happier with it! Great video! 🤘

[@pharmerdavid1432]

The various vibrato systems work well WHEN SETUP PROPERLY, and all contact points lubricated. I want to use it for the three plain strings, but have the three wound strings wrapped around the bridge. There is a video somewhere out there showing someone using that setup brilliantly. There are others who leave the vibrola on, but wrap the strings around the bridge, so the wang-bar isn't connected to the strings. I'm trying to decide on the best hardware to use, still looking...?

[@williambrown1451]

nice video man, thanks

[@joserl95]

This is so sick. I’d just accepted my SG being out of tune after using if my vibrola. I’m gonna step up me set up game now!!

[@michaelg-is2oh]

Thanks!

[@221b-l3t]

Awesome. I'm building a 67 Flying V and I always loved the look of the red one with vibrola and I don't have a V with a trem. Heard the horror stories but this looks good and yeah I widen my Epi and Gibson nuts at the back, wind upwards for a lower downward break angle and I have thought about sanding the bridge saddle slots, I will do that. But even without and with a kittle lubrication all my Vs and LPs stay in petfect tune. Still will get locking tuners but mainly for convenience... the rocking bridge though has me worried little, I thought about a roller bridge anyway. Wilkinson makes a decent cheap one. Not 100% authentic but oh well. Feels like a stress point for crack in the finish around the posts. Nice playing as well. Not sure I approve of tape instead of a dummy pup but it's your guitar :)

[@shockthefox]

This is so friggin good. 🤘

[@Newwaver2007]

Good information, I use a roller bridge 😅

[@meprobinson]

Great stuff! Thank you Mike!

[@kennyblackbird5674]

I usually would lubricate the nut and bridge on my guitars, two Strats and my pride and joy, my Epiphone Lucille that I slapped a Vibrola tail piece on it!! Check out Frank Marino and Allan Holdsworth for crazy dive bombs on the Vibrola!

[@the-northern-light]

Amazing video. Thank you.

[@obencosme]

@puisheen Great video. I would like to fit a lyre vibrola in a three knob sg. It would end up sticking out like in your LP Studio. Does this placing of the vibrola has any disadvantage compared to the placing seen in the SG standard with longer neck that can fit the whole vibrola on the top of the guitars body?

[@glennmattison3180]

Is there any difference in tuning stability with the short Maestro that came on the Specials vs the Maestro with the tailpiece that you show in the video? Just curious as was thinking of putting a short one on my SG Special. Great Video!!!

[@OniDasAlagoas]

I was thinking of buying one of those to install on my SG. Watching your video made me think everything was going to be fine. Until I saw the bridge moving. Nah, not going to risk losing a good gibson body on stuff like this.

[@amguanakickbooty5019]

Install a Kahler. It's a bolt on.

[@torontolarrivee7965]

This is fantastic.

[@taylormoon3561]

6:57 “no design flaw of the Gibson headstock” is maybe putting it too strong, they still snap off if you look at them wrong

[@KevinStromMusic]

It would be great if you could show the solution to the loose term arm fix that you found.

[@hansmemling2311]

Mike, what pick ups are in this guitar? It sounds magnificent.

[@marcop1587]

This is great! But what about a roller bridge? I paired all my guitars with vibratos with a roller bridge and noticed improvements on tuning stability

[@FabianSalomonsson]

Good stuff! Would this also make the sideway vibrola usable or is that system a lost cause?

[@kennyblackbird5674]

Lost cost.

[@jhowellkc]

I had a '66 Jr for years. Never had tuning issues with the vibrola. Had tuning (well, intonation) issues with the stock bridge and the vibrola seemed to sap a little sustain, but I always felt like that was more a function of the distance and geometry between the vibrola and the bridge than the vibrola itself. A Leo Quan bridge solved those issues, but I always missed the bar. Still miss that guitar.

[@ZRobertson91]

I haven't used it on any guitar projects, but Permatex makes an orange thread locker that supposed to be a strong as blue, but removable with hand tools. Might be worth a try?

[@oldasrocks9121]

Stretch strings too. Stretch retune repeat until it stays in tune. Then: everything you said .

[@Subropontes]

Great video as usual! I’ve been considering nylon saddles for my ‘64 Wilshire that I installed a Bigsby on (the tuning is ROCK SOLID, just considering them for the tone), but how’s your experience with nylon saddles and wiggle sticks? Won’t the constant string friction eat the saddles in no time?

[@Puisheen]

I love nylon saddles! Give it a shot and see how you like it!

[@colmkelly5524]

A lot of the saddles being sold as nylon seem to be made of a different plastic or different formula of nylon from what was originally used. The original stuff has an almost glassy quality to it. Apparently, in terms of the tone of the original nylons, Graphtech Tusq is closer than some of those claiming to be nylon.

[@Eli1234gordon]

Now im interested in whether the lyre maestro vibrola can be added to any guitar with gibson style bridge. If so, where can one get parts for it?

[@mervinramos5181]

Tnx man,learned a lot👍btw you sounds like JPetrucci😊

[@PETRAS_]

Can you put a maestro vibrola only for aesthetic without drilling?

[@brianstewart947]

Sounds great man. Next test is playing some rock solos with string bending...will it come back to pitch??

[@markwright9352]

Hi, are you planning on doing a Jaguar parts master build from start to finish? could really do with your help and knowledge?

[@Irkennalpha]

I think the issue that you mean is how warbly the sound gets on an SG in the chord area, it’s like having a Bigsby

[@uanua]

Masterful demonstration of these techniques, my guitars have played so much better because of your videos

[@CatharticGuitar]

I have welder’s torch tip cleaners. I’m planned on trying those to file the slots. Do you recommend against that?

[@foxote640]

brother make a video on the mosrite whammy

[@colmkelly5524]

@puisheen I’ve come across a couple of custom shop Gibsons with traditional ABR-1s and vibratos, which were rock solid in terms of tuning, but where the bridge posts rocked in the body as opposed to the bridge rocking on the thumbwheels. How would you remedy that or is it even an issue?

[@kylelujan89]

Can you provide a link for the Abrasive Cord you have please?

[@NHail]

some heroes don't wear capes....

[@rstevenhanson]

Link to longer bar screw and nuts?

[@cthcarr]

Wondering what nut files you are using? Man those things can be quite pricey.

[@breun]

He mentions they’re from StewMac.

[@mattkelley4860]

What grit and diameter do you recommend with the abrasive cord?

[@Puisheen]

I have five sizes that correspond with each string, but I will say I use the tiniest the least

[@nicholasbarile5492]

@puisheen any advice on spring angle? Mi maestro I bought from Crazyparts is too steep for my guitar. The arm sticks up at a steep angle and the strings touch the front of the flange before the bridge!

[@StonerEricson]

Will you set mine up

[@perplexing4292]

WE NEED A SG61 REVIEW PLS!

[@ryanwhite5482]

I’m surprised the vibrola falls above a Bigsby for you!

[@noyd4172]

Very informative, I'd always written them off due to forum rumours that they just weren't good, and while I'm not a dive-bomber on any vibrato, I'm a bit of a freak about being in tune. Not entirely sure this is the thing for me or that I even need a vibrato (shocking, I know) but I still appreciate the way you analyze guitars and guitar parts. Would love to see a video about any considerations (setup, guitar choice, electronics, effects) that go into using a cello bow on guitar. If you've already made one, I'll probably find it right after I leave this comment. There's just something about that long piece of metal that looks good, especially balancing out the big open field of the Les Paul. Is there enough usable string behind the bridge for picking or single string bends?

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

that LP sounds unusually bright for a humbucker, at least to me. Maybe it’s just the humbuckers i’ve tried but i love that sound. Is it a replacement pickup, or just the stock one? Anyway, I hope this guitar pops up in future videos. It’d be cool to see this alongside the single coils, even if just for showing off the versatility of gear that pops up.

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

I have a Gibson SG Faded and I think it sounds pretty similar. Those definitely sound like Gibson pickups to me and I think the Faded guitars had 57 Classics originally. Mine is an earlier year, so that may have changed. It's also possible mike replaced the capacitor between the volume and tone to add some high end back in.

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

@@SlimeyGuitarStrings Interesting, thank you for the info. Tempted to do a volume only humbucker build now. Generally I like low output pickups but they haven’t even done that tone.

[@dylanwaits7467]

Did the bushings for the stop tail piece interfere with the leaf spring of the vibrola at all?

[@speedohugo8646]

What size and grit of abrasive rope please

[@TAkridge]

What size do you use for the abrasive chord?