Les Paul Setup Tips Good Luck

[@philosophyoftrucking]

I appreciate it when you actually explain some of the engineering as to why these instruments behave the way the do.

[@twanto]

I love this guy. It's the little things. Like every time he says he needs a closeup of something, and then moves the camera, and you never really see what he's looking at. It's like he's recording this with an old school camcorder or something. Little gems.

[@uajcpoole]

This is the best setup video on the internet 😂

[@stevee7774]

I honestly hope this is a joke.

[@precisionbrown6829]

I didn’t think they could be setup being neck through body thanks!

[@richardsyoutubechannel995]

@@stevee7774 why?

[@giddyrightonup]

@@precisionbrown6829 they’re not neck through, they’re set neck, and yes, anything with a truss rod, (including neck through), can be set up

[@nerdrage4852]

its all lacker and shitttt , amazing

[@jom0bx189]

I like how real you are. You say it how it is and get done with your day. You don’t care who gets upset, you just get your work done.

[@jimmyamico4713]

Outstanding video, David… you truly have patience of a saint🇺🇸❤️🤍💙⭐️🙏👍

[@JohnBarrow1961]

Good video, Dave, and you're 100% correct. The stop tail is designed to be raised or lowered, as necessary, yet some folks cry about it anyway. Bizarre.

[@smasica]

Dave's lesson for the day: Keep your nuts clean.

[@picassoboy52]

Not as clever as you hoped

[@baddogrnr]

Amazing help , managed to rid of the string buzz. Good effort mate cheers

[@shteppa]

love the great work keep it up dave

[@patrickkelly9721]

I bought my Les Paul from a pawn shop. High E was contacting the bridge. Had been for so long that there is a small groove in the bridge. Not touching anymore. Thank you for your videos

[@keithmarkham8787]

Love these setup videos, Dave. It's removed the mystery and given Me the confidence to spdo My own setups. Huge Thanks!

[@christiansoliz1696]

Bought an epiphone les paul special VE... this video helped me tons!

[@autoneurotic]

I love it when Dave works on a Gibson. It's a non-stop laugh fest

[@robowen66]

My 96 and my 2009 led Paul's have the same crap all over the truss rod nut... and hey, I had no idea you could take those nuts off. Thanks for showing that!

[@ronstickle4694]

wow i am building one from scratch first time and need all the info i can get! Thanks Dave!

[@stephenbarton2625]

Thank you for explaining this for us. It now makes sense how to set these up correctly.

[@mdallen5]

Love the grumpiness! Thank you for the laughs

[@petercollin5670]

Despite everything, she's got a killer top!

[@j_freed]

Peter Collin - at its heart, Gibson is like an Asian sweat shop focused mainly on output yields. Their brand can weather a certain number of screwed up and flawed products because they can fall back on the 'hand made USA guitar" mythology that is supposed to excuse glaring oversights in their QC.. So at the top of the line, yes you are spending enough to justify close to zero flaws. But generally Gibson wants to spend no more than $350 making a guitar that sells for $3500, ie. there's a ten to one mandate in their production cost which has to mean they work very fast most of the time on most of their output.

[@danoconnor618]

You've settled the case here Dave. Tanks so much.

[@scorpiofrancis1119]

just started my journey of learning the electric guitar,& started with a gibson les paul. Glad i found your channel!

[@juliusnisonen2431]

Started with a Gibson Les Paul. Wow

[@d24isDURIAN]

Great choice!

[@johnmacdonald1486]

Ooohhh man i forgot how good this Gibson setup video was.....ol ernie whiner eh!!! 😄😄 Great one Dave...take care brother!

[@driven9863]

Nice Gibson Flame Top.. I would rock it. I love Gibson's

[@TheWandOfOrcus]

Wow Dave you were in a pisser today! Hang in there buddy. In good news I found GUS on vinyl today with you on bass so I am excited!

[@TheWandOfOrcus]

'No Time To Loose" awesome!

[@robnamowicz8073]

Dave, I think the technical term is 'schmertz.' Close relative to smegma,,,,usually cleaned with a merkin.

[@rayfabris2512]

not sure what year that les paul was made but this video is 3 years old so the old management it was made that is why I waited a few years to see what the new management at Gibson was going to do, reviews on KZbin of the les paul were getting better and time to buy one and love it they are back to guitar building the correct way now I plan on buying another one this year.

[@sixslinger9951]

my three new Les Paul's 21's & "22 are flawless. don't believe all the Gibson haters on this video. Gibson is back better than ever.

[@artrogers3985]

It is a beautiful guitar - leave the pick guard off. Haven’t seen this video in a long time.

[@julian65886]

One of your best videos ever!

[@precisionbrown6829]

I always wondered if they can be setup being neck through body? Geez Dave I didn’t know you could even straighten those out! Thanks buddy

[@jamesmcdonald3798]

That does look alot better without the pick guard. Cheers from Boston Dave.......!!!

[@68SSCAM]

I just bought a brand new Tokai LP. I paid less than 1000 dollars for a solid body mahogany guitar that looks exactly like an LP. It isn't chambered like the new Gibson LPs and is heavy just like an original LP was. The craftsmanship is also just as good as my Gibson SG I bought a few years back. Very happy with the purchase and not upset that I didn't get a Gibson.

[@JHenzly]

Dave, love your videos. Hey let me ask you, if I may, is it absolutely important that the strings do not hit the bridge body on break towards tail piece? I may ask another question or two once and hopefully you read this. Thanks for your time, Jim.

[@JHenzly]

Thanks for the reply. I've over wrapped for a long time and last nite I thought I string it up the standard way. I currently have tail piece tight on body and obviously the strings are hitting. But I would have to raise the tail piece extremely high to clear the two e strings. I'm using a standard Tune o magic bridge. I'm surprised though , tail piece being tight, that how the strings don't feel so stiff. They used to in the past when I would tighten tail piece. It seems to sound and play better acoustically after last nite so I don't know. Maybe I have to go back to over wrap. It's a beat up early 70's Les Paul Custom. What should I do? Thanx for your time Dave. I'm currently watching another of your videos. Jim

[@tonyepley3299]

Gibson quality at its finest!

[@jamescurnutt1628]

Really struggling with my new Les Paul Standard. I just got off the phone with Gibson. I have all of that lacquer on the truss rod nutt you see here. I was like what the hell man? and I am not a luthier in anyway. I have a bunch of Les Paul knock offs that sound better than my Les Paul, my 'Bucket List' guitar, since I was a kid. I cannot play open major chords at all on my Les Paul. They are so sharp. My G note on my low E string is damn near a half step sharp no matter how light I press the string. I can go a 1/2 step up with 'normal' pressure. I swear, it makes me sound like I am a beginner that doesn't know how to tune a guitar. You have given me some clues. Thanks a ton!

[@guitarzan.3250]

I like this guy.

[@Disabledguitarist1985]

I’ve watched this more than once

[@AndyK.23]

Thoroughly entertaining setup! I agree with everything you said too!

[@alanscharrer5255]

Grumpy Dave at his best

[@9unslin9er]

Only ever had problems with Gibsons staying in tune with the 17 degree headstock pitch. Dean, Burny, FGN, Ibanez all stay in tune. 14 degrees 👍

[@Woods_Hiker]

lol 19:50 Dave 😛 I watched this again because I recently acquired a Gibson scale axe.

[@jmakc3541]

Been watching for 10 damned years... just now saw Mr. Bill.

[@tdkrei]

Nice Dave and thanks for the great info.

[@stephendoss8375]

Just picked up a mint '13 Trad. LP and dove in here to set up. After you raise the string height ( post screws) to get 5/64ths the strings will go sharp. shouldn't you intonate before raising the stop bar? You'll likely need to adjust the saddles back a bit and this may give the clearance of the string off of the back the bridge..Just a thought. Thanks.~SD

[@TokusZaBlunto]

Awesome video, lot of great knowledge

[@SagaMediaNet]

Got another les paul. The previous owner had it setup with HIGH action so will need a setup to fix. Also going to replace the Robot tuners for kluson, reverse the neck pickup and fix the output jack which is too tight and the plate which arrived broken

[@justnik8727]

Dave, I would love to send you my new gibson les paul studio for a set up. We dont have anyone like you here in Australia that I know of that cares about guitars as mush as you do. Its alll about the money and get it out quick. My bridge pick up and strings without pressing down on at the last fret is almost touching. I think you guys in the US 10/1000? I wish I could take a photo of it. The guitar if you look at it is absolutely beatutiful. At the 12 the fret though to bottom of low E string is 2.5mm metric. Its almost like a cheap acoustic impossible to play in my opinion. Anyway, I hope you are well and I enjoy your vidoes, very infomative and comedic at times. Take care and all the best from Sydney!

[@donaldholman9070]

Thank you Dave.

[@daleweber2579]

I have that same book and I also have the same guitar-maintenance book too. Great books, that book also mentioned about wrap the bridge on a les paul. I personally prefer to have the strings wrap over the bridge.

[@mikecabral1579]

Love you Dave in a good way like a brother.

[@BrentHarmon]

That's why Top wrapping is more desirable because a lot players have the stop tailpiece all the way done to the deck. Plus string will rub on the back of the TOM.

[@moosey62]

If the stop bar was perfectly round and with pegs, like on a Bigsby, then top wrapping would be OK. The stop bar was never designed to be used that way and you’re also introducing more high tension contact points and kinks to the winds of the string which will compromise its strength and lead to tuning issues.

[@misterblack6521]

Can you please do a setup on a epiphone matt heafy 7 string. The black one.

[@precisionbrown6829]

That’s funny stuff, thanks again Dave 😆

[@davidallen346]

You haven't got into beehive of problems until you work on my Gibson Les Paul guitar

[@bakstabbath]

My Gibson Firebird came with black paint on half the truss rod nut. They just spray everything with little care. The nut turns fine, so I'm fine with it lol

[@macster1878]

Dave i don't think we had enough grilling videos this summer

[@MichaelMoore-od4jz]

Great video learned a lot thanks

[@saleseng]

Yes Gibsons vary quite a bit because of the set neck angle not being very consistent at all especially in recent times. As far as the strings touching the back of the bridge, what I noticed on my SG as I was raising up the stop bar to get a reasonable angle between the two extremes of cranked all the way down or cranked all the way up, I noticed as I got near the middle of that adjustment the strings were still touching the back of the bridge and you could actually see where the low E or the high e actually deformed because of the pressure on that edge of the bridge. So I adjusted a little bit higher until I could see that deformity straighten out which meant there was contact but no real pressure on that edge anymore and that was the sweet spot for me on my guitar. So folks don’t be too concerned by the strings contacting the edge of the bridge. In other words the strings do not have to clear the bridge entirely in order to have a neutralized pressure effect on the bridge. You can also simply as you make your adjustment push down on the back of the damn string to see that there’s negligible pressure on the bridge.

[@AiMR]

Great tips Dave. I'm guilty of tightening the tailpiece down (hangs head in shame) 😌

[@gerryk3114]

I like your Go/NoGo Gauges !! I tough it out with a ruler !

[@TheFULLMETALCHEF]

Just another example of just how bad QM is at Gibson...inconsistent setup between several units of the same model. I never have these issues even across Epiphones.

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

I always re-string and setup my guitars when I get them. None of the 20 I own have been perfect from anywhere that I have gotten them even the Gibsons (all 9). Plus the neck will will move for weeks after you get a guitar if you live in a different state/climate etc. They are guitars not fucking chainsaws.

[@picassoboy52]

When you find anything perfect in life let us know

[@5thfloor584]

@@DavidBrown-it9ig Yeah, I get what you're saying but only having two Gibson les pauls (studio lp, and sg which I sold btw) they came basically with absolutely not even a basic setup done on them.. If you get a Gibson Les Paul go for the higher-priced ones (traditional, some standards, etc) It seems like they don't try that hard on the least expensive ones, like the studio version. I also have a PRS Les paul that came in an almost perfect setup (like an advanced setup), my younger brother got a LTD Ec-1000 that had a perfect setup as well (intonation on this one was perfect, and I'm using a $70 tuner). Both of these guitars were around $900-$1000... Epiphones I hear are great too, I think they try harder on the Epiphone's than their lower-priced Les Pauls or other gibsons styles to make people believe that if they got an actual Gibson Les Paul they would be even better than their epiphanies.

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

@@5thfloor584 I can understand that. All my Gibsons are Historics, down to Traditionals for Les Pauls and I did have some extra fret work done on my 07' R7. My other LPs came setup playable out of box though. My SGs the same. I do have one LP double cut jr that has those damn Robotuners that will get standard tuners soon so setup on that is a wash

[@1961jscofield]

Great video, Dave.

[@xiaco8309]

Subscribed. Really like the overall depth of it. Especially the tailpiece part. Sense of humor is great too and got my Les Paul playing great.I do have a question though. In order to clear all the strings, I noticed a bigger gap between the G string and the bridge than all other strings. Is that ok?

[@DavesWorldofFunStuff]

all good

[@deanlong9614]

peterson tuner is the nuts Dave !

[@nicholasflamel1134]

You do not need any more break angle over the bridge saddles than you do the nut. I remember the first time I realized why some people top wrap strings over the tailpiece. I was setting up a Les Paul for a friend who top wrapped his strings. When I finished cleaning the guitar and setting it up, I forgot to top wrap the new strings. I thought I had installed bigger gauge strings it was so much stiffer playing. It was the extreme break angle of the strings due to not top-wrapping. I changed the strings and top-wrapped the next time and the easier action was back. People will sit and argue you all day that top wrapping does not make the action slinkier to play, but what they will NOT do is string it up both ways and feel for themselves. It makes a difference.

[@Drachard101]

Great video with good advice I haven't found elswhere...my new LP tribute plus arrived with the front pickup below the plastic mounting ring. What height did you use for adjusting both pups?

[@alexmakridis8328]

Don’t forget you can flip the three saddles on the heavy side the other way around so the flat part of the saddle is closer to the stop bar. this will give you a better break angle. Also you can ditch the Nashville bridge and pick up an ABR conversion bridge which has less beef on the sides of the bridge which lets the strings clear way better.

[@thomasdc2439]

but you will change the intonation if you flip the saddles ;)

[@1x2x3xdk]

Can I get these tools online?

[@mdc3564]

I enjoyed your video Dave!!! thats a wiz-bang tuner ya have there :-)

[@Attercop47]

Thanks for the Video

[@TheStepheno]

Hi Dave love your fuckin vids opps I mean great vids haaa. I put Tonepro roller bridge on my les Paul’s, and you no they stay in tune all day incredible. Tonation is right on. Also I never brake strings anymore.amazing ,love roller bridges.

[@larryburwell8550]

ive had 4 gibson les pauls from 76 to 89, never seen this tailbar problem on any.remember people in any way shape or form its better than a strat any day of the week

[@hillmillenia]

That’s factory alright... mine has the same crap on it 😲

[@DBCisco]

That's why I buy Epiphones.

[@Steven123parenteau]

I think there are good and bad ones from both. My Epi SG had some on the truss rod too.

[@DBCisco]

But I don't pay $5K extra for the Epis.

[@zorroonmilkavitch1840]

Which way you always saw McCartney and Harrison back in the early sixties probably always playing epiphone's they thought they were a good guitar or a better one anyway

[@DBCisco]

Les Paul and is wife played Epis before Gibson hired him.

[@frodehau]

Going from nines to tens explains the sharp intonation. I try to explain this to people who change the string gauge on accoustics. You can intonate them, but it takes me an hour or so if everything goes as planned.

[@WheelBite0_0]

Dave you must love me, I run 11s on my Les Paul.

[@jethroboot]

Dave rules,,,,,,,,,

[@DavesWorldofFunStuff]

thanks

[@sailormike1089]

Joe Bonamassa is well known for wrap around tail piece strings. He says it makes the strings slinky and easier to bend and he uses 11's on all his LP's

[@BrentHarmon]

Yes and so does Billy Gibbons. But keep in mind They are using ABR-1 which is small post where as the Nashville TOM is are large post.

[@jamesfurz7406]

I'm about to cut a nut for an LP style guitar. I see from your Book of Knowledge that it recommends that the nut is a cut to a different height on each string. Whats your view on this Dave? I generally cut them all to 20thou on guitars I've done before. Thanks!

[@Sid-np3hf]

I have a an Epiphoney Lazarus which has a satin finish. What would you recommend a DIYer to use if I wanted a polished or gloss top finish?

[@DavesWorldofFunStuff]

get a different guitar with that finish?

[@ThenVersusNow_]

Dave I know how much you love Taylors, but seriously what do you recommend for budget acoustics ($500 ish)? Just curious.

[@geryhatrix]

Hi Dave. Love your videos and watch them all the time. I'm a gigging guitarist and do guitar repairs on the side in NJ, USA. Have you ever come across any SVK brand guitars to repair/setup? They are great, affordable instruments and I was an Artist Endorser-until the company went under a few years ago. Keep up the great work!!!

[@tomkirk6942]

Love ya Dave!

[@richardpoole40able]

How's it going Dave ? Can you tell me what the pick up height should be and what you used to measure please, it looks like an Allen key My neck pick up is way too muddy. How about doing a video on adjustment? Cheers rich ( England)

[@onpsxmember]

I'm not on board with calling a decent top wrap BS. A certain angle is necessary to have enough pressure on crap-o-matic, but besides that there is an upside to top wrapping even when there is no messed up neck angle (and if it's possible to drop the tail piece low enough. When you bend a string you increase the tension along it's full length. In the section from the tuner to the nut, from the nut to the saddles and from the saddles to the tail piece / string through ferrules. Depending on the "tuner-nut-angle" and the "saddle-tailpiece-angle"it is easier to shift the increase of tension to the outer sections of the string at a flatter angle. If the resting points are very "defined" by the angle, the middle section will be harder to bend/feel stiffer, cause more of the increased tension is between nut and saddle. (increase in the longitudinal stiffness module, if I'm not messing up with my wacky technical english). If you release a bend and the string is instantly out of tune, it can't shift the change of tension between the three sections (mostly nut grabbing). If the angle is not too shallow, top wrapping can make bending easier. As you showed, it's the go to thing when the angle is too steep due to the messed up neck angle. It's a side effect, but it make a difference to certain players. No mojo inside.

[@geoarthur6593]

Tell us about the three bears ..

[@offbeatbassgear]

Thanks this was a good detailed explanation. What do you think of using a roller bridge instead of the tune-o-matic, would that address some of the string break/intonation issues, or is that a solution more suited to an LP equipped with a Bigsby style tremolo system?

[@onpsxmember]

@Geo Arthur Juuuuuust right^^

[@onpsxmember]

If you don't have a vibrato, there is no need for them. I'd use rollers on a bigsby. Roller Bridge and Roller Nut. Or just the roller bridge when you got a zero fret like on Duesenberg. If you got a Bigsby, also watch this: watch?v=BUH-COiuGiw Think about him what you want, he is right.

[@rocanrola]

Hi Dave! Do you does gibson specs on the neck relief and string height? Thanks so much. Cheers!

[@stevebell4853]

So I'm sat here trying to set up a les paul thats giving me nothing but shit, I hit some random youtube les paul setup deal for some ideas....and I'm thinking......this guys voice is super familiar, where do I know this guy from......and then it hit me....from a few months back......NUT SAAAAAIUUUUUUUUCE!!!!! That shit was legendary.

[@deeno1114]

Dave, I’m sort at wits end with one of my les Paul’s. Can’t seem to get it playing good and fast. Frets have been leveled and professionally setup but I can’t seem to get the action where I like without getting buzz? Perhaps a bad neck angle? Thinking about unloading it because I’m so frustrated.

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

I found it interesting that you used an allen key to adjust pickup height. I have found most recommended distances between strings and pickups are too close for my liking, and certainly vary from pickup to pickup. I set them close to spec, than tweak until my ear hears the "sweet spot" as you say. Cheers Dave, love watching the vids from Winnipeg.

[@JeffBarberDigideus]

Dave, I may have asked this before, but whats the deal with the intonation screws? I keep seeing them round both ways (so the screws are either facing the tailpiece or the pickup) I have a suspicion that players put it on the wrong way around. most of the factory ones ive come across have the screws facing the pickup, because I assume that they intonate the guitar from the pickup side because there is very little space to intonate from the tailpiece end. I also find swapping the stock bridge pieces for graphite ones or even a roller bridge style design helps with tuning as it stops the strings binding over the break angle. Opinions?

[@mattrogers1946]

There is no "wrong way around". As long as there's enough travel in the saddles to set the intonation correctly, it doesn't matter.

[@content-appreciator]

Whatever makes the intonation adjustment easier. Sometimes the pickups (if they're jacked up high) will get in the way of your screwdriver; sometimes the tailpiece will (again, if jacked up high)... but not both. On ABR (vintage style) bridges, having the screw heads towards the tailpiece CAN cause the strings hit the crews before getting to the tailpiece, because the screw heads are flush with the body of the bridge. Nashville (newer design) bridges like the one on this LP have the screw heads below the edge, so the strings won't hit the screw heads (before they do the body of the bridge, anyway). So Nashville: however is more comfy. ABR: generally (and preferably) screw heads up towards the pickups. *Just flip the saddles too if you're gonna flip the bridge*

[@y2kcurran]

ABR-1 bridges have the screws towards the pickups, Nashville bridges have them towards the tailpiece. That's in general, like the other guys side some people flip them to get good intonation if necessary

[@larrimos]

That nut lacquer was FULL OF MOJO Dave! You’ve done gone and ruined it. 😀

[@grahamblackblackgblack2472]

now sounds like a ricky...BUT!! agoodun....smiley face..yes i,m a trog..keep up the good word...

[@larrimos]

Michael lol, yeah, I did...damn.

[@onefatstratcat]

he chipped away all the good tone...lol

[@terrysmith6442]

Dont be that guy,thats my new saying at work,thanks Dave.

[@Woods_Hiker]

That one seemed to really need some TLC. Is it because like you said, all of them are different on the bridge end?

[@14thgeorgesstreet15]

Hi, good video, with good explains. I'd like to submit you my trouble. I Have a Gibson LP BFG with Tremolo. It's impossible to keep the guitar in tune if I bend the strings. What you think about that ? Do you think there is a way to fix it without modification ? Or just a good setting is enought. What you recommand to get it better ? Thank you Dave. Chris.

[@runningwithscissors0911]

Try the String Butler - look for KZbin vids explaining it.

[@Shredster3000]

Question regarding les Paul relief: I have a Gibson 70s studio tribute les Paul that I believe require more relief than most - somewhere at .016-0.18. Is this typical for heavier handed players?

[@Robstafarian]

It is damn good to see you; life got in the way of life for me, as well.

[@adamr2684]

Why did you have to go back and adjust the truss rod after you were sharp on the intonation? Which way did you have to go?

[@spiderfan1974]

You check the neck after you set the intonation it shifts sometimes during set up on any guitar it's not brand specific.

[@jagoff62]

At first I thought it was a Chibson,what with all the gunk around the truss rod nut.Chibsons are notorious for that.

[@craigtullius9613]

Thought you were going to do a Pete Townsend smash on this one Dave, cheers buddy ✌

[@killrockstartv]

This video helped me out so much! Does anyone know what size hex wrenches Dave uses to measure the pick up heights?

[@J0hnBee]

My own Gibson guitar had the exact same problem when I exposed the truss rod adjustment nut I ended-up having to clean it with an exacto knife before the adjuster would fit around the nut - terrible QC Gibson

[@MrTom_Songwriter]

Hi Dave, I'm watching your video right before the hurricane comes through.. I'm far enough inland.. hopefully the power stays up. Have a great upcoming weekend !

[@Bouncingbongos]

What kind of lube did you put in the nut? Thanks