Help! Gibson setup question

bsman

bsman

b00b
Hey folks, back when MF were blowing out the "roasted maple" fretboard (i.e. guitars produced during the time Gibson was in trouble for some of its rosewood sourcing) guitars I picked up a Melody Maker SG for $300 and an LP Special P90 for $500. The MM has been problem-free, but from the beginning, I have had a problem with the high-E string falling off the edge of the fretboard in the LP, which is a shame because this guitar has a fantastic tone but I have never played it live for fear of audible fuckups, especially on open-position G and D chords. I found it utterly strange, because supposedly the nuts on these guitars were cut using a PLEK machine, which I though was supposed to prevent those sorts of issues.

At any rate, I guess I am interested in potential fixes. Does it require a new nut, and if so, is that a job you would suggest I leave to a pro? I do all my own setups (i.e. adjusting bridges, intonation, etc.) but have never messed around with a nut. I do not have the special files for filing slots in a nut, etc. and the only thing I've ever done at that end is to squirt a bit of graphite lubricant in slots where there was some binding or squeaking. Anyway -- I'd appreciate any advice. I was playing this in my living room last night and really digging the sound, but every now and then I'd get that "sproooiinngg" from the E string slipping off the fretboard, and I want it fixed!
 
The nut slots aren’t deep enough, which is a common problem with Gibson. Their house style is a short nut with very shallow cuts (that’s a nice way of saying they don’t know how to cut a damned nut). You can:
  • Replace the nut with a precut nut from AllParts, Graphtech, etc. The drawback here is that Gibson’s hack luthiers tend to use too much glue and it can be hard to get off the nut and not take any wood with it.
  • File the slot yourself. Either buy a nut file from a luthier supply or use torch cleaning tips from a hardware store. It’s very easy to go to deep on the narrow slots, so be careful.
  • Pay a tech to open the slot or replace the entire nut.
If you have the money and your local tech doesn’t charge a crazy price for nut work then consider replacing the entire nut. Those Gibson Corian nuts were always crap anyway.
 
Is is slipping off and staying hooked on a fret? Is the string coming all the way out of the nut?
 
Can you bump up a string gauge?

PLEK is only as good as the tech fixturing the guitar and all it really does is provide what a good guitar tech can already do but do it on a mass production level.
 
telecaster911 said:
Can you bump up a string gauge?

PLEK is only as good as the tech fixturing the guitar and all it really does is provide what a good guitar tech can already do but do it on a mass production level.
Click to expand...


It's got .10s right now and I wouldn't be averse to trying .11s or .12s if that might alleviate it. I normally use .12s on my acoustics anyway, so it wouldn't be too much of an adjustment. Do you think that the extra tension might help it behave? If so, seems like a simple fix!
 
Try 11s. I've seen the e string falling off thing disappear by bumping up. It seems every once in a while I run across one that easily pulls off the fretboard.
 
telecaster911 said:
Can you bump up a string gauge?

PLEK is only as good as the tech fixturing the guitar and all it really does is provide what a good guitar tech can already do but do it on a mass production level.
Click to expand...

this is it here on the head. Plek's a machine, it's as good or as bad as you run it.

Sounds like it needs a new nut cut with either narrower spacing or the positioning fixed (if it was slotted tight to one edge).

What kind of bridge? Wraparound or TOM?
 
I just had my Les Paul's cheap plastic nut replaced. I brought it to my local shop.
New bone nut installed and slots cut for $65.
Well worth it in my book.

I have he same issue with my Taylor, which I paid a boatload for....
Eventually, when it bothers me enough I'll have that nut replaced as well
 
dougk said:
this is it here on the head. Plek's a machine, it's as good or as bad as you run it.

Sounds like it needs a new nut cut with either narrower spacing or the positioning fixed (if it was slotted tight to one edge).

What kind of bridge? Wraparound or TOM?
Click to expand...

TOM

 
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