• Registered: 2016-02-07
  • Posts: 98

Topic: Joe's set-up on his Les Paul guitars

Has anyone read an article or watched a video where the specifications of how Joe's guitars are set-up were given?  I am interested in things like the height of the bridge.  String height at somewhere around the 14th fret (give or take a few frets).  Distance of pickups from the strings.  Does he have his neck perfectly straight or is there a very slight bow to it?  Finally, what string gauge does he use.  I heard him say he uses 11 - 52 but then was corrected by someone from Ernie Ball then Joe changed to say he uses 11 - 48.  I don't know, I got the impression he is using up to 52 on his Les Paul guitars.  I guess it was the funny look he gave when saying he uses 11 - 48.  Well, thank you for any assistance you can offer.  Have a great day everyone.

Jesse

"There's not much left for me to tell, I just got back up each time I fell"

2 Reply by Rusty (edited by Rusty 2016-03-01 16:58:09)

  • From: Massachusetts, USA
  • Registered: 2014-04-12
  • Posts: 663

Re: Joe's set-up on his Les Paul guitars

You may find this interesting...

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Sec … newsletter

Play some cards & drink black coffee,
How I’d love to see you smile....
JBLP Std Goldtop
2015 R9 LP
  • Registered: 2016-02-07
  • Posts: 98

Re: Joe's set-up on his Les Paul guitars

Rusty wrote:

You may find this interesting...

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Sec … newsletter

Thank you so much.  That is exactly what I was hoping to find.

"There's not much left for me to tell, I just got back up each time I fell"
  • Devan
  • Devan
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Joe's set-up on his Les Paul guitars

Bear in mind though, that perfectly mimicking Joe's setup may not work for you.  Joe and his tech have come to those specs based on years of playing and personal preference.

You may find the heavier strings may hurt your hand after playing a while.  And I believe Joe has his string action a little higher than usual, which may also make things more difficult for you ?!?

I'd strongly suggest you get Dan Erlewine's books on guitar setup - he's got a few good one, but the "Make your guitar play great" one is a great introduction to doing your own setups.  Investing in some of his tools from Stewart MacDonald may also be good.  I spent about $120 to get some height gauges, truss rod wrenches and fret files etc. and have been doing my own setups for years now, which has increased my playing enjoyment a lot.

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"