• JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
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Topic: Joined the LP club today

Got my first LP today. I LOVE it. It's a Gibson studio in sunburst. I'm in love with this neck and tone and..... everything haha! Thought I'd just tell you all and ask if there's anything I should do.... when i restring I'm going to do the string wrap.... anything else?


-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Joined the LP club today

Hey Eric, the keyword is "first" LOL. The next thing you know there will be another one. You have to watch it, those things just multply like rabbits!

Congrats,
Tom

Major Tom to ground control...
  • JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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Re: Joined the LP club today

haha Thanks Tom

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Missoula, Montana
  • Registered: 2008-08-18
  • Posts: 308

Re: Joined the LP club today

RICjunkie wrote:

Hey Eric, the keyword is "first" LOL. The next thing you know there will be another one. You have to watch it, those things just multply like rabbits!

Congrats,
Tom

lol It is an addiction. But, I love it.

Welcome to the club Eric

#275 JB LP

tmcguire's Website

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Joined the LP club today

JBSRV wrote:

Got my first LP today. I LOVE it. It's a Gibson studio in sunburst. I'm in love with this neck and tone and..... everything haha! Thought I'd just tell you all and ask if there's anything I should do.... when i restring I'm going to do the string wrap.... anything else?


-Eric

Congrats on the new Lester!  What I do with every new guitar is first check the intonation.  I basically do an entire head to toe accessment to get it dialed in just right.  So when the intonation is set properly, then adjust the string heights to get the action right.  Also check to make sure the truss rod is set properly and adjust if needed.  So now that you have the guitar playing well it's time to get it sounding it's best.  First I like to grease the nut with either Nut Sauce or a #2 pencil to prevent binding.  Now you should tune each pickup to get the best output/noise/sustain/tone ratio.  If your sound is too gainy and lacks dynamics you may need to try lowering the pickups.  Same goes visa versa if you are lacking sustain and harmonics.  If the bass notes are too boomey instead of reaching over and turning the bass down on the amps perhaps try lowering the bass side of the pickups.  As a general rule, I hate treble so I always lower the treble side of any pickup I use to smooth things out.  As far as mods go, you could upgrade the pots and caps, and perhaps drop some nylon saddles in there.  I bounce back and forth between top wrapping and not...I can't decide which I like better.  Ironically I break less strings when I don't top wrap but I like the feel better when I do.  Have fun with your new guitar!! cool

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Joined the LP club today

Eric, the reason for top wrapping the strings is to make bending easier, especially if you go to thicker ones. Joe uses 11-52 Ernie Ball strings if you want to try and duplicate his tone.

Major Tom to ground control...
  • From: Statesboro, GA
  • Registered: 2009-07-09
  • Posts: 16

Re: Joined the LP club today

JBSRV wrote:

Got my first LP today. I LOVE it. It's a Gibson studio in sunburst. I'm in love with this neck and tone and..... everything haha! Thought I'd just tell you all and ask if there's anything I should do.... when i restring I'm going to do the string wrap.... anything else?


-Eric

Welcome to the club.... I remember when I bought my first LP 16 months ago or so.... in a weeks time I forgot I had a strat and a tele lol..... imo its so much easier to create the perfect tone with a lp instead of any other guitar.... 2500 bucks well spend.... last week I cleaned it for the first time, and the love was there again.....

Sven

Sven Vandermaas

Sven_Vandermaas's Website

8 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-07-11 19:52:55)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Joined the LP club today

Here's a couple things off the top of my head.

1. I'd adjust the pickup height just out of preference. I like the lead pickup a little closer to the strings than the rhythm pickup so when I have the toggle pointed down, it's just a little louder.

2.I'd also adjust the pole pieces so the flathead screws alternate a V and upside down V shape. \ / \ / \ /  ... I never knew why to do this aside from looks... but It's been documented differnet places to do this.

3. If the pickguard is still on, you might want to try taking it off and see the beautiful sunburst underneath... you might not want to put it back on!!! Lots of players with bursts do not use the pickguard.

4. If you bought it from an online source or wherever, I'd pick out what strings you defintely want to use on it and have it setup for YOU. If you've played in the past, you know how you want it to play... low action vs. high, etc. A good setup will make tailor the guitar to your needs and make sure everything is on the up and up. I have mine setup almost twice a year to accomodate the weather changes up north. I get charged $20 for a routine "bench check" (which involves new strings, cleaning, & neck adjustment) and $40 for a "deluxe setup" (which involves fixing any symptoms you mention, nut or bridge height adjustment/inspection, fret inspection, and bench check).

5. I don't know if Gibsons come with plastic nuts or bone/tusq/graphite nuts... but that would be one thing that would improve the sound (if you can believe that!)

6. Schaller strap locks, if it didn't come with strap-locks. Without them, a regular strap on upside down with a twist... you'll drop your guitar because your strap fell off - I've seen it happen. It is something un-necessary and no LP owner deserves to go through that grief!

There is nothing wrong with leaving it as-is either... if its all good. But the tweaking sickness looks like it's here!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Joined the LP club today

Dude there is so much you can do with it, but if you like it why not just leave it alone for some time and play it.  Thats all it wants.  Yea, I put Tone Pros and the same p/u's in my guitars, but it was after years of experimenting with what I like and leaving the guitars I purchased as they were until I found the guitar I liked with the sound and feel.  Then I set all of my guitars up as that guitar was set up, so me immedietly doing certain "mods" to it is just because I've found what I like.  I say leave it alone if you love it.  It may not need anything done to it because its YOUR GUITAR and YOU like the way it sounds and feels.  All I'd be worried about is putting new strings on it when the old ones are dead.

You're an exclusive now.  Welcome, but be careful its certainly addicting lol.

Ben

  • Matt
  • Matt
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  • From: N. Ireland
  • Registered: 2007-04-07
  • Posts: 311

Re: Joined the LP club today

Hey dude,

Gratz on your new guitar!

I never got into the moddin/changing things on guitars, I tend to leave them as they are, probly due to fear of breakin something lol.

One thing I do do though and I like is whenever your chainging your strings, use that time to give the fretboard a clean, and put a wee bit of lemon oil on. I think lemon oil is only for rosewood fingerboards but i dont think I've ever seen a LP with anythin else lol.

Enjoy!
Matt

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Joined the LP club today

JBSRV wrote:

Thought I'd just tell you all and ask if there's anything I should do.... when i restring I'm going to do the string wrap.... anything else?

No. Just play that beast! cool

Congrats bro. I have two Gibsons and they are real keepers.
I won't miss any of them.

Enjoy the good sound
Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
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Re: Joined the LP club today

Thanks for all the advice. I really appreciate it.

Don't know if you'll be able to see them, but here are some pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 … 1436077545


-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Joined the LP club today

Tone pros bridge and aluminum tailpiece. oh...and a bone nut.

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?