Want to uglify your Les Paul?

axisus

Then get yourself a String Butler ....

Strangefan

What the hell is the point in that thing...? 

bobliefeld

It improves the "break angles" of the strings immeasurably.  Les Pauls are famous for tuning problems, particularly on the G string and this ingenious device fixes all of that.  I've noticed that it also makes the tone a bit more airy, dynamic and sustainfull.  Better tuning. Better intonation. Better tone.  Looks rad as hell

Sassafras

bobliefeld said:

It improves the "break angles" of the strings immeasurably.  Les Pauls are famous for tuning problems, particularly on the G string and this ingenious device fixes all of that.  I've noticed that it also makes the tone a bit more airy, dynamic and sustainfull.  Better tuning. Better intonation. Better tone.  Looks rad as hell

Thank you for that completely unbiased opinion Mr Butler.
  

Col_Decker

More shiny chrome, whats not to like?

ICBM

© Shergold Guitars 1967.


OK they used separate screwed-on string guides, but the concept is the same...

http://jedistar.com/images/april17/shergold_head.jpg

DiscoStu

I was gonna post about this this morning then found another thread on here about it.
I think the concept is sound if you are having issues, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to stick one on. Good that there's no drilling though.

underdog

Maybe if you have tuning issues money spent on a set up would be wiser? At least a set up will fix any issues without be damn fugly

ICBM

The nut angle problem is actually quite difficult to fix on a Gibson, even with a good setup and proper care in cutting the grooves. It *can* be done, but the combination of sharp break angles and a fairly soft material just leads to friction. Metal rollers - or even smoothly polished fixed guides - will definitely make it easier.

They are ugly though...

DefaultM

bobliefeld said:

It improves the "break angles" of the strings immeasurably.  Les Pauls are famous for tuning problems, particularly on the G string and this ingenious device fixes all of that.  I've noticed that it also makes the tone a bit more airy, dynamic and sustainfull.  Better tuning. Better intonation. Better tone.  Looks rad as hell

If it makes the tone more airy, is it hot air or cold air? I'm quite sensitive to temperature and if it's cold out I don't want my tone to be cold too.

It would be good if you could get a Smart Butler that links up to the weather forecast for your area. 

Modulus_Amps

what does airy guitar tone sound like??? sounds good, but how do I know if I want it?

merlin

"If thine eye offends thee, pluck it out." Matthew 18:9

Now I'm not a bible basher at all, not even religious but I'd prefer a guitar that stays in tune than one that goes all shonky, and that little piece of metal wouldn't offend me in the slightest. 

Roland

ICBM said:

They are ugly though...

And they add to the weight and of the headstock.

ICBM

To be honest, a polished hard metal nut with the grooves machined into a curve so both the string entry and exit were perpendicular to the groove would probably work. It could be fairly easily made with modern technology too.

It's a shame Gibson missed a trick on doing this with their 2015 adjustable nut - at least the later titanium version - as well as making it unnecessarily wide and then having to do the same with the neck.

Funkfingers

Still better than the dog's dinner that is the Gibson Futura headstock.

It is my belief that the original Futura patent application drawings were one of Ted McCarty's red herrings to confuse the competition. Unfortunately, a myth grew that Gibson built a few of them. In the Seventies, Ibanez produced replicas of this non-existent instrument. Eventually, Gibson made some themselves.

olafgarten

It's not that bad and at £35, it's not an expensive fix if you suffer from tuning issues. The only problem I can think of is that on something like an SG it would make Neck dive worse.

On my Les Paul the only issue is the G String, and if I replace it with a wound one, the problem goes away. I'm back to a plain 3rd as I do a lot of bends though.

fnpt

Could be useful for studio work.

Sassafras

Funkfingers said:

Still better than the dog's dinner that is the Gibson Futura headstock.

It is my belief that the original Futura patent application drawings were one of Ted McCarty's red herrings to confuse the competition. Unfortunately, a myth grew that Gibson built a few of them. In the Seventies, Ibanez produced replicas of this non-existent instrument. Eventually, Gibson made some themselves.

Do you mean the Moderne?
That's got randomly placed string trees all over the place.

Rocker

bobliefeld said:

It improves the "break angles" of the strings immeasurably.  Les Pauls are famous for tuning problems, particularly on the G string and this ingenious device fixes all of that.  I've noticed that it also makes the tone a bit more airy, dynamic and sustainfull.  Better tuning. Better intonation. Better tone.  Looks rad as hell

I thought the only thing that breaks on a Gibson is the neck...

WezV

Sassafras said:

Funkfingers said:

Still better than the dog's dinner that is the Gibson Futura headstock.

It is my belief that the original Futura patent application drawings were one of Ted McCarty's red herrings to confuse the competition. Unfortunately, a myth grew that Gibson built a few of them. In the Seventies, Ibanez produced replicas of this non-existent instrument. Eventually, Gibson made some themselves.

Do you mean the Moderne?
That's got randomly placed string trees all over the place.

 it actually works really well with a slimmed down flying V headstock

Sassafras