Should I sell my LP?

crunchman

If it's tuning issues that are the problem then that's almost certainly a matter of getting the nut sorted.

I'd get a good set up and get the nut sorted and see what it is like after that.  You might struggle to sell on here if anyone cross references your for sale thread with this one.

gearaddict

People always say it's a nut issue with LPs but I've never found one that stays in tune - I think it's more of a design issue. I saw an Andertons vid once where Lee was basically saying he just had to accept he had to retune his super expensive custom shop LP after every couple of songs. And I've heard so many people say the same things - I've stopped trying to fix it. I've only had that problem with LPs. It's just the angle the strings have to take through the nut. I don't think it can ever be that stable.

crunchman

I've sold it now, but I had an R8 that was rock solid.  I could take that out of the case and not need to tune it.  The Les Paul I had before that was fine as well.

The ES Les Paul I have now had tuning issues until I got the nut sorted.  The angle at the nut is not ideal, but with the nut cut right and a bit of nut sauce, they can be absolutely fine.

p90fool

I have to retune my Les Paul after one or two songs when the strings have acclimatised to the temperature of my hands compared to the room, after that it stays in tune for for the next hour or so of the first set. 

It certainly isn't the best design but it can be made as rock solid as a Telecaster in my experience. I won't tolerate any guitar with tuning instability, it's more important than any other feature. 

I really don't know why people claim it can't be made to work, haven't they noticed Gibsons being played on professional stages the world over for the last century or so? 

There are better designs and there is also user error. 

Hattigol

Well let's see the thing then....!

gearaddict

^ there's a piccy up the thread a bit. 

Yeah, to be fair it's probably not a huge issue (the tuning) and I could probably get it sorted but the thing has just sat in it's case for a year so it hasn't been a big priority and I don't have a convenient skilled person nearby that could check the nut for me. I think the Gibson QA is pretty good these days so I'd be surprised if the nut was very badly cut but I guess you never know. Perhaps some new strings and a squirt of nut sauce is all the is required but I have other guitars I prefer to play so I've not had the incentive to sort it out.

crunchman

gearaddict said:

^ there's a piccy up the thread a bit. 

Yeah, to be fair it's probably not a huge issue (the tuning) and I could probably get it sorted but the thing has just sat in it's case for a year so it hasn't been a big priority and I don't have a convenient skilled person nearby that could check the nut for me. I think the Gibson QA is pretty good these days so I'd be surprised if the nut was very badly cut but I guess you never know. Perhaps some new strings and a squirt of nut sauce is all the is required but I have other guitars I prefer to play so I've not had the incentive to sort it out.

The nut on my ES Les Paul (2015) was utterly abysmal.

dazzajl

Gretsch make some of my favourite, some of the most expensive and some of the most beautifully made guitars. In Japan too, where I’d
put money on much better QC than the US and I don’t think one has ever left the factory with a satisfactorily cut nut. 

Drives me mad mad to see guitars of all makes let down by such a small yet vital piece. 

hotpickups

If you like les Paul's I'd keep it. I've thought of selling mine many times in the part but I'd be lost without it if I succumbed to selling for gas. Emotionally and physically  

Anderz

If the guitar does not inspire you to pick it up and play regulary then what is the point? I have been there once with historic Gibson Les Paul custom 2001. It was cool but where I was going was not and I found I could do with out. It is still like that today. 

Do you see yourself trying to fit it in with where you are going and want to be musically?

Final thing. It is you guitar and your decision what happens to it not anyone else.

TTBZ

gearaddict said:

People always say it's a nut issue with LPs but I've never found one that stays in tune - I think it's more of a design issue. I saw an Andertons vid once where Lee was basically saying he just had to accept he had to retune his super expensive custom shop LP after every couple of songs. And I've heard so many people say the same things - I've stopped trying to fix it. I've only had that problem with LPs. It's just the angle the strings have to take through the nut. I don't think it can ever be that stable.

Nah my two used to be rock solid, just depends on how the nut is cut I think. My SG is pretty stable as well but not quite as good, must be the flimsier construction or something.

gearaddict

So I tried to sell it but chickened out in the end. Couldn't quite bring myself to let it go I still lust after Les Pauls...so I kind of need to have one so that I don't buy any more.

On the tuning thing, I took it to my last band practice and I found I had to retune it for the first couple of songs but after that it was fine for the rest of the session. So maybe there's nothing much wrong with it. I might get it set up properly anyway.

gearaddict

Shitting shit. Tried to sell it again but couldn't go through with it. Again.

I need psychological help.

MtB

@gearaddict ; I feel your pain. I've had, and moved on, 2 Gibson Les Paul Standards, 2 Epiphone Les Paul Standards and a Feline Lion Supreme. I really want to keep a LP, but I just don't seem to bond with them.

I have settled for the moment with a Collings 290, which feels better.

Nunogilberto

There is an argument for selling it if you’re not really using it, but then it doesn’t hurt to make yourself play it a bit more, gig it a couple of times, practice with it etc - you may find the tone etc wins you over and you end up keeping it. The Standard T is a great guitar.

roberty

All my LPs have stayed in tune, the first thing I do is get the nut cut for 11s. They can be awkward to play sitting down, and you have to adjust your technique for the dusty end. But you can get used to these things. I struggle to change from Fender to Gibson because of the different string spacing at the bridge. That's the biggest difference imo

mark123

If you are not playing it because of issues i.e action too high etc get it to a luither and get it sorted,then take it from there, if it plays great and you Dont play it, sell it ,I had a 79 lp custom ,my dream guitar, and i didn't get on with it ,So i sold it! I kept the korean lp epiphone custom because i pick it up all the time ! trust your gut instinct,it doesnt lie  go with gut not your head !

Freebird

Everybody should have a Les Paul under the bed.

gearaddict

Yeah, I am torn about LPs. I love the look and the tone, all my heroes played them and whenever I see someone playing one they look so comfy. But when I pick it up it feels like a big heavy awkward lump with a short neck and I can't see the fretboard the way I am used to because the whole thing sits further away from my body than other guitars. I can get used to it and it feels fine after a while. But I always reach for a different guitar when I fancy a quick play. 

dazzajl

Freebird said:

Everybody should have a Les Paul under the bed.

I have Les Dennis in the basement 

ICBM

gearaddict said:

Yeah, I am torn about LPs. I love the look and the tone, all my heroes played them and whenever I see someone playing one they look so comfy. But when I pick it up it feels like a big heavy awkward lump with a short neck and I can't see the fretboard the way I am used to because the whole thing sits further away from my body than other guitars. I can get used to it and it feels fine after a while. But I always reach for a different guitar when I fancy a quick play.

Just sell it. It doesn’t make you happy, and thinking about it not making you happy is making you not happy, or you wouldn’t have posted this .

gearaddict said:

Shitting shit. Tried to sell it again but couldn't go through with it. Again.

I need psychological help.

(Even if you’re joking .)

Don’t play it, don’t even open the case, just sell it. Use the money to buy a guitar you like, if you really need another one...

Don’t fall into the trap of using the guitar your heroes did if it doesn’t suit you. We’re all different, and what fits one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. 

Shrews

gearaddict said:

Yeah, I am torn about LPs. I love the look and the tone, all my heroes played them and whenever I see someone playing one they look so comfy. But when I pick it up it feels like a big heavy awkward lump with a short neck and I can't see the fretboard the way I am used to because the whole thing sits further away from my body than other guitars. I can get used to it and it feels fine after a while. But I always reach for a different guitar when I fancy a quick play. 

Maybe that's the issue here. 

Why not give it a really good go i.e put all your other guitars away and just play that one for six months.  You will likely become a lot more comfortable and familiar with it.

When that period is out of the way, then you will 'really' know whether it's for you or not. Let the Mrs know this is exactly what you're going to do and at least then if it doesn't work out then she knows you've made a proper decision and doesn't think the decision is fad-like.

DLM

dazzajl said:

Freebird said:

Everybody should have a Les Paul under the bed.

I have Les Dennis in the basement 

@dazzajl I call FAKE NEWS! @TheOtherDennis wouldn't have sold you it!

Schnozz

If you sell a good Les Paul, it'll piss you off big time and more so than any other guitar.

It's the Precision bass of the guitar world.

TTBZ

Schnozz said:

If you sell a good Les Paul, it'll piss you off big time and more so than any other guitar.

It's the Precision Bass of the world.

Yep. Regret selling mine all the time!

gearaddict

Well, I'm holding on to it for the moment. Thing is, it's quite a nice example with cool features like the coil splits, phase switch and that 'blow' switch that gives you the direct bridge pup -> output. And I know I will continue to lust after LPs if I sell it. SO I might as well keep a nice one, since I have it.

deano

I think a trick is being missed here. The Mrs wants you to keep it, and you are concerned it is just sitting there unused as a lump of cash in a case.

Flog the LP and but the Mrs something nice for Christmas with the money (jewellery, nothing electrical!). Tell her you wanted to sell it to buy her something nice. You get rid of something you don't want, don't need to find extra cash for Christmas presents for her, and placate the Mrs to the tune of so much happy sex and good cooking. Then buy something you really want in the sales with the Christmas present money you haven't had to find!

mudslide73

deano said:

I think a trick is being missed here. The Mrs wants you to keep it, and you are concerned it is just sitting there unused as a lump of cash in a case.

Flog the LP and but the Mrs something nice for Christmas with the money (jewellery, nothing electrical!). Tell her you wanted to sell it to buy her something nice. You get rid of something you don't want, don't need to find extra cash for Christmas presents for her, and placate the Mrs to the tune of so much happy sex and good cooking. Then buy something you really want in the sales with the Christmas present money you haven't had to find!

I'd give this 1000 Wiz's if I could. May all your points be brown, forever!

Maynehead

Keeping a guitar that you love so much that you don't dare play is absolutely fine.
Keeping a guitar that you don't enjoy playing is a complete waste of money and space.

Sell it and enjoy the nice feeling of a lump of cash sitting in your pocket waiting to be spent on something you really want.

DrJazzTap

I toyed with selling my tokai es130 for years  it was a lovely guitar. I just didn't get on with the 335 guitar shape. 
I kind of regret selling it. It's done now and I've even thought about selling more guitars. Being on this forum does make it easier to justify owning multiples of guitars.