Do Les Paul's typically go out of tune more often than strats?

[bluessyndicate]

I've been shopping Gibson Custom Shop LP's lately...seems like very R8, R9, R0, G0 I play goes out of tune after about 5 minutes of lead playing (decent amount of string bending).

This literally is over a sample of about 13 Les Pauls.

My strats don't exhibit that behavior with my playing.

Educate me, do Pauls simply go out of tune more often?

The LP specialist salesman at GC suggested that due to the shorter scale length I'd want to go up a size in strings over whatever I use on my strats, and that this would essentially take care of that issue.

Any input is welcomed. Thanks.

[playon]

There might be some other issues such as the nut needing to be cut better, etc, but in general I find that 25.5" scale guitars stay and play in tune better than 24.7" scale guitars.

[Sean French]

My Fenders have always held slightly better tune than my LP's.
First thing is to make sure the nut is properly cut.Unfortunately,Gibby has trouble with this a lot.Another thing is that Gibson's have a sharp string angle from the tuner to the nut.This is why a properly cut nut is so important with Gibby's.Fender's(for the most part)have a straight string pull so,the string has little chance to bind at the nut.

[Blind Rat]

If they are brand new ones you are playing it may be that the strings just have not been stretched good enough and played.

[Eagle1]

A properly cut nut and good stringing up technique including stretching the strings and only tunning up to the note will give you good stability even with poor quality tuners.

[Shooter Bob]

None of my Gibson have ever held their tuning as well as my Fenders. It must have something to do with the shorter scale being slightly more sensitive to tuning variations.

[teleamp]

A properly cut nut and good stringing up technique including stretching the strings and only tunning up to the note will give you good stability even with poor quality tuners.

+1, no matter the guitar.

[Heinz W]

I guess all the Fenders you guys are talking about are Teles 'cause my Strat w/floating trem doesn't stay in tune as good as my LP! bluessyndicate, are your Strats set to float?

My LP usually stays in tune through two sets of jamming without re-tuning. I've never had any trouble with the nut on my R0, but I bought it from (burst guru) Vic DaPra's small independent shop, and he most likely 'preps' his guitars before they go on display. I'm sure that is not the case when buying at GC or MF, etc. GC is not known for maintaining their guitars in optimum playing condition, that's for sure!

Once you know the nut is okay, do these few things when changing strings to insure tuning stability. Lube the nut (graphite) and saddles (oil) with every string change. That is important. Then, be sure the strings have nice tight, even wraps around the posts. Don't forget to stretch the strings good too.

If you do all that there should be no problems.

[atquinn]

None of my Gibson have ever held their tuning as well as my Fenders. It must have something to do with the shorter scale being slightly more sensitive to tuning variations.

I would agree with this reasoning. Because of the shorter scale length, I believe if the string stretches out a little bit (as a result of bending for example), it will be more noticeable on a shorter-scale instrument. Going up a string guage should help compensate for this.

-Austin

[Redfish]

I've never been able to tell anything about a guitar's (LP or Strat) ability to stay in tune in a store. First of all they usually have dead, tired, dirty strings. The guitar is also usually tuned down at least a half step due to hanging on the wall for weeks/months if you don't get a tuner and bring it back up to pitch. I've never had any problem with my Historic Les Pauls staying in tune once I got them home and put on a new set of strings, lubed the nut, and ocasionally fine tuned a sticky nut slot. If a guitar plays and sounds good I've never had a problem getting it to stay in tune with a little tech work. Personally, I've had more headaches with Strat trem bridges than LP's by far.

[violetlove]

No tuning problems here.
I'm fusy about having a locking wrap, then tidy winds, and once they are stretched in, I have no tuning instability. I did have a Strat briefly, and ANY trem use meant instant de-tune, which I can't see the point of, so I sold it. I've seen roller nuts etc, and apart from the ugly look, if the guitar needs that to stay in tune, the damn thing should come standard.

[pickaguitar]

I wish my strat would stay in tune as well as my les paul!

[Birddog]

I've never been able to tell anything about a guitar's (LP or Strat) ability to stay in tune in a store. First of all they usually have dead, tired, dirty strings. The guitar is also usually tuned down at least a half step due to hanging on the wall for weeks/months if you don't get a tuner and bring it back up to pitch. I've never had any problem with my Historic Les Pauls staying in tune once I got them home and put on a new set of strings, lubed the nut, and ocasionally fine tuned a sticky nut slot. If a guitar plays and sounds good I've never had a problem getting it to stay in tune with a little tech work. Personally, I've had more headaches with Strat trem bridges than LP's by far.

+1 to all of the above points. My LP's are easier to keep in tune, even than my Strats with a blocked trem.

I have found that (on a non-blocked trem of course) adding a 4th and 5th spring to be a great help to keep them in tune. My LP's suffer serious string bending on long sets and I rarely have to tune except between sets. I faithfully stretch and break in my strings and never have tuning issues.

[Dave Orban]

It's a function of a) learning proper technique for stringing guitars, and b) occasionally, a poorly cut nut. But typically, it's "a".

Fender's slotted tuners are much more forgiving of poor stringing technique.

[buddastrat]

No they both stay in tune good. The thing with the Paul is the angled headstock, if there's any slack in the string, it can mess up the tuning. So like Dave said, it's simply learning to string/tune properly and they'll both stay in tune great.

[bluessyndicate]

Thanks for all the replies guys, you have definitely helped me overcome this fear....to be sure the strings on the les pauls I discussed in the OP I have played tended to be older, definitely not new strings going through break in. I sure would hate to blow a few G's on a guitar that goes out of tune alot. Who needs that?

...bluessyndicate, are your Strats set to float?...

I have 2 strats, one has a floating bridge (94 Fender Strat Ultra. LSR Roller Nut, Locking Tuners). I use the tremolo minimally. I have max'd the springs, using about 5 heavy duty springs..the idea being that I don't want to block it so that I can use the tremo a little, but I am trying to minimize tuning issues during string bends. It seems to be working really well.

Both strats stay in tune really well...I can play for extended periods with alot of bending and I have no complaints.

[Rotten]

I have an R7 and an R8, both of which I bought new. I'm kinda curious about the breaking in process. I had a lot of tuning problems for the first few months that I had them. However, with contant playing, they seemed to have gone away. I suspect a lot of it is the nut and tuners.

[crzyfngers]

if you're retuning a lot, it's more than likely improperly strung.i can beat my strat like an unruly mule and it stays in tune. 2 little words to take with you... locking tuners.

[George Johnson]

A little attention to the nut (and, of course, proper stringing technique) typically clears these problems right up on a new LP.

Unfortunately, locking tuners will not help if the afore-mentioned items aren't addressed.