Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom pot replacement and setup.
Brought in because tuning became erratic after replacing the Tune-O-Matic and Kluson original tailpiece.
The bridge saddle base is stiff to turn. Likely due to incorrect pitch in the bridge stud holes.
The volume pot was causing crackling and loss of sound, so it was replaced. The pot was tightly seated in the body hole, making replacement difficult.
Parts should generally not grip the wood tightly. Loose fit is normal.
This one hadn’t been replaced, so it’s an original part. It appears to have been manufactured this way, with the pot forced into the screw hole.
This is a great-sounding model with a thick, well-projected tone.
It also excels in the high range, delivering excellent sound whether using the front or rear pickup.
Les Pauls can vary significantly in tone due to weight and other factors, so if you find a good one, it’s best not to let it go.
Specter is becoming a staple among high-end bass brands. Their instruments consistently deliver excellent sound quality and playability, making them a solid choice.
We addressed the neck bowing issue, which made the bass difficult to play, and successfully set it up for optimal playability.
EMG pickups are exceptionally well-suited for bass. They produce a versatile, easy-to-shape sound without any harshness, making them highly recommended.
Purchased new, but reportedly an outlet item (details unknown).
The center was off, causing strings to drop easily, so I fixed it.
What’s surprising is that even though it’s new, the truss rod socket is stripped.
This might be why it was sold as an outlet item? However, the customer who bought it said they received no explanation at the time of purchase.
Outlet items truly require caution; even music stores rarely specify the exact reason for discounting them.
Therefore, it’s wise to ask knowledgeable staff, “What’s the reason for the discount?”
There’s usually a reason behind the lower price.
Although the rod was stripped, it could still be turned. However, without knowing the correct amount of force, it would likely become impossible to turn without stripping it further.
The truss rod also has very little adjustment range left.
In recent years, even new instruments often come with minimal truss rod adjustment range from the factory. Instruments in this condition generally won’t last very long.
Although purchased new, the truss rod has very little adjustment range left.
In recent years, it’s become very common for Roasted Maple models to have limited truss rod adjustment range, so be cautious when purchasing.
“Limited truss rod adjustment range” from the start means either:
1. The neck was adjusted to correct significant forward bow (large original neck bow).
2. The neck is soft, causing significant forward bow just from string tension, requiring substantial truss rod adjustment for correction.
Either way, this indicates a condition unlikely to last long-term. Therefore, purchasing a guitar with ample truss rod adjustment range upfront allows you to judge the neck as free from these issues, offering significant benefits to the buyer.
Conversely, purchasing a guitar in the above condition means acquiring a neck unlikely to last, resulting in a disadvantageous purchase.
Always have the condition checked on-site at the music store before buying. Ensure they demonstrate there are no actual problems before making your purchase.
It was an easy-to-play instrument with great tone.
Nut slot adjustment and setup for the Bacchus SWL4.
This is the Roasted Maple model.
Strings 2 through 5 are installed, converting it to a Low B specification. Recommended when you want to use a 4-string bass like a 5-string bass.
There is almost no truss rod adjustment room. Recent Roasted Maple neck models often have extremely limited truss rod adjustment even when new.
The original nut slot precision was poor (V-shaped groove), and the original nut slot height was low, making a perfectly clean cut difficult. However, I was able to cut it enough to accommodate thicker strings.
This model features switchable humbucker mode for improved sound.
The wiring allows two single-coil pickups to be connected in series for humbucker operation. Depending on the pickups, this can significantly change the tone, which I find interesting.
