Complete Les Paul Guitar Hub

Welcome to the Owning A Fender Les Paul resource hub—your single place for dialing in classic single-cut sustain, taming humbuckers, and keeping that carved maple top safe from climate swings.

Featured Setup Guide

Ultimate Les Paul Setup Guide (2025) – Complete walkthrough for action, Tune-o-Matic bridges, stopbar tension, pickup balancing, and long-term maintenance.

Quick Reference Specs

String Height (12th fret): High E: 1.5-1.6mm, Low E: 1.9-2.0mm
Pickup Height (last fret pressed): Neck: 2.4mm bass / 2.0mm treble, Bridge: 2.2mm bass / 1.8mm treble
Neck Relief: 0.008-0.010" (0.20-0.25mm) at 8th fret
Scale Length: 24.75" (short scale)
Nut Width: 1.695" (43mm) standard

Pro Tips for Les Paul Setup and Tone

A Les Paul rewards patience and small, intentional tweaks. Always tune to pitch before measuring relief or action, then re-tune after every change. The shorter 24.75" scale means slightly less string tension than a 25.5" Fender, so many players prefer 10-46 or 11-49 gauge sets for better stability and sustain. On vintage-style Tune-o-Matic bridges, set intonation carefully and consider locking the bridge posts with a tiny drop of threadlocker if they slip under heavy playing.

The angled headstock and set neck make Les Pauls more sensitive to humidity changes—keep a case humidifier year-round to prevent cracks in the headstock joint. For tone, start with pickup heights at factory specs, then adjust by ear: raise the neck pickup slightly for warmth, lower the bridge pickup treble side if it's too bright. The 500k pots and humbuckers naturally emphasize mids and bass, so small pickup height changes have a big impact. Finally, use pure nickel strings if you want vintage warmth, or nickel-plated steel for modern clarity and sustain.

Troubleshooting Common Les Paul Issues

Buzz on the first few frets? Likely too little neck relief—loosen the truss rod by 1/8 turn, retune, and re-measure at the 8th fret. Les Pauls typically need 0.008-0.010" of relief for clean play without buzz.

Strings going sharp or flat after bends? Check nut slots for binding. The angled headstock increases friction—apply a touch of Big Bends Nut Sauce or graphite lubricant to the nut slots for smoother tuning return.

Bridge posts sinking or tilting? This happens when the wood compresses under string tension. Consider using wider ABR-1 style posts with nylon inserts, or add a tiny drop of wood hardener under the posts if they're loose (expert repair recommended).

Muddy tone or lack of clarity? Your pickups may be too close to the strings, causing magnetic pull and loss of sustain. Lower both pickups by 1/32" and retest. Also check your tone pot values—500k pots are standard for humbuckers; 250k will sound darker.

Tuning instability with stopbar tailpiece? Ensure adequate break angle over the bridge. If strings sit nearly parallel to the top, consider a higher stopbar position or a small neck shim to increase the angle. Some players prefer "top wrapping" the stopbar for reduced tension and easier bending.

Pickup selector switch crackling? Common on older Les Pauls. Spray contact cleaner inside the switch cavity, work the switch back and forth 10-15 times, and let it dry. If crackling persists, replacement toggle switches are inexpensive and easy to install.

Essential Tools for Les Paul Setup

String height gauge for precise action measurement
Feeler gauges for neck relief
Correct Allen keys and screwdrivers for Tune-o-Matic bridge
High-accuracy tuner for intonation
Case humidifier to protect angled headstock joint
Nut lubricant for tuning stability

Perfect amp pairing:

Budget-friendly powerhouse:

Quick Navigation

🔧 Setup & Maintenance

Ultimate Setup Guide – Full action, pickup, and intonation walkthrough.
Guitar Action Height Guide - Perfect your string height for optimal playability
Coming Soon: Les Paul truss rod cheat sheet.
Coming Soon: 24.75" string gauge recommendations.

🎛️ Electronics & Tone

Coming Soon: Humbucker height & wiring tweaks.
Coming Soon: Coil split wiring diagrams for Les Paul players.

🧰 Care & Accessories

Coming Soon: Les Paul climate control & polishing guide.
Coming Soon: Transport checklist and case buyer's guide.

Setup Resources Every Les Paul Owner Should Bookmark

Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Guide – Step-by-step relief specs that translate directly to 24.75" Les Paul necks and keep action buzz-free.
Guitar String Gauges: Complete Guide – Compare light vs heavy sets to dial in Les Paul sustain, down tuning, and bending comfort.
Ultimate Stratocaster Setup Guide – Cross-reference Fender vs Gibson action targets when juggling multiple guitars in your live rig.
Telecaster vs Stratocaster Comparison – Understand how other iconic electrics differ so you can articulate why a Les Paul belongs in your lineup.

What Makes a Les Paul Special?

The Gibson Les Paul, introduced in 1952, is one of the most iconic and influential electric guitars ever created. Its combination of set-neck construction, mahogany body with maple top, and dual humbuckers creates a unique tonal signature that has defined rock, blues, and jazz for decades.

Key Features:

Set-neck construction - Superior sustain and resonance compared to bolt-on necks
Short 24.75" scale - Easier bending, warmer tone, slightly slinky feel
Mahogany body with maple cap - Rich mids, powerful lows, articulate highs
Dual humbuckers - Thick, warm tone with excellent noise rejection
Carved maple top - Adds brightness and complexity to the fundamental mahogany warmth
Angled headstock - Increases string break angle over nut for better sustain (requires humidity control)
Tune-o-Matic bridge - Precise intonation with individual saddle adjustment
Stopbar tailpiece - Solid coupling of strings to body for maximum sustain

Why a Dedicated Les Paul Hub?

Gibson Les Paul guitars combine a shorter scale, angled headstock, and set-neck construction that react faster to climate shifts than bolt-on designs. Our guides emphasize:

Action precision: 1.5–2.0 mm sweet spot that keeps bending effortless without sacrificing sustain.
Stopbar balancing: How break angle changes feel, sustain, and tuning stability.
Electronics care: Maintaining 500k pots, tone caps, and shielding to keep humbuckers clear.
Transport & climate: Nitrocellulose finishes need humidity control; our gear picks are tested on the road.

Les Paul FAQ

What is the ideal Les Paul string height? Start around 1.5-1.6mm on the high E and 1.9-2.0mm on the low E at the 12th fret. The shorter 24.75" scale provides slightly less tension than a Stratocaster, so many players can go a touch lower without buzz. Adjust based on your playing style—hard pickers may need slightly higher action.

How do I set Les Paul pickup height correctly? With the last fret pressed, measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the pole piece. Start with neck pickup at 2.4mm (bass) / 2.0mm (treble) and bridge pickup at 2.2mm (bass) / 1.8mm (treble). Fine-tune by ear to balance output and avoid magnetic pull causing warble.

Why does my Les Paul go out of tune after bending? Common causes: binding nut slots (lubricate with graphite or nut sauce), old strings (nickel and nickel-plated strings corrode faster), or insufficient neck angle causing shallow break angle at nut. The angled headstock can bind more than Fender-style headstocks.

What string gauge works best for Les Paul? 10-46 is a popular starting point, but many players prefer 11-49 for better stability and fuller tone on the shorter 24.75" scale. Lighter gauges (9-42) work for easy bending but may sound thin. Heavier sets (11-52 or 12-54) provide maximum sustain and are great for drop tunings.

Should I "top wrap" my Les Paul stopbar tailpiece? Some players wrap strings over the top of the stopbar instead of through it, reducing break angle and string tension for easier bending. It also changes the feel slightly. Try both methods and see which you prefer—there's no "correct" answer, only preference.

How often should I humidify my Les Paul? Year-round if you live in a dry climate. The angled headstock joint is vulnerable to cracking if humidity drops below 40%. Use a case humidifier (D'Addario Humidipak, Planet Waves, etc.) and monitor with a hygrometer. Target 45-55% relative humidity.

What's the difference between an ABR-1 and Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge? ABR-1 (1950s-1970s) has a thinner wire saddle design and requires retainer wire to keep saddles in place. Nashville has thicker, wider saddles with deeper string slots—more stable but some players prefer ABR-1's vintage feel and tone.

Why is my Les Paul so heavy? Traditional Les Pauls use solid mahogany bodies with maple caps, often weighing 9-11 pounds. Chambered and weight-relieved models reduce this. If weight is an issue, look for guitars with "chambered" or "modern weight relief" specs, or use a wider, padded strap.

Can I install Telecaster or Stratocaster pickups in a Les Paul? Physically, no—the routing and mounting are completely different. However, you can install humbuckers designed to mimic single-coil tones (P-90s, Filter'Trons, single-coil-sized humbuckers) or use coil-splitting wiring to get closer to Fender tones.

How do I reduce feedback with my Les Paul at high volumes? Check pickup height (too close = more feedback), ensure electronics cavity is shielded with copper tape, stuff the control cavity lightly with foam to dampen resonance, or use a feedback suppressor like the Fhole or Feedback Buster.

What pickup height sounds best for classic rock tone? Start with vintage specs: neck 3/32" (bass) and bridge slightly lower. Then raise the neck pickup for warmth and lower the bridge pickup treble side for smoothness. Small adjustments have big tonal impacts with humbuckers.

Should I adjust the truss rod if my Les Paul has high action? Only if the neck has too much or too little relief. Truss rod adjusts neck curvature (relief), not action height. If relief is correct (0.008-0.010") but action is still high, lower the bridge posts and Tune-o-Matic saddles. See the Ultimate Les Paul Setup Guide for full details.

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