Gibson USA Owner's Manual

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OWNER’S MANUAL

1550-07 GUS

To the new Gibson owner:

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Gibson electric guitar—the world’s most famous

electric guitar from the leader of fretted instruments.

Please take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with the information in this booklet regarding

materials, electronics, “how to,” care, maintenance, and more about your guitar.

And then begin enjoying a lifetime of music with your new Gibson.

The Components of the Solidbody Electric Guitar 4 Gibson Innovations 6 The History of Gibson Electric Guitars 8

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Body 13 Neck and Headstock 13 Pickups 14 Controls 15 Bridge 17 Tailpiece 18

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Finish 19 Your Guitar on the Road 19 Things to Avoid 20 Strings 21 Install Your Strings Correctly 22 String Gauge 23 Brand of Strings 23

NEW TECHNOLOGY

The Gibson Robot Guitar 24

Strap

Button

Stopbar

Tailpiece

Tune-o-matic

Bridge

The Components

of the Solidbody

Electric Guitar

Featuring a Les Paul Standard in Heritage

Cherry Sunburst

12th Fret

Marker/Inlay

Neck

Fret

Nut HeadstockFingerboard

Tuning

Keys

Machine

Heads

Truss

Rod

Cover

Single

Cutaway

Pickups

Body

Tone

Controls

Input Jack

Three-way

Toggle Switch

Binding

Volume

Controls

Strap

Button

Stopbar

Tailpiece

Tune-o-matic

Bridge

The Components

of the Solidbody

Electric Guitar

Featuring a V-Factor Faded

in Worn Cherry

12th Fret

Marker/Inlay

Neck Fret Nut HeadstockFingerboard

Tuning

Keys

Machine

Heads

Truss

Rod

Cover

Pickups

Tone

Control

Input Jack

Volume

Controls

Pickguard

Body

Three-way

Toggle Switch

Here are just a few of the Gibson innovations that have reshaped the guitar world:

1894 – First archtop guitar 1922 – First ƒ-hole archtop, the L-5 1936 – First professional quality electric guitar, the ES-150 1947 – P-90 single-coil pickup introduced 1948 – First dual-pickup Gibson, the ES-300 1949 – First three-pickup electric, the ES-5 1949 – First hollowbody electric with pointed cutaway, the ES-175 1952 – First Les Paul guitar 1954 – Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Jr. introduced 1955 – Les Paul Special introduced 1957 – First humbucking pickup 1958 – Flying V and Explorer introduced

1958 – First semi-hollowbody guitar, the ES-335 1961 – SG body style introduced in the Les Paul line 1963 – Firebird guitars and Thunderbird basses introduced 1969 – Les Paul Personal and Professional with low-impedance pickups introduced 1979 – L.P. Artist with active electronics introduced 1982 – First solidbody acoustic, the Chet Atkins CE 1983 – Les Paul Studio introduced 1990 – Les Paul Classic introduced 1996 – Les Paul SmartWood introduced 1998 – Double-Cutaway Les Paul Standard introduced 2002 – Gibson Digital Guitar introduced

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GIBSON ELECTRIC GUITARS

Gibson’s legendary acoustic engineer, Lloyd Loar, was experimenting with electric instruments in 1924, at the dawn of electronic amplification. However, Gibson’s struggle to dominate the banjo market took precedence through the 1920s, and it wasn’t until the mid-1930s that the company once again turned its attention to electric guitars. In 1935 Gibson’s Walt Fuller designed a pickup that was introduced on the E-150, an aluminum-body lap steel. Early in 1936, the pickup was put in a midline archtop model and named the ES-150—ES for Electric Spanish, 150 for the retail price of $150 for the guitar and amplifier set.

The original ES-150 bar pickup with its hexagonal housing is now known as the “Charlie Christian” pickup, because it was installed on the ES-150s and ES-250s that Christian used to establish the new concept of electric jazz guitar.

Gibson made several improvements in pickup design before World War II, although many players still consider the “Christian” pickup to be the best jazz pickup ever made. Immediately after World War II, Gibson introduced the P-90 single-coil, with six adjustable polepieces and a black plastic cover, usually with “dog-ear” mounting extensions. The P-90 is still in production and still sets the industry standard for a single-coil pickup.

The first postwar Gibson electrics followed the prewar concept of an electric guitar as a conventional acoustic archtop with a pickup installed on the top. Gibson added a second pickup to the ES-300 in 1948 and then became the first company to offer a three-pickup model with the introduction of the ES-5 in 1949.

Although the advantages of a solidbody guitar had been known to Hawaiian steel guitarists for almost 20 years, it took the persuasive powers of Les Paul, the world’s most famous guitarist in the early 1950s, to convince Gibson to make a “Spanish style” solidbody. Gibson designed the new model with a carved top, not only to give it the look of a traditional archtop—a style invented by Gibson—but also to make it difficult for other makers to copy. Les, who had been playing a homemade solidbody guitar, nicknamed The Log, since 1941, specified a maple top cap to increase sustain, coupled with a mahogany back to lighten the weight. Les also specified the famous “Goldtop” finish.

The Les Paul Model debuted in 1952. The bridge and tailpiece were upgraded when Gibson introduced the patented tune-o-matic bridge in 1954, and the original single-coil pickups were upgraded with the introduction of Gibson’s patented humbuckers in 1957. Otherwise, the original Les Paul is essentially the same guitar today as it was when it was introduced.

In 1954 the growing popularity of the Les Paul Model prompted Gibson to expand the line. On the high end, the Les Paul Custom sported an Ebony finish and low frets for fast action, and it immediately gained two nicknames: the Black Beauty and the Fretless Wonder. On the more affordable end, the Les Paul Jr. featured a flat “slab” top and a single pickup, and it became the best-selling Les Paul of the 1950s.

One year after the Les Paul Jr., Gibson offered a two-pickup version of the slab-body model called the Les Paul Special. The Special was further distinguished by its yellow-stained “TV” finish.

The double-coil humbucking pickup, invented by Gibson engineer Seth Lover, debuted in 1957 on the Standard and Custom, introducing the sound that would shape rock 'n' roll music in the 1960s.

In 1958, Gibson introduced more important design innovations than in any other year in the company’s history. Gibson president Ted McCarty combined the look of an ƒ-hole archtop with the performance of a solidbody and came up with a completely new type of guitar—the semi-hollowbody ES-335. McCarty also designed two radically modern solidbody shapes: the Flying V and Explorer.

The body of the Les Paul Jr. received a pair of rounded horns to become Gibson’s first doublecutaway solidbody. And the finish color on the Les Paul Model was changed to Cherry Sunburst, which let the grain of the maple top show through. The model name was changed to Les Paul Standard, and the sunburst Standards from 1958-60 would become some of the most valuable collectibles in the guitar world. All of this happened in 1958.

The new Les Paul Jr. set in motion a complete redesign of the Les Paul line. In 1959 the Special went to the rounded-horn double-cutaway shape and was renamed the SG Special (SG for Solid Guitar). In 1960, all four models were revamped and given a new “SG” body shape, featuring a thinner, double-cutaway body with pointed horns. The Custom, Standard, and Jr. retained the Les Paul designation through 1962, after which they became SG models.

Gibson’s design innovation continued into the 1960s when Ted McCarty hired legendary automotive designer Ray Deitrich to design a Gibson. The result was the Firebird series, and the companion Thunderbird bass series of 1963. The Firebirds “reversed” conventional designs, with their elongated treble-side horn and treble-side tuners. They also introduced neckthrough-body construction and smaller “mini-humbucking” pickups to the Gibson line.

In response to the rising demand for 1950s-style Les Pauls, the carved-top models were reintroduced in 1968. A new model, the Les Paul Deluxe, featuring mini-humbucking pickups appeared in 1969. The Special was revived in the 1970s and the Jr. reappeared in the 1980s. The Flying V, Explorer, and Firebird were also brought back into regular production, as musical styles began to catch up with these ahead-of-their-time designs.

While the original four Les Paul models continued as the foundation of the line, Gibson offered new variations, such as the Studio, Classic, and Double-Cut Standard, in order to give musicians all the features they wanted in a Les Paul guitar. In the 50-plus years of the Les Paul, Gibson has offered more than 100 different variations. In 2003 Gibson honored Les Paul for his achievements as a performer, recording innovator, and guitar designer by presenting him with a special Artist for Eternity Award.

As Gibson celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Les Paul in 2002, the company rocked the guitar world once again by introducing the first digital electric guitar. It represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design since the instrument was invented, and moreover, it serves notice that Gibson electric guitars will continue to epitomize the highest levels of Quality, Prestige and Innovation.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Body. The solidbody guitar was invented to increase sustain, produce a brilliant tone, and

eliminate feedback caused by a vibrating top. These qualities are enhanced by wood with high density, such as maple. Les Paul would have preferred for his model to have had a solid maple body, but density translates to weight, and a solid maple Les Paul Model would have been exceedingly heavy. A compromise was reached, with lighter-weight mahogany used for the main part of the body and maple for the top cap. Most of the carved-top Les Pauls have the combination maple/mahogany body, while the “slab” or flat top models have a solid mahogany body. Flying V’s, Explorers, and Firebirds have a solid mahogany body.

Neck and Headstock.

Mahogany is a time-proven material for guitar necks, and the necks of most Gibson USA models are constructed of a single piece of mahogany. The Firebird or Thunderbird IV bass neck is made of nine-ply mahogany and walnut (or all mahogany laminates), and it extends completely through the body. Fingerboards are of ebony or rosewood.

Neck Specifications.

Gibson designs its guitar necks to complement and enhance the unique characteristics of each model. Neck profiles can be “rounded ’50s” or “slim ’60s” (or a slight V-shape available only on the BluesHawk). Scale length (string length) is 24 3/4" on the Les Paul, X-Factor and SG models, 25 1/2" on the Chet Atkins, Americana, and Hawk models and 34" on basses.

Pickups.

Humbucking (double-coil):

Most Les Pauls have double-coil humbucking pickups, which were designed to do what their name says: “buck” the hum caused by fluorescent lights, rheostats, and other electrical interference. They accomplish this with two coils of wire, wound in opposite directions so that they cancel out interference. Also, they produce a powerful sound that is the foundation of rock 'n' roll music.

Gibson produces humbuckers in a variety of subtle variations, achieved by the use of different magnets and different combinations of winding turns. In addition, some Les Pauls have humbuckers without the metal cover pieces, which results in a hotter signal. For individual model and pickup specs, please refer to Gibson’s website, www.gibson.com.

P-90 (single-coil):

Only a few Gibsons—some Les Paul Juniors, Les Paul Specials, and Melody

Makers—have single-coil P-90 pickups. Some have the original “dog-eared” covers; those

without the “dog ears” are nicknamed “soapbar” because the original cream-colored plastic covers on the 1952 Les Paul Model resembled bars of soap. When the P-90 was introduced in 1946, it was the most powerful pickup of its kind. And it still is. Among the many examples of the P-90 sound are Carlos Santana’s Les Paul Special on Santana’s classic recordings, Leslie West’s Les Paul Jr. with the group Mountain, and the Who’s Pete Townshend with an SG Special on

Live at Leeds

and at Woodstock.

Pickup adjustments.

Although the pickups on each Les Paul are set to Gibson standards at the factory, they can be adjusted. The height of the pickup can be adjusted by the two screws found at either end of the pickup, in the mounting ring. Individual string volume can be adjusted by turning the polepiece screws. Bringing the pickup or pole screw closer to the strings makes the signal stronger or “hotter.”

Controls.

The standard Gibson electronic configuration is two pickups, four knobs, and a pickup selector switch. The four knobs provide individual tone and volume control for each pickup. Models with only three knobs provide individual volume and master tone control. Single pickup models have only two knobs—for volume and tone control—and no pickup selector.

Volume controls:

The two knobs closest to the fingerboard control the volume of the pickups. The volume knob nearest the bridge controls the “front” or neck pickup; the knob nearest the edge of the guitar controls the “back” or bridge pickup.

Tone controls:

The knob or knobs farthest away from the fingerboard control tone. The tone knob nearest the bridge controls the “front” or neck pickup; the knob nearest the edge of the guitar controls the “back” or bridge pickup.

The tone controls are the “treble roll off” or “cut” variety. The tonal quality of the instrument is darkened by the reduction of treble rather than the addition of bass. The tone control turned all the way counterclockwise results in maximum reduction of treble and produces the “darkest” sound. The tone control turned clockwise to its maximum position allows the pickup’s full harmonic frequencies to pass through, producing the guitar’s brightest sound.

Pickup selector switch:

The selector switch has three positions. The up position selects only the “front” or neck pickup. The down position selects only the “back” or bridge pickup. The middle position engages both pickups. The tone and volume controls will only be active when the corresponding pickup is selected. On models with three pickups, the selector switch activates the front pickup (front position), the middle and back pickup together (middle position), and the back pickup (back position).

The Tune-o-matic Bridge.

The Tune-o-matic bridge allows for adjustment in overall bridge height and individual string length. Height is adjustable up and down by means of thumb wheels under the bridge at either end. Each string saddle is adjustable forward and back with a small standard screwdriver. Action adjustment (up and down) is set at the factory to the correct height for playing comfort and for buzz-free action. Raising the bridge will result in stiffer action; lowering the bridge will result in faster action but may also result in fret buzz. Climatic or humidity changes, or changes in string gauge, may necessitate a bridge adjustment.

Any change—in bridge height, string gauge, or climate—can affect the intonation and cause a guitar to play out of tune in some fret positions. When this happens, the string length needs to be adjusted, and this is accomplished by moving the individual saddles forward (toward the neck) or backward (toward the tailpiece). The screw heads are on the pickup side of the bridge, although there are many Gibsons that have the screw heads facing the tailpiece. To check intonation, compare the pitch of a string that is fretted at the 12th fret against the harmonic at the 12th fret (accomplished by touching the string lightly with the left hand, without pressing it all the way to the fret). If the fretted note is higher than the harmonic, the string should be lengthened by moving the saddle toward the tailpiece until the two notes are the same. If the fretted note is lower than the harmonic, the string length should be decreased.

The tune-o-matic bridge was designed to adjust for string changes (gauge or type) and other physical changes but not for problems with intonation due to string wear. Should a string lose its intonation due to wear, we strongly recommend changing the string and not the bridge setting.

Adjustable Stopbar Tailpiece.

The stopbar tailpiece may be adjusted up or down to change the downward pressure across the bridge. There is usually no need to adjust the stopbar unless the strings are moving out of the saddles, in which case the stopbar should be lowered.

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