Today in the workshop I had the pleasure of carrying out a complete guitar setup on a beautiful Gibson Les Paul Custom. These guitars are always special, and this one certainly deserved a bit of attention to bring it back to its best.

I started by giving the body a gentle wipe down with a clean cloth to remove any surface dust, followed by a careful polish to restore that classic mirror-like shine. Once the guitar was looking fresh, I removed the old strings and set them aside, which gave me proper access to the fingerboard.

The fretboard had built up a little grime over time – the usual sweat, oils, and what I like to call “fingerboard muck.” I cleaned it thoroughly and then treated the wood with a touch of the finest lemon oil to nourish it and bring out its natural depth.

Next came the truss rod adjustment. I always take my time here, making sure the neck has just the right amount of relief for both comfort and playability. With that dialled in, I polished the frets until they gleamed with a deep shine, which really makes a difference not only to the look but also to the feel under the fingers.

Finally, I restrung the guitar with a fresh set of strings, stretched them in, and checked the intonation carefully. After a few final tweaks, the Les Paul was singing again – playing smooth, staying in tune, and looking every bit the part.

Jobs like this are exactly why I love working as a guitar luthier. With the right care and a professional guitar repair and setup, even a well-played instrument can be brought back to life and made to look and feel brand new.