Both my Gibson USA and Gibson Custom maestros stay in tune perfectly… unless you try to use it like a Floyd rose. The 1964 VOS stays in tune much better when you get aggressive with the arm… only goes flat slightly over time. But if you are using them like they were intended they stay in tune perfectly. Always tune up to pitch… never down… and always tug on your strings to get the slack out between the nut and the posts. The 1964 VOS is BY FAR the best SG I have ever played. Cheers -Ryan

Watch the “Metal” video I did on it… it will show you that it stays in tune. It’s a stiff system, rather than loose. The big issue with the tuning is that people tune up and down to pitch, rather than just up to pitch. If you tune down to pitch then there is slack around the posts and in the nut. The moment you start bending your strings or “Wiggle” the vibrola… the strings will start to go flat. If you tune up to pitch, tug on your strings to pull out any slack and then tune up to pitch again: it stays in tune. I own 2 SGs with the Maestro. This one and the Custom Shop 1964. They both stay in tune perfectly fine. It’s not a Floyd rose… but even at that point I have used the tusk arm like a jerk at times and it only slightly goes out of tune. It’s meant to be used like a bigsby, not dive bombs. But you can make it work for you as long as you tune properly. Cheers -Ryan

@@Crypticmaskguitar i loved it, the second song was delightful. And have you ever tried the 61 vibrola "faded"?

For sure. The Neck Tenon issues stem from when the SGs were first released. They had an awkward tenon and that led to cracking issues. They were corrected in the 60s where both Long and Short tenons do not have issues. That actually birthed the whole "Long Tenons Sound Better" thing as well. Even Cesar from Gibson says that he doesn't note any difference and the only reason they use Long Tenons in Custom Shops is because that is how they were made originally. Personally, I don't know what witchcraft they use in their Custom Shops... but my '56, '57, '58, and '59 are the best playing guitars I have ever owned! I'm ordering a '61 next weekend and a '60 and '64 by the end of the year. They are MAGICAL! Cheers -Ryan

THIS is great! I have not played the Custom Shop version... that being said... after buying a '57, '58, and '59 VOS Custom Shops in the last couple of weeks. I will be switching over my '61 Standard and '61 Standard with Maestro to the '61 VOS and '64 VOS. The Custom Shops are a completely different level! Cheers -Ryan

I am quite curious about it! I know I’m picking up another Gibson SG shortly. I’ve been thinking SG Special… but the Sideways keeps me second guessing! But I think I might prefer to go Custom Shop with the sideways. The added weight is just so nice! Cheers -Ryan

​@@Crypticmaskguitarwow.. ill wait for it

I own both... Stretch your strings and tune UP to pitch only. It stays in tune no problem. Cheers -Ryan

Just don’t use it like a Floyd rose… use it like a Bigsby. That’s what it was designed for. Cheers -Ryan

​@@CrypticmaskguitarSay no to Bigsby! The Vibrola is my favorite tremolo! Subtle wobbles to WW2 dive bombs! Don't believe me? Check out Frank Marino and Allan Holdsworth, their work in the 70's. Hendrix wouldn't touch a Vibrola with a ten foot pole only because his techs never knew to lubricate his guitars before going on stage!

Hawkeye is spot on.l admitted I almost committed suicide because my e string was flat. God,life is so difficult.hint...put grovers on. Why does yours stay in tune though the whole video with cheap machine heads? Did you make a deal with the devil? You proved my point of versatility.you are really good! Original stuff, no sound like clapton,hendrix etc. How far do you get trying to sound like a copy anyway.wow., you know how to use a vib bar!