Gibson Les Paul wont stay in tune

Make sure you stretch the strings properly.

That's the problem; you're using light gauge guitar strings. Chances are that if you are not used to playing strings that light, you're fretting hand will hit the strings with more force than is neccesary to fret them, thereby forcing them out of tune. You can solve this problem by adding more winds around the string post (three or more winds should do it), or you can switch to a heavier gauge of string.

If they're true locking tuners, they should have a notch on the back of the gear housing that you turn with a nickel to engage the locking mechanism once tuning has been established.

Also; check the intonation of the guitar itself on an electronic tuner. If it tunes right but sounds out of tune when played, this is an intonation issue, and can be solved by adjusting a small set screw that moves the individual saddle back and forth in the tune-o-matic style bridge. You can check this by tuning the string to the correct note, then playing the same string at the 12th fret and checking it against your tuner. If it rings in true, you're fine, if it comes up flat or sharp, every note on the fretboard is going to be off by that much, and you'll have to adjust accordingly (turn the screw to the right to add length and lower a sharp note, turn the screw to the left to subtract length and raise a flat note, if I remember right).

Hope that helps.

Clean out the slots with the stings use gibson vintage nickle wound 10s smooth notches on bridge dry graphite on nut slots lite oil on metal bridge 3 wraps on tuning posts hold 1st fret pull strings up to stretch and retune,do this a few times always set guitar on a stand to acclimate to, the temp at the gig ,you must spend the time to stretch out the strings. Jim 30 yr guitarist

Thomas is spot on about the stringing method. Moreover, go to .11's. They'll serve you just as well - unless you're David Gilmore. I suspect you're not (no offense). Good luck!

One of the best was to keeping your guitar in tune, is to also string it correctly and use new strings . Make sure the first winding of a new string around the tuner post goes over the exposed tip of the new string. The rest of the windings go under the exposed tip of the string. This will keep the string clamped firmly in place. Use 4-5 turns around the post for unwound strings, 2-3 for wound strings, in a downward spiral towards the bottom of the post as shown in the photo.-Tom, 30yr player.

I agree with the 9's. If your fretting hand squeezes too hard and moves slightly to the side of the neck, you won't play in tune even if the guitar is tuned perfectly. It's just a matter of practice.

I use 9's playing lead with an enormous amount of bending (that's why I use 9's). Never had a problem with tuning.

My first thought was similar to one of protes': If you don't have a lot of experience with putting strings on a guitar, it's very easy for them to slip on the post -- this slipping sometimes will stop when the string gets "caught up in itself" on the post. Sometimes, however, the slipping just continues causing the string to just keep going flat.

Charlie