Q: Guitar position causes tuning oddities

**magnoliafan** · 10-02-2008, 10:00 AM

I just got a JP6-Piezo and I noticed something really weird. If I lay the guitar flat on my lap and tune it, it seems to be in tune. If I then move it to playing position (vertical as opposed to horizontal), it is then out of tune. If I retune in playing position then move it to horizontal, it is out of tune in horizontal position. If I play a chord, let it ring, then move the guitar from playing to another position, I can hear it go out of tune as the pitches change.

I've had guitars with floating Floyd tremolos before, but I never noticed this phenomenon on them. I did have it strung with .009's by my repair guy (who generally knows what he is doing - 20+ years in the business with Jackson, Charvel, etc). Is this normal? Anyone else noticed this?

Thanks!
Ken

**D.K.** · 10-02-2008, 10:06 AM

Actually it's quite normal - think physics ant the law of gravity. You have a heavy trem block in there, and the springs, which react to changing the horizontal position of the guitar. That's why a tremolo-equipped guitar is always to be tuned while staying in the playing position, especially when using lite 9' strings (which I also do).

I've had the same experience with my Ibanez axes before.

**TNT** · 10-02-2008, 11:05 AM

Yes, generally speaking normal (to an extent).

I always tune my guitar "strapped" on. As mentioned above, gravity plays a part with the variety of positions the guitar can be put in.

Try drop tuning or d-tuning and you see even more of a change.

It's also not unusual for the guitar to go a "bit" flat when you snap the D-Tuna, because there is "less" tension on the neck, and the truss rod will give in a tad as the neck "(unobserved) bows inward. Even way more so when using the whammy for that split second.

Anytime "string tension" is changed, by whatever means, so goes many related things.

**candid_x** · 10-02-2008, 11:21 AM

That's been the case with all of my thin necked (front to back) guitars.

**mb99zz** · 10-02-2008, 02:10 PM

I have a semi-hollow body guitar with a tune-o-matic style bridge (so, no trem) and it does the same thing. It's hard to notice, but it occurs.

**magnoliafan** · 10-02-2008, 02:58 PM

Thanks, guys, for your replies. I was a little surprised at how much the tuning changed, but with a floating trem that probably shouldn't surprise me. I am a little concerned that the intonation may have been set with it tuned in a horizontal position, rather than in a vertical position, which might mean it is "off". I'll spot check that tonight with a tuner (although without a strobe it will be hard to get it perfect).

Ken

**TNT** · 10-02-2008, 08:30 PM

Ken,

NOW you're in tune!!!

I always intonate, the best I can, with it "strapped" on. It's not easy and it takes extra time to do it this way, but in the long run, it give tuning "peace of mind".

**radrock** · 10-03-2008, 07:22 AM

I've never heard of that happening. That would drive me nuts.

**Warg Master** · 10-03-2008, 07:30 AM

Very odd, I've seen it too.

The intonation should be just fine when done horizontally. Just the tuning goes out of whack slightly. You sould be fine on the intonation!

**candid_x** · 10-03-2008, 07:58 AM

I tune, as others have also said, hanging the guitar in playing position, or at least sitting upright on my leg, never laying flat on my lap. That just makes sense, I think. I've never noticed any affect on intonation, though.