High E String suddenly Goes WAY out of tune after bend (Majesty)

[bellaswail]

Hello:

I have had my Majesty for about 5 years now without any issues

Note: The below issue is happening about a month after a string change, so it is not an issue with new strings needing to be worked in. Until now, the guitar has been wondefully in tune as always during this entire set of strings.

Suddenly when I was playing, after a bend on the E string, I noticed it went significantly flat out of tune. I tuned it back and carried on. Bent it again, and it went immediately flat again. I tested it out, retuned and did a few more big bends, and it went flat by a full step (from E to D).

I did noticed this happened shortly after I used the whammy, so I am wondering if this could have caused it.

Some other notes:

- I always use sauce on the nut and bridge during string changes
- The other strings are not having any issues - only the high E
- During the last string change, I did move from 9's to 10's. However, that was a month ago and I have played many hours since then with no issues.

Does anyone know what may be causing this?

Thanks very much for any info

 

[DrKev]

My guess is that it’s either slipping on the tuner (check the lock wheel is tight enough) or the ball end is unwinding and the string may break soon.

 

[bellaswail]

My guess is that it’s either slipping on the tuner (check the lock wheel is tight enough) or the ball end is unwinding and the string may break soon.

Thank you - and yes I did ensure that the lock wheel was tight enough earlier. So I bet you're right about the ball end unwinding. Does this just happen sometimes? Is there any way to prevent it? Just a bit concerned as the strings aren't too old.

Thanks again for the help

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

If you use RPS or M-steel or Paradigm slinky strings the ball end is reinforced (on the plain steels) and is very unlikely to unwind.

Sometimes when restringing the guitar the winding on a plain steel string may snag inside the tremolo block on an edge and slip back. Once it starts slipping, it is likely to continue. My 2001 Blue Dawn JP has this issue on the high E.

As far as your strings being a month old, do I certainly wish mine would last that long! I easily tarnish them in a single gig and need to replace them after 10-12 hours of play.

 

[bellaswail]

If you use RPS or M-steel or Paradigm slinky strings the ball end is reinforced (on the plain steels) and is very unlikely to unwind.

Sometimes when restringing the guitar the winding on a plain steel string may snag inside the tremolo block on an edge and slip back. Once it starts slipping, it is likely to continue. My 2001 Blue Dawn JP has this issue on the high E.

As far as your strings being a month old, do I certainly wish mine would last that long! I easily tarnish them in a single gig and need to replace them after 10-12 hours of play.

Awesome thank you for the info. I just use the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel wound, so I will definitely pick up a pack of Paradigm to see if that does the trick.

As for the strings, they are a month old, but I split the time between the Majesty and my other guitar. So they've only been used about half of that time. That is insane about a single gig though! I have never had the pleasure to gig, I've been a bedroomer my whole life, ha. It certainly sounds intense!

 

[Astrofreq]

Check out the Cobalts too. I live by those strings.

 

[jayjayjay]

Check out the Cobalts too. I live by those strings.

My faves as well. I've found they feel a little more "grabby" than regular slinkys, maybe that's the cobalt?

 

[DrKev]

My faves as well. I've found they feel a little more "grabby" than regular slinkys, maybe that's the cobalt?

Comparing them with standard slinky wound strings of the same gauge the cobalts have slightly larger windings and correspondingly slightly smaller core. The larger windings feel more "grabby" and the string tension of the wound strings is a little lower, making them feel also a little "slinkier".

 

[damo_512]

I had the same issue on my JP15 years ago when I got it just using normal slinky strings because the ball end was slipping/snapping days after restringing. Changed to Paradigms with the reinforced ball ends and haven't had an issue (or string break) since!

 

[bellaswail]

I had the same issue on my JP15 years ago when I got it just using normal slinky strings because the ball end was slipping/snapping days after restringing. Changed to Paradigms with the reinforced ball ends and haven't had an issue (or string break) since!

Perfect, thanks! Going to be trying a set of those once my current strings are toast.