D-tuna problem! Help me!

[1badelement]

Hey guys, I'm new here and need some help. I have an Axis with floyd rose and tried to put an EVH D- tuna on it. Its installed, problem is the d-tuna won't slide all the way up to get me in E. It gets stuck half-way there and is very hard to pull back out to D. I followed the instructions to a "T" but it won't travel properly. I backed the fine tuner all the way out and turned it once so that it barely touches the set screw(the long one included with the D-tuna). Its almost like the D-tuna won't work on the Gotoh tremelo as opposed to a Peavey, but I read about people using these on EB Axis guitars all the time. Does anyone have any suggestions. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Warg Master]

Sounbds like the DTuna itelf has a problem. is it a cheapy? maybe some WD40?

 

[1badelement]

This is a brand new one. Everything looks like it should. I'll try the WD-40 when I get home but I have my doubts.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

man whered you find a d-tuna?

 

[Warg Master]

The WD40 was a joke, don't do that while it's on the guitar. I'm not actually sure if you should do that anyway. Do you have any other guitars you could put the DTuna on? Maybe try it with another guitar. If the same thing happens then the DTuna unit is crap and needs to be exchanged for another. I've had that happen before, even with the real thing.

Forget the WD40, that was a joke, I'm sorry I didn't make that more obvious.

 

[hbucker]

Is your fine tuner all the way up? Sometimes the barrel of the D-Tuna can get caught up on the fine tuner if it's screwed down too far.

Another thing that can happen is the tiny allen screw in the barrel of the Tuna can be too far in so it doesn't rest on the shaft of the big screw correctly.

Make sure your fine tuner is up.

Then loosen the tiny allen fine tuner screw in the Tuna. The Tuna might then set right on the shaft of the Floyd screw. Then do the tuning proceedure as outlined in the directions.

If it isn't this, I don't think I can help you.

I know you said you followed the directions perfectly but I suspect there was a mistake somewhere. No offense intended. I'm just speaking from experience.

They work great but their setup is pretty exacting.

good luck.

 

[Top_Michael]

If it can help you!

 

[dwf1004]

I didn't know that d-tuna's were made by any other company, what with EVH and his marketing stronghold...

My suggestions are basically echoing two main from previous:

1. Try it on another guitar (if you can).
2. Adjust the Allen screw on the d-tuna itself...remember, this screw goes into the shaft that surrounds the Floyd post, and if it's tightened to friction-ize, for lack of a better term, then you'll obviously see this type of behavior if so.

Also, on a side note that I encountered re: intonation/tuning issues, make sure that you also replace and use the LONG tuning post that came with the d-tuna unit. I used the short one that initially came with my Floyd on my EVH, and once I swapped out to the long post, troubles no more.

And DO NOT USE WD-40 on ANYTHING! (Warg, you joker...would you play nice? )

Let us know how you fare, bud...

 

[Warg Master]

Play nice? Awwwwwwwwww..................

About 5 years ago, some company made cheap knock off versions of the d-tuna....sold them for $15 each...they worked decently, but they weren't as good as the real thing... I had both at the time, although the "real" one I bought looked as if it had been thrown into some sewer and then returned to the store prior to me buying it.

I don't remember who made it, but I am sure they don't make it anymore due to some lawsuit (speculation) but.... yeah....

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

D-Tunas work with only Floyd Rose Licensed tremolos and can someone plese tell me where u found them

 

[dwf1004]

D-Tunas work with only Floyd Rose Licensed tremolos and can someone plese tell me where u found them

Well, the Gotoh on an Axis is a FR licensed trem...didn't you learn this yet, Mr. "Researching the Axis 'cause I Want One That Isn't Red" Man?

Heh...unless this cat either has one of these cheapies that Warg's talkin about, or that Allen screw is just WAY too tight (or that tuning post itself possisly being a factor), I think he should be fine.

As far as how to purchase, I can suggest eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41407&item=3754388525&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

You can also get them direct: http://dtuna.bigstep.com/
(they want, ironically, $51.50 for one)

 

[1badelement]

where to get d-tuna

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted since yesterday, I only have access to a computer at work. The D-tuna I got is the official EVH model, the one that man himself markets. You can find them at zzounds.com for $40, cheapest place I could find them. I didn't have a chance last night to try working out the d-tuna problem. I don't think its the adjustment screw on the d-tuna itself, I had it screwed out a good bit the whole time I was trying to get it to work. I'm using the long screw included with the d-tuna just like the instructions say. The fine tuner adjustment screw on the floyd is back out as far as it will go and the d-tuna still won't slide forward all the way. It appears that the leaf spring (?) underneath the floyd set screw pushes up too hard. The leaf spring I am talking about pushes against the bottom of the d-tuna when it is pushed forward towards the E position. It isn't bent or anything like that, all the leaf springs(?) for the other strings are bent up just as far and this guitar has had no modifications. The floyd is a GOTOH. Hopefully I can get a chance to work with it tonight. Thanks for your help and ideas, I really appreciate it. Just for the record... 3 in 1 oil works great! Never used WD-40, but tried the 3 in 1 on the Wolfgang I used to own. Great guitar but couldn't hold a candle to the Axis and Supersport I have now!

 

[hbucker]

Another thing to think about is how you pull it out and push it back in. There is a certain amount of down pressure needed in order to allow it to slide back and forth without grinding.

I don't know what else to tell you. It wouldn't surprise me if the problem was solved after you messed around with it a little bit.

good luck.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

thanks for the links man, ill go to my local guitar store and see if theres anywhere local that has them, if not ill get them on the internet

 

[manicguitarist]

Hi Folks.
Sorry for bringing back to life this old thread - especially on my first post!

I have just installed 4 d-tunas on my guitars and on one of them I had the problem described here - so I googled for "evh d-tuna problem" and the first hit was this thread.

Anyways...the problem was caused when you push the d-tuna back in to raise to E and it raises to say D# rather than E - so you tighten the little threaded screw to change the pitch.
However, on one of my d-tunas this caused the d-tuna body to foul on the replaced locking post.
Investigation revealed that this was caused by too much chrome on the inside of the d-tuna body and this stopped the post being able to move through the body freely.

Solution? A 4mm drill (about 5/32") is the same width as the post - carefull drill the inside of the d-tuna body.
Problem solved, and it all works smoothly now!
Hope this was helpful.
M

 

[rbenson]

Check the Saddle for clearance

I don't know if you solved your problem yet, but I ran into the same situation because the saddle would not allow enough pivot to drop to D and back to E and still allow a fair amount of room for tuning. I have a vh ernie ball that worked fine with the d-tuna, but when I replaced the gotoh licensed trem with an original floyd I had to grind the bottom of the saddle down a little (underneath the rear pivoting portion where the strings are clamped). This particular saddle wasn't machined properly - the other saddles had more of a bevel. Mark where your saddle is positioned so your guitar will still be intonated when you are through. Check the angle that will allow the least amount of material to be removed before you take off the saddle. Grind off a small amount of material at a time and then try it on your guitar. Leave as much material around the threads for the allen screw as possible.

 

[cooldrewb]

D-Tuna

Hi Folks.
Sorry for bringing back to life this old thread - especially on my first post!

I have just installed 4 d-tunas on my guitars and on one of them I had the problem described here - so I googled for "evh d-tuna problem" and the first hit was this thread.

Anyways...the problem was caused when you push the d-tuna back in to raise to E and it raises to say D# rather than E - so you tighten the little threaded screw to change the pitch.
However, on one of my d-tunas this caused the d-tuna body to foul on the replaced locking post.
Investigation revealed that this was caused by too much chrome on the inside of the d-tuna body and this stopped the post being able to move through the body freely.

Solution? A 4mm drill (about 5/32") is the same width as the post - carefull drill the inside of the d-tuna body.
Problem solved, and it all works smoothly now!
Hope this was helpful.
M

Hi,

I'm having the same problem that you described above but wanted to ask you for your help or clarification before taking a drill to the D-Tuna. Would it be possible for you to include a picture of where you used the drill. I want to make sure I do this correctly. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Drew

 

[beej]

Seeing as that guy made one post and hasn't logged in since 2007, I wouldn't wait for a quick response ...

 

[Tollywood]

Hi,

I'm having the same problem that you described above but wanted to ask you for your help or clarification before taking a drill to the D-Tuna. Would it be possible for you to include a picture of where you used the drill. I want to make sure I do this correctly. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Drew

Hello Drew,

I've had a problem with a tiny burr inside the tube of the D-Tuna. You should be able to poke the drill bit inside the tube of the D-Tuna and knock off the burr or extra layer of chrome. I wrapped a piece of sandpaper around a drill bit and reamed it inside and twisted it around in there by hand until I sanded the burr away. Mine worked perfectly after that.

That should do the trick. Good luck.

- Bryan

 

[Bluplirst]

Seeing as that guy made one post and hasn't logged in since 2007, I wouldn't wait for a quick response ...

Thats cool cause drew is cool man dude.