Hey everybody what's up? I really need some help retuning my MM and I have lessons 2mrow. I just put new strings on last night and retuned as precise as possible along with strecting my strings. But when I lock the lockers at the neck and use the fine tuners, my strings seem to be # (sharp) and I can't go any further when tuning with the fine tuners, and then I have to start over?? What am i doing wrong???
- Thread starter j76
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grumpyoldman
Well-known member
By your mention of the terms "lockers at the neck" and "fine tuners" I am assuming that you have an EBMM with a Floyd Rose (Axis, older Luke or Silhouette...). Have you changed the string gauge? If so, then you may need to adjust your trem spring tension to match that of the new gauge (if you had 9's on previously, and have now put 10's on, for example), in order to stabilize the bridge. Try tuning with the fine tuners all the way out (no sharpening of notes) and the locking nut loose, and play it for a while - it's one thing to stretch strings one by one, but playing it will also cause slight changes in the strings until they are truly and fully stretched out. Once it seems stable, lock it all down and fine tune.
Takes a bit of time, but will be well worth the extra work.
Takes a bit of time, but will be well worth the extra work.
Thanks for the tuning advice
So what you are saying is to play it un-locked from neck to bridge with the fine tuners comletely up for a little bit and that should help? I'm not sure what gauge strings came with the guitar but I'm currently using Dean Markley's "lite". Even b4 I changed my strings out whenever I tuned my guitar after playing the pitch would be sharp? Do you think I should add a spring, whenever I do bends on the higher notes the trem slightly dips down? Thank dude
P.S. I have a MM Axis with a FR
So what you are saying is to play it un-locked from neck to bridge with the fine tuners comletely up for a little bit and that should help? I'm not sure what gauge strings came with the guitar but I'm currently using Dean Markley's "lite". Even b4 I changed my strings out whenever I tuned my guitar after playing the pitch would be sharp? Do you think I should add a spring, whenever I do bends on the higher notes the trem slightly dips down? Thank dude
P.S. I have a MM Axis with a FR
Jack FFR1846
Well-known member
Bingo!
I absolutely go nuts if I get any trem movement with a 2 tone bend up in the 12-22nd fret. Since I need to play the 24th fret for Pink Floyd's Money.....and there is no 24th....I want it to be settled. I have added springs to all my trem equiped guitars. I test it two ways. First, I pick the high e open, then bend the G string about 2 1/2 tones around the 12th fret. If I see any movement or hear any tone change, I tighten down the springs with the 2 screws a bit more. I'm using 3 springs on all my trem guitars. It is more effort to whammy down, but tuning stability is far better while bending.
I do know lots of others who do not subscribe to my method and run 2 springs and just don't do the Joe Walsh kind of bend-pluck solos. If that's the case, it doesn't matter and it's a matter of personal style.
I use this method on surface mounted Floyds and EBMM vintage trems.
jack
Shadowbox
Well-known member
j, welcome to the forum and congrats on a great guitar!
You can always contact customer service for the best responses.
Everyone has different methods. The aforementioned posts are great.
Here is how I deal with my Floyd-equipped guitar:
Tuning is always a bit tough with new strings on a Floyd-equpped guitar. Because of the nature of the stretching period of new strings on a floating tremolo, it takes a few tries to get the tuning stable.
I unlock all three clamps on the nut and change one string at a time. I then move the fine tuners until they are all at around the center of the threading. Once all of the new strings are on, I grab each string and shake it gently at the 12th fret. Then, I use the tremolo to dive the strings to a completely slack state and the bring them back up a couple of times. Then, I tune each string skipping one: E - D - B - A - G - E, etc. I do this until the guitar is essentially in tune. Then, I tune up the low E and A, lock them down, tune the D and G, lock them down, and tune the B and E and lock them down.
I have best results if I change the strings at night and let the guitar sit overnight with the strings tuned to pitch but without the clamps locked.
Dean Markley "lights" are .009-.042, which shouldn't be a problem.
Contact Customer Service with any instrument issues!
You can always contact customer service for the best responses.
Everyone has different methods. The aforementioned posts are great.
Here is how I deal with my Floyd-equipped guitar:
Tuning is always a bit tough with new strings on a Floyd-equpped guitar. Because of the nature of the stretching period of new strings on a floating tremolo, it takes a few tries to get the tuning stable.
I unlock all three clamps on the nut and change one string at a time. I then move the fine tuners until they are all at around the center of the threading. Once all of the new strings are on, I grab each string and shake it gently at the 12th fret. Then, I use the tremolo to dive the strings to a completely slack state and the bring them back up a couple of times. Then, I tune each string skipping one: E - D - B - A - G - E, etc. I do this until the guitar is essentially in tune. Then, I tune up the low E and A, lock them down, tune the D and G, lock them down, and tune the B and E and lock them down.
I have best results if I change the strings at night and let the guitar sit overnight with the strings tuned to pitch but without the clamps locked.
Dean Markley "lights" are .009-.042, which shouldn't be a problem.
Contact Customer Service with any instrument issues!
grumpyoldman
Well-known member
I'm with Jack on this - I use 3 springs too, and I adjust them so I can do a 1.5 step bend at the 12th with no movement of the bar. I you try this and the bar still moves a bit, you need to tighten that trem claw. I use 10's on my Axes (all with Floyd Rose bridges) and have them set so they will not dip with a bend. Perfectly stable and once tuned, stays in tune. By stable, I mean the bridge plate lays flat on the body - I don't try to make it float like some other Floyds - these only drop pitch, no pulling up on them....
douglasspears
Well-known member
a few other things to consider:
1 - if you put strings on and tune them with the Floyd Rose locking neck clamps off or completely loosened, you'll raise (sharpen) the pitch a bit once you do tighten them. This sharpening may be more than your fine tuners can compensate for.
2 - make sure you tune your guitar with it sitting up, just like you'd play it. If you tune it laying down flat on it's back, there may be some tuning issues once up in the playing position.
My guess is your problem is #1. Not really a problem, just something to be aware of and compensate for.
1 - if you put strings on and tune them with the Floyd Rose locking neck clamps off or completely loosened, you'll raise (sharpen) the pitch a bit once you do tighten them. This sharpening may be more than your fine tuners can compensate for.
2 - make sure you tune your guitar with it sitting up, just like you'd play it. If you tune it laying down flat on it's back, there may be some tuning issues once up in the playing position.
My guess is your problem is #1. Not really a problem, just something to be aware of and compensate for.
