Help! JP BFR Tuning question

[fjk1138]

Greetings,

Just purchased a Koa JP BFR and it's nothing short of awesome.

I am having a bit of an issue keeping it in tune when I use the trem. Any suggestions that might help? Or, is my attack too hard since it comes with .09 Hybids and I am used to .10s?

Thanks.

 

[littlephil]

What are you doing with the trem? Its a great trem, but if you're trying to do Steve Vai type stuff, it won't really be able to hold up.
Is the bridge set up correctly? The flat baseplate should be level with the top of the body. Also, are the tuners locked? They should be snug, but not too tight.

 

[TNT]

Hey fjk, it just takes a little getting used to (like any trem guitar). You'll be able to dial it in as you get used to it over time. Once you perfect setting it up (practice makes perfect), once you learn your guitar, you'll NEVER have a problem keeping it in tune.

 

[fjk1138]

The base plate is level with the body and the tuners are tight but not over tightened. Initially, I tried some more agressive trem usage as a test, but I realized that it's not meant for that kind of usage. However, I notice even with light vibrato it still goes out more than I would like. It has the factory .009s on it now -- do you guys think .010s would improve the stability any?

 

[Lou]

Lube the nut slots with some chapstick.

 

[straycat113]

The trem on the JP is the best non locking trem I have ever come across and keeping things real you cannot abuse it like a locking system, but it should easily hold up to a good amount of abuse. Something is off as just by your statement of it going out with light vibrato should not be. I am sure you have stretched out the strings really good and Lou and TNT have both given good tips, so I would recommend you have an experienced tech have a look.

 

[fjk1138]

I am sure you have stretched out the strings really good and Lou and TNT have both given good tips, so I would recommend you have an experienced tech have a look.

Don't laugh, but probably not as good as I should have. What's the best way to do it? Just do some heavy trem and then retune over and over?

 

[BrickGlass]

Lube the nut for sure. Put some kind of lubricant underneath each string in the nut and make sure you stretch the strings really well. Do a dive bomb and then re-tune, do another dive and tune again. Bend the strings and tune again. Do this a couple of times and you are usually good to go.

 

[shredhed]

You have to go through a process on not locking tremolos. It's tweak the (guitar's) tuner, tap the bar, check for tune.....tweak tuner, tap the bar, check for tun.....etc...on each string until they are all in pitch.

Tuning in this way allows for the guitar to always be able to be returned to pitch after bending strings. Just tap the bar and it pops back in tune. That's the way Randy Rhoades did it. and he didn't have locking systems back then.

I've tuned this way ever since I learned about it. There's a vid on YT. I'll see if I can find it.

BTW the JP's trem is the finest non locking ever made. It's the most stable one I've ever seen.

 

[shredhed]

Here you go. The guy demonstrates on a vintage tremolo, but it's the same principle. Also, he dumps the bar all the way down when doing this tuning technigue. It isn't necessary. Just a small tap will do.

Start watching at around 4:45

Hope this helps ya

YouTube - How to keep your Strat tremolo in tune. Frudua Way - www.frudua.com

 

[straycat113]

Brickglass pretty much summed it up. Dont feel bad as I see even seasoned players come in the store and ask why their guitar is not holding pitch after a string change. When I change strings I will work each string seperately with really wide bends over and over at the 4th,11th and 15th frets as this is just my own way of doing it but I feel I am working the whole string, after doing all six I will retune and then do it another two times and then leave the guitar tuned a quarter step up while I do something else for about an hour. I have been doing this for ages and have never had any tuning issues, it really takes strings a while to be stretched good and if your style of playing does not use a lot of bending can be the reason you are having this issue. Give it a shot as it just may be the reason you are having this issue.

 

[fjk1138]

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate everyone's advice and help. I have been completely successful in getting the trem to stay in tune now. It's been several years since I've had a trem and I just wasn't being patient enough. Now that I've got some time in with the EB trem, I really like it.

That video was really interesting also. I never thought of stretching the strings at the bridge, but I will try that on my non-trem guitars also.

Thanks again!