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Bradwick

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2005
Messages
7
Hey I was curious as to whether or not when you use the whammy on the John Petrucci guitars if they stay in tune or not.
 

jbert

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
Messages
170
Location
Montreal
If properly set up (see the FAQ for details), they are extremely stable. The combination of the trem design and locking tuners enable the guitar to stay in tune even with vigorous whammy use.

Many members also use Nut Sauce, graphite based lubricants, or even chap stick at the nut, saddles and trem posts to eliminate any possible friction points that might have an effect on tuning stability.

Jbert
 

mightypudge

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
61
Location
Montco, PA
When I first bought my JP I had some tuning trouble, but nothing related to the whammy bar. Bending the strings would occasionally cause a string to pop out of tune, and would always be accompanied by a light ping! sound. This was the string getting hung up in the nut a little.

After a string change (I went to the Hybrid Ernie Ball 9-46 gauge), set up, and a light application of graphite lube to the nut and trem studs, the guitar just will not go out of tune. It is a very stable guitar (as was my Luke).

We've had some drastic weather and humidity changes around here lately. Still haven't needed to tweak the truss rod or anything.
 

jeffrey

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2004
Messages
1,909
Location
Milky Way, Earth, North America, that's as specifi
I guess I'm one of the rare ones that can knock my guitar out of tune pretty frequently.

New strings or not, my JP7's will not stay in tune with any kind of rigorous trem use.

Fortunately, I'm not really that kind of player, so it's not real relevant.

I still have tuning issues regardless. It can be kind of trying in live situations.

I love the guitars so much, however, that I just suck it up and deal with it. :)
 

tommyindelaware

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
3,274
Location
wilmington , delaware
i've seen folks getting tuning problems on whammy systems due to the bridge plate not being positioned correctly in the groove on the bridge post before......
it has to pivot w/out moving out of the groove.
 

MrHyde

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
217
Location
Long Island
Hey dudes I got my Jp6 last week and i have been using and abusing the trem a lot and it goes flat a liiiiiiiittle bit, notting to worry about really just the low E and the D but since its new I have to wear out the nut a bit to give more space for the strings to move,( I read that here in the forum) i used to have a Jackson with low profile floyd, and I totally like the Jp trem better than the floyd, it stays in tune just as well and i dont have to take 2 hours to change strings and have this bunch of Hex keys somewere near by u know. I totally love it
 

koogie2k

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
5,859
Location
Moyock, NC
I was always under the impression that a whammy bar/tremelo would always lose some tuning. Some more than others. However, I used to be a whammy monster and never learned anything about how to actually play.....so, I removed them off all my guitars. This makes me practice cause lord knows, I need it.

:cool:
 

edensdad

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
591
Location
Brooksville, FL, USA
There was another thread or two about this before, if I remember correctly, you might want to look for it.

I have a JP6 Tremelo w/ Piezo and almost never touch my tuners. When I play metal, I play pretty aggressively with a heavy delrin pick and pick attack ala SRV or Yngwie (not playing style, just picking intensity). However I don't use the trem much, just alittle vibrato -1/2 step up or down or a gentle dive. I almost never pull up on the arm. I guess if you're pulling up 2 steps or diving until the strings go slack it might make a difference.

>^..^<
 

Supreeth

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2004
Messages
161
Location
Portland, OR
edensdad said:
There was another thread or two about this before, if I remember correctly, you might want to look for it.

I have a JP6 Tremelo w/ Piezo and almost never touch my tuners. When I play metal, I play pretty aggressively with a heavy delrin pick and pick attack ala SRV or Yngwie (not playing style, just picking intensity). However I don't use the trem much, just alittle vibrato -1/2 step up or down or a gentle dive. I almost never pull up on the arm. I guess if you're pulling up 2 steps or diving until the strings go slack it might make a difference.

>^..^<

I attempted some pretty serious Vai stuff on my JP6 and it held up beautifully. I have gone upto +2.5 steps while pulling up (I did adjust the springs so that the bridge plate was lowered a little to enable me to comfortable pull it off). I've almost never had to re-tune the guitar except after string changes or adjusting the springs to raise or lower the bridge plate.
 

dannymusic

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
1,076
Location
MINNESOTA
Supreeth said:
I attempted some pretty serious Vai stuff on my JP6 and it held up beautifully. I have gone upto +2.5 steps while pulling up (I did adjust the springs so that the bridge plate was lowered a little to enable me to comfortable pull it off). I've almost never had to re-tune the guitar except after string changes or adjusting the springs to raise or lower the bridge plate.

One huge selling point is the bridge. LOVE it. I just did my first string change (one by one) and the thing stays in tune superbly. All the time. I do use my vaseline/graphite powder mixture on all the pressure points. I've owned for 3 weeks now. Best bridge ever!
 
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