Just won't stay in tune

[Astrofreq]

This is an interesting thread. I also believe it has nothing to do with the strings. My purple super sport has one string that won't stay in tune any time I look at the tremolo. I've lubricated the nut, stretched the strings, etc. Nothing works. I may take it to a tech, but to be completely honest, I'm about to lower the tremolo flush and add a Tremel-no in the back.

I thought about adding a locking nut, but everyone here said that was a no-no, so I ditched the idea. It stinks that I barely use a tremolo anymore because I can't afford for the guitar to go out of tune mid-song.

The Axis is awesome because everything is locking. I know some people hate Floyds, but for me, it's the only thing that works. My grief with those are that it is such a hassle removing the arm, therefore requiring a HS case to go anywhere.

 

[Phazer]

the guitar is much better after what I did yesterday, I would even say NORMAL.
I'll try putting some graphite though as soon as I change the strings anyway

 

[colinboy]

It's just that I've never had problems before, and I've always had RPS 09-42
I tuned my guitar at the beginning when the strings were fresh, and the NEVER tuned it again and it was perfect.
Now I put D'addario strings and I'm having this problem, so I want to see what happens when I put RPS again

Hey Phazer,

I am having some what similiar problem with my BFR JP6 at the moment too.its only afew months old and when i changed the strings for the 1st time a few weekks ago it just didnt sound right.one or two of the strings dont ring out properly so i adjusted truss rod but it didnt make much difference.i put the regular super slinkys on it as i couldnt get the 9,s in the RPS in my local music shop.
i am waiting to get a new set of RPS strings to see if they make any difference.

 

[Phazer]

I've never felt any difference between the RPS and normal super slinkys, so I would take the guitar to a tech, but you'd might as well wait for the RPS, even if like I said, I don't think changing string brand makes a difference

 

[colinboy]

I've never felt any difference between the RPS and normal super slinkys, so I would take the guitar to a tech, but you'd might as well wait for the RPS, even if like I said, I don't think changing string brand makes a difference

il let you know how i get on when i get the RPS slinkys on.

 

[Spudmurphy]

If you're having tuning problems with regular Slinkies, then I don't see how having RPS strings is going to make any difference. I replaced the RPS strings on my JP6 with regular slinkies and it stays in tune just the same.

In fact, it probably has nothing to do with the type of strings you are using..

Hi MV
I have RPS on my guitars and the tuning is stable. I was led to believe that the unwound strings had extra winds on them per JD's quote in another thread,
I would have thought that the extra winds would add more stability to the string.- Why have them?

RPS sets are the same as Slinkys except for the PLAIN strings .. only those are reinforced. When it comes to the wound strings .. you're just gonna have to play nice

Don't worry boys, we won't judge you on what gauge you use .. just how well you shredddd!

As an aside, I see that Slash uses RPS- with a heavy pick and his style of playing that speaks volumes for the stability of RPS?

 

[Spudmurphy]

There's a couple of issues here:
Nut lube
There's proprietary unguents out there (nut sauce) - I have't tried them because a bit of pencil graphite has done the trick (for me) in the past. Just rub a pencil on a piece of sandpaper and place a "tiny" amount (Tiny amount = the size of a gnats gonad) in the saddle slots.
Strings not ringing out
If you change string guages you mayhave to tweek your truss rod.
Some guitars change over no problem - some don't.
My son's custom built Tele didn't like a change in guage the other week and I always considered the neck to be like Iron - after all it's over 20 years old !!
The difference in tension between 9's and 10's is noticeable
I don't take responsibility for the accuracy of these figures I obtained from a book,but they will demonstrate my point:-
String Guage...... tension measured in lbs ............String Guage...... tension measured in lbs
09.......................................13..............................10.............................16.2
11.......................................11?.............................13.............................15.4
16.......................................14.7............................17.............................16.6
24.......................................15.8............................26.............................18.2
32.......................................15.8............................36.............................19.2
42.......................................14.8?................... ......46..............................17.1?

So the 9's have a total of 85.1 lbs pulling against the wood/truss rod
and the 10's have a total of 102.7 lbs doing the same.
A medium gauge string can have 140 lbs in total.

Wood is wood - it has it's own characteristics and each piece will react differently.
Some may have the neck relief altered changing string guage other necks will shrug it off (saying "yeah come on- bring it on !! ) The moral here = some necks require a truss rod adjustment
Slight changes in guage may also mean that you will have to alter the nut to accommodate the extra thickness. (Albert Lee was once a prolific filer of his nuts!)

Setting up guitars is a tricky business I think Tommy in Delaware once said something like it's trying to find compromise between 10 different types of tweak to a guitar.

I'll shaddup now!!

 

[Phazer]

I think my problem is solved.
even after playing like this it's still in tune

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ovkwpopoU"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

 

[MusicManJP6]

That's good news!

 

[Spudmurphy]

I think my problem is solved.
even after playing like this it's still in tune

YouTube - The Extremist - Cover

Hey great playing !!!!

 

[Phazer]

Hey great playing !!!!

Thanks
but actually I was just trying to stress the strings with some satch stuff

 

[tommyindelaware]

the difference between a fair setup and an amazing set up is about 10 really small details being put
in balance w/ each other.......
balance is the key.


_

Setting up guitars is a tricky business I think Tommy in Delaware once said something like it's trying to find compromise between 10 different types of tweak to a guitar.

 

[guitarman23]

wow awesome vid! amazing sound!

 

[Phazer]

wow awesome vid! amazing sound!

Thanks!
the sound is much better in reality, the video is recorded using my mobile phone, so it's pretty bad compared to what it really sounds like

 

[PRCpower]

the E string is just a little longer than usual but I don't thinks that's the problem

Phazer

From the picture it seems that your bridge is not parallel with the body of the guitar. Correct me if im wrong. When you change gauge of the string you should adjust the tension of the springs on the back of the guitar.

Guitarman23
To many string winds on the tuning peg.

 

[Phazer]

I've never changed the string gauge, it's always been 09-42
maybe from the picture it may seem that it's not level but I can assure you it's perfectly level

 

[Spudmurphy]

the difference between a fair setup and an amazing set up is about 10 really small details being put
in balance w/ each other.......
balance is the key.


_

See - I knew it was something like that.

 

[tommyindelaware]

See - I knew it was something like that.

 

[Phazer]

I've decided, saturday morning I'm taking the guitar to the tech, and I'll have him do a complete setup to my guitar

 

[guitarman23]

"PRCpower" Said: Guitarman23
To many string winds on the tuning peg.


I Say
well as i said about my winds on my, it works for me and i have no problem at all, Holds Well And Plays Well No Prob!! I Remember When I Cut It The Way "Phazer" Does It Started To Slip Out Some How And Would Get Out Of Tune Even When I Never Touch My Guitar, Fixed Now When I Re-String Like This.