Help! Low "E" Won't stay in tune on Sterling HS

ray

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
50
I have a M/M Sterling HS and am having a difficult time keeping the low E string in tune. after a song or two, when I check it on my tuner it is either slightly sharp or slightly flat. any suggestions? Could it be the tuner? I am using a Korg GA-40 Electronic Guitar and Bass Tuner.
 
Internet analysis is worth what you pay for it.

That said, it's probably the string itself. Replace it.

That will be two dollars.

Four dollars if I'm actually right.
 
I can assure you it is not the string. I have had several string changes since I have owned the Bass. I use eithe super slinky or hybrid slinky.
 
`
Check everything:

Neck joint bolts
Bridge screws
Spring behind E-string saddle
Screw on back of tuner peg [already posted above]
Make sure nut is not shifting side to side

Check the peg slot for edge damage ... burring that
might be injuring the wrappings on the string.

Always put the right angle bend into the string [for
going down-the-peg-hole] BEFORE you trim off the
excess length.

Wind only about 2 turns of string onto the peg.

By odd chance, maybe you have proper neck relief
with no tension on the truss rod [due to summer
humidity, that could happen]. If so, take the slack
out of the truss rod [snug it up a bit].

FINALLY, quit checking the E-string tuning via the
tuning meter. Is it really going out of tune ? You
'quote' us your meter's opinion, but no mention of
checking relative tuning [string-to-string] by ear.
E-strings are a bit of a challenge for most meters.
Use the meter to tune the D-string and then tune
the remaining strings without the meter [by ear,
checking for 'beating' effect].

A bass is a simple machine. The user is a far more
complex machine. There's very little can go wrong
with the simple machine ...... and make sure your
"Bass and Guitar" tuner is set to "Bass". It will be
erratic reading low notes when set to "Geetar".
 
Last edited:
ray your in good hands here and my gut feeling is that if;

all the screws are tight from the machine head/neck joint/bridge,

and it's not either a single faulty string or your putting to many winds/not enough at the machine head (twice around is enough i think)

and it's not your nut grabbing or being cut to wide.

how are you tuning your bass, from fretted notes, harmonics, open strings and are you re checking using the same method? Cause it maybe your intonation and action.

Best bet, take it to your local trusted Tech for a set up and check over. They live for this stuff and you'll know exactly what the fault is and know it 100%.



it's your nut
 
Thanks for sharing your suggestions with me. I will follow them and hopefully it will work. One thing I haven't been doing in the past is bending the right angle before I put it into the hole slot. Thanks again...
 
dtape.jpg
 
if i were you i would get a better tuner. the ga series isnt the best and could be the reason it seems off.

a korg pitchblack is a much better tuner. or get the tc electronics tuner.. or boss tu-3.. or peterson strobostomp.. or a turbotuner.

when i worked in a guitar store we used the good stuff on basses because the frequency is so low it gives poor quality tuners a problem.

hope my internet diagnostics is of any help to you ;)

MrM
 
`
Check everything:

Neck joint bolts
Bridge screws
Spring behind E-string saddle
Screw on back of tuner peg [already posted above]
Make sure nut is not shifting side to side

Check the peg slot for edge damage ... burring that
might be injuring the wrappings on the string.

Always put the right angle bend into the string [for
going down-the-peg-hole] BEFORE you trim off the
excess length.

Wind only about 2 turns of string onto the peg.

By odd chance, maybe you have proper neck relief
with no tension on the truss rod [due to summer
humidity, that could happen]. If so, take the slack
out of the truss rod [snug it up a bit].

FINALLY, quit checking the E-string tuning via the
tuning meter. Is it really going out of tune ? You
'quote' us your meter's opinion, but no mention of
checking relative tuning [string-to-string] by ear.
E-strings are a bit of a challenge for most meters.
Use the meter to tune the D-string and then tune
the remaining strings without the meter [by ear,
checking for 'beating' effect].

A bass is a simple machine. The user is a far more
complex machine. There's very little can go wrong
with the simple machine ...... and make sure your
"Bass and Guitar" tuner is set to "Bass". It will be
erratic reading low notes when set to "Geetar".

OP owes you $20
 
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