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John Myung Bongo 4

Luke II String slippage

Craiguitar

Craiguitar

Well-known member
Joined
May 21, 2008
Messages
411
Location
New Waltham, UK
Having a problem with my Luke II.
I changed the strings and I'm tuning up, but as I tune the high E to pitch it constantly detunes itself. No matter how many more turns I put on the tuner, it constantly slips out of tune. I suspect the locking tuner is no longer doing its job and gripping onto the string properly. Do they 'wear out', and if so, can I get a replacement??
 
Are you sure it's not a bad string ? Sometimes, the ball end of the string unwrap itself. Try another string.
 
fbecir said:
Are you sure it's not a bad string ? Sometimes, the ball end of the string unwrap itself. Try another string.
Click to expand...

I've tried two different strings, both RPS slinky 9's and I'm sure the ball ends aren't slipping, the issue seems to me to be at the tuner. I've now put on a third string and its hanging on, but I'm uneasy about it staying in tune.
 
Perhaps you can switch the tuner of the B string with the tuner of the E string. It's very easy.
Now, if your B string starts to get out of tune, you can be sure that you I have to change the tuner.
 
If you can identify the problem as a tuner as fbecir suggested, then call customer service. They will sell them individually
 
I sometimes experience this but I think it is just the string stretching as you tune up. Had it happen with my '99 Luke II and my new Luke III. To stop this I pull the string through the peg as tightly as I can. Before tuning up, I'll stretch the strings by fretting notes with my left hand and pulling up on the string with my left. I do this in several spots along the neck.

Tuning is always stable after I use this process
 
fbecir said:
Perhaps you can switch the tuner of the B string with the tuner of the E string. It's very easy.
Now, if your B string starts to get out of tune, you can be sure that you I have to change the tuner.
Click to expand...

Good plan. I'll consider doing this if the issue persists. :)
 
MikeBarresi said:
I sometimes experience this but I think it is just the string stretching as you tune up. Had it happen with my '99 Luke II and my new Luke III. To stop this I pull the string through the peg as tightly as I can. Before tuning up, I'll stretch the strings by fretting notes with my left hand and pulling up on the string with my left. I do this in several spots along the neck.

Tuning is always stable after I use this process
Click to expand...

I do this too, and have done for years with no issue. Even now all the other strings behave as expected, it's just the high E which slips. If I can't resolve it, I'll contact customer service.
 
Last edited:
Only time I've ever had that problem is when the ball end is slipping or unraveling and the string usually breaks within a couple minutes of the problem beginning. Good luck solving the mystery. I hate crap like that. It can be really frustrating trying to solve problems on your guitar.
 
I remember when I used to help out Strings N Things, we'd have to polish and re string a whole load of guitars prior to a clinic.

When doing so, one thing I noiced was that sometimes the mechanism (ball) inside the tuning post jammed in an up wards position, so that you couldn't push the string through the hole in the post. Usually a flick of the finger (so it wasn't a major binding/jam) dislodged the blockage and you were then able to push the string through.

I'm assuming (he say's trying to diagnose over the 'net) that there is no similar binding problem with the tuner, assuming that your strings are fine.

So fbecir's suggestion is a good one.
 
Or you remove your E-string. 5 strings are enough for Keith Richards ...
I am not sure I am really helping you with this comment ! Sorry :o
 
Quick update on this. After struggling for many more months with the high E slipping issue, my frustration finally got the better of me, and I started searching for a replacement locking machinehead. Finally got one ordered courtesy of assistance from A.J., and Strings & Things UK (Thanks guys!). Got it today, 5 minutes to fit. Job done. High E string went straight back in tune in seconds and stayed there. I immediately became aware how bad the old machinehead had gone. Should have done that much sooner.
 
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