Question Plain Strings Slipping in Schallers

[bvdrummer]

So I've had Sperzel locking tuners on 3 guitars for years w/no issues. But on my new Reflex with Schallers I'm having a slight issue with the plain strings slipping. Here's my procedure:

• pull the string fairly tight through the tuner
• lock the tuner
• tune almost up to pitch
• cut off excess string
• tune up to pitch
• stretch and retune (repeat this step as necessary)

When I'm at the step "stretch and retune," the 3 plain strings slip a little each time (drop about a full step) and I have to repeat this step maybe 5 times before it holds. The string is still held in the tuner, but after this many slips, the cut-off end of the string has disappeared into the tuner and it has me nervous that it will eventually slip all the way out. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe not tightening the locking screw enough? On my Sperzels it usually just required 1 stretch and retune per string (I am talking fixed bridge BTW).

 

[beej]

Weird ... I've never had that issue. Perhaps you're not tightening them enough? Also, what kind of angle do you have on the tuner when tuned to pitch? I usually end up with 90 degrees, more on the smaller strings.

 

[bvdrummer]

The wound strings I don't pull as tight, so I end up with about 135 degrees. The plain strings end up at about 180 or a little more, but I don't pull hard enough to lift up the guitar by the strings.

I think the Sperzel thumb screw has a bigger diameter than the Schallers, so I may have been putting extra torque on the Sperzels without realizing it.

 

[AgustinJP50]

I don't know why this could be happening, it doesn't happen on my guitar, but you could always do something like this just to make sure: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8391/8480503847_2b06515447_b.jpg

 

[DrKev]

I get 180° on my plain strings too. I have known a little slip or two but I just tighten the nut a little more.

 

[Ventanaman]

You may have some sort of debris/gunk that has accumulated in the space of the locking tuner that is preventing it to clamp down firmly on the string. Take a pipe cleaner and apply a small amount of window cleaner and run it through the space several times and see if that helps. Good luck!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Spudmurphy]

Also, don't cut the string until everything has settled down.

 

[DrKev]

Spud. Correct.