Tunning issues with my SUB1 guitar

[BetaCAM]

Hi,

First I wanna say, I love this guitar! the tone... the neck... amazing!
I'll remind you that I have the SUB with the two humbuckers and the vintage trem.

I'm having terrible tunning stability problems. the guitar simply won't stay in tune no matter what I do... whether I set the tremolo being able to go upward just a tad or more, or whether I set the trem to rest on the body in order to only go down and not go up when I bend a string...

The strings are the ones that came with the guitar which according to the web site it's RPS 9-42.

The configuration is 3 springs in parallel and right now the trem is kind of floating, not really, it has tiny height, it has less than a semitone to pull...

I tried various tips I got from tech support and nothing works, or when I think it works then it turns out that it does NOT work...
I tried a pencil to use on the Nut just to make the strings sit smoother on it, and I have no crackles or noises of any kind, it just goes out of tune.

I stretched over and over again the strings... so it's definitely Not the problem...
Other than that, I just can't find sense to this and to be honest it's disturbing because it prevents me from playing when I should and instead I deal with these Issues... not fun...

Help anybody?

 

[eliot323]

Just a few things to check/questions:

1. Are they new strings and if so, are they really well stretched?

2. When you tune to pitch, bend the bar down and back and re-tune a few times; that sometimes helps

3. Is the guitar going sharp after using the trem? If so, it may be the nut that's the problem - best to get a guitar tech to check it as it may just need a little filing and shouldn't cost much to do.

 

[BetaCAM]

1) It's the strings from the factory. They look new and sound new... maybe I should have replaced them before messing with the trem... dunno...

I stretched over and over, and really stretched them...

2) for the strings going sharp or not, it's hard to tell, some go sharp so go flat... there isn't any logic or repetitive pattern... every time something else goes out...

For some reason the only way it gets some sort of stability that isn't kept for long is if I tune it above 440hz, anything that goes near 440 and it's a total mess...

I really need help on this one...

 

[TonyEVH5150]

You best tuning stability will come from setting the trem so that it sits flush on the body. You won't be able to bend up pitch-wise, but your tuning should be better. You can also tighten the springs just a little to counter the string tension.

Graphite works well, but you may need something with a little more lubrication. I use Big Bends Nut Sauce. It costs around $15, but a little goes a long way.

Also, invest in a set of locking tuners. I'm not sure exactly what kind comes stock on the SUB 1, but a set of Schaller M-6 LA's will help too.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Have the tension of the springs on the trem set, so that the trem is hard against the body - this may mean adjusting the claw in all the way in or adding another spring on the trem from 3 to 4.
Tune the guitar to pitch and stretch the stings by pulling and snapping away from the fingerboard.
After you tune it , then push the strings behind the nut - make sure they are not binding. After pushing the strings behind the nut it should have made no difference to your pitch - if it has it begins to look like a possible binding problem in the nut.
If the guitar still goes out of tune then start looking at the machine heads.
My Les Paul which I've had from new, had the crappiest of gold plated machine heads ever, and I changed them after a couple of years. Make sure they are not slipping - can you tighten (the gearing of) these at all on the sub?
Try all this and let us know.
Holler out for "Tommy in Delaware" - He'll help I'm sure

 

[Spudmurphy]

Also, invest in a set of locking tuners. I'm not sure exactly what kind comes stock on the SUB 1, but a set of Schaller M-6 LA's will help too.

+1

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Also put new strings on, who knows how old they may be.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Also put new strings on, who knows how old they may be.

Yeah Tim comes up with the best one
He's right ! Make sure you have new strings on there and buy EB strings !!

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Tim, I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Even though they're the strings that came with the guitar, they could have been on there for months before you bought it. Usually, tuning instability (on a guitar that had the tuning dialed in to begin with) can be a sign of strings that have outlived their usefulness.

 

[NorM]

Some might say that you should have called customer service first. That's never a bad idea.

2) for the strings going sharp or not, it's hard to tell, some go sharp so go flat... there isn't any logic or repetitive pattern... every time something else goes out...

Same thing happened with a new SiLO I bought.
One thing I did to help was tune down to pitch. Not up like I have always been taught. If a string goes sharp just tune it back down. Don't go below. It was tough for me to do this but what could this possibly hurt if it works.
The real answer was to go crazy with the tremolo for about 10-20 minutes. Just have a huge whammy fest. Pretend you are your wildest guitar hero and really put on a show. It needs to be broken in. Get on it and show it who's the boss. May as well do it now while it's under warranty.
Take advantage of this to practice exact half and whole step drops etc.
Look up guitar tremolo techniquesand add some exercises to your warm up. You are going to be the next great guitarist so you're going to need this kind of practice anyway so.....Git 'er Done
Here's chance to turn a problem into an opportunity.

Oh I almost forgot, have fun doing this

 

[SouthernILL]

New strings !!! New strings !!!

 

[BetaCAM]

The thought about the strings being worn hasn't crossed my mind to be honest and I'll certainly throw in a fresh set the next time I get a chance to play...

Oh and don't worry... I have Rock N Roll slinkys at my disposal...

I did what was mentioned about the trem. I stiffened the trem by putting the otter springs in diagonal instead of parallel and the middle spring as it is. I tightened the claw... it appears to be much better now... If I really push down the trem it will go out of tune... but as long as I don't then it's pretty stable.. I'm tried hard bends to check... it's already better...

I checked the Nut thing about pushing the strings behind it... no change in tunning so it's definitely not the Nut.

The guitar was built in April so imagine how old the strings are... I will put the new ones and tell you what's up with that...

And as I write this I just broke the 1st string so obviously a new set is comming in!

Thanks!

 

[LoudGtr]

If the guitarsbuild date was April...I can pretty well gurantee that your problems will go away with new strings.

Cheers.

 

[Astrofreq]

My answer is that any new guitar just has to get "broken in", like a baseball glove. Guitars fresh out of the factory have to settle into themselves. The more you play it, the faster it will settle and stay in tune.

That's my answer. The second answer is stretching the strings like everyone else has said. After you put them on, pull each string upward and wiggle it up and down the full length of the string, almost as if you're going to yank the string off. Ernie Ball strings are tough, they can handle it. You'd be surprised how much you can pull a string out of tune and help it settle in too.

If that doesn't work, just turn it up and use a fuzz pedal with no midrange. You'll never know the difference.

 

[kompressaur]

chuck a set of 10s on and set it up again.your guitar will thank you for it
komp

 

[TonyEVH5150]

Or switch to a hardtail . . . .

j/k

New strings, set the trem flush with the body, maybe a spring adjustment.

If that doesn't work, then look into locking tuners and a good lubricant for the nut and saddles.

 

[BetaCAM]

Or switch to a hardtail . . . .

j/k

New strings, set the trem flush with the body, maybe a spring adjustment.

If that doesn't work, then look into locking tuners and a good lubricant for the nut and saddles.

That's the only thing that worked... setting the trem flush with the body...
Now she's in tune and isn't going sharp... when I get extra cash I'll drop in some schaller locking tuners or sperzel... it's definitely needed here... those tuners just won't do the trick when I want to use the tremolo...

Cheers!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The world would be a much better place if everyone used a hardtail!

 

[Bungo]

Or switch to a hardtail . . . .

...or buy a Petrucci!

No tuning probs with the best trem on the market - ever!

 

[jamminjim]

I've got a beautiful Sub 1 with the prettiest paint job ever on any EBMM guitar and it has a trem and stays in tune forever....

never had a problem