Guitar won't stay in tune

[Bfeeney]

So a few weekends ago I turned a Douglas 'Thinline' into an H-H string through TOM rear-route 'Thinline'. I replaced the nut and trees with Graph Tech and tightened the screw on the tuner knobs, same as I do on all my guitars. I've noticed that everytime I play it the tuning is pretty off (low). None of my other guitars are like that, I might have to do a 1/8 turn to bring it back in tune but that's it.

Is it possible that the string furrels need time to 'set-in' and that's the reason for the dropped tuning?

All the screws are tight and strings are stretched BTW.

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

could it also be the environment playing a factor here temp and humidity issues can cause instruments to go flat/sharp

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

My LTD has sat for a week and all it needed was the 1/8 turn. This is like 1/2 to whole step down.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Did you stretch the strings real good after you put them on? It could also be binding at the nut. If you're still having problems after the strings are stretched, I'd be 95% sure you need to do some fine tuning on the nut. Run some find sandpaper through the nut to open it up a bit, then rub a pencil in there to smooth it out some.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

I always go up and then down the string to stretch them, sometimes I do it twice (not this time though).

How tight should the string be in the nut? To be honest I've never messed with that aspect, after 15 years I'm still a grasshopper.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

I always go up and then down the string to stretch them, sometimes I do it twice (not this time though).

How tight should the string be in the nut? To be honest I've never messed with that aspect, after 15 years I'm still a grasshopper.

You want the strings to basically just lay in there, but you don't want any gaps on the sides of the strings. If you don't have nut files, the easiest way to do it is loosen your strings enough to where they're still a little bit tight and keeping some pressure on the nut, but loose enough that you can slip some sand paper between the nut and string. Then I'll take some 1000 grit wet dry finishing paper and loop it under the string. Then just move it through the slots a few times each under the string.

Doing it this way can take a bit because you want to go through and do all the slots. Tune back up, then pull and play on the strings until the strings are settled back in. Then you'll know if you have to do it again or not. Once you get it to where it's good and not binding anymore, take a sharpened pencil and rub the lead in there to keep the slot lubricated.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Ok, I'll grab some sand paper tomorrow at work. We use 1200 to sand cars so I might have to make an extra stroke or two. (we also have 800)

Going back to the OP, do furrels have a 'set-in' time you know?

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Ok, I'll grab some sand paper tomorrow at work. We use 1200 to sand cars so I might have to make an extra stroke or two. (we also have 800)

Going back to the OP, do furrels have a 'set-in' time you know?

They shouldn't have any impact on it. Once you set them in, they shouldn't move at all. The only time that would really make an impact is if they weren't seated in well at the body, or the wood isn't dry enough to keep it from shifting.

What kind of setup is this anyway?

 

[karpathion]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

They shouldn't have any impact on it. Once you set them in, they shouldn't move at all. The only time that would really make an impact is if they weren't seated in well at the body, or the wood isn't dry enough to keep it from shifting.

What kind of setup is this anyway?

+1

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Do u do the wrap/self lock method when u string the strings around the posts of the tuners? My tuning stability became 100% better when I started doing it to my guitars when I restrung them

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Do u do the wrap/self lock method when u string the strings around the posts of the tuners? My tuning stability became 100% better when I started doing it to my guitars when I restrung them

No. I've never had a problem like this so I never justified doing it. I put the string through the hole and run the rest under the 'nub'. I don't mind having to do the 1/8 turn to bring it back in tune, but a half or a whole step is different. I'll try the sand paper trick after work today.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

No. I've never had a problem like this so I never justified doing it. I put the string through the hole and run the rest under the 'nub'. I don't mind having to do the 1/8 turn to bring it back in tune, but a half or a whole step is different. I'll try the sand paper trick after work today.

If that doesn't help. Try the string lock method

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

I think you should check the nut and do the string lock method.

I don't see a reason assuming all else is good that you should have those types of tuning issues.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Crap, I forgot to update this.

I ended up taking a super thin file to open up the slots. I grabbed 1500 paper at work and it was taking FOREVER so I carefully filed it. Now my newest addition is up to par with the others.

Thanks everyone.

 

[stratman1994]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Does this guitar have a tremelo bridge? Does the bridge have saddles?

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Does this guitar have a tremelo bridge? Does the bridge have saddles?

No I never use tremolos. It's a string through T.O.M.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

Couple quick questions : Is it a bolt on neck and did I read it correctly that you replaced the T.O.M. ?

Yeah, it's a bolt on. I took a Thinline knock-off from Rondo and turned it into an H-H T.O.M.. The ESP pups are temporary, the GFS's will be here Tuesday.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Guitar won't stay in tune

There may be some slippage in the tuning machines themselves. Occasionally they go out..