G string blues.......

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

toowrongfoo

New member
This is a carry-over from https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?231865-Tensioning-a-Fender-Tremolo-Bar/page3 and I wanted to start a dedicated thread.

For those with tl/dr idis, I'm referring to the G string slipping and going sharp depending on this variable:

-Bend more than a whole step, goes quite flat.
-Tune up and it's fine until you move the trem and it goes sharp.

Rinse repeat.

I'm not sold on it being the nut. It's possible, but that has been replaced about a year ago. I noticed that the saddles are really sharp feeling around the edges (why I haven't noticed it for years is beyond me) and started thinking a replacement is probably a good idea.

The two I'm looking are:

https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_trem_amdlxsaddleset_catalog.htm

and

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...-offset/h74291000002000?rNtt=saddles&index=18

I don't think black GT saddles would look very good. I like the idea of the Callaham best because there is nothing to bind, but there are no grooves. Also the graph tech are almost 30 bucks more and don't indicate an exact match for the guitar.
 
Re: G string blues.......

I still say it’s your nut. Just because it was replaced a year ago doesn’t mean that it was cut correctly. Never heard of a tremolo causing those kinds of issues.
 
Re: G string blues.......

i have both of those saddles and i like them both. they are on pretty different guitars so its hard to say but everything ive ever used from callaham is top notch and would recommend them to anyone
 
Re: G string blues.......

Yes to the nut. Its the only logical place, not the least that binding in the nut is the only thing that causes the 'flat then sharp' swing of tuning issues.

The callaham products are practically on every strat I own in some form or other. So thats my pick if you want to upgrade.
 
Re: G string blues.......

BriGuy1968 said:
I still say it’s your nut. Just because it was replaced a year ago doesn’t mean that it was cut correctly. Never heard of a tremolo causing those kinds of issues.
Click to expand...

+1

The G string getting stuck after a certain amount of pitch bend is pointing to something binding somewhere. The nut is the most likely culprit, but a string tree could also be at fault. I really doubt that it's a bridge saddle.

Boogie Bill said:
Try some Big Bend's Nut Sauce.

Bill
Click to expand...

If you're a fan of Big Bend's, next time you run out go to a hardware store and buy a tube of powdered teflon gel lubricant instead. It's literally the same thing and costs less than 1/4 as much.
 
Re: G string blues.......

lsr nut right? no string trees? i might pull the nut off and give it a good cleaning. you cant figure out where the string is hanging up? theres only a few places it could be.
 
Re: G string blues.......

toowrongfoo said:
This is a carry-over from https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?231865-Tensioning-a-Fender-Tremolo-Bar/page3 and I wanted to start a dedicated thread.

For those with tl/dr idis, I'm referring to the G string slipping and going sharp depending on this variable:

-Bend more than a whole step, goes quite flat.
-Tune up and it's fine until you move the trem and it goes sharp.

Rinse repeat.

I'm not sold on it being the nut. It's possible, but that has been replaced about a year ago. I noticed that the saddles are really sharp feeling around the edges (why I haven't noticed it for years is beyond me) and started thinking a replacement is probably a good idea.

The two I'm looking are:

https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_trem_amdlxsaddleset_catalog.htm

and

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...-offset/h74291000002000?rNtt=saddles&index=18

I don't think black GT saddles would look very good. I like the idea of the Callaham best because there is nothing to bind, but there are no grooves. Also the graph tech are almost 30 bucks more and don't indicate an exact match for the guitar.
Click to expand...

I mean this in the kindest of ways, but if the issue was binding at the nut on a different thread, it'll be the same answer on this one.
 
Re: G string blues.......

It's perfectly fine, actually, I DON'T think it's the nut. I think it's the saddles. Can't say for sure, but changing the LSR didn't help much, but the saddles are the same.

I have nut sauce, doesn't work on an LSR.

One thing about these is that they are staggered tuners and no trees. Not sure if that means anything.

It's a pretty common problem if you look it up. I had a couple of music mans that did it (though nut sauce helped)

Still keep the thoughts commin'.......

I heard Guthrie Govan comment on this about the trem and the way the strings bind. I'll have to look it up.
 
Re: G string blues.......

Ah hell, don't even worry about it. Watch some Rory Gallagher videos. Rory was constantly tuning his Strat. There is a video where he is tuning between songs and you can hear the "ping". Just channel Rory and wear the tuning issues as a badge of honor. :fing2:
 
G string blues.......

I’d try filing the saddles to remove any burrs that may be present. Then try the Big Bends nut sauce as mentioned earlier.
I also feel that this issue is most likely originating in then nut. I’d guess hat the G string nut slot was cut too narrow and the string is binding and not returning to pitch properly.
That said, I’m not a tech so I’m sure there are those here that can either confirm my suspicions or point you in another direction
 
Last edited:
Re: G string blues.......

toowrongfoo said:
One thing about these is that they are staggered tuners and no trees. Not sure if that means anything.
Click to expand...

That's not the cause of your problem, but I have sometimes noticed even with staggered tuners that they still need trees. Sometimes the guitar's get a "sitar-y" sound to the b and e strings.

But of you are convinced it's the saddles, you might as well get some new ones. They aren't the most expensive set of guitar gear in the world.

If you put the saddles on and it's solved, great. If it's not, you burned a set of strings and have an extra set of saddles, which isn't the worst thing that could happen messing with a guitar.
 
Re: G string blues.......

I'm not convinced of anything :lol:

But it's hard for me to believe that two different nuts have the same issue. I'm not saying it isn't, just trying to be deductive.
 
Re: G string blues.......

jeremy said:
i have both of those saddles and i like them both. they are on pretty different guitars so its hard to say but everything ive ever used from callaham is top notch and would recommend them to anyone
Click to expand...

Question: I've only had the groove-less saddles on my Clapton, but that was a blocked bridge. Probably a stupid question but I'm worried about tuning.
 
Re: G string blues.......

GRRRRRRRRRRRR! I just had the "click of death" sound while playing it tonight. Everything went wonky even though I didn't do anything drastic.

Times like this I wish I lived in LA and had access to real pro's. Here in sac, the techs are awful.
 
Re: G string blues.......

BriGuy1968 said:
I still say it’s your nut. Just because it was replaced a year ago doesn’t mean that it was cut correctly. Never heard of a tremolo causing those kinds of issues.
Click to expand...

of course its the nut. Some lub and just a little widening of the hole might help. What I did with mine is just go down in string gauge : from 10s -> 9s and no problem with G string tuning problems. I reverted back to 10s tho.
 
Re: G string blues.......

lsr nut people. theres no widening of the slots and lube turns to gunk.

no tuning issues with the callaham saddles at all.

what is this click of death sound?
 
Re: G string blues.......

Click of death? Something with tension detensioned itself causing other things to go blah?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top