Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
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Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
It should stay in tune at least for a set (45 minutes). Here's the thing.... Is it actually in tune? Has it been setup by someone competent with new strings? Intonated? Is all your hardware tight and operating (if it moves?). Is it stored where temperature and humidity are stable? All these items being less than optimal could make your guitar hard to tune or susceptible to going out of tune easily.
It should stay in tune at least for a set (45 minutes). Here's the thing.... Is it actually in tune? Has it been setup by someone competent with new strings? Intonated? Is all your hardware tight and operating (if it moves?). Is it stored where temperature and humidity are stable? All these items being less than optimal could make your guitar hard to tune or susceptible to going out of tune easily.
Niloy63
New member
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
That's too much effort in tuning, IMHO. I'm no expert, but I've been playing for a little while, and so these pointers are what I humbly recommend:
(1) First check the nut and saddles.
(2) Check to see if your tuners are stable and not wobbling around. If loose, try to tighten the screws on the back of the headstock, or tighten the washers if need be. Consider getting locking tuners to help with tuning stability
(3) Check to see if your bridge is stable (i.e., the studs/bushings are tight and not wobbling and bridge is secure from lateral or forward/backward movement).
Past that, I would go see a luthier for help.
That's too much effort in tuning, IMHO. I'm no expert, but I've been playing for a little while, and so these pointers are what I humbly recommend:
(1) First check the nut and saddles.
- Strings can get caught in the nut/saddles if they aren't cut/filed correctly (which happens more often than you'd think).
- A lot of times, a little lubricant (i.e., Big Bend's Nut Sauce) can help quite a bit with tuning stability.
- If you are in need of a new nut, consider getting a self-lubricating graphite nut (i.e., GraphTech).
(2) Check to see if your tuners are stable and not wobbling around. If loose, try to tighten the screws on the back of the headstock, or tighten the washers if need be. Consider getting locking tuners to help with tuning stability
(3) Check to see if your bridge is stable (i.e., the studs/bushings are tight and not wobbling and bridge is secure from lateral or forward/backward movement).
Past that, I would go see a luthier for help.
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
Playing style also counts. If you do a lot of bending then expect some more instability than someone merely hitting notes.
The nut is usually the biggest culprit - invest some time or money in getting this cut right and the slots lubed and your stability will improve no end.
Playing style also counts. If you do a lot of bending then expect some more instability than someone merely hitting notes.
The nut is usually the biggest culprit - invest some time or money in getting this cut right and the slots lubed and your stability will improve no end.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
Niloy63 covered what I would add. Just don't over-tighten the tuners' mounting screws or the bushing washers. And if your stoptail studs are wobbly, use plumber's teflon tape on them. And a big PLUS ONE for Big Bend's Nut Sauce.
New strings will take a while to settle in. After a change I will do some light stretching, and then let them sit for 24 hours before playing them. This also seems to give them longer life.
Finally, SGs are notorious for weak neck joints. Resist the urge to use neck bending as a vibrato effect.
Bill
Niloy63 covered what I would add. Just don't over-tighten the tuners' mounting screws or the bushing washers. And if your stoptail studs are wobbly, use plumber's teflon tape on them. And a big PLUS ONE for Big Bend's Nut Sauce.
New strings will take a while to settle in. After a change I will do some light stretching, and then let them sit for 24 hours before playing them. This also seems to give them longer life.
Finally, SGs are notorious for weak neck joints. Resist the urge to use neck bending as a vibrato effect.
Bill
VinceT
New member
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
Gibson style headstocks are especially sensitive to how the fret slots are cut, both for width of string and break angle. Because I play 11-49s across all my guitars, I’ve had to widen and shape every Gibson nut in my collection.
One way to check is to listen to the guitar unplugged as you tune it - if it seems like you’re turning the tuner but the pitch isn’t changing and then there’s a little ‘ping’ and the pitch jumps up, then your nut slot is too tight.
This is particularly the case with the the G string, which has the greatest break angle, and may need both widening and shaping (rounding the headstock side so that the string curves toward the tuner rather than having an angle.
Note: filing the nut is doable BUT it can go wrong very quick - it’s very easy to cut the slot too deep, even if you’re trying to widen it. Definitely consider getting a luthier to do this one if you have any doubts.
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Gibson style headstocks are especially sensitive to how the fret slots are cut, both for width of string and break angle. Because I play 11-49s across all my guitars, I’ve had to widen and shape every Gibson nut in my collection.
One way to check is to listen to the guitar unplugged as you tune it - if it seems like you’re turning the tuner but the pitch isn’t changing and then there’s a little ‘ping’ and the pitch jumps up, then your nut slot is too tight.
This is particularly the case with the the G string, which has the greatest break angle, and may need both widening and shaping (rounding the headstock side so that the string curves toward the tuner rather than having an angle.
Note: filing the nut is doable BUT it can go wrong very quick - it’s very easy to cut the slot too deep, even if you’re trying to widen it. Definitely consider getting a luthier to do this one if you have any doubts.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
VinceT
New member
Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
And, to answer your specific question, I would expect a well set-up SG with broken in strings to hold its tune for a 45 minute set, with only the need to check every couple of songs. I tune my Les Paul at the start of a set and it rarely needs more than a slight tweak for a whole gig.
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And, to answer your specific question, I would expect a well set-up SG with broken in strings to hold its tune for a 45 minute set, with only the need to check every couple of songs. I tune my Les Paul at the start of a set and it rarely needs more than a slight tweak for a whole gig.
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Re: Guitar Staying in Tune Expectations
Ok so the issue maybe the tuner I was using. My VOX has a built in tuner. I compared it with another tuner and my guitar is staying in tune better than I thought. Plus the G string in tune in the VOX tuner was a little sharp.
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Ok so the issue maybe the tuner I was using. My VOX has a built in tuner. I compared it with another tuner and my guitar is staying in tune better than I thought. Plus the G string in tune in the VOX tuner was a little sharp.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
