Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

A

Adieu

New member
Couple HUNDRED hours of play on it since it was last tuned... a Les Paul copy I haven't plugged in for ages and just used to give my fingers a workout while watching TV

Checked with a tuner, biggest discrepancy was the 6th string @ a whopping 3 or 4 cents off

What am I doing right / what is everyone else doing wrong??!

Strings DR, tuneamatic, bone nut, 45-year-old sealed Gotoh tuners (non-locking, obviously)
 
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Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

I thought you meant to say "I haven't tuned any of my guitars since 2017".

A really stable neck and a well cut nut will do that for you. Guitars really only ever go out of tune because of strings binding at certain spots or the neck shifting with the environment.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

Chistopher said:
I thought you meant to say "I haven't tuned any of my guitars since 2017".
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Mmm... possibly guilty? I'm just surprised how spot-on this thing was, considering

But what's with some guys needing major tuner turns pretty much every time they play? And Im not even referring to guitars with tremolos
 
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Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

Adieu said:
Mmm... possibly??

But what's with some guys needing major tuner turns pretty much every time they play? And Im not even referring to guitars with tremolos
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Poorly cut nuts or saddles on the bridge causing the string to bind and not returning to it's original position. Too many wraps around the tuning post can also cause issues.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

And weather. Temperature and humidity changes can suck.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

How many performances is that? I generally don't have to tune guitars much (or break strings), but playing outside shows in Florida and then taking the guitars inside in the AC will certainly get them out of tune.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

I haven't tuned a guitar since I discovered how well my neighbors dog can sing. Six years and counting.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

In florida, it depends on the weather. I've pulled guitars out of their cases that haven't been played for a while ... maybe a couple weeks, a month ... and they are still in tune. And then sometimes the same guitar can be slightly out after only a couple of days of sitting. It's hot all summer and the AC in the house is always at the same temperature. But, if it rains for a couple of days, the AC doesn't run as much and the humidity in the house is higher because of it. That probably accounts for a lot. In the "winter" all bets are off. It can be 40 at night and the heat needs to run and then 80 the following day and the AC needs to be turned on in the afternoon. Or it can be 65 at night and 80 during the day. Or, you'll have a couple of fronts come through where it's 35 at night and 65 during the day for a couple of days. Then near 80 again a couple of days later. "Winter" is when the temperature swings in the house down here and the humidity is unpredictable as well.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

Mincer said:
How many performances is that? I generally don't have to tune guitars much (or break strings), but playing outside shows in Florida and then taking the guitars inside in the AC will certainly get them out of tune.
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None, just killing time at home

Back and forth every hour between air conditioned house and hot/cold garage (where I hide from family lol) though, since I tend to have a smoke break then switch between guitar and bass every episode when bingeing TV

So temp range 55 - 110 F or so
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

Adieu said:
Back and forth every hour between air conditioned house and hot/cold garage (where I hide from family lol) though, [...]
So temp range 55 - 110 F or so
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Given this it’s a small miracle imho.
 
Re: Haven't tuned one guitar since 2017

SoCal is dry year-round so if a set of strings is broken in, I believe it. They could probably be 'good enough' while not being spot on.

Seems like humidity affects strings more than temperature imo. I do feel like they would still be more or less accurate depending on the time of year; wonder how in tune they would be in 60-70 deg. January weather vs. 80-100 deg. now.
 
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