Help Lubricating a Trem..

Butch Snyder

Butch Snyder

ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
I have a Standard Strat HSS model. It has a set of Fender locking nuts installed. I want to be able to use the trem. I don't do the wild dive bomb stuff like I used to; but I do use it quite a lot. I have noticed that, even though I have locking tuners, the strings will go sharp if I use it a lot. That tells me that the strings might be hanging on the nut. I was going to try rubbing pencil lead in the nut slots to see if that would give me the slippage I need.

Thoughts?
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

Take it to a good shop and get a pro to make you a good high quality nut.

Putting lube of any kind if a nut is always a temp "fix" and will never ever work as well as a well cut nut.
 
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Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

What string gauge, how many winds on the tuning post, since you have locking tuners?
Also make sure your "lock" is tight enough.
Anything thicker than 10s could be a problem with a Strat since nut slots are usually cut for 9s.

Try this, tune to pitch, play each string open first, then press down that string behind the nut so it gets sharp, release and check the pitch on that string again. This will pin-point any problems with nut binding. Remember: even guitars with flawless hardware and geometry can stay a bit sharp until it is in the neutral position meaning you didn't pluck a single note after tremolo use. As soon as the string vibrates again it should find its way back by itself, with no force or retuning.
How high is the top nut on the E, A and D? Is it shaped nicely so that thicker strings can 'breathe'?
If it turns out that the nut is fine, investigate the bridge. Check the knife edge if it's a 2-point tremolo. If it's a vintage, check if any of the 6 screws is chewed, bent or maybe the hole in the body was drilled at an angle.
Then check your tremolo spring claw and spring ends, there should be no rough spots. Also check your intonation it might be that the saddles are way back covering the holes which makes a string to kink in odd places. Lastly, take the bridge apart and bewel the holes on the block slightly where it meets the bottom of the bridge plate.
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

constant mesh said:
What string gauge, how many winds on the tuning post, since you have locking tuners?
Also make sure your "lock" is tight enough.
Anything thicker than 10s could be a problem with a Strat since nut slots are usually cut for 9s.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I do wind about 3-5 turns of string on the posts. I also use 10's. They're brand new strings too; maybe they're not quite stretched enough.
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

It could be fresh strings problem, but they usually go flat not sharp.
With locking tuners 1 full turn is the max required. The less the string, the more rigid it will be, but if you wind up a lot more it will squeeze before it actually moves.

Don't be afraid of greasing up the parts, just use sewing machine oil or oil for pneumatic tools like air ratchets for compressors and such. Any hardware store should have it, regular plain white mineral oil with no acidic additives. Put a tiny drop in each slot, in each saddle, string tree ... wait, what kind of string tree is there anyway? Is it a modern/deluxe "T" post or an "M"? :) Those older M-types that were just a bent sheet of steel with a spacer underneath can cause horrible tuning instabilities. Try to loosen them slightly so they self-adjust and then retighten. If it turns while tightening, just turn it back CCW slightly and tighten from there until they are nice and perpendicular to the strings.

Also try what I have described before. These are all non-destructive and free options you can play around before taking it to someone who issues a receit :)
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

i have been using NUT SAUCE for about 6 years or so, got a great deal @ a guitar show in chicago, purchased 5x for $ 25 , gave my 2 brothers & a friend each a tube, kept 2 , it works great, also read on a forum a couple of yrs ago about radio shack PRECISION LUBRICATOR PEN part # 64-2301a about $ 4.00 , i got one but haven't got around to trying it yet , back before the nut sauce ,i used to buy powdered graphite & would mix it w/ vasoline to a thick paste, just kept a little jar on the bench for restrings-setups , it woked great, used a toothpick to apply it, hope it helps you.. did a search , here is the penhttp://www.weirdstuff.com/cgi-bin/item/20196
 
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Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

If it is a new guitar and the nut is in good shape just take it to a good shop and have the slots opened up a bit...

Nut sauce, chap stick, lube pens, KY, Vaso, pencil shavings, etc...these are all temp fixes and not good for much except getting through a gig IMHO...

Trust me on that...I'm using Nut Sauce to get through gigs with my 335 (which has a Bigsby) but I'm set up to take it to the shop tomorrow. I can't wait to not have to use lube every string change!!
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

Butch Snyder said:
I have a Standard Strat HSS model. It has a set of Fender locking nuts installed. I want to be able to use the trem. I don't do the wild dive bomb stuff like I used to; but I do use it quite a lot. I have noticed that, even though I have locking tuners, the strings will go sharp if I use it a lot. That tells me that the strings might be hanging on the nut. I was going to try rubbing pencil lead in the nut slots to see if that would give me the slippage I need.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Just to verify your original post stated it has Fender locking "NUTS" installed. Did you mean locking tuners? Because you shouldn't be getting any slip out of a locking nut.

I use a graphite nut, graphite saddles & locking tuners. It works really well for me, but if you fell there could be some additional issues try nutsause

http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/6480/Guitars/Accessories/Big_Bends/Nut_Sause.htm
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

the guy who invented fire said:
If it is a new guitar and the nut is in good shape just take it to a good shop and have the slots opened up a bit...

Nut sauce, chap stick, lube pens, KY, Vaso, pencil shavings, etc...these are all temp fixes and not good for much except getting through a gig IMHO...

Trust me on that...I'm using Nut Sauce to get through gigs with my 335 (which has a Bigsby) but I'm set up to take it to the shop tomorrow. I can't wait to not have to use lube every string change!!
Click to expand...

You'll still need lube even with a perfectly cut nut.
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

Bludave said:
Just to verify your original post stated it has Fender locking "NUTS" installed. Did you mean locking tuners? Because you shouldn't be getting any slip out of a locking nut.

I use a graphite nut, graphite saddles & locking tuners. It works really well for me, but if you fell there could be some additional issues try nutsause

http://www.long-mcquade.com/products/6480/Guitars/Accessories/Big_Bends/Nut_Sause.htm
Click to expand...

Umm, yeah, I meant tuners....
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

Don't want to be a downer, but.... My Jeff beck Strat never stayed in tune, and I lubed that thing 6 ways from Sunday. My mim Strat w 50's style tuners and a Callaham trad style bridge never oes out of tune. Some strats will just work better than others. I learned the expensive way...
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

tubecrunch said:
Don't want to be a downer, but.... My Jeff beck Strat never stayed in tune, and I lubed that thing 6 ways from Sunday. My mim Strat w 50's style tuners and a Callaham trad style bridge never oes out of tune. Some strats will just work better than others. I learned the expensive way...
Click to expand...

It's all in the set up...

My JV Strat was a nightmare the day I brought it home and I made it very good with a good set up...however the Callaham trem did help as it is simply a better built piece of hardware and by nature has less tuning hangups.
 
Re: Help Lubricating a Trem..

Making sure the nut is well made and well slotted will make a big difference, as will making sure that you aren't over-wrapping your locking tuners. (They should get about half a turn; over-wrapping them defeats their purpose.) Trying to match the strings' break angles over the nut will help as well.
 
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