How to troubleshoot trem issues?

[misterwhizzy]

I have a Fender Player Strat that looks great and plays well, but every time I so much as touch the trem bar, it goes out of tune. What are common causes and solutions? My initial guess is lubricating the nut? What's the best one to use, if that's my first stop?

 

[ehdwuld]

the posts that the trem rocks on
may have a bur or a flat spot buff them a bit

and chapstick to lubricate

could be strings hanging at the bridge as well as the nut

check there too

 

[Mincer]

It is almost always due to friction somewhere. Look at the posts, saddles, nut, string tree, and tuners.

 

[GuitarStv]

It is almost always due to friction somewhere. Look at the posts, saddles, nut, string tree, and tuners.

Yep.

Lead from a pencil and rubbing some graphite in all the nut slots along with chapstick on the posts will work OK as lubricant. I actually like Jig-A-Loo teflon spray for this though. It goes on wet, then dries in place and will keep things lubricated without attracting dirt (which I find most wet lubes do). Ensure that it has been strung neatly/properly (coil going from up high to down low) so there's no stretching or movement on the posts above the nut. If there are grooves/burrs/or any patina of corrosion on the saddles, sand/grind/buff them down to a polished finish before lubing. Do the same thing with the underside of the string trees.