So I have a 2008 American STD with a maglock trem stabilizing unit. It has the same purpose as a tremsetter; it holds place while you bend strings so others do not go out of tune at the same time and the bridge always returns to the zero point. Well, when I bend the B or high E strings, the strings do not fall back into standard pitch and are usually a little sharp or flat. Pressing down on the whammy bar and returning to the zero point, or actually pressing on the string behind the nut brings the strings back into tune. From this observation, is it safe to say that the strings are getting caught up in the nut and I need to widen the string slots in the nut?
interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
- Thread starter BluesGuyJ
- Start date
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
Bob Hartman from the band Petra says to always remember to floss your guitar. He recommends using plain dental floss to clean the nut. I believe I remember hearing in an interview with Van Halen that he oils the nut and saddles on his gear. Perhaps try these and see if it helps.
Bob Hartman from the band Petra says to always remember to floss your guitar. He recommends using plain dental floss to clean the nut. I believe I remember hearing in an interview with Van Halen that he oils the nut and saddles on his gear. Perhaps try these and see if it helps.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
Remember to floss daily! I had never heard this before though, I should try it.
To the OP: My guess is the nut sounds like the first place to look. I used to use a trem lock myself, brought my guitar to a tech when it wouldn't stay in tune. He claimed he figured it out. I got it back and no dice. Then, I brought it to another tech. He said the tremlock was the problem. Took it out and went back to a traditional claw. Still no dice. So then he blocked the trem. Claimed that fixed it. Got it back, still, you guessed it... no dice.
From now on I will try flossing my nuts. :laugh2:
In all seriousness though, I can hear the G, B and sometimes high E strings binding at the nut during a bend, when tuning or with trem use. So, it's obviously one of the few places left for me to solve the problem. I will take it to a tech to get a new nut slotted if the floss doesn't work.
Remember to floss daily! I had never heard this before though, I should try it.
To the OP: My guess is the nut sounds like the first place to look. I used to use a trem lock myself, brought my guitar to a tech when it wouldn't stay in tune. He claimed he figured it out. I got it back and no dice. Then, I brought it to another tech. He said the tremlock was the problem. Took it out and went back to a traditional claw. Still no dice. So then he blocked the trem. Claimed that fixed it. Got it back, still, you guessed it... no dice.
From now on I will try flossing my nuts. :laugh2:
In all seriousness though, I can hear the G, B and sometimes high E strings binding at the nut during a bend, when tuning or with trem use. So, it's obviously one of the few places left for me to solve the problem. I will take it to a tech to get a new nut slotted if the floss doesn't work.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
I've had good luck with tuning on guitars with a bone nut. I try to floss mine whenever I change strings. I haven't tried the oil yet...I've heard of guys using sewing machine oil and WD-40 on it...haven't tried the oil yet. A good setup helps too. lol
I've had good luck with tuning on guitars with a bone nut. I try to floss mine whenever I change strings. I haven't tried the oil yet...I've heard of guys using sewing machine oil and WD-40 on it...haven't tried the oil yet. A good setup helps too. lol
HALENisking
New member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
Check for the saddles and string tree too, could be either of those
Check for the saddles and string tree too, could be either of those
HALENisking
New member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
try and see if it's grabbing the string, just like a nut or a deep saddle slot can. When I bend 1 1/2 + whole steps on the high E of my strat, I hear the string creaking like an old door against the string tree. You said your high E and B are the problem right? They both sit under it.
try and see if it's grabbing the string, just like a nut or a deep saddle slot can. When I bend 1 1/2 + whole steps on the high E of my strat, I hear the string creaking like an old door against the string tree. You said your high E and B are the problem right? They both sit under it.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
My nut that binds is graphite. I used to use big bends nut sauce on a tusq nut but I have never used it on a graphite nut. It also has an unfinished wenge neck with a ziricote fretboard so no wd-40 on that nut. I have had setups done by 3 different luthiers in MN before I moved. None of their setups fixed the problem at all sadly. I have become pretty good at setups now but the graphite nut is 8 years old now with heavy, heavy use. About 3 to 5 hours of play every day for the past 8 years now. I am sure the nut could use a good flossin'.
My nut that binds is graphite. I used to use big bends nut sauce on a tusq nut but I have never used it on a graphite nut. It also has an unfinished wenge neck with a ziricote fretboard so no wd-40 on that nut. I have had setups done by 3 different luthiers in MN before I moved. None of their setups fixed the problem at all sadly. I have become pretty good at setups now but the graphite nut is 8 years old now with heavy, heavy use. About 3 to 5 hours of play every day for the past 8 years now. I am sure the nut could use a good flossin'.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
Ahh so graphite...those are supposed to not bind I thought...? A flossing is probably needed lol I just checked and Van Halen would oil his nut but it was a brass nut.
Ahh so graphite...those are supposed to not bind I thought...? A flossing is probably needed lol I just checked and Van Halen would oil his nut but it was a brass nut.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
It definitely did not bind when it was brand new. This issue began after about 3 years of playing it all the time.
I have always wanted a brass nut. Maybe someday.
It definitely did not bind when it was brand new. This issue began after about 3 years of playing it all the time.
I have always wanted a brass nut. Maybe someday.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
I've always been intrigued by brass but have never tried it. Makes sense from the perspective of brass is great for saddles and trem blocks...
I've always been intrigued by brass but have never tried it. Makes sense from the perspective of brass is great for saddles and trem blocks...
EDX
New member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
snakeaces you migh buy a new nut, graphtec sells pre-slotted nuts, so you only take off the old and fit the new.
for the strat, i say, oil your string tree, smooth the nut slots, you can do this with an old string of the same gauge, just retire your actual string, take the old string and start to use it to softly "file" the slot until it gets smooth (you can do that by handling the string with your hands or with a small hacksaw) be shure to do it slow and soft, you only want to floss and polish the slot, not actually file it deeper or wider
snakeaces you migh buy a new nut, graphtec sells pre-slotted nuts, so you only take off the old and fit the new.
for the strat, i say, oil your string tree, smooth the nut slots, you can do this with an old string of the same gauge, just retire your actual string, take the old string and start to use it to softly "file" the slot until it gets smooth (you can do that by handling the string with your hands or with a small hacksaw) be shure to do it slow and soft, you only want to floss and polish the slot, not actually file it deeper or wider
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
HALENisking
New member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
After trying everything, (long post, but please read)
Including all of the above, TusqXL NOT just Tusq, is the only way to go. Besides an LSR. TusqXL is like night and day even against their regular Tusq , I talked to the owner for a while, he sent a couple free, and they are a highly compressed form of a Teflon mix. The radius was good for all my guitars right out of the bag. Had to shim one and file down another, but just the bottom for overall height. The only filing I did was behind where the string touched the nut.
I took a .0095 and tuned it till it broke. Then I put my .009 back in place, so it had a little bit of micro micro room to NOT get stuck. I did that with each string, 1 at a time so not to stress the neck. For my G, I used a .016 gauge and tuned it up to C, as they were getting too thick at that point, then I took it off and put my .015 back for my G string. On my .034 A string I used a .036, tuned up to C# on that one, stretched it a little, and then put my .034 back.
After all this the strings are only touching on half of the nut as the rest is filed away by me ( SEE FRADUA STYLE )- he is a Luthier you can look up on this website, he has lots of great videos. I used his style of filing, and added my own spin with the higher gauge string to leave a molecular space for the string without harming it in anyway.
I have the tusqXL on every guitar I own, with one being an LSR. I am proud of my trick and I think Fradua would be proud too.
For extra luck and mojo, I can't help but use a touch of graphite when I am doing my heavy gauge trick. A little gets ground into the slots , nice and shiny with the Teflon. Important: Down only trems don't work. They always come back sharp, the G being the worst. Maybe a F.Rose or some other full locking nut and bridge might be ok, but I dislike them. If you use a floating trem like Fender, you must have locking tuners that stagger so you don't NEED a string tree. Just one more thing to get stuck in. Go Schaller rear locking. Double check the stagger. I have em on 1 Tele, 2 Strats.
TUSQXL, BUY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! I swear this is a great way to go, I also have ben using, on recommendation from the Duncan Forum, Nut Sauce on all the metal pieces (saddles, fulcrums), and I drilled the saddle plate so the string goes directly from the block to the saddle, I think Wilkenson or Gotoh does this also. So it only has 2 points touching: the saddle, the nut. The locking tuners get so they hardly even make a half turn, so they almost don't count. This eliminates 2 points of touch, the plate and the string trees.
Forgive the long post, this stuff works. PM me with any questions, I'll give my number and you can delete or block my number so you know I am not going to bother you. Not that I would, but just so you don't think I am a phone stalker, or I can just PM you back.
SJBuffington
After trying everything, (long post, but please read)
Including all of the above, TusqXL NOT just Tusq, is the only way to go. Besides an LSR. TusqXL is like night and day even against their regular Tusq , I talked to the owner for a while, he sent a couple free, and they are a highly compressed form of a Teflon mix. The radius was good for all my guitars right out of the bag. Had to shim one and file down another, but just the bottom for overall height. The only filing I did was behind where the string touched the nut.
I took a .0095 and tuned it till it broke. Then I put my .009 back in place, so it had a little bit of micro micro room to NOT get stuck. I did that with each string, 1 at a time so not to stress the neck. For my G, I used a .016 gauge and tuned it up to C, as they were getting too thick at that point, then I took it off and put my .015 back for my G string. On my .034 A string I used a .036, tuned up to C# on that one, stretched it a little, and then put my .034 back.
After all this the strings are only touching on half of the nut as the rest is filed away by me ( SEE FRADUA STYLE )- he is a Luthier you can look up on this website, he has lots of great videos. I used his style of filing, and added my own spin with the higher gauge string to leave a molecular space for the string without harming it in anyway.
I have the tusqXL on every guitar I own, with one being an LSR. I am proud of my trick and I think Fradua would be proud too.
For extra luck and mojo, I can't help but use a touch of graphite when I am doing my heavy gauge trick. A little gets ground into the slots , nice and shiny with the Teflon. Important: Down only trems don't work. They always come back sharp, the G being the worst. Maybe a F.Rose or some other full locking nut and bridge might be ok, but I dislike them. If you use a floating trem like Fender, you must have locking tuners that stagger so you don't NEED a string tree. Just one more thing to get stuck in. Go Schaller rear locking. Double check the stagger. I have em on 1 Tele, 2 Strats.
TUSQXL, BUY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! I swear this is a great way to go, I also have ben using, on recommendation from the Duncan Forum, Nut Sauce on all the metal pieces (saddles, fulcrums), and I drilled the saddle plate so the string goes directly from the block to the saddle, I think Wilkenson or Gotoh does this also. So it only has 2 points touching: the saddle, the nut. The locking tuners get so they hardly even make a half turn, so they almost don't count. This eliminates 2 points of touch, the plate and the string trees.
Forgive the long post, this stuff works. PM me with any questions, I'll give my number and you can delete or block my number so you know I am not going to bother you. Not that I would, but just so you don't think I am a phone stalker, or I can just PM you back.
SJBuffington
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
I had one in my home-brew scalloped malmsteen frankocaster. It was a pain to work with. I managed to form the correct base radius after many painful hours working with coarse grained sandpaper, and after destroying at least pair of gloves. The sound was ok. But nothing that would justify all the effort. A purist's gimmick. Also had the GF brass block. Did not improve the guitar in the slightest. If the wood sucks no upgrade can give the sound back.
I had one in my home-brew scalloped malmsteen frankocaster. It was a pain to work with. I managed to form the correct base radius after many painful hours working with coarse grained sandpaper, and after destroying at least pair of gloves. The sound was ok. But nothing that would justify all the effort. A purist's gimmick. Also had the GF brass block. Did not improve the guitar in the slightest. If the wood sucks no upgrade can give the sound back.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
I definitely agree that bad wood can't be upgraded to sound good. I've added a big brass block to a cheaper LTD and saw more of an improvement in sustain than tone...but on a Floyd the strings don't go through the block itself so perhaps thats why. I like the solid steel blocks on all of my strats. Was intrigued by brass...but the best tuning stability I've had is with bone.
I definitely agree that bad wood can't be upgraded to sound good. I've added a big brass block to a cheaper LTD and saw more of an improvement in sustain than tone...but on a Floyd the strings don't go through the block itself so perhaps thats why. I like the solid steel blocks on all of my strats. Was intrigued by brass...but the best tuning stability I've had is with bone.
Re: interesting tuning issue with Strat; help me out!
I must agree on brass nuts sucking,
In Tacoma, Wa. back in the early '70's was a guy I knew who was making them and selling them nationally. I did not know him well, but I think he was affiliated with a known brand name. Anyway, his nut would stick like super glue no matter how long you polished the brass nut.
And they got green. I don't know how much better the new Gibson ones are (if at all) but I would never use one, based on my own experience over the years.
SJB
I must agree on brass nuts sucking,
In Tacoma, Wa. back in the early '70's was a guy I knew who was making them and selling them nationally. I did not know him well, but I think he was affiliated with a known brand name. Anyway, his nut would stick like super glue no matter how long you polished the brass nut.
And they got green. I don't know how much better the new Gibson ones are (if at all) but I would never use one, based on my own experience over the years.
SJB
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