My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

[Diego]

On my Squier Strat.

I've got a well cut bone nut lubed with graphite from a pencil, this exact trem, fresh 10-46 Ernie Ball strings well winded to the tuners and well stretched too. Stock crappy tuners though, but the other strings don't seem to be bothered.

The thing is, after serious trem use all strings return almost perfectly to pitch, excepting the G string which goes sharp. Always. Never flat, always sharp. And if I bend it after the trem use, it goes flat inmediately. I've applied graphite to the nut plenty of times already, and it's the same story. I assumed it could be getting stuck to the nut, but I think I've ruled that out.

Would Fender Bullet strings help? Supposedly those stay put in the trem much better than regular ball ends.

I don't know what else to discard, really. Anyone's got any ideas?

Thanks in advance bros!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Do you have a string tree on the G & D?

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

when you hit the bar the strings physically move toward the tuners, and when you let up on the bar, they have to move back.

if it doesnt move all the way back it'll be sharp. so this means its either getting stuck in the nut or on a string tree.

on my strat i took some 2000 grit sandpaper and cleaned up the nut, and then i oil it.

the G seems to be the most problematic, mine will sometimes be sharp after some bar use, but a good bend will put it back, as the tension on both sides of the nut actually wants to be balanced, you just have to help it sometimes

 

[d1dsj]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

I'm having exactly the same problem with the G string on my G&L Legacy. There is no string tree for the D & G strings so I guess it's the nuts driving us nuts?

 

[guitarded]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

My strat has locking tuners.... no string trees, and an lsr nut and still had that problem. I tried bullets for that reason and it improved very little plus I thought the bullets felt way different than the ernie balls I am used to in a bad way.

One thing you could try is lubing the saddles and the tunnel the strings pass through the body... That helped me out a lot. I use that nut sauce stuff they sell at M.F.

On my Squier Strat.

I've got a well cut bone nut lubed with graphite from a pencil, this exact trem, fresh 10-46 Ernie Ball strings well winded to the tuners and well stretched too. Stock crappy tuners though, but the other strings don't seem to be bothered.

The thing is, after serious trem use all strings return almost perfectly to pitch, excepting the G string which goes sharp. Always. Never flat, always sharp. And if I bend it after the trem use, it goes flat inmediately. I've applied graphite to the nut plenty of times already, and it's the same story. I assumed it could be getting stuck to the nut, but I think I've ruled that out.

Would Fender Bullet strings help? Supposedly those stay put in the trem much better than regular ball ends.

I don't know what else to discard, really. Anyone's got any ideas?

Thanks in advance bros!

 

[scottish]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

id try giving the saddle groove a very light once over with a file. nothing heavy, just enough to smooth out anything there that could be catching the string. i agree with you that it sounds like you have ruled out problems at the nut.

possible adding a D/G string could help too if it isnt already there.

 

[Diego]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Yes, I have string trees from 1st to 4th strings. Never thought of lubing them, will try with graphite and tell you how it goes! I'll put graphite on the saddles too.

Though things just improved one hell of a lot after adding some tension to the springs... it seems the trem wasn't returning all the way back or something. But the trem action is a bit stiff now. Will have to find a sweet spot!

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Yes, I have string trees from 1st to 4th strings. Never thought of lubing them, will try with graphite and tell you how it goes! I'll put graphite on the saddles too.

Though things just improved one hell of a lot after adding some tension to the springs... it seems the trem wasn't returning all the way back or something. But the trem action is a bit stiff now. Will have to find a sweet spot!

yeah there is a sweet spot there, sometimes a little extra spring tension will pop the string back too.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

ith the LSR nut, try a little WD40 on a Q-tip and dab it on the rollers. You need to lube those once in awhile.

Sharp strings after trem use usually indicates a binding nut slot.

 

[J Moose]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

The G on my PRS goes sharp too... locking tuners, graphite nut or whatever material it is... the stock PRS nut, no string trees & trem set for no pullback. Always goes a hair sharp coming back from a dive or after enough vibrato.

Whats a good alternative to nut files for something like this?

Could I use a single edge razorblade to comb the slot?

 

[jimijames]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

This happened to me too until I set up my strat trem to float - Oddly enough it returns to pitch better with the bridge 1/8" off the body than it did screwed down to the top... Although YMMV because 6-point trems are strange and fickle creatures...

Also, what I find really helps is that graphite powder you can get at most hardware stores - we have some at my house left over from when I did the pinewood derby as a kid - just shoot a little into the nut slot when you change the strings. Although, I feel like big bends nut sauce would work better and you wouldn't have to apply it as often. But graphite works just fine for my purposes.

Just my .02

edit - Duh, I didn't fully read your OP - you've tried graphite already. There may still be a burr or some such nonsense in the nut slot, I find that some rigorous bending usually brings the G back to pitch. Other than that, I can't really offer any help - all my trems seem to be very well behaved.

 

[scottish]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

The G on my PRS goes sharp too... locking tuners, graphite nut or whatever material it is... the stock PRS nut, no string trees & trem set for no pullback. Always goes a hair sharp coming back from a dive or after enough vibrato.

Whats a good alternative to nut files for something like this?

Could I use a single edge razorblade to comb the slot?

id avoid a razor blade and try using some really fine sand paper if you can fit it in the groove.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

I used to use fine (1000 - 1500) wet/dry sandpaper wrapped around automotive feeler guages with my PRS CU24.

 

[J Moose]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

I used to use fine (1000 - 1500) wet/dry sandpaper wrapped around automotive feeler guages with my PRS CU24.

Hey, I've got BOTH of those implements here!

Good idea...

Couple three passes through the slot should be enough to undo any burrs huh?

 

[Diego]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Forget what I said about the springs. Making the trem float or stick hard to the back didn't help one bit.

I just removed the string tree for the G and D strings. And guess what? The G string now returns to pitch. It's all in the string trees...

Staggered tuners for this one.

 

[scottish]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Forget what I said about the springs. Making the trem float or stick hard to the back didn't help one bit.

I just removed the string tree for the G and D strings. And guess what? The G string now returns to pitch. It's all in the string trees...

Staggered tuners for this one.

string trees can have burrs too you know, lol

 

[Diego]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Yup. These are the cheapest string trees you can find, and they won't take graphite.

So I'll have to buy some quality string trees. Graphtechs I guess?

 

[DLT]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Yes, I have string trees from 1st to 4th strings. Never thought of lubing them, will try with graphite and tell you how it goes! I'll put graphite on the saddles too.

Though things just improved one hell of a lot after adding some tension to the springs... it seems the trem wasn't returning all the way back or something. But the trem action is a bit stiff now. Will have to find a sweet spot!

Yup. These are the cheapest string trees you can find, and they won't take graphite.

So I'll have to buy some quality string trees. Graphtechs I guess?

I was told to put a little chap stick under the string tree with a tooth pick.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

Hey, I've got BOTH of those implements here!

Good idea...

Couple three passes through the slot should be enough to undo any burrs huh?

A couple of passes should clean it up. Just remember to run the "file" from the neck towards the headstock and hold the angle down towards the headstock. The leading edge of the nuts slot (fret board side) should be higher than the trailing edge. If you hollow out the leading edge you will throw your intonation off and the string can ring funny because without the leading edge supporting the string, the string can vibrate in the slot just enough to dampen it.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: My 3rd string always goes sharp after trem use

get a locking nut