My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

VergDan

VergDan

New member
It's an Ibanez fixed bridge guitar. I changed the tuners and it stopped going flat after some crazy bends and vibratos.
But it started to go sharp after a few days of playing, and I can't figure out why. I still bend and do vibratos like hell.
I'm planning to lubricate the nut with a pencil next time I change my string.
I rest my guitar on my bed with nothing supporting the neck , could this be the cause?
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

Not sure where you live, but right now at this time of the year the weather is a big factor for me. I try to keep up with them, but sometimes its a pain, so I generally pick a couple and play them and get them adjusted and good to go.
Usually for me, its a slight tweak of the truss rod, then a re-tune.
If Im feeling energetic (or bored playing those ones), Ill move onto a couple more, its generally a never ending rotation like that for me.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

After a few days is perfectly reasonable, and no-one should expect guitars to hold tune indefinitely.
Its when they're going out of tune in a song or a few bends worth that you have issues.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

metalchurch79 said:
Not sure where you live, but right now at this time of the year the weather is a big factor for me. I try to keep up with them, but sometimes its a pain, so I generally pick a couple and play them and get them adjusted and good to go.
Usually for me, its a slight tweak of the truss rod, then a re-tune.
If Im feeling energetic (or bored playing those ones), Ill move onto a couple more, its generally a never ending rotation like that for me.
Click to expand...

It's really hot where I live. I crank the AC sometimes and after a while I turn it off, maybe the temperature is messing with the neck I guess.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

AlexR said:
After a few days is perfectly reasonable, and no-one should expect guitars to hold tune indefinitely.
Its when they're going out of tune in a song or a few bends worth that you have issues.
Click to expand...

Maybe I worry too much. It stays in tune for two days maybe, and I play a lot.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

Yes, honestly Im willing to bet thats what it is. You mentioned nothing else that sticks out to me as a problem. Like Alex said, you almost have to expect a little fluctuation, but if you continue having other problems then its time to re evalute.

You didnt go up or down a guage of strings did you? Catching in the nut is the only thing really that would get my attention.
Wouldnt hurt to be preactive and lube it up with something. Id do that anyways actually.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

metalchurch79 said:
Yes, honestly Im willing to bet thats what it is. You mentioned nothing else that sticks out to me as a problem. Like Alex said, you almost have to expect a little fluctuation, but if you continue having other problems then its time to re evalute.

You didnt go up or down a guage of strings did you? Catching in the nut is the only thing really that would get my attention.
Wouldnt hurt to be preactive and lube it up with something. Id do that anyways actually.
Click to expand...

Never changed my string gauge. I guess I'm just worrying too much because my old epiphone prophecy has grovers on it and stays in tune very well.
All I can do is lubricating the nut now. Thanks a lot for the help.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

I check my tuning after every song. I wouldn't be to concerned about it. BUT I would suggest you keep your guitar in the case. Its safer and in warmer days and colder days it is protected better from High or low humidity. Keep in mind your guitar is made of wood & it is alive. It breaths and when the air is most it will affect the instrument as well as when it is dry.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

My guitars are living creatures that breath? *sniffs coffee*
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

VergDan said:
It's really hot where I live. I crank the AC sometimes and after a while I turn it off, maybe the temperature is messing with the neck I guess.
Click to expand...

Temperature can affect some guitars more than others. Doesn't seem to be the type of wood, just certain pieces. Necks especially, of course.

Materials can make a difference sometimes though- back in the 80s I had an aluminum-neck Kramer that I could only use early in a set. The aluminum heated up under stage lights and the guitar went way sharp. We had a big wheeled trunk with seven or eight guitar cases in it. If that came in from the truck hot or cold, our stage tech had to make sure the Kramer sat out for an hour or two to match the ambient temp of the venue or it was unusable.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

I have a floyded Ibanez that has stayed in tune for at least a year

I have a hard tail that I check each time I pick it up
its always close

I have a Les Paul that stays in tune as well

the Paul and the hardtail have graphite nuts
and my house stays one temperature all day

its the AC thats messing with you
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

Temperature and humidity. Get a hygrometer to measure RH, and fo what you can to keep consistency. A/C and wood stoves in the winter can both be hell on guitars. Keeping a guitar in it's case when not being used is always a good idea.

Bill
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

I have 32 guitars and basses, including acoustics. I have one electric that goes sharp all by itself. It hangs by the neck/head on a wall hanger just like 9 others that do not go out of tune on their own. It gets the same temperature the others do.

I've slackened the truss rod so much the nut on the end of it rattles, and every time I pick it up, I have to adjust it even more to make the neck bend forward.

It is not the only mahogany-bodied, maple and ebony neck/board guitar that I have, yet it's the only one that behaves this way. It has 9s and is tuned to A=440. When I pick it up, it has increased almost evenly on all strings a full step, as if you put a capo on the first fret.

When I retune, I go below the target note and back up to the target. I do not tune down to the target and stop. Bending strings does not affect the tuning either way.

I have guitars all over the room, leaning against the walls and TV stand and shelves that do not budge a semitone.

If it's going sharp, the neck is flexing backwards. If it's only half the strings, it's probably twisting.
 
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

lol my v has shifted tunings with wheater changes these weeks, i tuned it on july 17th, last 2 weeks of july we had rainy and cold weather, how cold? around 18 celsius at noon on july!, during the coldest day my v dropped almost a half-step on all strings so i tuned it up, this week weather got back to tropical/subtropical summer mode and my v got sharp, over a quarter-step sharp on thursday i had to retune again to play well.

so yeah if the area where you live is experimenting abrupt weather changes expect your guitar's tune to shift along, some necks would shift more than others of course, necks with carbon fiber reinforcements or titanium truss rods should shift barely otherwise there's a problem with them
 
Last edited:
Re: My guitar goes sharp after a few days, why?

Humidity is more a factor than temp IMO,,,,,,but obviously temp has an effect also, and especially in combination with humidity changes.
I'd always say case it if it's not being used daily. Cases are not airtight but it is at least an additional buffer-zone.
Climate control is helpful in many regards for most music gear. (even if it's just for those one or two rooms)
 
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