My new guitar keeps going out of tune.

[marty_the_westie]

I recently bought an Ibanez sa 160 that I have totally modded (pics soon to follow). Along with new pups, I had a graphite nut installed to replace the plastic one, I had Sperzel locking tuners installed, and had the tremelo saddles lubed with some kind of lubricant made especially for trems. Problem is, the guitar is still not holding tune very well. It might be that the nut needs a little more filing back at the shop. Also, i put strings that were still sealed in their pack, but are about 10 months old. And maybe the trem is causing the guitar to go out of tune. What does everyone think is the likely culpret?

 

[Tom M]

Re: My new guitar keeps going out of tune.

Did you stretch the strings properly after putting them on?

Is the trem floating or resting on the body?

Are you intonated correctly?

 

[marty_the_westie]

Re: My new guitar keeps going out of tune.

The guitar had a complete set up at the shop where the work was done. That included setting the intonation. The trem is almost right on the body but not completely. I have been stretching the strings since I've put them on.

 

[Pyro]

Re: My new guitar keeps going out of tune.

you have almost the same mod list i have on my ibanez GIO.
do you have the stock string trees or did you replace them with smoother ones? i replaced mine. and like you i have the sperzel locking tuners. only i dont have a graphite nut, i have an ivory nut....doubt that makes a difference.
another thing i do you could try is use vaseline to lubricate the nut and sting trees. that will help the strings move smoother. mine stays in tune farily well. i can hit the whammy bar and literally dive-bomb down 2 whole steps in pitch and still stays in perfect tune...tahts if i keep it lubbed well.

 

[Thames]

Re: My new guitar keeps going out of tune.

Check all of this, and then, if the proble is still there... then you have a much bigger problem : unstable neck wood.