switching pickups changes tuning?

[stonabus]

(three single coil strat)
i have it switched to the bridge, and tune it.
i switch to the neck pickup and all the strings are flat.
i switch back to the bridge and they are in tune.
:smack:
uhhhh... a little help?
why and how?

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

Switching Pickups has abolutely nothing to do with your tuning... I mean you're switching between which pickups's signal is sent to the output jack, which affects the sound, so maybe it sounds to you as it was detuned...

Were you testing it with a tuner?

 

[stonabus]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

Switching Pickups has abolutely nothing to do with your tuning... I mean you're switching between which pickups's signal is sent to the output jack, which affects the sound, so maybe it sounds to you as it was detuned...

Were you testing it with a tuner?

actually, it sounded weird at first, so i checked it with a tuner. if i tune the bridge, and switch to the neck its flat. if i tune the neck and switch to the bridge, its sharp. this doesnt happen with my HH guitar.

 

[B2D]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

Unless your pickup switch is somehow interacting with the bridge system, this scenario is impossible. Are you SURE you're not hearing a tonality shift?

 

[Breogan]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

May be you need to intonate your guitar. Not proper intonated guitars can sound out tune when you play far from the nut.

 

[Artie]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

I'm no guitar expert, but I have to agree with the others that what you're describing seems impossible. When you pluck a string, it vibrates. It doesn't know where its vibration is being detected from. If, when you selected a pup, you turned off its magnet, that would have some validity to it . . . but that doesn't happen.

 

[flank]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

single coil pickups can interfere with vibration if they are set too close......see if that is the problem

 

[rspst14]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

single coil pickups can interfere with vibration if they are set too close......see if that is the problem

Yep...all pickups can do this, not just singles. It's possible you have one or more pickups set too close to the strings, and the magnet is pulling them out of tune. What kind of tuner are you using, and how are you tuning. You should always use the neck pickup to tune, and you should never tune with the volume and tone controls on 10. Turn them both down to about 7.

Ryan

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

You should always use the neck pickup to tune, and you should never tune with the volume and tone controls on 10. Turn them both down to about 7.

Ryan

I agree with the statement that you should always use the neck pickup to tune, but why do the volume and tone controls play an important role in this?

 

[rspst14]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

I agree with the statement that you should always use the neck pickup to tune, but why do the volume and tone controls play an important role in this?

Tuning with the controls wide open can give you a jumpy display, especially with higher output pickups. Maybe it's not a big deal with a chromatic tuner, but with a strobe, you'll get readings that are all over the place if the input signal is too strong. Peterson recommends turning down your volume and tone controls when using their tuners for this reason.

Ryan

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

I agree with the statement that you should always use the neck pickup to tune, but why do the volume and tone controls play an important role in this?

+1 about the knobs. Also, why use the neck pickup? Most of my guitars don't even have neck pickups

 

[rspst14]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

+1 about the knobs. Also, why use the neck pickup? Most of my guitars don't even have neck pickups

You can tune accurately with the bridge pickup, it's just a little easier with the neck pickup because of the greater string vibration over the neck pickup. Again, I'm used to my Peterson Strobe, which is extremely sensitive. I get a cleaner reading when tuning with the neck pickup.

Ryan

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

I'm no guitar expert, but I have to agree with the others that what you're describing seems impossible. When you pluck a string, it vibrates. It doesn't know where its vibration is being detected from. If, when you selected a pup, you turned off its magnet, that would have some validity to it . . . but that doesn't happen.

The one possibility is that the tuner hears and is confused by the harmonics it hears from the bridge slot. This is why turning down the tone control helps. Generally, using the neck pup with the tone rolled off is the most consistent method I've found although most modern tuners aren't affected either way.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

Yep...all pickups can do this, not just singles. It's possible you have one or more pickups set too close to the strings, and the magnet is pulling them out of tune. What kind of tuner are you using, and how are you tuning. You should always use the neck pickup to tune, and you should never tune with the volume and tone controls on 10. Turn them both down to about 7.

Ryan

If this were the case the magnets would be pulling it out of tune regardless of pickup chosen.

 

[Artie]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

The one possibility is that the tuner hears and is confused by the harmonics it hears from the bridge slot. This is why turning down the tone control helps. Generally, using the neck pup with the tone rolled off is the most consistent method I've found although most modern tuners aren't affected either way.

Thats a great explanation, and I learned something new today.

I also, slightly misinterpreted the first post. I thought he was saying it "sounded" out of tune . . . as in his ears. It makes more sense now that I understand he means through a tuner.

And, thats an interesting idea with the volume control. I'll have to try that.

 

[stonabus]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

thanks to everyone who replied! you guys rock. i will mess with my guitar when i have time. again, thanks everyone. i never thought about the bridge slot and harmonics..... or the tone nobs.
good stuff, fellas.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: switching pickups changes tuning?

Wow i had no idea about tuning up on the neck pickup if possible and turning down the tone and volume knobs a little...i learned something new today too

This forum rocks!!!