why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

You don't snug up a truss rod to make sure it's tight...and a truss rod has little to do with a guitar staying in tune...

You have slippage happening somewhere...tuners are the most likely cause.

After that make sure your nut is cut properly...flossing the nut slots is a waste of time...floss won't do anything.

Take the guitar and get it set up...have the tech that does the set up check the tuners for slippage...if they are slipping replace them.

THIS IS ALL ASSUMING THAT THE GUITAR IS INTONATED PROPERLY AND THAT THE INTONATION IS NOT THE ISSUE...

I dont think it is the tuners because im doing the "self locking" string wrap thing when I put the string on. It shouldn't be slipping at least is what im trying to say

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

What about dropping a string guage? would that help? if the slots are too tight for 10's (what i have on there right now), shouldnt 9's be better cuz they are smaller and have more room to slide in the slots?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

I dont think it is the tuners because im doing the "self locking" string wrap thing when I put the string on. It shouldn't be slipping at least is what im trying to say

Just because the string is not slipping on the post doesn't mean that the tuners themselves are not slipping.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

What about dropping a string guage? would that help? if the slots are too tight for 10's (what i have on there right now), shouldnt 9's be better cuz they are smaller and have more room to slide in the slots?

You should NEVER choose something like string gauge because they "work" on your guitar...make the damn guitar work with the strings you want to use!!!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

You should NEVER choose something like string gauge because they "work" on your guitar...make the damn guitar work with the strings you want to use!!!

but should it work, in theory? lol

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

but should it work, in theory? lol

Sure...

My point is first, thats not a fix.

Second if the nut is cut s badly that it's the issue lighter strings will likely still not stay in tune...

Have you ever set the intonation or had it set?

What kind of tuners are on the guitar?

How old is the guitar?

When it "goes out of tune" does it go out in the same places? From bending? Or is it where you tune the guitar, play a few chords and it's good then a few different chords in different positions are not out of tune??

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

Sure...

My point is first, thats not a fix.

Second if the nut is cut s badly that it's the issue lighter strings will likely still not stay in tune...

Have you ever set the intonation or had it set?

What kind of tuners are on the guitar?

How old is the guitar?

When it "goes out of tune" does it go out in the same places? From bending? Or is it where you tune the guitar, play a few chords and it's good then a few different chords in different positions are not out of tune??

2009 gibson les paul custom . Came stock with gold grovers. im pretty sure its the nut slots cuz it only happens after bending. I even put graphite in the slots and it helped, but its still not 100%

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

2009 gibson les paul custom . Came stock with gold grovers. im pretty sure its the nut slots cuz it only happens after bending. I even put graphite in the slots and it helped, but its still not 100%

This is simple...

You have a $4000 guitar that it sounds like you've owned for a few years now and I'm betting big money that you've never spent the $150ish bucks on a set up.

Truth is it likely needed a set up the day you bought it but now after a few years of playing it for sure needs a set up.

Take it to a good set up guy and get either the stock nut cut correctly for the strings you are using or get a new net all together and then get a set up including intonation, trussrod, etc.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

This is simple...

You have a $4000 guitar that it sounds like you've owned for a few years now and I'm betting big money that you've never spent the $150ish bucks on a set up.

Truth is it likely needed a set up the day you bought it but now after a few years of playing it for sure needs a set up.

Take it to a good set up guy and get either the stock nut cut correctly for the strings you are using or get a new net all together and then get a set up including intonation, trussrod, etc.

i got it used this past christmas, but the guys who purchased it new in '09 got it from musicians friend and never played. Sat in his closet for all that time. So he put it on consignment at a local music store and I pretty much got a brand new LP custom for $2200. The tech there is a very highly regarded luthier and said he set it up. I might take it back to him and have him widen the slots and smooth then out maybe

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

i got it used this past christmas, but the guys who purchased it new in '09 got it from musicians friend and never played. Sat in his closet for all that time. So he put it on consignment at a local music store and I pretty much got a brand new LP custom for $2200. The tech there is a very highly regarded luthier and said he set it up. I might take it back to him and have him widen the slots and smooth then out maybe

If he set it up and it won't stay in tune he's the last guy I'd take it too...

I'm sure there is a good guitar tech in Paradise City...find him and take it there!

 

[Aceman]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

I completely agree with the "obligation" to the audience thing, 1000%

However, I don't think I have a guitar that can't go 5-10 songs and NOT stay in tune sufficiently to perform.

emphasis on sufficiently - yes, people came to see hear the songs, but they also came to see the show, not the tune ups.

No excuse for:
a) Not having a guitar that STAYS in tune in the first place
b) Not having a backup ready to go
c) Not having a floor tuner for fast and silent checks during front dude rapp time.

 

[blueman335]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

No excuse for:
a) Not having a guitar that STAYS in tune in the first place
b) Not having a backup ready to go
c) Not having a floor tuner for fast and silent checks during front dude rapp time.

We agree. The difference in temp and humidity once you open up a case at a venue may cause some tuning issues until it adjusts. If a guitar can't stay reasonably in tune, it doesn't belong at a gig.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

We agree. The difference in temp and humidity once you open up a case at a venue may cause some tuning issues until it adjusts. If a guitar can't stay reasonably in tune, it doesn't belong at a gig.

The temp and humidity shouldn't be that different at a gig...I mean are we gigging on a different continents?!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

The temp and humidity shouldn't be that different at a gig...I mean are we gigging on a different continents?!

That's what I was thinking.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

That's what I was thinking.

I've done plenty of gigs here in Florida...Here's the scenario...It's hot and humid outside...You throw all of your gear into your van/truck etc...Get setup..The lounge has the a/c cranking pretty good,you tune up when you get to the gig early,only to find your guitar is a bit out of tune about 30 minutes or so later..Why? Because there was an overall difference in the temp and humidity differences between my home,the travel to the gig,and then the venue...I tune when I get setup and then I re-check my guitars before getting ready to play...Its not like the guitars are way out of tune,but enough that it bothers me!

Humidity and temp changes do make a difference...The tuner tells me so!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

I've done plenty of gigs here in Florida...Here's the scenario...It's hot and humid outside...You throw all of your gear into your van/truck etc...Get setup..The lounge has the a/c cranking pretty good,you tune up when you get to the gig early,only to find your guitar is a bit out of tune about 30 minutes or so later..Why? Because there was an overall difference in the temp and humidity differences between my home,the travel to the gig,and then the venue...I tune when I get setup and then I re-check my guitars before getting ready to play...Its not like the guitars are way out of tune,but enough that it bothers me!

Humidity and temp changes do make a difference...The tuner tells me so!

Nobody here said humidity and temp don't matter what I was saying is that for his guitar to be a constant tuning issue temp and humidity likely are not the issue...

remember...I live in the south, humidity is something I'm familiar with.

 

[blueman335]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

I've done plenty of gigs here in Florida...Here's the scenario...It's hot and humid outside...You throw all of your gear into your van/truck etc...Get setup..The lounge has the a/c cranking pretty good,you tune up when you get to the gig early,only to find your guitar is a bit out of tune about 30 minutes or so later..Why? Because there was an overall difference in the temp and humidity differences between my home,the travel to the gig,and then the venue...I tune when I get setup and then I re-check my guitars before getting ready to play...Its not like the guitars are way out of tune,but enough that it bothers me!

Humidity and temp changes do make a difference...The tuner tells me so!

+1. Between the sweltering heat and summer monsoons, versus A/C, there are some serious temp/humidity differences to encounter. We're 90 to 100% humidity for 6 months straight, like a wet sauna. Some venues don't cool down much and may open the doors at night. Other gigs are outside on patios, sometimes on a beach.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

thats why you always put your guitar on a stand and let sit out of its case at the gig before you start so it can get acclimated to the temp

 

[blueman335]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

thats why you always put your guitar on a stand and let sit out of its case at the gig before you start so it can get acclimated to the temp

Guitars on stands on stages are the biggest source of damage at local gigs. Too much gear per square foot.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: why do I have such an OCD with tuning?

Guitars on stands on stages are the biggest source of damage at local gigs. Too much gear per square foot.

well ya i didnt mean set it down and leave. I set mine down and always make sure im close enough to keep an eye on it. Or sometime i dont even set it down. I just walk around with it on