Damn G String

[danny.guitar]

Well, I've had this guitar for about 5-6 years now, and I'm sure it's time for a new guitar by now, but I just bought a new acoustic so I'm kind of short on cash.

I was having problems with keeping my guitar in tune, so I took it to the shop and he adjusted the truss rod and had it re-setup. It helped a little at first, but now there's some string buzz, but I can live with that.

The tuning problem is still there though. The rest of the strings are ok, it's mainly the G string. (The B is also pretty bad, but not nearly as bad).

If I bend the string, it goes way out of tune, down almost a half step. Then when I turn the tuning machine, it barely makes a difference, until I snap the string then it jumps way out of tune (almost up a half step). I can never get it to sit in tune.

Last time I changed strings I tried getting a pencil and rubbing the slot in the nut, but that didn't do anything.

I'd take it back to the shop, but that guy's a real asshole.

Is there something I can do or should I just start saving for a new guitar?

 

[tc4b]

I had a similar problem, then started playing with a wound third and had much better luck.

 

[banddomain]

I've had problems like this before as well and it always ended up being with way the end (ball) of the string sat in the hole at the bridge. It wasn't all the way in the hole so when the string tightened it would snap in place.

 

[muttley600]

I'd suspect the nut or less commonly the bridge saddles. If its happening on one or two strings only they are most likely sticking in the slot. Take it back to the shop and show the guy. Its a basic setup issue and any decent tech would nail it fairly quickly.

 

[danny.guitar]

I may just replace the bridge/saddle since there are a lot of little grooves from the strings, and when I used to change strings I didn't make sure the strings went in the same grooves each time. I pushed the string back into the groove and it helped a little but not completely.

I had a similar problem, then started playing with a wound third and had much better luck.

I may also try that and see if it helps.

I'm trying to avoid taking it back to that shop because I'm not sure that guy knows what he's doing. He's not the main tech guy there, but he's always the one that fixes the 'small' problems.

He adjusted the truss rod too much I think and that's why a lot of notes are buzzing.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.

 

[muttley600]

Firstly adjusting the truss rod will not help with problems of strings slipping and sticking so you should take it back to him so that the buzzing can be sorted.

Next, the most common cause of sticking strings is the nut then the saddle and lastly the tuners slipping. Check them in that order and your problem should be sorted. A guitar that will not hold tune is NOT a small problem. If the guy in the shop thinks a yank on the truss rod will fix your problem go and get your money back and don't let him near it again.

 

[danny.guitar]

Well, when I went to go pick up the guitar from the shop, he said the neck was warped. I never noticed any buzzing or anything, and it didn't feel warped to me, but I assumed he knew more than I did.

I took it home, and it was buzzing bad, and some of the notes on the high E string wouldn't sound at all. So I took it back again, and he adjusted the truss rod one more time which fixed the problem.

Now I'm left with some buzzing frets and the same problem I had taken it there for to begin with.

I may just take it to another shop and have a professional look at it, not some sales guy/"tech".

 

[dgatwood]

Slip each string to the side, take a sharp pencil, and rub it where the string should cross the nut, then slip the string back into place. The graphite coating will prevent the string from sticking. Works like a charm.

 

[danny.guitar]

Slip each string to the side, take a sharp pencil, and rub it where the string should cross the nut, then slip the string back into place. The graphite coating will prevent the string from sticking. Works like a charm.

Yea that was one of the first things I tried but it didn't work.

 

[Light]

That sounds very much like your nut slot is too small. Take it back and get the shop to fix it. Make sure they don't try to charge you though, because that should have been part of the setup (this is assuming that you had it setup in the last few weeks, of course - any longer than that and you should have brought it in sooner). If they don't know what your talking about, never take it back there again, and find a better repair shop. One clue - if they aren't charging $50-100 for a setup, they probably aren't doing everything they should be doing. There is a reason a shop like mine gets $80 for a setup.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[ez_willis]

I took it to the shop and he adjusted the truss rod and had it re-setup. It helped a little at first, but now there's some string buzz, but I can live with that.

The tuning problem is still there though.

So basically you took it to a shop and paid a guy not to fix the tuning problem but to throw in some string buzz for you?

 

[danny.guitar]

So basically you took it to a shop and paid a guy not to fix the tuning problem but to throw in some string buzz for you?

Yes.

One clue - if they aren't charging $50-100 for a setup, they probably aren't doing everything they should be doing. There is a reason a shop like mine gets $80 for a setup.

Yea I would have rather paid $80-$100 to get it done right.

What should I ask the guy at the other shop I'm going to? Should I just ask him to replace the bridge, fix the string buzz and the tuning problem?

Or should I just ask for a complete "setup"?

I've been playing guitar for awhile but I actually don't know that much about guitars at all.

 

[ez_willis]

What should I ask the guy at the other shop I'm going to? Should I just ask him to replace the bridge, fix the string buzz and the tuning problem?

Show him exactly what the problems you are having with the guitar. Ask him if he can fix them. If he can, leave it with him. Pay him if he fixes the guitar.

Think about it like a vehicle. If you take your car to a mechanic because it's leaking oil, you expect to pick it up without an oil leak, not with an oil leak and broken axle.

 

[Sirnothingness]

If this guitar is important to you, I'd take it to someone else.

 

[danny.guitar]

Show him exactly what the problems you are having with the guitar. Ask him if he can fix them. If he can, leave it with him. Pay him if he fixes the guitar.

Think about it like a vehicle. If you take your car to a mechanic because it's leaking oil, you expect to pick it up without an oil leak, not with an oil leak and broken axle.

I know. But I didn't want to take it back to him for a 3rd time or I'd probably end up with another problem. I really don't want that guy near my guitar. :|

 

[ez_willis]

What should I ask the guy at the other shop I'm going to?

I was talking about the guy at the other shop you're going to.

 

[muttley600]

Ok so put the last guys attempts at fixing it down to expereince and don't use that shop again for anything again if thats what you prefer. Tell the guy why, if he values his reputation he'll bend over backwards to fix your problem. If not he's just out to sell....I always tell a customer what I plan to do and if I have to do extra I contact them first. For setups I have a check list that I work through and give a copy to the customer with notes when I'm done. This guy sounds a bit like he dabbles with guitar fixes and no more

Take the guitar to someone who understands setups.

Tell him you have a neck relief problem from someone else messing with the truss rod.

Tell him you understand that you have tuning problems because of a sticking string on your G and also the B at the nut. Ask him if that isn't the cause to please advise you as to what needs doing to fix it. It can only be the nut or saddle. Very rarely the tuners.

The truss rod should fix in no time. Its not labour intensive so no more than half an hour unless the guy before has f~~~~d it and it has to be settled and tensioned.

From experience I recon I could pin down and fix the tuning problem in an hour Max, unless I needed to cut a new nut in which case I would advise the customer and quote him, most unlikely in your case. You should not need to replace any hardware with the possible exception ot the nut

If he can do that for you. Pay him and take all your future business his way and tell your fiends. Consider the other guy as experience gained.


What is this guitar anyhow???

 

[danny.guitar]

This guy sounds a bit like he dabbles with guitar fixes and no more

Yup, he's also the guitar salesman at that music store. He's not the 'official' tech guy they have back there. They said 'small problems' aren't fixed by the tech guy.

He also said my problem is 'common with cheap guitars'

Tell him you have a neck relief problem from someone else messing with the truss rod.

Tell him you understand that you have tuning problems because of a sticking string on your G and also the B at the nut. Ask him if that isn't the cause to please advise you as to what needs doing to fix it. It can only be the nut or saddle. Very rarely the tuners.

The truss rod should fix in no time. Its not labour intensive so no more than half an hour unless the guy before has f~~~~d it and it has to be settled and tensioned.

From experience I recon I could pin down and fix the tuning problem in an hour Max, unless I needed to cut a new nut in which case I would advise the customer and quote him, most unlikely in your case. You should not need to replace any hardware with the possible exception ot the nut

If he can do that for you. Pay him and take all your future business his way and tell your fiends. Consider the other guy as experience gained.

Thanks that's really helpful.

What is this guitar anyhow???

It's an Epiphone LP Standard. First good guitar I ever got and it's always worked good except for the tuning/slipping problem (and now the fret buzz ).

 

[TragikRemix]

i read the title and thought the same thing...

damn g string...

really itches sometimes..,

regarding the guitar.. well, thats a pretty unusual problem. the buzz can be taken care of though.

 

[danny.guitar]

i read the title and thought the same thing...

damn g string...

really itches sometimes..,

I was waiting for someone to say something like that.