E & B going out of tune

  • Thread starter Thread starter tom18222
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tom18222

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I have 3 guitars, ones a fender strat, another one is a epiphone les paul. they both are equipped with sperzels. i have a takamine acoustic, about 3 months old.

on ALL 3 of the guitars, e and b wont stay in tune. like for more than a minute. i dont know what it is. is my room dry? the strings aren't old i change them regularly.

i dont get it. is my room too dry? i hang them up on the wall, i don't know if that makes a difference or not.

thanks,
tom
 
Are you stretching them out properly?

Is the nut sticky? Take a pencil and scratch a bit of graphite in the slots on the nut next time the strings are either off or loose enough.
 
Definately stretch them. Are you sure that you are putting them on correctly? There is a technique(s) to it. Before I learned the right way, I couldn't stay in tune to save my life. Could be a few different reasons though.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the minimum number of wraps around the tuning peg per string. I think it's 3 for wound strings and 5 for non-wound strings.

Edit: also, the fist wind should go over the end of the string sticking out of the hole, and the rest of the winds should go under. this will act as a clamp holding the cut end of the string in place.
 
well my electrics, i have sperzel tuners, so you dont wrap them, it has a locking mechanism.

my acoustic, i'm not so sure. i just put them on the way i was tought like 5 years ago when i learned
 
nukeitout said:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the minimum number of wraps around the tuning peg per string. I think it's 3 for wound strings and 5 for non-wound strings.

Edit: also, the fist wind should go over the end of the string sticking out of the hole, and the rest of the winds should go under. this will act as a clamp holding the cut end of the string in place.
Click to expand...
If you do a locking wrap, you really only need a couple of wraps at the most on these strings.

Anyhow, as EZ and SirN said, stretch 'em out well after you re-string.
 
I don't use a "locking wrap", and I wind enough wraps to get near the base of the peg - more, obviously, for thinner strings. Seven guitars, all different designs. They all stay in tune. YMMV.
 
Yeah, I think we've had this conversation before, ggunn.

My preference is a locking wrap with as little around the peg as possible. I used to do the brute-force approach, which works fine if you maintain string tension while you're wrapping it. It's just too much work for me! :)
 
ggunn said:
I don't use a "locking wrap", and I wind enough wraps to get near the base of the peg - more, obviously, for thinner strings. Seven guitars, all different designs. They all stay in tune. YMMV.
Click to expand...

I'm with you as far as a "locking wrap", I was actually trained to be a guitar tech in one of my old jobs and thats how I was taught. All 15 of mine stay in tune perfectly.

If ALL 3 of your guitars' E and Bs wont stay in tune, I'd most likely say its something you're doing or not doing. Have you stretched your stings? That is a very crucial part of changing strings which is overlooked by many inexperienced string changers. Since you're using locking tuners, are you tightening them enough? Those last two strings are slippery!
 
This time of year, in Boston, you will have problems with humidity, and absolutely should not just leave them hanging on the wall. But that is probably NOT your problem. The most likely causes are a sticking nut, or poorly wound strings. First, try rubbing a little graphite in the nut slots. That is only a temporary fix. Find a good repair person to adjust your nut, though unfortunately I don't know anyone out there, as I had a shop in my apartment the whole time I lived out there. The other thing to try is checking out FRANK FORD'S INSTRUMENTS OWNER'S GUIDE and try stinging your guitar the way he suggests. Anything other than that, you really need to get your guitar to a good repair person to see what the problem is.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Zaphod B said:
This is the "locking" technique I've been using for years. It works very well for me and eliminates the requirement for multiple wraps around the peg.
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Although if his problem is the strings sticking in the nut, changing his method of attaching the string to the peg will not help him.
 
ggunn said:
Although if his problem is the strings sticking in the nut, changing his method of attaching the string to the peg will not help him.
Click to expand...


Nope, that's why the first thing I said was to lubricate the nut, which may not be perfect, but will help.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I bet it's poor wrap on the strings. The E and B are the ones that slip and people always feel like they have to get their money's worth and wrap the whole thing down the shaft. It needs to look pretty.
 
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