guitar going flat

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joejoe
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Joejoe

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My low e string keeps going flat everytime its played open. If im tuning it'll go sharp then really flat.Its an ibanez rg series with 11 guage strings.The others as well seem allittle flat and its hard to get that perfect tunning.Another thing is the guitar is going to be tuned acouple of steps down and it'll probably even be worse.
Big help.

Ps. Looking for a Melodic death metal band.Its hard to find a serious one in N.Y. or the east coast U.S..Know any classifieds?Thanx.

-Joey
 
Does your guitar have a locking nut? Make sure it is locked.

Another thing that helps is if you have a floating bridge, make sure you always return it to the same position. I.e., pull it sharp and let go. Then tune your strings. Whenever you use it, make sure to pull it sharp and let go before resuming playing. The reason being in that the bridge can sit differently depending on how it is used. By performing the same motion on the bridge, you always return it to the same position and thus, the same tuning. You can also try this technique by always diving it flat before returning it to position.
 
Make sure all the nuts are tight and you probably have to adjust the spring tention to compensate for changing the string gauge to 11.

Keijo
 
Trade it in on an old, American-made Fender or Gibson guitar.

Problem solved. :D
 
This is a hard one to explain as english is not my laguage, but ...
if you don't loosen your strings everytime you're adjusting the springs, the floating bridge may damage those bolts in the guitar that it glides on, making small craters, and then it don't get back to the original position when you release it.
Hope this makes a bit of sense
bizz
 
Buck62 said:
Trade it in on an old, American-made Fender or Gibson guitar.
Problem solved.
Click to expand...

Please.... Not the my guit is better than yours topic again....

Keijo
 
I had the same problem with my Ibanez. Take it to a tech to have it set up properly. It's usually less then $40 and it makes a HUGE difference when you have a floating tremelo. I just got my guitar back yesterday and it plays awesome now.

When you change strings only change one at a time so the tremelo doesnt loose all the tension.
 
anything to do with my neck or intenation?the springs where removed to keep the bridge in balance.everything seems balanced there also old strings.pulling the whamy bar sharp did some help.any other suggestion before taking it to a tech.thanx
 
Warlock...

I own 6 guitars and none of them are Fender or Gibson.... really.
 
An Ibanez neck is really not made to take the pull of 11's... I would never put anything heavier than 10s on mine, and I have it detuned 1/2 step and the low E dropped 1-1/2 steps. That said, you might be okay if you are using 11s and dropping your tuning over the whole guitar maybe 3 steps. But if not, you are looking for trouble, that is one thin neck! and you may also need to add a trem spring at a tension like this.

I would recommend buying a guitar with a fixed bridge; an Epiphone Les Paul would fit the bill, or if you're really cheap there are a lot of fairly decent korean-made guitars like the low-end ESPs or Shcecters that will work for you. Seriously, it's pretty hard to play an ibanez with a Floyd-style trem tuned that low. You could also look into getting the trem bar locked in place... but the reality is the Ibanez's are really voiced for shredding, they sound great in the high end and the midrange, but without the solid bridge to body connection that an LP style has, they just don't provide the ultimate in heaviness or sustain.
 
All I have to say is:

Fuck a Floyd Rose.

Worst mistake B.C. Rich ever made was switching to FR from the wonderful Kohler bridge they used to use...
 
well the guitar was just tuned down 2 steps(c).it defenatly sounds more melodic and fits my style really well.bending the bridge sharp when tunning helped allot.things are better and more in tune.thanx lopp and everyone that answered my questions.

Whats the best way to check if your neck is ok considering it was on standard tunning with a thick guage?this forum is a life saver.

-joey
 
You have to check if the neck is too bowed by the tention of the strings. If it is you have to adjust the truss rod. Or take it to a guitar tech

I use 11-49 strings, but I tune to C#

Keijo
 
Joejoe said:
well the guitar was just tuned down 2 steps(c).it defenatly sounds more melodic and fits my style really well.bending the bridge sharp when tunning helped allot.things are better and more in tune.thanx lopp and everyone that answered my questions.
Click to expand...

You're welcome, Joey.

Whats the best way to check if your neck is ok considering it was on standard tunning with a thick guage?this forum is a life saver.

-joey
Click to expand...

When changing string gauges and tunings, you should usually adjust the truss rod. Not having any dead spots or string buzzing is *generally* a good indicator that your neck is properly adjusted.
 
A couple of others to confuse the shit out of you. What you were saying about the E going out is quite common, there is a tremolo lock on the market that just basically stiffens up the spring action, even if you break a string it is not a disaster, if it is a light E or B it barely moves. They are not expensive.
A common problem with intonation is the string biting into the nut. What happens is you tighten it up and the tension between the nut and machine head is greater than the tension from the bridge to the nut as the string is being gripped by the worn groove in the nut, eventually you tune it and then it settles, evening the tension over the entire string changing the pitch.
This really drives you insane. Yuo can apply a graphite to the nut to act as a lubricant, a soft lead pencil rubbed on wet and dry emery paper will give a fine graphite dust and you dont have to buy a box of the stuff.
Better still get the nut checked and make sure you have clearance and better yet get a graphlon nut put in, it's a compound of graphite and teflon. Available from Stewart MacDonald
 
Joejoe said:
My low e string keeps going flat everytime its played open...-Joey
Click to expand...

Better than your girlfriend going flat,I guess =) ... Damn blowup babes

Fangar.
 
check your neck, really.

I had the same prolem with my strat, and got all upset that they baby was gonna die on me (only 3 yrs old) then a friend came by and said, "do tha neck" and BANG, with new strings, that baby is just born!
 
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