Strats that stay in tune

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peopleperson

peopleperson

I'm so sorry.
Been buggin out on Jeff Beck recently. I too tend to play a lot with the whammy, and my G string seems to get higher in pitch after a few. I know you'll never get it to stay completely in tune, but are there any tricks that can at least help it stay close? Would better tuning pegs make any difference? String types? Etc? I noticed Beck plays with his set so he can pull up at least a step, and the fucker just doesn't seem to go out on him.
 
What causes most of the problems is the nut, in effect you have two different areas of tension that should normally be in equillibrium but the moment you slacken the strings by depressing the whammy the tension between the nut and string post tries to even up. when the tension returns the opposite happens. One way round this is with a locking nut, or you can use a Wilkinson roller nut or a graphlon or one of the proprietry brands of lubricant like Nut Sauce. These have varing degrees of success.
I just live with it and re-tune.
 
Im not playing much rock right now....so I am not using the trem much, but, I used to use it alot.

To keep it somewhat in tune for an entire set (I usually did my "whammy heavy" songs close to the end of the set)...I have a tip.

Use 5 springs to start with....many advise using 3 springs, but, you can forget staying in tune if you do that.

Secondly, you need to to adjust spring tension so that your trem block is centered (just as much upward movement as downward movement)....that is crucial. I know that most articles on this will tell you to adjust it all the way up...giving you downward movement of the trem arm only.
Forget that crap and adjust your springs to give you an equal amount of movement either way.

The trick to staying in tuine is to visualize a "center" of up and down movement.

If you push down on the trem arm, to flatten a note...move it upwards an equal amount to sharpen one. This will give you the greatest tuning stability if you using the trem alot.
If you are doing alot of radical dive bombs...which loosen the strings comepletely...you can pull the trem up hard after each one and stay close...but...it ain't gonna stay perfectly in tune with radical arm use.


If you watch alot of Hendrix video, you will see that almost every time his dives the whammy....he pulls a note sharp to compensate.

Hope that helps bro.
 
I've never been a big fan of non-locking trems, (FLoyd Rose man myself :) ) but I recently purchased a 50th Ann. Strat with the locking tuners on it, and I'll be darned if that thing doesn't stay in tune after every dive! I was very impressed. I'm not sure what what nut they're using on that one, but it seems to be working well.

Alot of guys I know use the Graphtech nuts with good results, as well as the roller type (Don't recall their name).

One thing to keep in mind when using "standard" machine heads/tuners is that when you "dive", you create slack in the wraps of the string on the tuner capstan (Part that the string threads through and wraps around) when you finish your dive and the strings go back under full tension, the wraps don't always lye or wrap up like they were before the dive...causing the string to go out of tune. This is where the advantage of "locking" tuners like Sperzell (SP?).....they will eliminate this potential problem and leave you to only worry about the other potential problems (Nut and bridge/springs)

Good luck......if you really want to go nuts with your diving, there's no substitute for a Floyd!! :D

Rick
 
Thanks for all the replies. When I pitch down with the whammy, there's always a certain point where I can hear something snap very subtly, and can't seem to figure if it's the tuning pegs or the string through the nut itself. I do have another strat that has a double locking floyd on it, and it's a lot better, with the exception of the G string, which even when the nut is tightened down, will still go up a little after some whammy action. I'm not looking for anything real deep as far as pitch, I generally use it for simple Dwayne Eddy style virbratto and such and am looking for the best solution for keeping that sucker in tune. I believe the bridge itself operates on three springs. Should I put one in that has five? Sounds like maybe I should consider it.

It's that goddamn Jeff Beck. I've been obsessing over some recent video of his, and his last two records have some of the most interesting playing and tone (dear god...the tone!) I've heard in ages. You should all check them out if you've not heard em.
 
peopleperson said:
Thanks for all the replies. When I pitch down with the whammy, there's always a certain point where I can hear something snap very subtly, and can't seem to figure if it's the tuning pegs or the string through the nut itself. I do have another strat that has a double locking floyd on it, and it's a lot better, with the exception of the G string, which even when the nut is tightened down, will still go up a little after some whammy action. I'm not looking for anything real deep as far as pitch, I generally use it for simple Dwayne Eddy style virbratto and such and am looking for the best solution for keeping that sucker in tune. I believe the bridge itself operates on three springs. Should I put one in that has five? Sounds like maybe I should consider it.

It's that goddamn Jeff Beck. I've been obsessing over some recent video of his, and his last two records have some of the most interesting playing and tone (dear god...the tone!) I've heard in ages. You should all check them out if you've not heard em.
Click to expand...

I use only three springs, and my Strat stays in tune no matter where I position the block. Friction in the headstock is the enemy. Either the strings have to slide freely through the nut, or they can't slide at all. Anything in between is a tuning nightmare.

First, if you have steel string T's, replace it/them with graphite or rollers. Next, a plastic or brass nut will make your life miserable. Bone is good, graphite is better, and rollers are best. Make sure that the slots in the nut are cut for the size strings you use. If you are bringing a string up to pitch, and for a little bit you turn the peg and the pitch doesn't change, and then you hear a ping and the string is suddenly sharp, then your nut is probably cut for smaller strings than you have. Nut work almost always requires the attention of a professional.

I make a slurry of Teflon grease and graphite, and I use the point of a toothpick to periodically put a little dot of it in the nut under every string. My Strat is a '61, so I am a bit limited in what I can do, i.e., no rollers or locks.

Good luck!
 
I have a '91 American Strat Plus with locking tuners, a roller nut, and a Hipshot tremolo. The Hipshot has a return-to-center detent that, when set up correctly, ensures that the tremolo returns to the same point. The roller nut prevents binding at the nut.

I'm only using 3 springs, and my tuning stays dead on.
 
Zaphod B said:
I have a '91 American Strat Plus with locking tuners, a roller nut, and a Hipshot tremolo. The Hipshot has a return-to-center detent that, when set up correctly, ensures that the tremolo returns to the same point. The roller nut prevents binding at the nut.

I'm only using 3 springs, and my tuning stays dead on.
Click to expand...

I writhe in envy at your roller nut, but I just can't cut my '61. Wish I could. Old Strat players grease their nuts!
 
ggunn said:
I writhe in envy at your roller nut, but I just can't cut my '61. Wish I could. Old Strat players grease their nuts!
Click to expand...
Ain't nothin' wrong with greasy nuts! :D
 
Take a pencil and mark the nut. It's a fine lubricant and you probably have a pencil at your house right now.
 
no more calls please....

we have a winner, below is my configuration minus the hipshot....radical divebombs, i hark in your general direction.....but i use hobby lube (graphite) on my tele with a B bender....


Zaphod B said:
I have a '91 American Strat Plus with locking tuners, a roller nut, and a Hipshot tremolo. The Hipshot has a return-to-center detent that, when set up correctly, ensures that the tremolo returns to the same point. The roller nut prevents binding at the nut.

I'm only using 3 springs, and my tuning stays dead on.
Click to expand...
 
lesterpaul said:
we have a winner, below is my configuration minus the hipshot....radical divebombs, i hark in your general direction.....but i use hobby lube (graphite) on my tele with a B bender....
Click to expand...

You might try mixing the graphite with a little Teflon grease. Graphite powder is difficult to keep in place, but slurried up with Teflon grease it stays put longer.
 
Get yourself a whammy pedal.It'll take some getting used to,but they're quite fun,and much more tuning friendly!
 
beezelbubba said:
Get yourself a whammy pedal.It'll take some getting used to,but they're quite fun,and much more tuning friendly!
Click to expand...

I'll stick with the old school approach, thanks. My Strat stays in tune pretty well.
 
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