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Post by DirectionalShear on Sept 10, 2006 18:02:53 GMT -7
OK guys, it has perplexed me for years. How is it when I put on new strings (and stretch them out) there is still always a period where they won't hold a proper tuning. I hate that. Am I just not stretching them out enough or is there anything else I can do?
I have always wondered seeing artists in concert how their techs are apparently not experiencing this problem when they change strings daily or even during a show.
All tips and insights GREATLY appreciated!!! I want to be a thumper no more (though thumpers do sound great through a Z)!!!
Patrick
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Post by texblooz on Sept 10, 2006 18:57:56 GMT -7
I experience the same problem. After restringing, I usually tune the guitar up to about one full step below normal and then just start bending each string pretty hard. After a few minutes of extreme bending, I can tune up to pitch and it usually holds pretty well from then on. I get at least a month out of a set of strings, so mine are normally stable.
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Post by jwr on Sept 10, 2006 21:43:05 GMT -7
I grab the string around the 12th fret and stretch, do all 6 strings, and then tune. Then I repeat the process but before I tune again I'll stretch each string while fretting notes chromatically up the neck. I'll usually do that twice and I'm rock solid. Jason
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Post by Matt H. on Sept 12, 2006 6:49:22 GMT -7
This always works for me ---
I put all the strings on, rough tune, then strech the strings - all the way from the pickups all the way till about th 4th fret - I grab one string at a time - with a couple fingers- first at the pickups and pull it straight up gently(not too gently, but not too much to overstretch) then release while still holding on to the strings and then keep pulling up releasing as I move my way down the neck - each string takes only takes a few seconds. Then I retune, and the guitar stays in tune.
This is also a good way to find out if one of the saddles has a burr or something messed up. The string might break if there is a problem w/ a saddle.
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Post by phooey on Sept 13, 2006 6:34:44 GMT -7
make sure you have 3 or 4 wraps of string on the tuning post and also check to see that they're not overlapping. replace the strings one at a time so your neck tension stays as consistant as possible. tune the string to pitch and gently tug on the string starting at the top of the neck and work your way down to the bridge. use both hands if you like. you should pull hard enough to be able to feel the string stretch but DO NOT pull hard. overstretching is as bad as not stretching enough. stretch, tune to pitch, stretch, tune to pitch. do all 6 strings and then give one last tug at the 12th fret on all of them. tune to pitch. i've strung guitars for every artist i've ever worked for like this aside from my own guitars
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Post by teleZgrl68 on Sept 13, 2006 7:59:31 GMT -7
make sure you have 3 or 4 wraps of string on the tuning post and also check to see that they're not overlapping. replace the strings one at a time so your neck tension stays as consistant as possible. tune the string to pitch and gently tug on the string starting at the top of the neck and work your way down to the bridge. use both hands if you like. you should pull hard enough to be able to feel the string stretch but DO NOT pull hard. overstretching is as bad as not stretching enough. stretch, tune to pitch, stretch, tune to pitch. do all 6 strings and then give one last tug at the 12th fret on all of them. tune to pitch. i've strung guitars for every artist i've ever worked for like this aside from my own guitars This is awesome! I've always wanted to know how to do my own stringing. I've been taking it to a local guy but now I can save on that! I've tried several methods and never could get the pitch right. Anyway, Thanks Chad and everyone else for the tips! Now I have a question for you guys (something I've been meaning to ask) since we're on this subject... How do you know if your guitar is suffering from bad intonation? Here's what happens: I'll tune it and the notes in that chord will sound fine but when I go to check notes in another chord they sound off? So I go back and re-tune it and then the cycle continues, one will be fine and the other off? yet my tuner give me the green light? Do any of you think this could be an intonation problem or something else? Please help me stop the madness!! Thanks!
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Post by Matt H. on Sept 13, 2006 8:19:47 GMT -7
phooey,
Thanks for mentioning not to pull Hard on the strings. That was my mess up. Got to be better with my descriptions. I'm going to edit it so no one pulls really hard.
Matt H.
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Post by kruzty on Sept 13, 2006 9:20:34 GMT -7
You can check your intonation by tuning the open strings with a tuner. Then use the tuner to check the tuning on the 12th fret harmonic. If they aren't the same, then you have intonation issues. The Fender site has instructions on how to adjust the intonation.
I see you have a tele, but I can't tell if it is one saddle per string or if it has the 3 barrels. If it is the 3, you probably won't get perfect intonation unless they are compensated saddles.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 13, 2006 10:25:45 GMT -7
You can never get a guitar in tune all over. A Feitenized guitar is a little better than on ethat's not. Try this method: Ping your A string at the 12th fret. While it's ringing fret an A note on the other strings and tune them to match. the low E will be tuned to that A string also. This will get you closer than just tuning all the strings in the conventional way at the 5th fret.
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Post by dock66 on Sept 13, 2006 13:32:13 GMT -7
Buzz Feiten System has solved my detune problem.It is not a perfect system by any means .
dock66
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Post by phooey on Sept 13, 2006 15:29:46 GMT -7
jen, i'd say it's safe to say you have an intonation problem. put new strings on your guitar and tug on them like i wrote about earlier. when they're stable, set the guitar on your leg like you're going to play it. tune the top string to pitch and then fret that string at the 12th fret. it should register the same. if it's flat, move the saddle toward the neck. if it's sharp, detune the string a little so you don't overstretch it and move the saddle away from the neck. work your way across all the strings
another way to set it is with a straight edge and a ruler, but that's another song
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Post by teleZgrl68 on Sept 13, 2006 15:59:43 GMT -7
jen, i'd say it's safe to say you have an intonation problem. put new strings on your guitar and tug on them like i wrote about earlier. when they're stable, set the guitar on your leg like you're going to play it. tune the top string to pitch and then fret that string at the 12th fret. it should register the same. if it's flat, move the saddle toward the neck. if it's sharp, detune the string a little so you don't overstretch it and move the saddle away from the neck. work your way across all the strings another way to set it is with a straight edge and a ruler, but that's another song Chad~ Thats's what I was afraid of. Thanks so much again for the advice! Okay well I'm gonna try re-stringing it this weekend (gotta pick up some more strings) I'll let ya know how it turns out. Oh and umm if you're referring to the Erlwine method... you're right I best not play that song... anything that invoves using an Xacto saw/ knife while attempting to do this is probably not best for me lol! In fact I'll be sure to keep any and all weaponery out of reach when doing it. I think I'll just use your method to be safe Thanks! p.s thanks to everyone else for the tips too!!
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Post by RC on Sept 14, 2006 21:18:48 GMT -7
A few weeks back I was reading through Bill Nash's web site and one of the things he made a comment about was on the right way to set up a guitar. He said all players should learn to do it them selves and highly recommended getting the book " How to make your electric guitar play great!" by Dan Erlewine. This book is by far the best I've come across for setting up and maintaining your guitar. It completely explains the right way to set up all major types of nuts, bridges, pick ups, necks, frets and the right way to string your guitar depending on the type of tuners you have. He also covers how to set your intonation and do basic repair or maintenance on your new or vintage guitar. He also covers when to send it to a pro. This is also the only place Ive found that actually explains the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. I'd need a couple more pages just to list every thing he covers in this book. If your interested I got mine from Amazon.com for about $15.00 and Stewart-McDonald's also has it. I guarantee if you read this book (132 pages) you will know as much about setting up and maintaining a guitar as most of the guitar tec's working at your local store. One last thing, in the back of the book is a set of heavy duty vinyl radius gauges. I've look all over trying to find a set of these so that alone was worth the price of the book for me.
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Post by teleZgrl68 on Sept 15, 2006 4:46:30 GMT -7
A few weeks back I was reading through Bill Nash's web site and one of the things he made a comment about was on the right way to set up a guitar. He said all players should learn to do it them selves and highly recommended getting the book " How to make your electric guitar play great!" by Dan Erlewine. This book is by far the best I've come across for setting up and maintaining your guitar. It completely explains the right way to set up all major types of nuts, bridges, pick ups, necks, frets and the right way to string your guitar depending on the type of tuners you have. He also covers how to set your intonation and do basic repair or maintenance on your new or vintage guitar. He also covers when to send it to a pro. This is also the only place Ive found that actually explains the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. I'd need a couple more pages just to list every thing he covers in this book. If your interested I got mine from Amazon.com for about $15.00 and Stewart-McDonald's also has it. I guarantee if you read this book (132 pages) you will know as much about setting up and maintaining a guitar as most of the guitar tec's working at your local store. One last thing, in the back of the book is a set of heavy duty vinyl radius gauges. I've look all over trying to find a set of these so that alone was worth the price of the book for me. I hope it didn't sound like I was putting Erlwine's book or methods down, I was putting myself down, cause I don't trust myself right now with any tools (I was just kidding though) I have heard that his book is excellent and I'd like to get it one day cause I'm sure it's very imformative. Thanks for letting me know where ya got yours.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 15, 2006 5:28:23 GMT -7
I second that book. It's a good read whether or not you do your own work, especially if you like vintage guitars and small luthier guitars.
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Post by RC on Sept 15, 2006 8:46:34 GMT -7
A few weeks back I was reading through Bill Nash's web site and one of the things he made a comment about was on the right way to set up a guitar. He said all players should learn to do it them selves and highly recommended getting the book " How to make your electric guitar play great!" by Dan Erlewine. This book is by far the best I've come across for setting up and maintaining your guitar. It completely explains the right way to set up all major types of nuts, bridges, pick ups, necks, frets and the right way to string your guitar depending on the type of tuners you have. He also covers how to set your intonation and do basic repair or maintenance on your new or vintage guitar. He also covers when to send it to a pro. This is also the only place Ive found that actually explains the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. I'd need a couple more pages just to list every thing he covers in this book. If your interested I got mine from Amazon.com for about $15.00 and Stewart-McDonald's also has it. I guarantee if you read this book (132 pages) you will know as much about setting up and maintaining a guitar as most of the guitar tec's working at your local store. One last thing, in the back of the book is a set of heavy duty vinyl radius gauges. I've look all over trying to find a set of these so that alone was worth the price of the book for me. I hope it didn't sound like I was putting Erlwine's book or methods down, I was putting myself down, cause I don't trust myself right now with any tools (I was just kidding though) I have heard that his book is excellent and I'd like to get it one day cause I'm sure it's very imformative. Thanks for letting me know where ya got yours. Jen, I didn't take your comment as negative at all and even if you did have a negative criticism that wouldn't bother me. I just think that the more knowledgeable anybody becomes about their instrument the easer it will be to get the kind of tones out of it their looking for. Whether or not you do the work your self at least you'll be able to explain to your tec exactly what it is you do want. There are hundreds of "right" and "not so right" variations on setting up a guitar. Almost all can be accomplished with little more than a screwdriver and a ruler except for setting your intonation you well need a very good tuner. I personally like the strobo-stomp.
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Post by DirectionalShear on Sept 17, 2006 20:29:36 GMT -7
Thank you for the input all and the book recommendation - probably be as worthwhile as the wonderful "The Guitar Amp Handbook" (by Dave Hunter) I picked up last year. Chad, thank you for posting: make sure you have 3 or 4 wraps of string on the tuning post and also check to see that they're not overlapping. replace the strings one at a time so your neck tension stays as consistant as possible. tune the string to pitch and gently tug on the string starting at the top of the neck and work your way down to the bridge. use both hands if you like. you should pull hard enough to be able to feel the string stretch but DO NOT pull hard. overstretching is as bad as not stretching enough. stretch, tune to pitch, stretch, tune to pitch. do all 6 strings and then give one last tug at the 12th fret on all of them. tune to pitch. i've strung guitars for every artist i've ever worked for like this aside from my own guitars I always knew about the 3 or 4 non-overlapping wraps but I think I have identified two problems. I routinely took all the strings off first and then put the new ones on one at a time AND probably have been overstreching them! I will try this on a new set of nickle wounds tomorrow and follow up after that! Thank you all!
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Post by DirectionalShear on Sept 19, 2006 22:56:32 GMT -7
Thanks again everyone! Followed the advice and I noticed a definite improvement (though they seemed more settled after I let then sit for a few hours as opposed to taking a few days to settle down).
Intonation 'seems' OK but I think the next investment will be a strobo-stomp and Dan's book and then maximize and maintain the best set up I can achieve.
I have posted a video of some noodling with the new strings in the stickied video thread - I just love the clean sound out of the Ghia and I am now sold on frequent changes!
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Post by johnnyl on Sept 22, 2006 13:10:06 GMT -7
Jen, as DS mentions above a Strobostomp is a great investment. It's so much more accurate than 99% of the tuners out there. Try one of these before you let someone start messing with your guitar neck. I thought my Les Paul was pretty shot but all I needed was a decent tuner and a set of locking tuners. It takes some getting used to at first but I guarantee you'll be able to tell the difference.
johnny
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Post by teleZgrl68 on Sept 22, 2006 14:08:38 GMT -7
I hope it didn't sound like I was putting Erlwine's book or methods down, I was putting myself down, cause I don't trust myself right now with any tools (I was just kidding though) I have heard that his book is excellent and I'd like to get it one day cause I'm sure it's very imformative. Thanks for letting me know where ya got yours. I just think that the more knowledgeable anybody becomes about their instrument the easer it will be to get the kind of tones out of it their looking for. Whether or not you do the work your self at least you'll be able to explain to your tec exactly what it is you do want. There are hundreds of "right" and "not so right" variations on setting up a guitar. Almost all can be accomplished with little more than a screwdriver and a ruler except for setting your intonation you well need a very good tuner. I personally like the strobo-stomp. I agree completely RC, that's why I read almost everything I can get my hands on pertaining to guitars/amps and why I love it on this forum so much! I've learned more in the last couple weeks on here than I have in the last couple years. This is something I really take serious, If I ever get to be gigging one day, I want to be just as knowlegable as to what is going on with my guitar and amps as a tech would be! ;D Btw- I looked the StroboStomp up-I'm impressed... I like that it's true bypass and I can use it as a DI for my acoustic as well. Thanks for letting me know about it! I think it's due time to trade out my cheap little electric tuner
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Post by teleZgrl68 on Sept 22, 2006 14:19:47 GMT -7
Jen, as DS mentions above a Strobostomp is a great investment. It's so much more accurate than 99% of the tuners out there. Try one of these before you let someone start messing with your guitar neck. I thought my Les Paul was pretty shot but all I needed was a decent tuner and a set of locking tuners. It takes some getting used to at first but I guarantee you'll be able to tell the difference. johnny Yea as I just responded to RC, you guys just about have me sold on the StroboStomp! I know what ya mean... I'm not ready to have anyone adjusting my truss rod or anything else that is equivalent to surgery on my guitar. I'm taking the advice of restringing it and seeing if that helps. I'm in the process of ordering a new pickguard as soon as I get it, I'm gonna mount it on and change out my strings (following the great advice on here) and after that I'll see what I hear but I wanna get a new tuner anyway So this will give me an excuse! Besides I get tired of the one I have falling off my knee Thanks! ;D
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