mjn
New Member
Posts: 39
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Post by mjn on Sept 1, 2015 16:52:18 GMT -7
Hey all! Anybody else have tuning issues constantly? I use a 58 reissue Les Paul, an American standard Strat, and a Larry Carlton es335. All guitars are pristine (functionally, not cosmetically) and play in tune...for a while. I play live 3 or 4 nights a week and live in a climate with four distinct seasons. I wear my frets down when I play which I attribute to slight intonation issues. I also (think) I have a very picky ear. I have little tricks on certain guitars for tuning and such and I know every remedy in the book. I just wanted to hear other people talk about intonation...which I've always told my students, is the most important part of good tone (that and your fingers).
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Post by Maddog on Sept 1, 2015 17:31:54 GMT -7
Lubing the nut slots and saddles has fixed many a tuning problem.
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Post by freddieg on Sept 1, 2015 17:38:13 GMT -7
What do you mean by play in tune for a while ? Just curious how many hrs do you play inbetween string changes ? Any chance that the strings are dying on you quicker than most people ?
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Post by daveyk on Sept 1, 2015 18:04:10 GMT -7
What strings are you playing?
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Post by BritInvasion on Sept 1, 2015 18:06:50 GMT -7
I too would suspect strings first. Worn spots on the frets will contribute to problems as well.
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Post by digs57 on Sept 1, 2015 19:38:12 GMT -7
Someone here turned me on to the sonic research st 200...wow didn't know how far off my guitars were.
For years was using a korg type tuner to do all intonation...st 200 is very accurate...which is hard to get use to at first...trued my guitars right up...fwiw.
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Sept 2, 2015 13:16:56 GMT -7
So, are you experiencing your guitars going out of tune or are they not intoned properly? Going in and out of tune could have to do with the environment, the string binding in the nut slots or slipping machine heads. Intonation should not change every time you pick up your instrument. If your intonation is set correctly, the guitar should be in tune up and down the neck but doesn't necessarily guarantee it will stay in tune.
I can leave my R8 in it's case for a month and it's in tune the next time i play it.
Now, i use a clip-on tuner and the one thing i've noticed is that it's not very exact when you get in the "green" (in tune). There's a bit of play and i have to estimate that each string is in the green at aproximately the same amount or there will be slight tuning issues. Also, if you didn't know already... always tune up to pitch, never down.
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Post by daveyk on Sept 4, 2015 20:53:53 GMT -7
Also, if you didn't know already... always tune up to pitch, never down. This has helped me a lot over the years. Great advice!
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Post by zpilot on Sept 5, 2015 7:59:22 GMT -7
You noted that you have some worn frets and yes that will contribute to the problem. I recrown my frets a few times before a complete dress and polish just to avoid those issues. Do you also know that no matter how well a guitar is intonated it will never play in tune at all places on the neck. That is just the nature of the frets being straight and the actual notes wanting to be in staggered positions. It will only be correct at the nut and the 12th fret.
Here is another issue. Watch how the notes act on your tuner or strobe. Note that when you first pick the string it goes sharp and then gradually flattens out. I ask my customers to play their guitar for me and I note whether they tend to play fast or more legato and letting the notes sustain. Then when intonating I use that to favor either the initial attack or the sustained note. Some of my customers like that and some just prefer a standard setup.
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Post by simpleton on Sept 5, 2015 8:35:29 GMT -7
A great Luthier once explained to me that a guitars intonation is sorta a compromise and as such, even when correctly in tune and intonation, someone with good ears will hear the compromise in some chords. Maybe that is part of it.
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mjn
New Member
Posts: 39
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Post by mjn on Sept 5, 2015 13:17:44 GMT -7
Thanks for all the responses. I'd chalk most of my issues up to fret wear. I play live about 10-15 hours a week and I play at home as well. Also, like I said, we have extreme climate changes where I'm at. It's just soooo frustrating to me. I know the guitar itself is imperfect when it comes to tuning. Basically, if I had one wish, it would be for a guitar that can be tuned perfectly and never go out of tune. Wouldn't that be great!?
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Post by zpilot on Sept 5, 2015 18:56:36 GMT -7
You might try an Earvana nut and see if that helps. I own one but have never gotten around to putting it on a neck. I plan on trying it on my next build.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2015 0:20:36 GMT -7
Thanks for all the responses. I'd chalk most of my issues up to fret wear. I play live about 10-15 hours a week and I play at home as well. Also, like I said, we have extreme climate changes where I'm at. It's just soooo frustrating to me. I know the guitar itself is imperfect when it comes to tuning. Basically, if I had one wish, it would be for a guitar that can be tuned perfectly and never go out of tune. Wouldn't that be great!? Well, if it's fret wear you suspect next time you get a refret you might try stainless. They don't wear and the don't move. Costs a little more but it may be worth it to you.
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Post by zed on Sept 6, 2015 1:53:55 GMT -7
I haven't tried one of these bridges, but there are some pros and small builders using them... EvertuneIf there's any pinging while tuning, there's a nut issue. That will knock things out of whack, if not addressed. I use this to correct sticky nuts... Abrasive cordYou just want to open up the tuning peg side of the nut. I usually see this on "three on a side" headstocks, but a there's few "six in a row" I've had to tweak.
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