Having tuning issues. Help me trouble shoot?

[metalguy]

Rather I need ideas and guidance. Its a partsocaster that I put together a few years ago. Pretty sure its the nut that's causing the issues but looking for other things I should look for it.

-Strings aren't any where near new. (still had issues with new strings)
-Trem guitar but I don't use it at all
-it seems to only be the G and B strings

Which leads me to it being the nut? How hard would it be to replace myself? What type of nut would you suggest? I don't know the pros and cons for each type. Lastly, If i can't do it myself what would be the going rate of having a tech do it for me?

[Hapless]

Lubricate your nut with some Chapstick. Might be that your strings are hanging up in the nut, especially when you bend.

[i386]

Inspect the tuners. Tighten them if they are loose, replace if necessary. +1 on chapstick in the nut slots, but I think wound strings need it more than the plain ones. Check your frets for wear. Mine have been so worn in the past that I could tune up to make one open chord sound in tune but switch to another open chord and it would sound like shit. Fret level and re-crown fixed that.

[DEADBYDAWN]

Hmmm

[Tortuga]

Just had a new bone nut installed on my SG. Cost me $30 along with all the other work (fret level/crown/polish, new bridge, full setup). Was looking for a warmer tone, and I think I got what I was looking for. There's other materials that can be used as well, which I'm thinking would provide slight differences in tonality: brighter, warmer, etc.

Was having similar tuning issues, and the new nut really seems to have helped. Interesting idea on the chapstick - gonna have to check that one. I've used pencil lead with good success.

[Diocide]

Tusq FTW. Does the tuning "jump" as your turning the tuners? If do, it's mot likely the string is getting caught up in the nut.

[soundgardener75]

Another vote for lubing the nut. And get some new strings for Megan Fox's sake. Old strings don't intonate well.

[metalguy]

I completely forgot about the whole graphite thing. I'll give that a try, probably with new strings while I'm at it. But the chapstick thing seems like it would get yucky. Haven't paid attention to the frets lately but don't think they'd be needing a crowning or polishing just yet.

[overdrivenel34s]

even better then chapstick is triflow with teflon (or something similar) which comes in either spray or dropper. that's cheapest and most longest lasting product. make sure its the one with teflon.

there is also big bends nut sauce, a tune aid, or planet waves lubrikit which are all fairly similar where they come in form of a gel in a syringe applicator.

[overdrivenel34s]

also applying to bridge saddles has been known to be helpful as well.

[thefyn]

You need to wind the string around the tuning head about 7 times before you start to tighten the string. Just make sure you keep pressure on the string while you wind it before you start cranking.

I bet you the strings have only been wrapped a few times. You want those tuning pegs to be bulging with strings wrapped on top of strings. After an hour of two of slipping, they will settle.

[~Abstract~]

Another vote for lubing the nut. And get some new strings for Megan Fox's sake. Old strings don't intonate well.

Yeap.

Make sure your neck bolts are tight...your tuners are tight to the headstock...and that your bridge isn't overly loose.

then put pencil lead in the nut...before you put on NEW STRINGS.


After that...if you're still having issues...your nut is probably cut wrong.

Or you're using a strat and wanking on the trem all the time.

[Devin]

You need to wind the string around the tuning head about 7 times before you start to tighten the string. Just make sure you keep pressure on the string while you wind it before you start cranking.

I bet you the strings have only been wrapped a few times. You want those tuning pegs to be bulging with strings wrapped on top of strings. After an hour of two of slipping, they will settle.

7 seems a bit excessive to me, I do 3 or 4 and don't have any issues. Honestly seems like it would be hard to fit 7 wraps on the E and A

[~Abstract~]

7 is excessive. 3 or 4 max is sufficient.

What kinda tuners do you have? Shitty ones won't hold tune no matter the number of wraps.


I just always make sure that the next wrap is BELOW the one before it. So you're wrapping TOWARDS the headstock, not away, and NOT randomly.

[Gunslinger]

I only used water based lubricants on my nuts

[thefyn]

You need to wind the string around the tuning head about 7 times before you start to tighten the string. Just make sure you keep pressure on the string while you wind it before you start cranking.

I bet you the strings have only been wrapped a few times. You want those tuning pegs to be bulging with strings wrapped on top of strings. After an hour of two of slipping, they will settle.

7 seems a bit excessive to me, I do 3 or 4 and don't have any issues. Honestly seems like it would be hard to fit 7 wraps on the E and A

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

[metalguy]

Hmm I didn't think of the wrapping maybe slipping. On E and A I do 2-3 wraps all the others 3-4. I'll take a look at that as well.

[soundgardener75]

You need to wind the string around the tuning head about 7 times before you start to tighten the string. Just make sure you keep pressure on the string while you wind it before you start cranking.

I bet you the strings have only been wrapped a few times. You want those tuning pegs to be bulging with strings wrapped on top of strings. After an hour of two of slipping, they will settle.

7 seems a bit excessive to me, I do 3 or 4 and don't have any issues. Honestly seems like it would be hard to fit 7 wraps on the E and A

I do 3 wraps as well, 4 on the D and G strings. Yes, I'm a weirdo.