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My electric gets out of tune!

  • 14-01-2008 12:26pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering what are the factors for a guitar to get out of tune after playing say 3 songs at a gig? It really wrecks my head having to tune it back between songs!

    Would it be just down to the type of strings I use or are there other factors?
    My playing is quite heavy, I bend the strings often and also bend the neck of the guitar.

    I can't tighten the headstock on the fukcer so that's not an option.

    Ideas?

    Lauren


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭novarock


    i always found that putting the strings on with more windings/length always help with keeping the guitar in tune, also keeping the windings perfectly straight when you put the strings on.. Im also one of those people that plays the guitar too hard live...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    could be the overall quality of the guitar, if you bend the neck during songs that will do it a bit, the tuning heads might be sh1t, crap strings might sometimes do it. Really really light strings I find go out of tune a bit easier too


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 793 ✭✭✭white_falcon


    the heat also does it. you should leave you guitar on stage for about an hr before your gig. the heat from the light can detune it. tune it, leave it on stage, come back up after an hr and tune it again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    Nova - what are windings?
    Falcon - no it's a good guitar


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    Sounds like a sticky nut. What guitar is it? And when you're tuning your guitar, do you tune up to the note ie when you're tuning to E but the string is a few cent above E, do you tune down to Eb and then back to E?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Have a check of the nut - make sure the six slots are cut big enough for the strings you're using. Also, it's good practice to lubricate the nut - with something like graphite (from a pencil) or chapstick or some such.

    Another thing to consider is the tuners - you're using a Fender with those old vintage style tuners right? If you can afford to change them, do, they're not fantastic IMO. If you're sticking with them, just make sure you're wrapping the string around the post properly when stringing.

    Have a look at the bolts that hold the guitars neck to the body; make sure they're tightened properly. A loose neck can shift around when played aggressively, and any kind of shifting will put your guitar out of tune.

    Also just make sure youre stretching the strings when you put them on first. Stretching the strings just takes out any slack in them beforehand.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    Feyla - That is quite a good point actually. I never tune the guitar that way. I shall try and see if it does the job. He's a Jags-tang.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    Voodoo - I do all that. What do you mean by 'nut'?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Voodoo - I do all that. What do you mean by 'nut'?
    Its the white thing at the top of the fretboard.

    It has six grooves or slots cut for the strings, each string passes through one of the slots. The strings can slide back and forward up there a bit as you're playing, especially when you bend strings. If there's any 'stickage', they'll go out of tune a bit.

    So you just lubricate each slot with something as mentioned, to help the string slide freely and not get stuck. And if you're using very big strings, you might need to check each slot is cut big enough.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭novarock


    I meant how the string actually wraps around the Machine head/tuner, the longer the string the better..


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,624 ✭✭✭NoQuarter


    as feylya said, you should always tune up to the note and never down to it! as in tune down way below the note you want and then tune back up! the do a few big bends on the string andhave a quick check of the tunings again! also if your just putting on new strings before a gig that would be the problem, they take a little while to expand fully!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,179 ✭✭✭FunkZ


    Try Elixer strings if you haven't already. Though it's probably the guitar itself causing the problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    Funkz - what difference do they make?

    (I'm learning so much today, thanks lads)


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,640 Mod ✭✭✭✭BossArky


    Lauren, I reckon the problem is yourself. You are so hot that you are putting the rest of your band out of tune!

    Try one of http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/RT1998/images/5940hughes-f1.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    Boss - ya krack me up!


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,993 ✭✭✭Johnny Storm




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    It's already in the resources sticky and it has worked for almost 20 years ;)
    novarock wrote: »
    I meant how the string actually wraps around the Machine head/tuner, the longer the string the better..

    Nope, don't do that, you just introduce more potential for buildups of slack, decrease the accuracy of the tuner and could actually make the problem worse, not better.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭fish-head


    And you could always use heavier strings aswell. Works for me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 184 ✭✭SxE Punk


    New strings go out of tune habitually for the first while, are your strings new?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    SxE Punk wrote: »
    New strings go out of tune habitually for the first while
    Only if they haven't been properly stretched. Actually, what you're describing is exactly what happens if they haven't been stretched.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 752 ✭✭✭Spicy Lauren


    The strings are newish (a week old now) but I've been playing everyday.
    I did strech the strings when I put them on.
    I think it really is down to the fact that I put on 9s this time cos I ran out of my usual 10s. But I think the advice given has been really good. Hopefully when I get back to using my usual strings this won't happen again

    thanks lads

    xx
    Lauren


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 32 Johnny M


    really give the strings a good stretch when u put em on .use 10 gauge strings and use avg 4-5 turns on the headstock no overlapping maybe 3 turns for the top heavy strings.

    Also why the hell is u bending the NECK of your axe?? no wonder its going out of tune! i if u do that u'll feck up your guitar maaan...you'll have truss rod probs i tell ya trust me...hey just cos slash does it dont mean we all can y'know!:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    Johnny M wrote: »
    really give the strings a good stretch when u put em on .use 10 gauge strings and use avg 4-5 turns on the headstock no overlapping maybe 3 turns for the top heavy strings.

    Gotta say, I've found you introduce more potential for string slippage when you leave surplus turns on the string. One over, one under and that's all you need.


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