Tuning issues on Mexican Tele 72 deluxe

seachto7

Howdee,

I have a 72 deluxe custom tele (Mexican), with grover tuners on it. The intonation just seems to go all the time on it, so obviously playing some chiords just sound out of tune.
There is no fret buzz, I got it set up recently, it seemed fine for a few weeks, then same problem again. I find it hard to keep in tune.

I am wondering could it be a bridge issue on a Mex tele? Could I change the bridge. Should I get different tuners again for it maybe?

I am using Ernie Ball regualr slinky strings on it.

It's doing my head in! Unless someone can recommend a really good luthier in Dublin who could set it up right, I would travel up, I'm in Limerick.....

feylya

Stupid question but do you always tune up to the note?

seachto7

I do. ??

il gatto

What guage strings? Do you rest your hand on the bridge alot? Do you move the guitar around alot (gigs, rehearsals, cars, houses)?

seachto7

I use 10s, and yeah, I would move it around a lot for gigs etc, but never leave it in a car over night etc...

feylya

seachto7 wrote: »

I do. ??

I ask because a lot of people will overshoot the note and tune down rather than go to a lower note and tune back up. Tuners are designed to be used to tune up and hold tension that way.

You possibly have a sticky nut too. Some graphite in the slots may help.

il gatto

seachto7 wrote: »

I use 10s, and yeah, I would move it around a lot for gigs etc, but never leave it in a car over night etc...

Even without leaving it out, it can still affect it. Cars are generally warmer than houses. Pubs can be far more humid (sweat, glass washers, toilets). Maybe not enough to affect the action, but the intonation possibly.
Thing is, your question is a bit confusing. I'm talking about intonation like you mentioned and feylya is talking tuning, which you also mentioned. If is only the tuning, feylya's advice is good. Only tune up. If it still happens, slacken the strings and rub some pencil lead in the the nut and bridge slots. If this doesn't solve it, you should be able to find someone in Limerick. Ask at a gig or musicians hangout (dole queue )Often guys who do good set ups work from home and are word of mouth.
Good luck with it.

PaulieBoy

Can I interject and ask a stupid question!
Is tuning and intonation not two entirely separate things?
My understanding is that you tune your instrument to desired tunings on open strings, then play a note and it should be in tune if the intonation is good, else if the intonation is bad that closed note will be somewhat out of tune ?
If this is the case, the intonation is 'fixed' and will always be the same.
The intonation does not change, the tuning does ?
Just wondering!

seachto7

Yeah, I can see how I may be blurring it between tuning and intonation. Usually I tune it up, open strings, and it's fine, but I notice on a D chord, it's the G string will always be out, so the first thing that comes into my head is the intonation is out.
I only got it set up a few weeks ago, and all seemed fine, but it seems to be acting up again. yeah, maybe if I changed the nut and tried the lead in the slots...

Demeyes

I'd do the pencil lead in the nut thing, always helps a little anyway. If it's a string getting caught at the nut there, usually you can hear a little ping when tuning if that's the problem.
Maybe it just needs to be re-intonated? It's very easy to do with a tele style bridge. You just need a screwdriver, a tuner and 2 minutes. Even if it was setup a few weeks back, the weather is after getting a bit colder and that might have affected it.

il gatto

seachto7 wrote: »

Yeah, I can see how I may be blurring it between tuning and intonation. Usually I tune it up, open strings, and it's fine, but I notice on a D chord, it's the G string will always be out, so the first thing that comes into my head is the intonation is out.
I only got it set up a few weeks ago, and all seemed fine, but it seems to be acting up again. yeah, maybe if I changed the nut and tried the lead in the slots...

I've always found the G string the hardest to tune. Sounds silly but even using a tuner it often just doesn't seem right. Tbh it's probably not intonation as a D chord it's only fretted at the second fret. Usually intonation problems are obvious higher up the fingerboard. Also a tele has two strings per saddle so you would also find the D string out if that was the problem.

punchdrunk

is there a string tree on the headstock for your G string? it could be catching it too