tuning problem on tele...... please help!

[mcdes]

i got a deluxe tele this past week, brand new, had it set up, frets dressed, intonation, pickup hieght, adjustments etc...

i played at church on sunday morning with new strings and it kept going out of tune, not badly but enough to be annoying. i got home and stretched the crap out of them and re tuned, then played again tonight (all in the same day). are the strings still settling in or does my tele need some adjustments/replacements to keep it in tune?

what would be your advice? new lsr or graphite nut? graphite bridge gear etc?

thanks in advance

[RvChevron]

Originally Posted by mcdes

i got a deluxe tele this past week, brand new, had it set up, frets dressed, intonation, pickup hieght, adjustments etc...

i played at church on sunday morning with new strings and it kept going out of tune, not badly but enough to be annoying. i got home and stretched the crap out of them and re tuned, then played again tonight (all in the same day). are the strings still settling in or does my tele need some adjustments/replacements to keep it in tune?

what would be your advice? new lsr or graphite nut? graphite bridge gear etc?

thanks in advance

Did you stretch them enough when you first strung them up?

Could be the strings!

Or maybe your tech didn't stretch them at all when you got the guitar.

[John Phillips]

Don't start changing parts.

There is nothing wrong with a standard Tele with stock parts for tuning stability. If it's going out, either the strings are sticking in the nut (did you increase the gauge?), or haven't been fitted onto the posts properly (sorry! it's a common problem though), or possibly you're not tuning it right (always tune up to the note).

Also, do you mean it's going out of tune in the sense that the strings are definitely slipping or sticking, or that it seemed to be in tune when you tuned it but not when you played it (especially open chords)? If so, the nut is too high and needs to be re-cut - very common on new guitars.

I have had literally hundreds of guitars brought to me over the years because "it needs a new set of tuners/nut/bridge/etc, because it won't stay in tune", and all it needs is to be set-up, strung and tuned properly.

[scorpio]

My guess is that (1)new strings weren't stretched or (2)the nut isn't cut properly. I use Big Bends Nut Sauce on my guitars and it definitely helps but you can use graphite (pencil lead) or Carmex too. My guess is the nut though. Even if you had it set up, I would almost bet that your tech did not touch the nut. I have never encountered a decent guitar that could not be set up to stay in relatively good tune. You technique could have something to do with it too. I have found that on some of my guitars that I have to use heavier strings or change my technique slightly. Are you a "heavy handed" player or do you do big bends?

[guitarsnguns04]

+1 nut sauce

[David Collins]

Sloppy or insufficient windings or no locking wrap on tuner posts, and binding nut slots are the two most common issues with an instrument not staying in tune (must emphasize again, instruments not staying in tune, and not playing in tune, are two totally separate and unrelated issues). Check the way the strings are wrapped on the posts first, then see if nut binding is an issue. I find faulty hardware to be the cause of only a fraction of a percent of instruments with tuning problems. It's one of the least likely causes.

Steel strings don't need the same kind of settling in period that nylon and gut strings will. If set up, strung, stretched, and tuned properly they should be stable almost immediately. If the problem persists and you trust your tech is good, I would take it back to them with the issue.

[mcdes]

i heard about the pencil lead in the nut and might give that a go, dont really want to change it.

i do tune up, i play alot of rythm guitar and i suppose i can be a little heavy handed when i get into it. dont do too much bending and never exessive when i do.

i dont think its the nut grabbing tho coz it aint getting stuck on flat or sharp or the usual tell tale signs or sounds for that.

ill try restring it wht 11's and wrap it round the pegs properly and see how that works.my usual strings were sold out at store, hated the dr hand wired ones that i got so went and found some elixers and put them back on, so much better, so wasnt the tech.

cheers guys

[Axekisser]

I have to concur with Mr. Collins and Mr. Philips; it's probably the nut or how the strings are wrapped. I just did a set-up on my friend's Variax of all things and between the loose hardware and poorly cut nut it was unplayable. I cut the nut, tightened the hardware, and adjusted the truss rod and it stayed completely in tune at my Church gig this morning (and it was cold here too!).

Have your tech check the nut.

[mcdes]

and strings wound wrong is the winner!

[David Collins]

Isn't it great when things turn out to be so simple?

Glad to hear the problem is solved.