How to keep strings in tune? Size .08?

[Fendershed33]

I LOVE my .08 strings on my strat, but i have a terrible time keeping them in tune, is there a tuning or tieing technique that could help or is it just something im going to have to deal with as long as im playing .08?

[Conisewer]

A few ways:

Use this method when restringing:


And lube yo nuts!
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Bends-Lube.../dp/B000SHQ1QC

If you hear popping when tuning, you could have nut issues. Have a tech check that out, if that's the case.

Oh, and a good setup can work magic. Make sure your truss rod is set right, etc.

And if it's too bad after all this, step it up to at least 9's. I went from 9's to 10's on all my guitars, and you wouldn't believe the amount of buzzing and intonation issues it fixed. Those guitars were even setup for 9's!

[terrapin]

8's!!!!! Man, that's like tuning a human hair!!! I don't think I could even SEE an 8, much less play them!

[bluesjuke]

They still make 8's?

[fierce_carrot]

8's are the way to go. Throw them on a tele and you got chicken pickin to the core!
BB King, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, & Jimmy Page are a few of the poseurs who never payed much attention to what "real men" in guitar forums use on their guitars.


When you use a light strings, the first couple of wraps are most important especially on a fender. Most important thingis not to cut the string too short to begin with!

[pokey]

Stretch them. My guitars seem to go sharp sitting around so when I tune I loosen the strings, give them a good stretch, and tune up. Seems to work for me, of course ymmv.

[ef_in_fla]

Great video. I love the three fingers and bend it idea. He may be overstretching a bit? I always thought it was two good stretches and stop.

[RussB]

.08 is eighty-thousandths, NOT eight...which would be huge. just sayin'

[simplecomplexity]

i always stretch my strings after changing them..
other than that, routine tuning is normal for me... i don't expect my strings to stay in tune forever ;-)

[buddastrat]

Originally Posted by terrapin

8's!!!!! Man, that's like tuning a human hair!!! I don't think I could even SEE an 8, much less play them!

What are you talking about? He said .08" which is HUGE. SRV got nuthin' on this guy.

I did play some .008's last week. Besides the dinky tone, it was nice and easy to play. I just couldn't stand the tone of the low strings. No thump to them at all. Yngwie likes 'em, but he adds tons of gain, which is the only way to make them sound good, or use a hollow body to help thicken the sound up.

[Baxtercat]

8, .08, .008, .0008
What's a zero or two?

[HoboMan]

I used to use 8s on a Peavey HP Special with a Floyd.
Stayed perfectly in tune.

I don't think one gauge of strings would cause tuning issues over another unless a heavier gauge was binding in the nut.

[musicofanatic5]

Originally Posted by Baxtercat

8, .08, .008, .0008
What's a zero or two?

This is TGP where standardized terminology means nothing (or 0.000). Just call 'em 8 gauge (which is actually 0.1285") like all the other geniuses!

[memiller]

Originally Posted by ef_in_fla

Great video. I love the three fingers and bend it idea. He may be overstretching a bit? I always thought it was two good stretches and stop.

No. You want to stretch them until they stop going way out of tune.

Best advice ever: Anything regarding guitar setups and specific numbers is probably useless. Just do what the guitar tells you to do.

[Baxtercat]

Originally Posted by musicofanatic5

...where standardized terminology means nothing (or 0.000)...

Funny!