Won't Hold Tune. Help pls.

[jayjacque]

Around 5 year old Schecter Diamond Omen 6 solid body. I've replaced the tuners with locking tuners, and still won't hold tune more than 10-15 minutes. I don't know if I bugared it up a little messing with the action at the bridge (but it wasn't holding tune even before that). It's that stock all chrome saddle and bridge, but not the string thru the body type. I'm gonna change the strings one more time and maybe mess with the action a little again. Anything else I should look for or do before I end up taking in to a shop? It's a cheap guitar but I put P90's in which sound phenomenal, so I really want to save this one.

Also, since the locking tuners didn't seem to do anything good or bad I might just put back on the old Grovers, so I can use the lockers on something else.

 

[AaeCee]

It's the nut. It's always the nut. Take it to a good tech.....he'll have it fixed in a couple of minutes.

 

[Trebor Renkluaf]

It's the nut. It's always the nut. Take it to a good tech.....he'll have it fixed in a couple of minutes.

 

[lupa]

from my experience:
issue-------solution
binding nut---(A)have experienced Luther file nut/saddle for string gauge
binding at bridge saddle-------apply big bends nut sauce or equivalent or (A)
stretching string(s)-------be sure to stretch them properly when installing new
slipping(unwinding)string(the wrap at the ball end)----apply a drop of solder to winding or replace string.
I don't know if any of these are your direct issue but are my experiences
with guitars not staying in tune. Good lick mate.

 

[Stike]

It's the nut. It's always the nut. Take it to a good tech.....he'll have it fixed in a couple of minutes.

Nuts that bind have sold more replacement tuning machines than is imaginable.

 

[bob-i]

Nuts that bind have sold more replacement tuning machines than is imaginable.

True dat...

I have never had a tuning machine cause tuning problems, almost always the nut or not stretching strings enough.

First let me qualify that I've been playing guitar 52 years, gigging steadily since 1965 and I've owned several hundred guitars. Even on the cheepy guitars, if the nut is correct, intonation correct and strings stretched out, they will hold tune.

 

[AudioEcstasy]

It has to be either the contact point at the head or bridge. Since it's tuning my guess would also be the nut. The slots are probably too wide and the string is slipping.

Take it to a tech! Pretty easy fix, just needs a new nut.

 

[Samsun19]

The nut is a strong contender, for sure....

But just checking....

You did stretch the strings out after you strung it up, right?

 

[catpeople]

Also make sure you tie the strings to the tuner post correctly. If there's slack there, even with locking tuners, you'll get tuning issues.

 

[lockharj]

Very nice and cheap experiment for the nut.. use a mechanical pencil to 'lead up' where the strings are in contact with the nut, that should solve your problem for a few minutes and confirm (that said, if the space is too thin, it might not work). Good luck!

 

[catpeople]

Very nice and cheap experiment for the nut.. use a mechanical pencil to 'lead up' where the strings are in contact with the nut, that should solve your problem for a few minutes and confirm (that said, if the space is too thin, it might not work). Good luck!

Doesn't have to be just an experiment. I've been doing this to all my guitars forever. Works great.

 

[jayjacque]

Yeah thanks for all the input. I've been playing for over 40 years, so stringing it up correctly or just putting pencil lead isn't the problem, but I will replace the nut and see how that goes.

 

[woad_yurt]

Is the neck loose?

I've had a bolt-on neck Warlock for like 20 years and it was giving me fits recently, going out of tune like crazy. I was messing with everything, especially the Floyd Rose, and getting really frustrated. One day, I tried shifting the neck around and it moved fairly easily. Over time, the neck had come loose. I tightened up the screws and the thing is perfect now.

OP, maybe you got a screw loose or what?

 

[walterw]

It has to be either the contact point at the head or bridge. Since it's tuning my guess would also be the nut. The slots are probably too wide and the string is slipping.

Take it to a tech! Pretty easy fix, just needs a new nut.

yes, no, and no.

yes it's probably the nut, no, the slots are likely too narrow, not too wide, and no, replacing it is pointless, just get the slots filed properly by a pro.

...I will replace the nut and see how that goes.

again, pointless; you'll just have another nut with inadequately-shaped slots.

get the one you have now slotted professionally and call it done.

 

[wilblee]

...get the one you have now slotted professionally and call it done.

Yup, with a bullet! I have an Am Dlx Strat (one of my favorite models) that wouldn't stay in tune from song to song. Took it to my long time favorite shop for a setup and now the tuning stability is spectacular. A trip to a pro with a good shop and who knows what they're doing is one of the very best investments you can make in a guitar.

 

[jayjacque]

Thanks, the slots do look too narrow

 

[rummy]

Nut sauce.