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Post subject: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 1:12 pm
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Hi. I just bought a new cd-60. I brought at about 300 kilometers from here. The temperature in that place is so low it goes for about 9 deg celcius.

The seller has loosen the strings before putting it inside the box since the place where i live has a higher temperature of about 28 dec celcius (he says it has something to do with the wood)

So using the digital tuner, I accurately and slowly tuned the guitar. While testing it for about 5 minutes, the strings loosen and gets out of tune so quickly. Is this normal? Thanks

One more thing, is it normal that when I pluck a high string like the 5th, the 1st string gets some vibration and produces some sound?

Sorry for my english


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:23 pm
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
You may have to wait many days before stay in tune 'cause different temperature

Neck may need some truss rod adjustment and guitar need a complete setup by a professional .


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:39 pm
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Thank you. It's getting better now. If it goes out of tune, it's not that much of a difference. Hoping for it stick though.


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:16 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
If you know a good luthier it is worth the money to pay for a good tune-up .

Guitar will be easier to play and sound better.


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:35 am
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In my province, I don't know one good luthier. But my country's capital, which is 500kms from here has a lot. So probably, this summer if this doesn't get fixed, I will take it there. Thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:56 am
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You can learn how to tune-up your guitar by yourself with very basic tool .
You tube is good . .

Fist you must learn how to diagnose where is the problem, after you work .

I learn myself with book long time ago and guitar have no secret to me .

A very good book ;
http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Electri ... play+great


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:04 am
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I agree with st52, give the guitar time to adapt to the new conditions. Sometimes a week isn't enough.

When the guitar is accustomed to your house, here's a couple of hints for the tuning issues:
IMHE(xperience), tuning issues are very often caused by incorrect (loose, slipping etc.) windings on the tuning posts.
Another critical point is how the string is in the other end: the ball end and the bridge pin.
Third, get a set of new strings. Use the same gauge as the old ones (you can change the gauge later, when you are more familiar with the guitar).
Lube the nut grooves when you change the strings - some lip balm applied with a toothpick works wonders. (And if the grooves look worn, fold a piece of #600 grit wet/dry sanding paper in two, pull it thru the grooves a couple of times.)

One thing relating especially to the CD60 & such models (like the Squier sister version): adjust the neck as straight as you can. The neck tends to be too flexible if it doesn't get sufficient support from the truss rod, so excessive relief ain't good.

Here's a link (one of the numerous in the net; google for more) on acoustic setups, if you haven't bought a book yet:
tbecker setup guide

Quote:
One more thing, is it normal that when I pluck a high string like the 5th, the 1st string gets some vibration and produces some sound?

Let's wait with this until you've setup the guitar with new strings, OK?
BTW; Strings are traditionally numbered E1 (thinnest) - B2 - G3 - D4 - A5 - E6 (thickest).


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 3:56 pm
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Doesn't hurt if you also stretch the strings when you're changing them.


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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:18 am
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jmattis gives some good tips about tuning stability.

jmattis wrote:
Lube the nut grooves when you change the strings - some lip balm applied with a toothpick works wonders.


This was going to be my first suggestion (after a new set of strings). The trick I've used in the past is graphite in the nut slots. You can get powdered graphite, or simply run the tip of a pencil through the slot a few times. It definitely makes a big difference.

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Post subject: Re: Guitar wont stay in tune
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:27 am
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To me it sounds as though the OP may be rather new to the world of guitars and should that be the case, I have a few thoughts I'd like to add here...

As others have already said, new strings and a slight truss rod adjustment would probably be in order. The sad fact of the matter is that most new guitars don't usually get the attention they deserve when they come into a music store. Quite often they come out of their shipping container and go straight out on the sales floor.

That being said, there's a few other things to keep in mind here as well. First off, it's been my experience that new guitars (particularly lower end instruments) tend to be more prone to tuning issues than older instruments. The simple truth of the matter here is that being made of wood, sometimes they do take a while to "settle in". Guitars that are "mass produced", such as with Fender, typically have a slight degree of inconsistency as to how well the wood was dried before those necks and bodies are cut. In theory, a kiln dried piece of wood should be -dry-, but in reality, that's not always the case as the moisture content of two otherwise similar pieces of wood can be vastly different when they're put in the kiln. In other words, some guitars are great right out of the box, others may take up to 6 months or longer before they really settle in (depending on local factors such as humidity, temp, type of finish, etc).

Also remember that being made of wood, guitars by their very nature are quite subject to issues such as temperature and humidity changes. Not sure where the OP lives, but here in Northeast Ohio, it's spring...and yea...a couple of my guitars are acting a tad wonkey as the local humidity begins to rise. This past week one of my Ovations just started buzzing like the begabbers at the second fret and two of my Strats, along with my new Ibanez have taken to going a tad sharp sitting on the stands....here in Ohio at least, it's simply "that time of year".

Likewise, the ambient temperature and humidity where you store your guitar can also have an effect on things. In my case, most of my guitars tend to stay down in my basement studio and while the humidity does go thru abrupt changes this time of year, the temperature is usually a pretty consistant 65'ish degrees (f). Consider this - pickup a guitar that's 65 degrees and hold it against a warm human body while you're playing and YES...that guitar is going to go thru a change in temperature! And this doesn't even include other environmental factors such as taking the guitar out of the house to go for lessons, practice or a gig! During the winter here in Ohio for example, my guitars go from a 65 degree basement, outside into 20 degree snowy weather and into a car (minivan) that may or may not be warmed up, then back outside again and into a bar where the temperature could be...wow...anything, LOL!!! You can bet your bottom that this certainly affects the tuning........

With string changes, also remember that it's always a good idea to pre-stretch your strings after you've installed them, then allow a day or two for those to settle in before any serious playing (such as gigs or recording). A brand new set of strings will usually give you a day or two of grief with the tuning.

In a nutsell, simply remember that a guitar is NOT a piano. It's not just a matter of "set it and forget it". Guitars (acoustic or electric) require regular string changes and usually a bit of adjustment to the setup periodically...it's rather amazing how many guitars I've seen over the years where the action is just ridiculously high all because the owner didn't know they were supposed to adjust the truss rod occasionally. I've seen strings so chunky and crusty with dirt and rust that they could have been used for barbed wire all become a newbie didn't know those things needed to be changed. And tuning is something you should do any time you pick up the instrument. Some guitars will stay in tune from session to session, but most will usually go out at least a tich. With most of my guitars, I typically have to check my tuning each time I pick it up and will typically re-check and adjust periodically as I'm playing...particularly at a practice or a gig. I would add that this isn't exclusive to guitars either as much as it's simply the nature of most musical instruments. Listen to any orchestra and just before they play, everyone tunes to the 1st violinist. As my wife says, "Tun-ing" is NOT a city in China, LOL!


In other words, unless there is something drastically wrong with the guitar (such as a bad tuner, bridge/nut/neck problems or poorly wound strings), even under the most ideal conditions, you should get used to tuning your guitar...it goes with being a musician :-)

Just some things to consider...


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