I love my new Classic 50's Strat! This is the one made in Mexico. That V-neck is so cool, but the darn thing won't stay in tune, especially the lower strings. I'm not using the tremolo and I'm a gentle player. Why won't it stay in tune?

Also, any thoughts on swapping out the vintage tremolo for a locking tremolo, or even replacing it with a fixed bridge?

Oh, I see now how to fix the tremolo using a block of wood. Great picture of Clapton's Strat.

How far exactly is it falling out of tune?

Is the tremolo set flat? If its not by doing string bends the tremolo can move and cause tuning inconsistency. Add more springs or spring claw tension can overcome this. You don't need to block it.

My guitar stays in tune in full floating position however it won't ever be as accurate as a fixed bridge.

Do you have binding problems at the nut. You can tell if the string is binding as when you tune you get little ping sounds especially after not touching the guitar for a while. After tuning if you do a bend and its out of tune again can reveal this type of problem.

Did you recently change the string gauge? From what to what?
A setup may need to be performed after a string gauge change.
Strings need to be stretched in. Its common for them to keep going out of tune especially on the wound strings. If you are a gentle player and not performing bends then it will become

High action. If the strings are high when you fret at various places this can pull the strings more when fretted therefore they will sound more out of tune than open strings.

Heavy fretting technique can also do the same too much pressure bends the strings.
Intonation if the string length is not fully intonated this can throw out tuning when playing down the fretboard.

Improper relief in the neck can affect the tuning accuracy down the neck also.
The string ball seating in the rear of the trem if its slipping up can cause the guitar to slow slip out of tune. Also the strings coming unwound from the ball.

Old strings especially wound start to become harder to keep in tune.

Tuners can slip back sometimes but the correct practice of tuning up and not detuning to get to pitch can do a lot to fix this. Then do a few bends and then tune up again. That is about the best method on cheap or poor tuners.

The strings on the tune need to have adequate amount of winds to prevent slippage. Even better if you have non string locking tuners string your guitar with a string locking technique.

And ... very importantly .. lubricate the string tress, nut, saddles with lube of some kind. I used to use powdered graphite, but this is messy. I now use Graph-It-All. Works well, but there are other things that work weell, too.

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Shockwarrior and eibach, thank you thank you!!

I did just set the temolo flat, that seems to help a bit. I don't use the trem anyway. The guitar is new, so the strings are new but it may have been sitting around the music store. I've been stretching the heck out of them. I'll get some graphite to lube it up too. The low E string is weird, it almost choruses when you pluck it. The needle on my tuner swings back and forth. Maybe the string is too close to the pickup magnets? It's action is already set pretty high though.

And where in the heck is the truss rod adjustment? It looks like I have to pull the pick guard/pickups out to acces it?

Thanks again for your help!

Guitars won't stay in tune for a few good reasons.

1) Tuners are slipping, but highly unlikely from a fender guitar
2) Strings are fresh and have not been stretched prior to playing
3) Guitar was not strung properly and string slip when being played
4) Tremolo is heavly used without a locking nut or tuners.

Please don't be offended, but you're probably looking at either no. 2 or 3.

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Thanks DetroitBlues, I'll keep stretching 'em!

HA...I am having this 'binding' problem. I totally hear those pings and can't keep the guitar in tune. How do you fix that? I hope I don't have to replace the nut. Cause that would be complete BS! Its a brand new guitar that I paid $700 for...a guitar that much should come ready to stay in tune. Why should I have to pay 4 figures just to get a strat that stays in tune??

Binding has nothing to do with the Ping tuners. I play my strat with PING tuners and there is no problem with tuning. Binding is caused from thick strings running through a narrow nut. The nut slots are too thin. You can do one of two things. Have the nut filed out to match your string guage or you can put pencil shavings in the nut to help "lub" it. (Pencil led is graphite, same material as the new replacement nuts) What's happening is as you are playing the strings snap off the nut and the strings loosen up.

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On all adjustable truss rods its either at the headstock or the heal of the neck in which case some pickguards have a gap or can be removed other times you have to take the neck off.

All strings need to have a good angle off the back of the nut to the tuners.
Your looking for about 10-12 degrees for the Low E.
A decent break over the nut and saddles to ensure its not muting there.

Always rule out the nut first by fretting the note rather than playing the open string you can ascertain where you should be concentrating.

I'd slap some vintage or locking tuners on that puppy...or if it's that new, take it back and have them 'fix' it so it stays in tune.

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I never mentioned "Ping tuners".
I am talking about a pinging sound.



Thanks I know what binding is.
Not that what you are saying isn't plausible. But a properly designed nut has a fall away curve at the back towards the tuners.

A few possibilities:
The string is bent and then is slackened the tension between the nut and tuner takes up the slack and the possible ping is heard.
When tuning up it may be heard.
The binding may also occur at the string trees or saddles instead of the nut.

What I am talking about is when the string returns to an even tension between the tuner and the saddle (taught not loosened up).

If you have gone up in string size this can cause it. Personally I would put a dab of white mineral oil on the points where the string makes contact.

The saddle, the nut and the string tree underside (if required). Do one string and see if it goes away for a while before you try another string. That way you know where the problems are.

Remember a tiny drip is all you need. If it comes back then you know you need to have the nut adjusted. When its lubed it may naturally wear itself correctly as well. Unlike graphite it will not blacken the slots. I used white mineral oil on my strings (Fast Fret) and never noticed any adverse effects in fact they seem to last longer.

This is a really easy problem for a Luthier or someone with nut making skills to correct. Normally no parts are required. Binding is most common in the nut but not always. You can tell anyway if you put your ear up the guitar. I can.

If this is all outside your skill level take it to the place of purchase or even better a guy that knows more than they do.
 

Personally If I bought a guitar new and was having issues with it I would return it to the place of purchase and have it fixed or replaced.
There should be NO ISSUES with a brand new Fender guitar!!

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Thanks for backing me up Shock! As we said, its the nut that is binding and the "PING" noise is coming from the string popping off the nut slot then reseating. As far as tension goes, the slight difference in tension cannot be felt, but can be heard when playing. As far as string tees are concerned, you can replace them with the new Fender string trees that have a smooth round peg. I don't use the old "M" string tees because they can also bind up the strings, especially when you go to higher gauge strings. Most MIM Strats are designed for 9's and MIA are designed for 10's..... If you're using 11's or 12's, you'll bind for sure on a MIM neck...

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