I have a 2003 American Strat that I bought used a couple months ago. I set it up myself when I bought it, and it would not stay in tune for longer than 5 minutes, and if I use the whammy to any degree it will de-tune. During shows, where I'm assuming I'm playing a little more aggressive, the strat will come out of tune before the end of each song. Feels like I'm tuning my guitar throughout the entire set.

I then brought it to a tech, he set it up and widened the nut, adjusted the spring tension, and we put graphite on the nut, saddles, and string tree. Seemed to be a little better, but still wouldn't stay in tune for very long.

So I brought it to another tech, who couldn't see anything that was wrong, we adjusted the spring tension again and it was a little better, but still not staying in tune.

Has anyone else experienced anything as strange? Is something wrong with my guitar? I have two other strats, a squire and a MIM and both stay in tune great even with heavy whammy bar use! I find it very strange that when I went for the upgrade to American the tuning problems seem never ending! I love this guitar so I really don't want to trade it in, it feels and sounds great (when it's in tune)

I stretch out my strings very well when I put them on, and I also change them every two weeks or so, mostly because I end up breaking them. I just don't get what is causing this problem.

ANY HELP WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED!

If you don't have locking tuners, you shouldn't be using the trem. Well, that's my rule anyways. If you don't have lockers, I'd say that's your answer. If you do, then I'm as stumped as you are. Oh....you have some kind of lube under the string tree? (or a roller tree?)

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

Maybe your tremolo springs are weak. What gauge string are you using?

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If your tuners use a threaded bushing, check to make sure they're all snug to the headstock. I had a Tele with Sperzels and it shared your symptoms until I discovered the bushings were loose.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I have an '08 std. am. strat, and I used to have the same problem. What I did to fix this was put five springs in the trem, tighten the trem till it was flush with the body, put graphite lubricant in the saddle pieces and nut, and finally stretch my strings properly. I should say that when I put my strings on, I put them on using the locking technique, that way it locks down on itself. Now i can bend almost 1.5 steps down without it going out of tune.--- hope this helps