Hi, I've borrowed a friends American Standard Strat it's a great guitar, upgraded with locking tuners but I'm having REAL problems keeping it tune (mostly E&B strings) even without the tremolo bar? The guitar is set up perfectly, the action, neck, intonation...don't want to mess with the bridge/spring, what can I do?

This is the guitar at my last rehearsal, it was in tune for these video takes but I had to tune between each song and during some songs! : )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2abb1PT-5M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thank you, Chris

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Sorry but the set up is not done properly.

Are there any string wraps around the locking tuners?

Ideally you want none at all, and pull the string as far up to playing tension as you can before locking it off, I know my Schallers do odd things if they have too many wraps around them.

Is the bridge floating or flat to the body?

Try some graphite lube in the nut slots. And make sure that if those strings are new, they were properly stretched before you locked your tuners. Also, with locking tuners, instead of tuning up to pitch like regular tuners, it sometimes helps to tune down to pitch and then lock them.

I doubt it. I would look at the bridge (trem floating?), nut and the tuners. Can you post a few pics?

Cheers

David

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Yeah i echo what most of the guys have said here, the guitar is not properly set up. The tremolo set up works fine on a strat when it's prepped properly, all the contact points lubed; including string tree's, contact points on saddles etc.

Bearing in mind the fender tremolo is not designed for HM style dive bombs but was designed for more subtle use of it.

Take your instrument to a good luthier.

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Does this happen when the trem is off the guitar as well?

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Thanks for the responses. It does this even when the bar is not on, when I just bend the strings. When I said the guitar is set up perfectly, I actually meant, for my taste...the action/trem. The trem is floating slightly where it's able to be pulled up only a half step. I had the same locking tuners on a Music Man Luke for 2 years, so I think I did pull the strings tight enough and put them on correctly last week when I put new strings on this strat. But you guys are right with all those tips/trucks for what I'm missing hereon the bridge and saddle/nut...I'll look into it.

Thank you all again for your insight, this tuning issue is really the only thing holding me back from buying this guitar from my friend, I love the guitar otherwise!

Chris

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So this is the first set of strings that YOU installed on this guitar? Is that correct? And did the guitar have this tuning issue before the string change? What brand of strings did you install? Are you certain the thumb wheel is tight enough?

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

American Standard is a great guitar and with a complete set up by a good luthier ( be sure of that ) you 'll love it.

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Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

I don't think it is a problem. Just need a complete set up

Good playing.

I think the replies posted are right - you need to get the guitar to a good tech. When Strats are really set up right, there aren't any tuning issues. Go see the guys at Central Jersey Music Service (732) 527-1911. They know what they are doing and will hook you up. It's worth it.

I know Steve Decker, by the way. He's a solid drummer and a ton of fun to play with.

+1, if it were setup properly, it would stay in tune. I have locking tuners, use the trem a lot, and it stays in tune for hours, maybe it will come out of tune on one or 2 strings, just a little. even after not playing it for a week. All i have to do is play it for a coule minutes to warm it up, do a few bends, then check the tuning, and its perfect. if its going out of tune by having the strings go sharp when you check the tuning, the slots need to be widend, or at least lubricated, but thats a temp fix. Get it setup. make sure the trem, if it floats, is only floating at 1/8 to MAYBE 1/4". They say dont go higher than 1/4", but ive had it at 1/4 and it works fine. (now it stays at 1/8 though.)

did you go up in gauge? a couple of strings could be binding in the nut so the strings go flat after a bend. do you ever hear any creeks or pops from the nut area while playing?

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