Hi all, been messing around with the new Strat. Since it's been 10 years or so it's almost like starting over. One thing I noticed is that the guitar does not stay in tune at all. I can tune it up and 15 minutes later it is out. Now I used to restring my acoustic myself and I know that 3 or more wraps are needed. On the strat the factory has about 2 1/2 wraps on each string. Is this the reason it won't stay in tune? Also it looks like the Intonation is not right as I did the open/12 fret test when it was in tune and it looks like most are either flat or sharp. If sharp you turn the screw to the right and flat to the left, correct?

Thanks all!

Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

Intonation rule:
Fret flat, saddle forward towards the neck). Fret sharp, saddle back (towards the strap pin)

You're not playing an acoustic, it's a completely different thing. You have too many winds. I put about three quarters of a wind on my low E. Increasing to two winds on the high E.

Have you stretched the strings?

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No no and no

Thanks NikiNija, too many wraps huh, didn't know that. But I have not stretched them at all. I will try that. Should I replace the factory strings, or should they be good for awhile?

Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

Yeah you gotta stretch all the looseness out of them strings.
I've a few rules when stringing guitars.
1 keep the wraps to a minimum. More wraps allows for the strings to bind on themselves. Then slip at inopportune moments.
2 stretch the strings a lot. Until the strings stop going flat after you've pulled the string up.
3 don't tune down ever. If you overshoot the mark. Pull the string as though you were stretching it. If you can't get the string flat enough doing that. Then slacken the string off and pull the hell out of the string.
Unless you're using locking tuners.
After a new set of strings have just gone on a guitar. It can be worth tuning sharp then stretching the strings till you get flat of pitch. A couple of times till you can no longer flatten the string by pulling it.
4 Make sure you don't basket weave wraps around the tuner post. Every wrap under the last.
I really don't get tuning problems. Hopefully you won't too trying these tips. If you do, I doubt it's down to tuners or strings. The problem can also lie at the nut and the bridge.

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No no and no

Thanks NikiNija for the response. I will stretch the crap out of them when I get a chance and see if that helps. I am sure there are intonation problems as well cause I can tune it and then play cords and even 12 bar stuff and it sounds off and after tuning the E - G are either flat or sharp after fretting. The B and E are pretty close though.
Thanks again,
Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

I find that if I'm having tuning problems it's usually the nut. I have found that many times the nuts cut in the factory are not done properly.

Take it to a good luthier and he'll be able to square it away. Also it takes very little time to get the job done.

I prefer to just change out the nut with unbleached bone.

Hope all goes well.

Paris

So I have been stretching my strings for the last hour or so and then after a 15 minutes or so, everything goes sharp. Do they still need stretched more or do you think something else going on? Thanks for your help.

Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

Might be a problem with the bridge. One thing you always wanna do with a new Strat is to make sure the bridge is setup properly. What type of Strat bridge do you have? Is it the modern 2-point trem or is it the vintage style 6 point trem?

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It's a American Special Strat... spec's say "Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo"

Thanks,
Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

NikiNinja it is better this morning but strings can still go flat after stretching so need to keep stretching?

Thanks
Corey-

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

Have you done a setup on your guitar?

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... etup-guide

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Bill

You've got the vintage 6-point trem then. Check out these two vids which show you how to get perfect intonation on a Strat, as well as how to setup the bridge really well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dlN93MGgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0Oyc6slYRc

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Ok sorry, I couldn't respond early as my Xoom is having troubles logging into this forum for some reason. Doesn't recognize my password when it is correct. Anyway....

The strings are now stretched out and was still in tune tonight when I came home or close to it anyway. I stopped by the music store and asked if it was just put up on wall and he said he adjusted the neck and set intonation. I told him that I was having some issues and he said that's not unusual to have the neck move some and need checked. He said watch the tuning this week and see if it levels out and if still having issues with in tune bring it in. I do not want to block the tremelo at this point. I may not use it much but not sure at this point s will leave it alone.

Thanks for the help guys!

Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2

The guitar just won't stay in tune and when it is in tune it plays out of tune. Taking it to the Best in the area to have a proper set up done on it next week.

Corey

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2011 Fender Standard Tele-White Chrome Pearl, Fender Squire Classic Vibe Thinline Tele, Fender Squire Classic Vibe 50's Tele, Fender DG31S, Blues Junior III, Fender Superchamp X2