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Post subject: Tuning problems
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:48 pm
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I have a Fender Strat and a while back I switched to higher gauge strings for a more bluesy/jazzy tone. Soon after that I realized that my guitar hadn't been set up to fit those strings. One string would be in tune, but when I tried to tune the next string, the previous one would go back out of tune. I brought it to the shop, and they set it up for me and added another spring. It stays in tune quite well now, but only in standard tuning. If I try to use any kind of alternate tuning, it has the same problem it had before getting it set up. Is there any way to fix this issue? Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:37 pm
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What gauge strings are you using?


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 7:31 pm
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Hi,just a few questions,What kind of strat? What gauge strings did you switch to? How many springs do you have now? What kind of alt tuning?


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:42 pm
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You see,every time you tune it ,the bridge rises so it falls out of tune.Thats because it's a floating tremlo system.Now here is what you do. Flip the guitar over and remove the plastic cover covering the springs. Now locate the two screws that are nearest to the neck that are screwed into wood that are holding the bracket and springs. these two screws tighten the strings and pull the bridge down,and your bridge should be 1/8 inch above the body of the guitar on the top side which will give you a nice extended whammy effect up and down.And remember that if you tigten these screws too much,then it will start going out of tune the other way.The key is to find a happy medium between the tuning pegs and the screws, so that your bridge is 1/8 inch above the body,and stays in tune,ok? So if it was in front of me i would loosen the high e string a bit (as it may snap)and assuming it was going out of tune, i would tune it by tightening the two screws. You also may have to loosen all the strings a bit until you get your bridge at 1/8 inch. Its going to take a few tries back and forth,but you should get it. This is the proper way to set up a floating tremlo system. Your shop just compensated for their ignorance by adding pull (another spring) instead of just turning the two screws. The extra spring will also make the tremlo system stiffer. Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:54 am
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sgbskates folow advice from prepaws.

A Stratocaster with tremolo can't have many tuning without some work on.


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:51 pm
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If you have a floating trem, it's not easy to switch to an alternate tuning. If you want a drop D, you have to get all 6 strings to balance, not just the one E string.

If you block the trem or go non-floating, you can switch tunings quicker.

I like floating, so I use a Tele when I want to change tunings.

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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:43 pm
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Hows the intonation? maybe the x-tra pull may be creating a 'bow" in the neck,which messes up intonation. worth a try Sightline the neck and see if its straight,or close to it


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Post subject: Re: Tuning problems
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:24 am
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As others have suggested here, 9/10's of keeping a Strat in tune simply comes down to the setup. Even the most expensive Strat on the planet will go out of tune with a bad setup. Without repeating to much of what has already been said, this is why a Strat needs to be tuned "up"...you start at the low E and work you way up to the high E...then lather, rinse, repeat until the whole guitar is in tune (with new strings I usually have to repeat this a good 6 to 8 times before it settles in regardless of string gauge). This is complicated by the fact that a lot of folks (including so-called guitar techs at most music shops) often don't bother to correctly file the nut for the new strings...i.e. if the nut was filed for .009's and you go to 10's or 11's, the nut is gonna pinch those strings...particularly the lower strings. Also switching to higher gauge strings will typically require a truss rod adjustment as well.

As others have also suggested, using alternate tunings on a Strat is problematic because of the trem (this is true of all free-floating trems, be it Fender, Floyd Rose, etc). Because the tension of the strings changes with alternate tunings, it will effect how the bridge/trem operates every time. Unfortunately the best suggestion I can make is simply a second guitar that is setup specifically for open tuning for those times you want to use alternate tunings. In other words, use one guitar for the tunes that use normal tuning then switch to the second guitar for the open tuning stuff. I really don't know why people get flakey about this...there's nothing wrong with having more than 1 guitar! LOL! At the moment I'm actually using 2 to 3 guitars on stage...one for the heavier guitar rock the band does (like the ZZ Top and Skynard stuff) and one for my new guitar synth...if I need to switch to piano or organ (or flute, accordian, trumpet, etc), I just switch guitars...no biggie at all.

In any case, it really is just the nature of the beast. You can try "decking the trem" (pulling those trem springs completely tight) and that will likely help but then you loose your upwards trem action...it's a trade off.

Hope this helps!
Jim


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