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Post subject: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:05 am
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I've been a proud owner of a american strat for almost 15 years now. However, it's time for a fret job (Very expensive on maple necks). So I figured I'd buy a nice MIM strat as a back up, and something to play while my Strat is be being refretted. I've played a few gigs with it, and I like it a lot. However, sometimes it will go out of tune, especially be B string. I have 5 springs in the back, and the bridge is on the floor. I never use the whammy. I guess I'm spoiled with my American strat, because that thing never goes out of tune. Is there any tricks I can use to keep my mexican in tune? Or recommendations on tunning pegs I can upgrade to?


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:38 am
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Drop a set of Schaller lockers and install a graphtech (tusq) or LSR roller nut.


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:08 am
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Replacing the nut with graph tech TUSQ XL worked for me on 2013 MIM standard.
I keep the bridge floating although I use whammy very rarely.
I've also put a little washer (leftover parts from squier bullet) underneath the string tree to reduce pressure on the nut. Everything else is stock and I have no tuning issues.
I use 10-46 strings on this one.
Not sure if raising the string tree made any difference, but string tree flush to the head just looks...wrong :)


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:13 am
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I've installed a set of Fender "F" locking tuners on my MIM Standard Stratocaster and they keep my guitar in tune. The Fender "F" locking tuners work great.
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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:17 am
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otis66 wrote:
I've installed a set of Fender "F" locking tuners on my MIM Standard Stratocaster and they keep my guitar in tune. The Fender "F" locking tuners work great.


Did you have to drill to install them, like you do with the Schallers?


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:15 am
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mikeph0210 wrote:
Did you have to drill to install them, like you do with the Schallers?

He swapped from regular Schallers to locking Schallers. Straight swap.

For the OP ....

You can also set up your trem springs a special way to help your Strat stay in tune.

Bridge Setup

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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:30 am
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mikeph0210 wrote:
otis66 wrote:
I've installed a set of Fender "F" locking tuners on my MIM Standard Stratocaster and they keep my guitar in tune. The Fender "F" locking tuners work great.


Did you have to drill to install them, like you do with the Schallers?

If you buy "Fender Schaller" tuners or Fender "F" locking tuners you do not have to drill, it's a drop in replacement. I have German made Schaller tuners on 3 of my other Strats. I installed the Fender "Ping" locking tuners on my MIM Standard Strat. The Fender "F" locking tuners are just as good as the German tuners. I like the German Schaller tuner best but they are getting hard to find.


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:50 am
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Here are 3 tuners. the top tuner is a Fender Ping tuner from an American Standard Strat. Non locking. The middle tuner is a Schaller tuner (one pin) off of my G&L Legacy. The bottom tuner is a Schaller Locking tuner (one pin) That I installed on my G&L Legacy. Fender locking tuners will have two pins like the tuner at the top in the pic.
Image
The back of the tuners. Top =Fender Ping Non locking. The middle is Schaller one pin non locking, Bottom= Schaller one pin locking.
Image


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:59 am
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Here is a Fender Schaller Locking tuner. It has two pins just like the Fender Ping tuner. It will drop into and American Standard or Mexican Standard Stratocaster or Telecaster with no modifications. The Fender "Ping" locking tuners will look the same ( two pins).
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Image
Image


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:19 pm
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mikeph0210 wrote:
However, sometimes it will go out of tune, especially be B string.

Goes flat does it..?
Before you invest in new tuners 8) check the nut. Take some 1200grit wet sanding paper and polish the groove - no need to take the strings off, just tune down and slip the string to the side. While you`re at it, polish the string tree and saddle too - there may be a groove. Then take some lip balm and a toothpick, and apply the balm to every contact point (string to saddle/nut/string tree).
If that fails, get a new nut.
IMHO tuner replacement is overkill - even most cheap Squiers stay in tune...


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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:23 pm
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jmattis wrote:
mikeph0210 wrote:
However, sometimes it will go out of tune, especially be B string.

Goes flat does it..?
Before you invest in new tuners 8) check the nut.Then take some lip balm and a toothpick, and apply the balm to every contact point (string to saddle/nut/string tree).
If that fails, get a new nut.

+1

Do the maintenance first, then re-check the way you install a new string, enough/too many wraps around the tuning post, etc?

If you've still got a problem then buy the least expensive parts, in this case a Nut. The Tusq nuts come pre-slotted and are pretty inexpensive.

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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:26 pm
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otis66 wrote:
Here are 3 tuners. the top tuner is a Fender Ping tuner from an American Standard Strat. Non locking. The middle tuner is a Schaller tuner (one pin) off of my G&L Legacy. The bottom tuner is a Schaller Locking tuner (one pin) That I installed on my G&L Legacy. Fender locking tuners will have two pins like the tuner at the top in the pic.

Nice Machine Head pictorial Otis! :D

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Post subject: Re: Keeping MIM Strat in Tune, Any Advice?
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 5:22 am
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MIMs don't NEED new tuners to stay in tune. Look into other causes first. Especially given it's only one string.


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