It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:45 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:19 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:29 pm
Posts: 24
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Hi guys,
I have a '99 MIM standard tele (maple neck) which I absolutely love, however I find the top 3 stings (E, B, G) often go flat by about a quarter tone when I do medium to heavy string bends.
The problem only seems to occur when I bend (playing chords is fine). The D, A and low E strings do not have this problem.
It has been profesionally set-up with 10-46 Super Bullets and I play mostly rock/blues.
I am considering have some locking tuners installed in the hope that this will rectify the problem.
Have any of you guys with MIM standard teles encountered this issue? Do you have any recommendations for specific tuners or any other suggestions which may improve my guitars tuning stability?

Thanks :)

_________________
'99 MIM Standard Telecaster (midnight wine).
Frontman 25R.
Zoom G2.1U effects pedal.
Cort sfx-e-ns semi-acoustic
Livingston semi-acoustic.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:16 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Although I have locking tuners on 5 of my 6 guitars (vintage tuners on my AVRI 52 Tele), they are more for ease of restringing than anything else. They are not going to keep strings from going flat with heavy bends. At least mine don't. I think what you are experiencing is just a "fact of life". Keeping the guitar set up properly with good strings is about all you can do.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:28 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
LUBE. Let me say it again; LUBE! Do you lubricate the nut slots and saddles where the strings make contact on every string change? That usually solves most tuning issues. Go buy a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce and report back.

But you don't have to take my word for it, I'll let John Cruz show you what I mean:
http://youtu.be/ezeDO5aBREo

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:32 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:29 pm
Posts: 24
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Thanks for the responses guys.
No, I have not tried putting lube on the nut but will give it a go (I thought this may have been a contributing factor).
Do you guys think that the size of the slots on the nut may be an issue since I have 10's on it? Would having the slots widened make a difference?

_________________
'99 MIM Standard Telecaster (midnight wine).
Frontman 25R.
Zoom G2.1U effects pedal.
Cort sfx-e-ns semi-acoustic
Livingston semi-acoustic.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:38 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
I run 10's on my MIM Standard Strat, AVRI 52 Tele, and Squier Esquire with no problems and no mods to the nut slots.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:50 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:29 pm
Posts: 24
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Thanks again guys.
I have a young family and a tight budget so this is good news. You have saved me some dollars at the luthier (and some nagging from my wife!) :lol:

_________________
'99 MIM Standard Telecaster (midnight wine).
Frontman 25R.
Zoom G2.1U effects pedal.
Cort sfx-e-ns semi-acoustic
Livingston semi-acoustic.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:55 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
You're welcome. :wink:

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 4:49 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
Yellowledbetter82 wrote:
Thanks again guys.
I have a young family and a tight budget so this is good news. You have saved me some dollars at the luthier (and some nagging from my wife!) :lol:


:D No problemo!

I honestly had never thought of this myself until a few years ago when I bought a Gibson LP Jr. The thing had horrible tuning stability - to the point where I had to check tuning after playing just one song. I was thinking the tuners or maybe the nut had to be recut... but then someone suggested lubricating the nut. I tried it and voila! Tuning issues immediately vanished! Now it's stable as any of my other guitars. Now I lube every guitar during a string change.

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:17 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
I wonder if this happens all the time or mostly when the strings are new? I've never lubed the nut on my Tele and it doesn't go out of tune after a bend.

_________________
Image
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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
I don't think it affects every guitar. I was lucky enough not to have any tuning issues for years without the need for lube - up until I bought a Gibson that is.

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:07 am
Posts: 34
Can't go wrong with locking tuners, lite lube on the nut and (with lockers) tune down to pitch rather than up with regular tuners. All three makes a world of difference. Worked for me and I have a heavy hand as opposed to a lite touch.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:30 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
sjruvolo wrote:
Can't go wrong with locking tuners, lite lube on the nut and (with lockers) tune down to pitch rather than up with regular tuners. All three makes a world of difference. Worked for me and I have a heavy hand as opposed to a lite touch.


Tuning down to pitch vice up with lockers is Internet BS. The string is locked in place. Direction of tuning is irrelevant.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:23 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Oregon, USA
My MIM Tele never has a problem and stays in tune plus I use Elxir 10's on it. What I do that you could try is to back off on the strings and using a sharpened pencil, draw thick pencil lines in the nut groves and reinstall the strings, it becomes a graphite lube. Works like a champ!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:43 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 4:29 pm
Posts: 24
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Thanks for the advice guys, will try these suggestions when I next change the strings.

_________________
'99 MIM Standard Telecaster (midnight wine).
Frontman 25R.
Zoom G2.1U effects pedal.
Cort sfx-e-ns semi-acoustic
Livingston semi-acoustic.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Improving tuning stability on MIM standard tele.
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:37 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:58 pm
Posts: 467
Location: The dark side
I would check the way I'm winding the strings on the tuning pegs and make sure I'm overlapping the top turn. I also use the lead pencil in the nut slots when changing strings as the graphite does a great job lubricating the nut.

_________________
OK, I'll hum a little bit, got it now?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: