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Post subject: Not a Fender Guitar Question
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:41 am
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Before you flame me - I am looking for practical advise on how to resolve a really sticky issue with one of my acoustic guitars: I have had an Epi Masterbilt AJ-500M for about four years .... and I play it at least an hour everyday. Just love the sound, it has to be the best sub $500 acoustic out there (I got mine for $380 including case from Guitar Center).

Being solid wood it needs to be nursed during the winter as the air in NJ is so dry - mine is always cased with a freshened humidifier as soon as I have finished playing.

However I do have a problem, tuning to EADGBe is a real pain - 3G is particularly difficult to tune correctly - I have lost count of how many times I have snapped the 3G.

With brand new strings (Ernie Ball Earthwoods Medium Light) I now have to take 48 hours to tune to concert pitch - day one tune down 1 full stop, stretch the srings and play for at least one hour, day two tune up a half step (still a half step down from concert pitch)..... reapeat the playing and strecthing.Day three, tune up 5 of the 6 other strings up half a stop, stretch and retune. 3G slowly tune a few cents at a time up towards 3G, stretch, retune the other strings to compensate, when I get to within 5 cents of 3G final pitch the, the machine head is nearly impossible to turn and the neck is under full tension.I then tune the other strings at least a half stop further tune to 3G and then tune back to pitch.

I have considered going down to Light Gauge strings but the loss of tone is not accepatbale - any body with any ideas how to tune up a little quicker? Suggestions regarding strings, truss rod settings, anything at all?
Cheers.


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Post subject: Re: Not a Fender Guitar Question
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:55 am
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You shouldn't have to be going through any of what you cite simply to tune a decent set of strings on a decent instrument. Further, there is nothing inherent in the design of your guitar which would cause your malady.

Premising incorrectly wound strings are not a contributing factor, there is a sharp edge somewhere. It could be at the eyelet of the G's machine head, the nut or the bridge saddle. Even if you did go to a lighter gauge, the string(s) would snap even more.

Personally (and sight unseen), I suspect your machine heads in general are deficient with the possibility of the strings binding in the nut as a contributing factor.

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Post subject: Re: Not a Fender Guitar Question
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:27 pm
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The machine head "nearly impossible to turn" is one point. That's a failing machine head. Any machine head should be able to crank a string way past break point with ease. That's problem number 1.

Which has nothing to do with problem number 2 which is the string breaking. If they always break at the same place, then the nut or bridge or wherever it is breaking needs attention. I've never heard of strings breaking at other than friction touch points (tuner, nut, bridge saddle, or bridge pin). That's problem number 2.

If new, take it back or send it back under warranty. If not, or in any case, any competent guitar repairman can quickly resolve both issues.

Martian wrote:
You shouldn't have to be going through any of what you cite simply to tune a decent set of strings on a decent instrument. Further, there is nothing inherent in the design of your guitar which would cause your malady.

Premising incorrectly wound strings are not a contributing factor, there is a sharp edge somewhere. It could be at the eyelet of the G's machine head, the nut or the bridge saddle. Even if you did go to a lighter gauge, the string(s) would snap even more.

Personally (and sight unseen), I suspect your machine heads in general are deficient with the possibility of the strings binding in the nut as a contributing factor.


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Post subject: Re: Not a Fender Guitar Question
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:45 pm
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Thanks for the responses ... I checked out the eyelet, bridge pin, saddle and bone - nothing sharp - the breakages have all been at the head.

I'm going to switch to medium lights or find some strings with an unwound G.


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