Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Handmade guitars going out of tune.

Quine wrote:

I'd look at the nut first. If the string binds up in the nut slot you can get higher string tension between the nut and tuner post. Then the tension equalizes when you start to play and goes out of tune...

Indeed this is likely what's going on provided you don't have tremolo issues. A couple of dead giveaways are if you hear little 'pings' while tuning or it seems to always go out of tune after bending strings or playing aggressively. Expand the nut slots side to side to be oh just ever so slightly larger than the strings and you should be fine. Basically you should be able to bend a string on either side of the nut without it going out of tune. Don't mess with putting graphite in the nut slots; that's a workaround that might make things slightly better but doesn't solve the underlying issue.

Author:	Irving [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Handmade guitars going out of tune.
I have built 10 guitars to date. All have been successful builds. However, some of them simply do not stay in tune as well as others. The only guitar I own that is not handmade is a MIM tele that holds tune like a champ. My other handmade guitars slip out of tune within minutes of playing - just enough to notice. The G string is the worst but most all of them go out a tiny bit. What could be possible reasons behind this? Some kind of problem with my nut perhaps? What else could it be? All the wood I use has either been kiln dried or naturally dried for decades. I use either Gotoh or Wilkinson tuning keys.

Author:	Quine [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
I'd look at the nut first. If the string binds up in the nut slot you can get higher string tension between the nut and tuner post. Then the tension equalizes when you start to play and goes out of tune. If you have the right size nut file for the G string then clean up the slot some. Or get a torch tip cleaner set and pic the size you need.

Author:	B. Howard [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
A touch of graphite in the nut slots may help as well. Make sure your tuners are securely tightened and that the shaft holes were drilled the correct size. On some bridges a rough bridge saddle can have the same effect as a tight nut slot.

Author:	Chris Pile [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
This is going to sound rude, but are you sure the bridge is in the right place on the handmades?

Author:	Irving [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
Chris Pile wrote: This is going to sound rude, but are you sure the bridge is in the right place on the handmades? Doesn't sound rude, it's a legit question. However, even if the bridge was halfway across the body where it shouldn't be, the guitar should still hold tune and not slip out as you play. It would obviously be intonated horridly bad and every fret would sound off, but it should still hold whatever tuning you set the open strings at. But that aside, yes the guitars are intonated perfectly and bridge location is precise. My problem is slipping out of tune as you play. It is not even major at all. It is minor, but they ought to hold tune as well as a Fender. I am going to try graphite in the nut slots more often. Also, perhaps I do not have the nut slot angled enough with my 13 degree tiltback headstock?

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Handmade guitars going out of tune. http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=37690	Page 1 of 1

Author:	James Ringelspaugh [ Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
Quine wrote: I'd look at the nut first. If the string binds up in the nut slot you can get higher string tension between the nut and tuner post. Then the tension equalizes when you start to play and goes out of tune... Indeed this is likely what's going on provided you don't have tremolo issues. A couple of dead giveaways are if you hear little 'pings' while tuning or it seems to always go out of tune after bending strings or playing aggressively. Expand the nut slots side to side to be oh just ever so slightly larger than the strings and you should be fine. Basically you should be able to bend a string on either side of the nut without it going out of tune. Don't mess with putting graphite in the nut slots; that's a workaround that might make things slightly better but doesn't solve the underlying issue.

Author:	Chameleon [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
lex_luthier wrote: Quine wrote: I'd look at the nut first. If the string binds up in the nut slot you can get higher string tension between the nut and tuner post. Then the tension equalizes when you start to play and goes out of tune... Indeed this is likely what's going on provided you don't have tremolo issues. A couple of dead giveaways are if you hear little 'pings' while tuning or it seems to always go out of tune after bending strings or playing aggressively. Expand the nut slots side to side to be oh just ever so slightly larger than the strings and you should be fine. Basically you should be able to bend a string on either side of the nut without it going out of tune. Don't mess with putting graphite in the nut slots; that's a workaround that might make things slightly better but doesn't solve the underlying issue. Yeah, that's what happens when you don't use the right nut files. If there's no tremolo I'd suspect this to be the problem. After that, maybe make sure there's a finish on your neck and all your screws are in tight. My guitars aren't that old yet but they stay in tune pretty good (especially the cocobolo, stayed in tune for 4 months in storage. Sweet!)

Author:	dzsmith [ Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
I'd check the screws on the ends of the tuner knobs to make sure they are snug, then make sure the strings are not binding in the nut as suggested. I can't seem to find the fender stainless strings I like anywhere. I put on some slinky's and noticed they were constantly going flat. Turns out they were unwinding at the ball ends- drove me nuts trying to figure out what was going on.

Author:	John Coloccia [ Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:02 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
I hate to say the word "always" because it's not always a problem at the nut, however the number of times that a tuning stability problem is NOT a caused by the nut is vanishingly small. Sometimes it's something weird, like chewed up knife edges, or something like that. A physicist would probably say "always".

Author:	jimmysux [ Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Handmade guitars going out of tune.
All of mine that have went out of tune easily all had binding at the nut.

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