Tuning problem

[Shad1]

I have spent a lot of money in recent years in nursing my (my brothers) '73 Strat into the 21 Century - refretting, new pickups, re-shaped neck etc but I have developed a tuning problem that I thought I had solved previously (changing from two to three springs in the trem block). All seemed to go fine then it 'went' again. Honestly guys, it's doing my head in. Even DURING a song it's tuning up/down/around.
Anyway, to my question. Suspecting the tuning pegs are slipping what is the advantage of 'locking' tuners - I understand the theory but - do they actualy work? Is it worth drilling into the headstock of the Strat? Dont normal temperature changes affect the tuning of the string even when it's locked?

I refuse to spend more on the guitar on a set if the jury is 'out' on this one but I'd be really grateful for your advice.

Thanks

Malc.

[dave robinson]

I have two Strats and a Burns that employ locking tuners and they are superb, to the extent of lasting a full gig once tuned - sometimes remaining in tune over days. They are all different types, the set on my Burns are Sperzels, the USA Deluxe Strat employs Schallers and the 57 Classic Player has locking Gotos (I think) that look kike the normal 'split shaft' Klusons.

My other guitars are fitted with standard type tuners and they are almost as good, so in your case it may be down to the way the strings are anchored if they are slipping, but you say that they sometimes go sharp, which points to problems at the nut, bridge or the trem springs or even all of them. That said I wouldn't blame the tuners until after I'd investigated why the strings are going sharp.

[Shad1]

Thanks Dave - I'm confident that anchorage isn't the problem so I have to resign myself to new pegs - and ideally lockable ones.

Owning a Strat seems to be more like owning printer.....by it for a reasonable price then pay a fortune for the ink refills......

Malc.

[Bluesnote]

I had a Strat in the eighties with a neck lock system. I eventually got rid of it as it was a pain having to unlock it and lock it again during gigs to tune it in humid conditions, or after a change of strings. I just did'nt think it worth the hassle.
I'd go for the tuners as the main problem with your guitar although I dont see the guitar tuning up with bad tuners, so maybe not.
I'm assuming you've checked out your trem unit and its not that thats changing the pitch? I've got to make sure that after I use mine I push it back down to the bottom to keep the guitar in tune.

[Mike Honey]

I think i'd be inclined to look at the tremelo unit (particularly if its going sharp). Maybe lubricate the nut with some graphite as well.

mike

[Tab]

If the guitar is properly set up, tuning shouldn't be a problem. Before you spend good money on locking tuners, get the set up examined.

I have not had a problem with tuning since giving attention to the set up on guitars with and without locking tuners.

Good luck.

Terry

[David Martin]

I've never had a single tuner slip in nearly 50 years... If this is a 70's Strat you can actually take the tuners apart, inspect and lube them to check for any wear and slippage.

In my view you have a trem problem centred around the pivot screws...

Received wisdom these days is:-

1) Detune strings so that trem lies flat to body.
2) Tighten all trem pivot screws flat to body
3) Loosen two outside screws one turn
4) Loosen 2-5 three turns
5) Tune to pitch
6) Adjust trem claw screws at rear to give 2.5mm max clearance at back of trem plate
7) Repeat 5 and 6 ad nauseam until tuning and trem gap are correct

I would use three trem springs, and suggest you use sewing machine oil to lube the pivot points if you want to use anything. (I never lube these points because stickiness is not what we want... any chance your screws have gunge on them? If so at step 2 remove each screw one at a time and clean/inspect.

However, I don't do this, and neither of my Masterbuilt Strats are set up like this. At step 3 I loosen all trem screws an equal amount.

Either way, if you now find the trem too stiff, loosen the pivot screws one quarter of a turn and repeat 5,6,7... but, as always, stiffer is better

Let us know how you get on...

[Stranded Albatross]

Have your guitar set up by a good tech if you haven't already. All mine stay in tune give or take a very slight sharp or flat variation during temperature differences when first taken out of their cases. If the problem is a fairly large move in sharpness check out the trem setting, which needs to balance accurately to hold tuning and return to it's proper position when removed from the case.

[Shad1]

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions folks. I've had the guitar into a guitar tech several times but not with this specific problem. I'll go away and mull over the pro's and con's again. The worst of it all is that it makes practicing much less enjoyable when you KNOW that the string is going to 'go' on you then you're left still playing and retuning at the same time - horrible!

Thanks again.

Malc.

[47guitarman]

Is it just one string ? If so it could be the string binding in the nut or under a string tree. Have you changed gauge of strings recently?
Regards, Dave