Keeping in tune

[hotroad]

Just acquired a new S&L Tele with two single coil pups. I get it in tune and it goes out of tune after one song. Its not playable the way it is. What is the problem. Help please.

[hotroad]

Originally Posted by hotroad

Just acquired a new S&L Tele with two single coil pups. I get it in tune and it goes out of tune after one song. Its not playable the way it is. What is the problem. Help please.

That's G&L Tele.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by hotroad

Just acquired a new S&L Tele with two single coil pups. I get it in tune and it goes out of tune after one song. Its not playable the way it is. What is the problem. Help please.

Do you stretch the strings when installing them?

[pieterh]

I had this problem with my G&L ASAT. We traced the problem to a string sticking in the nut - the strings sat very snugly in the slots and if I remember rightly the guitar is set up for 9s. I use 10s. A little work with nut files and I haven’t had the problem since then.

[fazool]

If it is going sharp or flat?

[guitararmy]

I agree, probably strings getting caught in the nut, especially if you are using a heavier gauge string than what it came from the factory with...

[clintj]

Tight nut slots and not tuning up to the note are common causes. Other possibilities are improper winding on the machine heads when restringing (too many/too few wraps), not thoroughly stretching the strings when new, or loose hardware (bridge/saddle blocks, tuners, neck bolts).

[hotroad]

Originally Posted by clintj

Tight nut slots and not tuning up to the note are common causes. Other possibilities are improper winding on the machine heads when restringing (too many/too few wraps), not thoroughly stretching the strings when new, or loose hardware (bridge/saddle blocks, tuners, neck bolts).

The nut slots seem to be big enough. The strings are 10s but seem to work fine. It's mostly the high strings that are going out of tune.
How much string stretching is required. How do you do it. And thanks.

[fazool]

I see lots suggestions about the problem and how to fix it without a statement of what the problem actually is.



When it goes out of tune is it going sharp or flat?

These are two completely different phenomenon with two completely diifferent causes and totally different fixes

[hotroad]

Originally Posted by fazool

I see lots suggestions about the problem and how to fix it without a statement of what the problem actually is.



When it goes out of tune is it going sharp or flat?

These are two completely different phenomenon with two completely diifferent causes and totally different fixes

The strings go flat with just a little easy playing, nothing too hard or with string bending. No tremolo on this guitar either.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by hotroad

The strings go flat with just a little easy playing, nothing too hard or with string bending. No tremolo on this guitar either.

I doubt that it's the nut if you're running .010 strings. Possible, obviously, but doubtful. Sounds like what happens when you install strings without stretching them and/or not securing them to the posts in a manner to prevent slipping when, for example, you do bends.

Pretty easy to Google plenty of advice on how to do this. Here's what Joe Walsh does (see the video below), he talks specifically about the stretching I mentioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKTXTWbI4FU

Finally, although it’s pretty unlikely on a G&L, cheap tuners can cause this problem too.

[Dru Edwards]

Gotta ask - do you still have on the stock strings? I'm going to assume that you're familiar with how to properly put strings on a guitar and that the strings aren't slipping at the tuner? (take no offense to this question).

BTW: Congrats on the G&L.

[frankmcr]

G&L's are great guitars. Have you tried just calling the company to see what they think?

Also, it doesn't seem like going from a 009 to a 010 should require filing the nut slot. If there's sticking, try Big Bends Nut Sauce or Music Nomad Tune-It or Stew Mac's Guitar Grease.

[mr. beaumont]

If it's going flat, strings aren't properly stretched or tuners suck.

[BT55]

Check out YouTube and search for Joe Bonamassa’s guitar tech on installing strings. He loops the string over the string slot and then under the slot locking the string on itself. This process keeps the string from slipping on the tuner. I use this technique and have never had a problem with any tuner.