B string going flat

[Deliberate1]

Friends, I noticed today, about 20 minutes after tuning my guitar, that my B string went flat by several points. I retuned, and within a short time, it went flat again. And again. The strings are D'Addario XS which have, perhaps, 20 hours on them. No other string is an issue. There are three or four wraps around the peg, so not a slippage issue. Is it possible that the tuning machine is slipping? I can't think of any other cause. If so, does one just tighten the screw?
Thanks for the help.
David

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Deliberate1

Friends, I noticed today, about 20 minutes after tuning my guitar, that my B string went flat by several points. I retuned, and within a short time, it went flat again. And again. The strings are D'Addario XS which have, perhaps, 20 hours on them. No other string is an issue. There are three or four wraps around the peg, so not a slippage issue. Is it possible that the tuning machine is slipping? I can't think of any other cause. If so, does one just tighten the screw?
Thanks for the help.
David

I hate that string -- even on good days.

I'm sure this isn't your issue, David, but the B string is the only string that is not precisely in tune mathematically with the other strings. It drives me nuts. I will sound in tune on an A chord and then not for a C. Eddie Van Halen, for example, always tuned his B string slightly flat.

Anyway, I'm sure this didn't solve your problem, but a lot of us throw fits with that string.

Best Of Luck,
Scott

[Tnfiddler]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

I hate that string -- even on good days.

I'm sure this isn't your issue, David, but the B string is the only string that is not precisely in tune mathematically with the other strings. It drives me nuts. I will sound in tune on an A chord and then not for a C. Eddie Van Halen, for example, always tuned his B string slightly flat.

Anyway, I'm sure this didn't solve your problem, but a lot of us throw fits with that string.

Best Of Luck,
Scott

I’ve never heard a B string on ANY guitar that I thought sounded good, while I was tuning it! Some sounds better than others, but they all still sound bad to me!

[TennesseeWalker]

might try loosening the string, remove the bridge pin and ball end and reseat.
sometimes if the bridge pin is inserted and the ball end is not snug up against the bridgeplate before bringing up to pitch, that can occur.

[Deliberate1]

Thanks friends. I am glad it is not just me. After 60 years as a musician (though 3.5 yrs with the guitar), I like to think that I got a decent ear. But the B string, on a good day, is the one that almost always sounds off to me. Even when it isn't - according to the tuner. I will, TennesseeWalker, do as you suggest.
David

[KevinH]

While the B can be a PITA, it sounds like this is something that recently changed. Probably not slippage at the bridge end. At least that seems unlikely after 20 hrs. Possibly a string gone bad?

[warfrat73]

Originally Posted by TennesseeWalker

might try loosening the string, remove the bridge pin and ball end and reseat.
sometimes if the bridge pin is inserted and the ball end is not snug up against the bridgeplate before bringing up to pitch, that can occur.

This was my first thought too.

[warfrat73]

Also, every once in a while, the winding around the ball end will start slipping and coming undone.

[Deliberate1]

I will remove and remount the string, and hope for the best.
David

[Charmed Life Picks]

Here's a long-winded explanation of why the B string sucks.

https://travelingguitarist.com/b-str...%25%20accurate.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by warfrat73

This was my first thought too.

yea same here.

[b1j]

I use James Taylor’s cents list to tune my guitars:
High E: -3
B: -6
G: -4
D: -8
A: -10
E: -12

With smooth, stable tuners, this seems to work well for me. I’ve already noticed that my new-to-me HD-28 stays in tune longer than my J-45 (which in the shop getting a new Waverly 21:1 set right now, so we’ll see if that helps).

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by b1j

I use James Taylor’s cents list to tune my guitars:
High E: -3
B: -6
G: -4
D: -8
A: -10
E: -12

With smooth, stable tuners, this seems to work well for me. I’ve already noticed that my new-to-me HD-28 stays in tune longer than my J-45 (which in the shop getting a new Waverly 21:1 set right now, so we’ll see if that helps).

B1: Hi, I've never seen this system. Do you have a link of info you could send that would explain it more thoroughly? Looks interesting.

Thanks,
Scott

[L20A]

Originally Posted by b1j

I use James Taylor’s cents list to tune my guitars:
High E: -3
B: -6
G: -4
D: -8
A: -10
E: -12

With smooth, stable tuners, this seems to work well for me. I’ve already noticed that my new-to-me HD-28 stays in tune longer than my J-45 (which in the shop getting a new Waverly 21:1 set right now, so we’ll see if that helps).

This tuning makes a lot of sense to me. Pun Intended.
When you fret a string, it tends to go slightly sharp.
The "Sweetened Tuning" compensates for this and is a way to keep all the strings closer to being in tune when they are fretted.

[Deliberate1]

Originally Posted by L20A

The "Sweetened Tuning" compensates for this and is a way to keep all the strings closer to being in tune when they are fretted.

Very cool. I never knew what that term meant. Now I do. Tx.
David