#1
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Guitar not staying in tune?
I bought my daughter a small cheap guitar to learn on and it won't stay in tune. It's a small parlor sized guitar.
Is this probably the tuners? Or are there other possibilities? Todd |
#2
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It could very well be the tuners. Cheap guitars (as you put it) tend to have cheap tuners. It could also be that the strings are slipping and not put on correctly. I'll also add that perhaps the intontation is way off. Are you able to check the intonation?
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#3
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If you got the guitar from a local music.guitar store you can take it to them and have them check it out. If you bought it online and you can return it that's an option. If it's the tuners, depending on what you paid for the guitar, a new set of decent tuners may cost more than the guitar. You can also check to make sure the tuners are tight, sometimes (if you're lucky), you just need to tighten the screw in the middle of the gear of the tuner...hey, could happen! Besides not staying in tune, how's the action on the guitar? Is it such that your daughter will be discouraged trying to learn? Good luck to you and your daughter.
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#4
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It can only be two things, bad tuners or strings not properly installed.
If you know how to put strings on, try that. I suspect just bad tuners. This is a common problem with really cheap guitars. I would have suggested a used guitar, since you can often get something quite ddecent for low dollars.
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_____________ Collings D1H Custom Collings D2HA Collings OM2H Custom |
#5
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As a little more info. This is a JR Reynolds JR12S student guitar which I paid less than 100 for new. The size is 34" which is probably actually smaller than a true parlor sized guitar.
The tuners have no name on them but seem tight. Todd |
#6
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If the strings are nylon, they could still be stretching out and stabilizing. That can take a while with nylon. Steel strings settle in much faster.
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Bob DeVellis |
#7
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Hi Todd...
Yes there are quite a few possibilities. Three which involve strings come to mind…
You have not mentioned if it's steel or nylon string, so I presumed steel. If nylon, then only the first two would apply. |
#8
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usually those kind of guitars sit somewhere for a couple of years before they hit the market -take those strings off and put on new ones -yes tuners are a possibility but not as big of a culprit .
this reminds of an incident i witnessed in a music store about ten years ago, where a kid brought his guitar into the music store to get it tuned . He told the salespaerson that he didnt understand it , it was in tune when he bought it ?
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--------------------------------- Wood things with Strings ! |
#9
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if nylon perhaps the strings are not correctly installed on tuners
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#10
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I have replaced the strings and went with extra light gauge strings this time. The strings are seated well, and should be fine. It appears the tuners may be lower end Ping brand, but that's conjecture based on comparing them at the local store.
Todd |
#11
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Quote:
They don't understand you have to take 15 seconds and tune it every time you pick it up. That doesn't mean it won't be in tune, it just means you need to check.
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"You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room." --Dr. Seuss |
#12
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Right. Here's the real answer.
First off, it is very unlikely to be the tuners. Even so called worn out tuners are quite capable of maintaining tuning if everything else is fine. It will be one, or a combination of the following: 1) Strings not fitted properly 2) Strings not stretched properly 3) Old strings 4) Nut slots poorly cut 5) Nut slots not lubricated Trust me, those are the five major causes of tuning problems. Fact. If you are not capable of assessing those issues, take the guitar to a known, knowledgeable tech who can sort those issues out and also advise how to go forwards with those issues. Otherwise PM me and I'll be happy to help with a more detailed answer on a specific issue.
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Experienced guitar tech and singer/guitarist based in the midlands, England. McIlroy AJ50 Yamaha CPX-1200 Yamaha CPX-700/12 Yamaha LS16 Yamaha FG-300 Yamaha FG-580 Vox V2000-DR + electric guitars.. |