Severe tuning probs (guitar)

sjt269

sjt269

sjt269

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Exact duplicate of a thread posted on Jemsite, hoping someone here will be able to help me:


Oooookay, strange one here.


I had a set of 9s on my guitar (RG550) a few weeks ago. I had switched to Slinkys, since they were the only 9s in the shop, and the tuning on the E and A strings was pretty bad (the others were fine), and so I put it down to a freak occurance. I stuck a set of 10s on it a few weeks ago, and after a marathon nightmare trying to get the thing in tune with the trem at the proper angle, all was well. Until, that is, I went to use the trem.

For the last 2 weeks or so, even the slightest trem movement sends the strings way out of tune, and the trem doesn't return to any sort of zero point, leaving the strings as much as a half step sharp or flat. But here's the strange bit...some strings go flat, some sharp, some stay the same. Whatever ones change tuning, after a bit of whammy bar wiggling, the guitar is totally out of tune. As you can imagine, it's a bit of a nightmare trying to play it like this, constantly retuning every few minutes.

I've already checked the Ibanez Rules tech section, but I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for, and didn't find anything to help me out. I'm considering getting the guitar set up by someone who knows what they're doing (important, as I *may* have a gig coming up in a month or so with a currently half-formed band).

So, advice, anyone? Or shall I blow £80 on getting it set up, and possibly move the purchase of a PGM back by a few months?


Thanks
tTz
 
Either

1) look for a guide on the net on how to do it

2) look out for a dvd (free with magazines) that shows you

3) pay to have it done and ask to watch. if they say no, take your business elsewhere.

As you mention its a new set of strings, have you stretched them out? until you do that you won't be doing yourself any favours. I usually pull the string away from the fretboard at the 12th fret and retune till it stays in tune.
 
Strings correctly stretched?

Nut blocks on correctly? As in the right way around? Check for wear marks to be sure.

Are you sure your trem's correctly on the trem posts? Try using some chapstick on the pivots too to losen it up
 
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Wouldn't have said intonation from that description, strings not stretched tho would fit the bill.
 
Your first mistake was replacing the 9's with 10's because it needs a whole new setting up.
Before you start tightening locking nuts up you need to tune it up as close as you can and then start stretching the strings outwards from the 12th fret.
Do this for a minute and then tune up again.
Repeat stretching until it doesn't need tuning and you should be somewhere in the ballpark.
Tighten up your locking nuts and whammy bar away making fine adjustments.
Others have said it could be that you hadn't stretched.
 
dmpoole said:
Your first mistake was replacing the 9's with 10's because it needs a whole new setting up.
Click to expand...


I know that, and I did all that myself. I reset the trem angle and everything so that it played exactly as it did with 9s, just with a little more tension on the strings and on the trem springs.


Strings have been on it for a few weeks now, and I'm sure that I stretched them when I put them on. Since then I've had to unlock the nut and re-tune several times anyway, so I don't think it's the strings.


Plus, I want to clarify this, it happened with the previous set of 9s as well.


Gut feeling is that something's wrong with the trem, but I'll double check the locking nut (again) just to be sure before I start fiddling about with the trem.
 
If its an originol Floyd Rose which it should be on an RG550 then make sure that the angle is set that the knife edges are flat to the body or even slightly backed off. Also check that the knife edges are not badly worn!
 
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