• JBSRV
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
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Topic: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

I'm having a lot of trouble keeping my LP in tune lately. I can't get through one song without my G or B string going way out of tune. I top wrap and I'm sure it has something to do with that, but I really want to keep doing it because i love being able to play 11s with that kind of action. Does anyone else have this problem? Am I just doing something really stupid? lol I'm getting a little annoyed with this.

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: North Babylon , New York
  • Registered: 2008-04-06
  • Posts: 25

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

I was having this problem and I also top wrap w/ 10's and after playing for a 30 min or less especially w/ alot of bending the same thing my problem was solved w/ some big bends nut sauce the strings were binding a little and I quess after playing a little they would pop out of tune hope this helps

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Big Bends Nut Sauce works really well. I recommend it (if that lends any credibility).

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  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Nuts Sauce is not cheap.  Change your strings and take a dull #2 pencil and rub it in the saddle's and the nut slots to see if that helps - it's graphite so it will help make the strings slide, Big Bends is basically liquid graphite in a tube.  If that helps, you can either continue with that route or buy the Big Bends.

Ben

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Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

thanks for the replies! I'll try the pencil and if that doesn't work I'll try the Nuts Sauce

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Beside the lubrication that the guys forementioned, are the strings proper set?
If this are new strings ave you pulled them (we have a certain word for it, dunno in english now)
How many windings is the g string around the tuner? (I have max. 3 windings).

Good luck
Alex

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  • From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Its Pinewood derby season. Go to your local hobby shop and pick up a tube of some Hob-E-Lube dry graphite lubricant. Inexpensive and works great!

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  • Registered: 2009-12-12
  • Posts: 48

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

On top of a good set up, always make sure you have 1) a lubricated nut, 2) properly wound strings, and 3) well stretched strings.  Also, temperature and humidity change can really drive you nuts.  I don't have any experience with top wrapping, so I can't really comment about that.

9 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2010-02-16 06:49:32)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

It is likely that some extra wrapping is "sticking out" of the holes in the tail piece. This causes the wrap around to not hug the tailpiece as it first comes out. Over time the extra wrapping bends more and more towards the tailpiece, causing your strings to go out of tune.

I found this from an earlier topic. I'm going to try this one too, and I am really confident it will help with this issue.

RamiLP wrote:

a good trick to do when top wraping is to run a string though a ball end of the old string, so that you can give the string a bit more gap backwards to get rid of the overlapping part of the string end which sometimes sticks out too far from the TP and making the strings harder to top wrap.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6475 … g_7527.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6628 … 9-copy.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7197 … 8-copy.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7341 … 2-copy.jpg

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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10 Reply by JohnTB (edited by JohnTB 2010-02-16 13:04:59)

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Dont forget if you use pure nickel strings you DONT want to stretch them like normal strings... I've never really had a problem with my les paul but for strats I've always rubbed a pencil on the nut...

I've also found that Fender Pure Nickle Bullets are just about the perfect size for top wrapping (the bullet bit fits the tail piece without having to add any extra eyelets)

RamiLP wrote:

a good trick to do when top wraping is to run a string though a ball end of the old string, so that you can give the string a bit more gap backwards to get rid of the overlapping part of the string end which sometimes sticks out too far from the TP and making the strings harder to top wrap.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6475 … g_7527.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/6628 … 9-copy.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7197 … 8-copy.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7341 … 2-copy.jpg

11 Reply by vim

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  • From: Norway
  • Registered: 2009-06-03
  • Posts: 108

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

I had the nut filed properly on my Strat, and that made a huge difference. Now I can use the trem quite hard and it still stays in tune.

Apart from that, I've allways used graphite with success. Rubbing a pencil works, Nutsauce works even better but just as good and almost free is what I normally use (and will be using when my Nutsauce is empty):
I scrape a soft pencil with a razorblade and mix the dust with just enough lip-balm to make it creamy and possible to get into the slots without having the black dust spreading all over the nuts surface (allthough we pay big bucks for aged finishes, I prefer the nut to stay as white and clean looking as possible).
I topwrap both my LP's and they stay in tune really well without any additional nutfiling other than fabric std.

  • From: Macclesfield, UK
  • Registered: 2009-12-26
  • Posts: 19

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Have you seen how BB King wraps his strings?

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13 Reply by vim

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  • From: Norway
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Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

shobet wrote:

Have you seen how BB King wraps his strings?

No, not on a Tune O Matic bridge. Pic?

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

shobet wrote:

Have you seen how BB King wraps his strings?

I remember hearing he winds the WHOLE entire string on without cutting any off. sheesh!  hmm

JohnTB wrote:

Dont forget if you use pure nickel strings you DONT want to stretch them like normal strings.

I JUST found this out after reading the inside of my DR Pure Blues Nickle strings. I've been stretching them this entire time! The difference there is because of the round core and not a hex core I think.  ?

DR Strings are strange in that they are round-wound and DR tells you NOT to stretch out the strings when you install them because that only creates weak spots in the steel.  Not stretching your strings means they can take longer to "come in" to their right sound and that seems to be what happened with my DR Strings.
http://bolesblues.com/2010/01/26/recant … rings.html

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  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Yer something about the cores, it takes me a few days playing before they sound right. They just refuse to go out of tune though I think stretching them causes tuning issues also. Next string order will be some DR Blues are they any good? Was gonna try a few did types out I like fender bullets but they don't seem to last aslong as I'd like. That might just be my hands though.

  • From: Fairfax, VA
  • Registered: 2009-09-11
  • Posts: 1,337

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

I've always had this problem my Les Pauls, even my relatively new unaged JB GT.  My understanding is this has historically been a problem w/ LPs, i.e. the B and G strings "sticking" and "pinging" when tuning.  Proper stretching helps, but I also use the poor mans #2 pencil graphic solution and that works for me.

Jim

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

JohnTB wrote:

Next string order will be some DR Blues are they any good? That might just be my hands though.

I always float in between Ernie Ball .10's slinkys and DR Pure Blues. I've been using the Ernie Balls for a few years, so I just thought I'd go back to DR for a while. I like them just as much as the Ernie Ball. I'm really excited to use them new without stretching to see if it makes a difference. I also just got a set of Tite-fit strings too, since I heard they are a little brighter, and I wanna see if there is a difference. Always like DR and Ernie Ball though.

The only other string I've used a lot of is Elixirs and Gibson strings. The Gibson Les Paul, BB King, and Ace Frehley strings all have this cloth wrapping around the first bit of the ball end, instead of the actual wire wrapping. Haven't used Gibson strings in a long time though.

My hands are SUPER sweaty and I can rust out a set of strings pretty quick. So I get Elixirs on some guitars I don't play as often. It was getting to the point where I'd put new strings on a guitar- play it for a week, and come back a month later it they strings would be rust. Elixir guarantee you can come back down the road and still have decent strings on it.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Georgia
  • Registered: 2008-12-28
  • Posts: 8

Re: Frustrated/ LP going out of tune

Try using some 1000 grit sand paper on the nut. Fold it in half and work it back and forth. Then use some light weight oil or nut sauce.  IF it is going out when you bend the strings, the string in binding in the nut. This should fix it. You may have to repeat a couple of times to get it right.