@@benjaminchang5417 I would never have believed it was a Gretsch. The only one I ever had experience with couldn't stay in tune for a single song, let alone an entire set.
I have guitar which loosing tune in opposite direction. Strings are not getting loose but tighten over time. This happens for years. Summer, winter - doesn't matter. Any explanation?
I bought a Ibanez RG-series guitar with Floyd Rose that came tuned out of the box and stays in tune very well. My budget Aria strat guitar as well Most amazing was a Washburn copy of a Charvel super strat that i bought in the late 80's ... no matter how much punischment i gave the floyd rose ... it always stayed in tune and i never broke a string
I feel you should've mentioned intonation as well, because that's another scenario where you can tune it up with a tuner perfectly, but of course some chords will be out of tune.
intonation will be a issue But if, for example, the nut is cut badly, and the strings are too high at the nut, or stick? You have to fix the nut first. And the action. And stretch the strings. And sort out the "vibrato" bridge Setting the intonation will not matter if any of the above are broken
And tall fretwire, probably the biggest contributor to sharp notes, chords .. every Squier these days comes with tall frets .. they call it narrow tall/ vintage jumbo but even that is not as true as it seems because Dunlop 6230 are the real narrow frets. True vintage frets. Change tuners ??? c'mon
I live in Las Vegas, I have a big collection of guitars and i keep them in a humidified room. When I take one out, it will drop 1/4 step flat within 30 minutes. Put a Floyd Rose or anything else on it and it won’t help one bit. Humidity is the greatest threat to stable tuning.
Not really, change in temperature and humidity messes with the tuning, not the low humidity itself. Acoustics are quite succeptable to low humidity, when it comes to quality elecrics, they should be fine is most conditions on earth but they need a little to acclimate if the temp and humidity changes. For a Vegas desert strummer I would look into carbon composide acoustics and electrics and leave the collection in controlled environment
I have around 20 guitars in a humidity controlled room, temp is fairly constant. 4 of these are 12 string one acoustic. 3 acoustic, a few hollow or semi hollow, most were ubder 1k, so not top line. They all stay fairly in tune, with very minor tuning required at any time. Definitely the humidity and temp are tge single biggest issue with guitars!
A tip for floating trems... tune them from the inside strings out, not from 6 to 1. So assuming the low E is 6 and the high E is 1, tune the strings, in order, 4 - 3 - 5 - 2 - 6 - 1. You might need to take a couple passes to get it balanced. If you tune 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1 you could be in a situation where it just shifts the trem in one direction consistently until things are really out of whack. This is also how I change the strings, fwiw. I pull them off and replace them one at a time, in that order, and bring the new string up to tune each time. This keeps the trem stable in the position you want it during the string change.
String trees: deburr and polish their underside, and oil it. All guitars: tune a string, press the part of the string between the nut and the tuner, make a bend, retune if needed. You need to do it two or three times at most for each string, theiy will be stabilized for a longer time.
I bought my ESP Eclipse 2 with an Evertune. I’ve had it for 2 years. It absolutely stays in tune-just like you said. In fact, I bought it on your recommendation. I have saved a ton of time NOT tuning my guitar! 😀
# 6 reason why it won't stay in tune....weather. I'm in sw Florida and I play outdoors often. I'm in the middle of doing 4 straight gigs outside (hot as hell too). My #1 is a G&L Comanche and it's super stabile but not necessarily outside. My #2 is Les Paul. I bring both to every gig. Very stabile and the intonation on both is spot on but outside....I find myself retuning during the first song. Then it calms down until a break comes. 15 minutes later when the break is over I have to tune again all from being in an environment without A/C.
A big part of the problem I never see anyone talk about, is tuning by ringing out rather than tuning to the pluck. That transient may be sharp compared to when it gently rings out, but the transient is what you hear. If you play super soft to tune, then play a song less softly than gentle, it WILL be sharp. Especially the G string since it's the worst offender at being sharp on the transient.
Most of the time in my case, tuning instability stems from the nut. I found widening the slots ever so slightly and putting in a liberal amount of graphite or nut product seems to work pretty well. Filing the slots on a downwards angle to the headstock side to reduce contact area with the string may also work as well. Just as a side note I've always instinctively tuned my B string just a couple cents flat for chords to sound more in tune, a tip for beginners if you find that your cowboy chords (especially D chords) don't sound right.
I have a Gretsch with a Bigsby that will go out of tune if the trem is used for anything more than a light vibrato. I know it's the nut, because I hear it ping during tuning, so it's binding. I tried the graphite trick, but apparently I need to go back in with a nut file next time I change the strings. Your idea about the B string I think is reflected in some of the "sweetened" tunings that some electronic tuners now offer (Peterson strobe tuners, for one).
I have a gretsch streamliner with a bigsby, at first when i got it it was horrible to stay in tune. I took your advice in one of your older videos about grafite and wow it fixed the problem, now it rarely goes out of tune now!
Big Bends Nut Sauce in the nut slots and saddle slots, no matter if it’s hard tail or not. Strings need to move freely, so they will settle back to pitch.
I would’ve mentioned, if you’re going to “tighten up” the truss rod. DON’T think of it like a nut/bolt that you would turn til tight. Think more of fractions of a turn. Just until there is enough tension on the rod not to move freely. 🤘
All great points! I would also add too many windings on tuning pegs, especially for newer players, which increases the chances of the guitar going out of tune when bending.
The vintage Washburn Wonderbar 2001 is a rare 80’s big block leaf-spring trem and locking nut system that is AMAZING for staying in tune after many pulls and dive bombs. It can be mounted directly onto a hardtail guitar with the only mod being 4 screws and maybe a neck shim!
@DarrellBraunGuitar...my ‘83 Washburn Force 2 hardtail was bought with the Wonderbar trem and locking nut already installed. I removed the pickguard and electronics and started again from scratch. The new pickguard came from a piece of scrap.080 natural blk. styrene. 2 newer Washburn @ 7 and 13 ohm buckers were installed and a single coil @9 ohms routed in between. On/off/on Dpdt switches for the buckers. Split coil or full neck pup. Phase reversed or full bridge pup. Push on or off button for mid pup. Separate vol controls and dual master tone. Adjustable treble bleeds. User friendly layout. Stainless steel zero fret compensated slightly for better intonation. 22nd fret added. Scooped lower horn for more reach. My only electric. My last electric ever. Flip a switch to change thru so many different tones. 13 very usable combinations that can be tweaked with volume controls. Not for sale, I’m taking this one with me…..☠️
My LP Studio, the G string in particular drives me nuts! Apparently an LP issue. It’s had a professional setup by my usual guy and it’s not any better. I have locking tuners on a PRS and they definitely help. I have a Jim Root Jazzmaster and it almost never goes out of tune. If I check it, it’s spot on. I often just pick it up and go. Regarding climate and humidity, live in Scotland. We only have one season!
Missed one biggie Darrell....stretch your strings out properly. I tune up and check intonation often...then stretch them for about 1 minute each. Then tune up and one string at a time play it and put it in tune....then stretch about 30 seconds and check tune again. If it's flat, stretch about 30 seconds and check tune again. stretch it again 30 seconds and check tune. If it's flat, tune it and stretch it again for 30 more seconds. They will be properly stretched when you can stretch one at a time and check tune and if it is still in tune, that string is done. Do that for each string and it will hold pretty well then. I also keep 5 springs on my floating bridges and set the plate level with the body when in tune. I gig every couple of weeks with my band and I'm pretty hard on my strings. You can beat them out of tune easy enough. If they're stretched right they'll hold WAY better. Also...when your strings are just worn out it will be hell to keep in tune. I change strings at LEAST once a month and I live in wyoming where it's really dry. In Florida I had to change strings once a week. Rust and crap wears em out way faster.
Great video Darrell. Nope , didn’t guess the Gretsch as being always in tune. The truss rod tip was excellent, never thought of that. And BTW you were mentioned on Todays That Pedal Show (TPS) Video on Mick’s Strat Vlog about the Strat trem system set up issues.
The previous owner of my guitar put locking tuners and a ball-bearing nut on it. World of difference, especially since I went from a cheap Squier to an American strat.
Good video! Every so often it’s good to hear a refresher of the basics. It’s easy to forget that in most cases, the best solution is the easiest solution.
I play Fenders, Danelectro, Epiphone, and some off-brands like Glarry, Grote, and HB...all my stuff stays in tune, some surprisingly well, over long periods of play.
Thanks man! I didn't need this video (my guitar is fine lol), but I just felt like watching it just in case one of my/someone I know's guitar is constantly out of tune! You're also my favourite guitar youtuber, so it was fun watching anyways!
I am very surprised I have a Gretsch Country Gentleman and it has a Bigsby tremolo system but in all actuality it stays in June unbelievable I can't believe that it actually stays into I have a graphite nut and I did put graphite where it was necessary
Thanks Darrell, this was very enjoyable and informative. I have a Squire Bullet strat that I abuse daily and it holds tune rather well. I blocked the trem. Love that Gretsch! 🔥🎸
OMG, when I saw your guitar, I have one , not exactly the same , I have not the ever tuned, I don't play mine anymore. The D and A open chords NEVER stay in tune. Thank you Darrel. Evertuned or evertune, however you call them, you get the point.
As always fantastic Darrell.. 👏 About those string trees, I have one in my strat, and I used to think that making them perfect straight and the screw so tight makes the guitar more stable in tune but I found that you HAVE TO lose the string tree screw just a little, it would be enough if after some playin you notice that its a bit rotated, you know: give some democracy to the B and high E string, they will handle each other :)))))
Awesome stuff as always! One thing I found is decked. Tremlows always cause me tuning issues if I use the bar at all. I even have a super v blade runner and when I had it floating it was fantastic. Switched it to decked due to my current set of guitars and it never stays in tune after a bomb
My two Epiphones stay in tune for long periods. The Fender strat until I had it serviced would go out of tune as soon I did any playing. Now holds tune for time to play a few tracks.
I have found on a floating trem if you go out of tune after a bend or something while playing, just mute the strings do a couple of quick dive bombs and it will usually settle everything back in tune.
I'm with you all the way on friction points and hating string trees. I have rarely found they are needed. If your nut is cut properly, and you wind the string down the post a bit you should not need them unless you play really heavy open position chords. And as soon as you are fretting strings, the trees have no impact. Warning - non-staggered locking tuners can be your enemy. Forget conventional wisdom with locking tuners and leave enough slack so you can wind the string down the post a bit. If you really feel you need trees get something with rollers or a Graf Tech tree. But try living without them first. You don't even have to remove them - just pop the string out from under it and tune up.
Weird. I have close to no such issues on my guitars. Yes, I had to resort to GraphTec nuts, roller saddles, String Butlers or even a Nut Buster in one case, but that about fixed everything. And I have at least 3 really cheap Harley Bentons, and _all_ of my (electric) guitars have trem systems.
I got very lucky, my Cort M600 will stay in tune throughout a gig, even several months if left in case. But I admit, I don’t bend much, and humidity is pretty stabile where I live.
I have a Switch (remember them?) Vibracell composite guitar with factory graphite nut and roller saddles on the floating trem. I live in NH where winters are cold and dry, and summers are hot and humid, and I've never had to touch the truss rod. That guitar will not go out of tune even if I leave it in direct sunlight. I'd love if a company re-introduced composite guitars that actually looked good; the resonance and sound of the Switch is as good as any other guitar I own.
I took my BC Rich Mockingbird out of its case, with 1 year old strings on it, and with a Floyd Rose, and it was perfect in tune since the last time I grabbed it, a long time ago.... So I was thinking playing it more often than my others guitars ..... !!!!!
It takes years of experience to run into every quirk a guitar might have and know how to fix it. I use Dunlop Ultraglide 65 on my strings, nut, and bridge. Keeping all the contact points lubed really seems to help my guitars stay in tune. I'll have to try the slightly flat B trick to see if it makes any difference for me. I do spend a decent amount of time getting my intonation spot on.
My Gibson Les Paul Standard (2019 50s) holds tune amazingly! As long as I string it up properly it I will barely tune it and when I do it’s barely moving the tuners. Seems that the more recent years have thankfully been much better!
Your video came at the right time, but I have lowered the slots on my nut now, still perfect tune when open, not digging, 😅 it has to be the intonation issue but I'm not great at that... It's an Epiphone lp custom, just wondering what to do with the truss rod. I even measured my depth and saddle😂 it's my dead best friends guitar, please lmk if you can recommend a dyi intonation video ❤
I own a Gretsch and I felt that would be the one...lol. Mine, however, will need a locking nut because it does not have the locking tuners. I have a Bigsby, which could also be the problem on my G2655T P90 CB Jr. Going to replace the strings with some Ernie Ball Cobalt 10's today and see if they have a Floyd Rose Locking Nut in stock at my local music store. I don't use the Bigsby, but, loved the look of the hollow body and the store wanted to get rid of this model, so the price was right. Might just take it in to trade for another Gretsch at a Guitar Center. Not in any hurry.
A lot of players waste their time and money replacing their tuning keys when the problem is with the nut. Even if the slots are the proper depth the guitar may go out of tune after bending or tremolo use by way of the strings binding in the slots. It’s always best to check that the nut slots are properly back-filed, smoothed and lubricated before spending a lot of money on new tuners. This is especially problematic with guitars that have a steeply angled peghead, because there is more downward tension on the strings in their slots. On my Les Paul I wind the strings upward on the tuner posts instead of down. This reduces the tendency of the strings to hang up in the nut slots. I don’t use graphite for lubrication because I don’t think it works very well, and I don’t like the way it looks. My favorite lube is plain lip balm. It works great and it doesn’t show like graphite. Whenever I put on new strings I gently stretch them from end to end, play the guitar a little while to make sure they are all stretched out, then detune just enough so that I can pop the strings out of their slots and put a small amount of lip balm in each one. Then I tune up, play some more, and re-check the tuning. I seldom have any trouble with tuning after that.
@@diogomartinsmota5478 Tall fretwire by itself wouldn’t cause intonation problems. But if you have a heavy touch with your fretting hand then you will have a tendency to play sharp. So if you want to take full advantage of jumbo frets you need to have a light touch, particularly if you’re using very light gauge strings.
@@lumberlikwidator8863that is why i ask my luthier to remove fret height and replace the 9's with 11's flatwounds on my Jaguar. Vintage Fenders didn't came with that tall frets, it was in the 80's or something that this thing has started, and some or most players don't even know that they can play with a heavier touch because they don't know that small frets existed before
I bought the cheapest PRS SE, Standard 24, and after a custom hand cut nut, locking tuners, and about of week of playing with trem and string tension, she stays in tune. This was hard, and I knew what I was doing.
A quick fix for high nut slots is to tune to Eb and capo the first fret. You lose one fret at the high end and all your fret markers are off, but you’ve basically replaced the nut with a zero fret.
I knew the last one was going to be the Evertune. I have one by LTD. Once the guitar is setup correctly, it will stay in tune indefinately. It's amazing.
Honestly Darrell never had any issues with my guitar staying in tune, it was designed for tuning stability , my Vintage V6P designed by Trevor Wilkinson and Vintage design team with a staggered block low e and a have double holes for the stings with Graphtec nut no issues you can bend and hit trem bar still stays in tune,
I have an LTD that actually stays in tune rather well, even if I don't touch it for a week or two at a time, but yes, it's a rare thing to find any guitar that stays in tune for a long period of time!!!
Locking tuners, Locking saddles, Done. Its that simple, Wilkinson locking saddles with good quality locking tuners basically are all it takes. And Also some form of lubricant in the nut.
I almost quit when I was younger, I spent $1000 on an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose, but was so frustrated with having to tune it every time I picked it up. I was clueless, but we also didn’t have the internet back in the 1900’s. I use Nut Sauce on all my nuts. ✌🏼
No mention of the importance of a straight string pull-through the nut. Even showed a Les Paul with a device on the headstock to achieve the straight pull-through.
This is where the locking Floyd Rose comes in super handy. I wish you would bring in a genuine superstrat with a Floyd Rose or Ibanez Edge to demonstrate locking bridges
@@darkmamba7025 I don't find changing strings on a Floyd Rose to take any significantly more time than a stop-tail bridge. Changing strings on a Fender with vintage tuners takes the same amount of time since you have to measure out the string length at the tuner and snip...no different than a Floyd.
Bought a Fender American Ultra Luxe Strat back in January. Finally changed the strings and oiled the fret board. It stays in tune beyond expectations. Edit…. I live in southwest Florida and the humidity doesn’t change much here so that consistency may be a contributing factor.
Regular cleaning and care of the guitars are important if you want them to sound good. Sometimes I'm too lazy to do it regularly myself and when I've done it I'm always happy of the great sound and the tuning stability of the guitars. A set new stings also helps...especially if you played it over a year and you're not really happy with the sound. I have seven guitars at home and I try to change the strings every 8 or 9 month...theoretically... 😉🤘🎸
My fender squire inffinity 199 made in Taiwan stays in tune because I blocked the tremelo and added locking type tuners. I must address now the 60 cycle hum. What a pain.
I've basically tried everything under the sun to keep my guitars in tune, I've stretched my strings out to the point where one literally broke, I've lubricated the hell out of all points on my guitars where there's friction, I've adjusted my guitars properly, absolutely nothing worked to fix the tuning instability on any of my guitars, even tried installing Fender LSR nuts on my two Fender guitars, a USA Strat and a Mexican Tele, that only made the tuning instability worse not better, even had tuning issues with a Floyd Rose equipped guitar too.
I note that you avoid the Gibson issue. Gibson Les Paul Guitars have Bone Nuts - something you always praise on a guitar you review This issue with a Gibson Bone nut is that the nut has straight slots in line with the fret board, and the strings then splay out and down after they leave the far end of the nut With new strings, and a nut slot that is greased - -pencil and vaseline - it works for a while. Strings on for a few weeks, or you revisit a guitar several months later? Not a chance. It will not be in tune, will not stay in tune - until you put new strings on, stretch them out, put loads of graphite and Vaseline in the nut slot, and play itfor a few hours, and keep retuning I am about to replace the nut on a 1989 Les Paul Custom that I bought new in 1990 with a Tusq nut. I already have Tusq Saddles as the original kept breaking the strings at the bridge end I have a guitar that cost £800 new in 1990 and I don't play it because it will not stay in tune unless I change the strings every day, and lube the nut every day because of a design flaw that Gibson still perpetuate today because it is how they made guitars in the 1950s.
Well over 10lb in weight, also This does not mean it's a bad guitar. But it will not will not will not stay in tune. After this rant I might actually do something about it, though
If you like to bend notes, you really need to try an EverTune before you buy. I got rid of mine. If I were rich, I would have kept it for recording rhythms.
Check your intonation before you do anything else, especially if it's an open string vs fretted issue. That is the more likely culprit. Find a great luthier you know and trust and get your guitar set up every year. They know all the little tricks for different instruments. I found a luthier many years ago and kept coming back to him because of the way he was able to dial in my Strat. R.I.P. Jim Mouradian.
Does anyone know how to fix a sensitive tuning machine? My low E string tuning machines changes 20 cents with just a slight turn. None of the other tuning machines are like that so I don’t know what the problem is.
Thanks . Here's my question. How are you able to keep a set of strings on a guitar for a year ? I have to change all of mine at least every 6 weeks . Answer please .🤘🎸🤠
If you sweat (and of course play) a lot, strings corrode and break much faster. Also depends on how much you care about having that super bright new string sound
Hey Darrell, would you be open to featuring or mentioning Sweet T Guitars on your channel? He builds incredible instruments by hand, out of South Carolina!
Only one of my guitars will ALWAYS be in tune! Did any of you get it right? let me know!
Enjoy :)
An Evertune bridge guitar?
@@benjaminchang5417 I would never have believed it was a Gretsch. The only one I ever had experience with couldn't stay in tune for a single song, let alone an entire set.
I have guitar which loosing tune in opposite direction. Strings are not getting loose but tighten over time. This happens for years. Summer, winter - doesn't matter.
Any explanation?
I bought a Ibanez RG-series guitar with Floyd Rose that came tuned out of the box and stays in tune very well.
My budget Aria strat guitar as well
Most amazing was a Washburn copy of a Charvel super strat that i bought in the late 80's ... no matter how much punischment i gave the floyd rose ... it always stayed in tune and i never broke a string
I didn't know the brand, but my first guess was a guitar w/ an Evertune bridge... and turned out to be right!
I feel you should've mentioned intonation as well, because that's another scenario where you can tune it up with a tuner perfectly, but of course some chords will be out of tune.
I was kind of expecting the same thing...
that was my first guess
intonation will be a issue
But if, for example, the nut is cut badly, and the strings are too high at the nut, or stick?
You have to fix the nut first. And the action. And stretch the strings. And sort out the "vibrato" bridge
Setting the intonation will not matter if any of the above are broken
And tall fretwire, probably the biggest contributor to sharp notes, chords .. every Squier these days comes with tall frets .. they call it narrow tall/ vintage jumbo but even that is not as true as it seems because Dunlop 6230 are the real narrow frets. True vintage frets.
Change tuners ??? c'mon
I live in Las Vegas, I have a big collection of guitars and i keep them in a humidified room. When I take one out, it will drop 1/4 step flat within 30 minutes. Put a Floyd Rose or anything else on it and it won’t help one bit. Humidity is the greatest threat to stable tuning.
Las Vegas is death for guitars. I thought mine were dead until I moved.
Not really, change in temperature and humidity messes with the tuning, not the low humidity itself. Acoustics are quite succeptable to low humidity, when it comes to quality elecrics, they should be fine is most conditions on earth but they need a little to acclimate if the temp and humidity changes. For a Vegas desert strummer I would look into carbon composide acoustics and electrics and leave the collection in controlled environment
I get the same issue in Wisconsin.
Temperature fluctuations as well...
I have around 20 guitars in a humidity controlled room, temp is fairly constant. 4 of these are 12 string one acoustic. 3 acoustic, a few hollow or semi hollow, most were ubder 1k, so not top line. They all stay fairly in tune, with very minor tuning required at any time. Definitely the humidity and temp are tge single biggest issue with guitars!
A tip for floating trems... tune them from the inside strings out, not from 6 to 1. So assuming the low E is 6 and the high E is 1, tune the strings, in order, 4 - 3 - 5 - 2 - 6 - 1. You might need to take a couple passes to get it balanced. If you tune 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1 you could be in a situation where it just shifts the trem in one direction consistently until things are really out of whack. This is also how I change the strings, fwiw. I pull them off and replace them one at a time, in that order, and bring the new string up to tune each time. This keeps the trem stable in the position you want it during the string change.
String trees: deburr and polish their underside, and oil it.
All guitars: tune a string, press the part of the string between the nut and the tuner, make a bend, retune if needed. You need to do it two or three times at most for each string, theiy will be stabilized for a longer time.
I bought my ESP Eclipse 2 with an Evertune. I’ve had it for 2 years. It absolutely stays in tune-just like you said. In fact, I bought it on your recommendation. I have saved a ton of time NOT tuning my guitar! 😀
Your channel is very educational thank you I enjoy your videos
Great video Darrell! Finger pressure was an eye opener for me!
# 6 reason why it won't stay in tune....weather. I'm in sw Florida and I play outdoors often. I'm in the middle of doing 4 straight gigs outside (hot as hell too). My #1 is a G&L Comanche and it's super stabile but not necessarily outside. My #2 is Les Paul. I bring both to every gig. Very stabile and the intonation on both is spot on but outside....I find myself retuning during the first song. Then it calms down until a break comes. 15 minutes later when the break is over I have to tune again all from being in an environment without A/C.
A big part of the problem I never see anyone talk about, is tuning by ringing out rather than tuning to the pluck. That transient may be sharp compared to when it gently rings out, but the transient is what you hear. If you play super soft to tune, then play a song less softly than gentle, it WILL be sharp. Especially the G string since it's the worst offender at being sharp on the transient.
That’s a great point!
Most of the time in my case, tuning instability stems from the nut. I found widening the slots ever so slightly and putting in a liberal amount of graphite or nut product seems to work pretty well. Filing the slots on a downwards angle to the headstock side to reduce contact area with the string may also work as well.
Just as a side note I've always instinctively tuned my B string just a couple cents flat for chords to sound more in tune, a tip for beginners if you find that your cowboy chords (especially D chords) don't sound right.
I have a Gretsch with a Bigsby that will go out of tune if the trem is used for anything more than a light vibrato. I know it's the nut, because I hear it ping during tuning, so it's binding. I tried the graphite trick, but apparently I need to go back in with a nut file next time I change the strings.
Your idea about the B string I think is reflected in some of the "sweetened" tunings that some electronic tuners now offer (Peterson strobe tuners, for one).
No... do not 'go back in' anything. Take the guitar to a skilled setup guy to remedy the problem(s).
I have a gretsch streamliner with a bigsby, at first when i got it it was horrible to stay in tune. I took your advice in one of your older videos about grafite and wow it fixed the problem, now it rarely goes out of tune now!
Big Bends Nut Sauce in the nut slots and saddle slots, no matter if it’s hard tail or not. Strings need to move freely, so they will settle back to pitch.
Yes and it has such a great name😂😅🤣.
I would’ve mentioned, if you’re going to “tighten up” the truss rod. DON’T think of it like a nut/bolt that you would turn til tight. Think more of fractions of a turn. Just until there is enough tension on the rod not to move freely. 🤘
All great points! I would also add too many windings on tuning pegs, especially for newer players, which increases the chances of the guitar going out of tune when bending.
The vintage Washburn Wonderbar 2001 is a rare 80’s big block leaf-spring trem and locking nut system that is AMAZING for staying in tune after many pulls and dive bombs. It can be mounted directly onto a hardtail guitar with the only mod being 4 screws and maybe a neck shim!
@DarrellBraunGuitar...my ‘83 Washburn Force 2 hardtail was bought with the Wonderbar trem and locking nut already installed. I removed the pickguard and electronics and started again from scratch. The new pickguard came from a piece of scrap.080 natural blk. styrene. 2 newer Washburn @ 7 and 13 ohm buckers were installed and a single coil @9 ohms routed in between. On/off/on Dpdt switches for the buckers. Split coil or full neck pup. Phase reversed or full bridge pup. Push on or off button for mid pup. Separate vol controls and dual master tone. Adjustable treble bleeds. User friendly layout. Stainless steel zero fret compensated slightly for better intonation. 22nd fret added. Scooped lower horn for more reach. My only electric. My last electric ever. Flip a switch to change thru so many different tones. 13 very usable combinations that can be tweaked with volume controls. Not for sale, I’m taking this one with me…..☠️
My LP Studio, the G string in particular drives me nuts! Apparently an LP issue. It’s had a professional setup by my usual guy and it’s not any better.
I have locking tuners on a PRS and they definitely help. I have a Jim Root Jazzmaster and it almost never goes out of tune. If I check it, it’s spot on. I often just pick it up and go.
Regarding climate and humidity, live in Scotland. We only have one season!
I know the G-String- Issue…
maybe the nut slot is a tiny bit too narrow…you can fix this with a poper file.
Ever tried ?
Good luck & rock on ! 👍
Missed one biggie Darrell....stretch your strings out properly. I tune up and check intonation often...then stretch them for about 1 minute each. Then tune up and one string at a time play it and put it in tune....then stretch about 30 seconds and check tune again. If it's flat, stretch about 30 seconds and check tune again. stretch it again 30 seconds and check tune. If it's flat, tune it and stretch it again for 30 more seconds. They will be properly stretched when you can stretch one at a time and check tune and if it is still in tune, that string is done. Do that for each string and it will hold pretty well then. I also keep 5 springs on my floating bridges and set the plate level with the body when in tune. I gig every couple of weeks with my band and I'm pretty hard on my strings. You can beat them out of tune easy enough. If they're stretched right they'll hold WAY better. Also...when your strings are just worn out it will be hell to keep in tune. I change strings at LEAST once a month and I live in wyoming where it's really dry. In Florida I had to change strings once a week. Rust and crap wears em out way faster.
Great video Darrell. Nope , didn’t guess the Gretsch as being always in tune. The truss rod tip was excellent, never thought of that. And BTW you were mentioned on Todays That Pedal Show (TPS) Video on Mick’s Strat Vlog about the Strat trem system set up issues.
All your points are well taken with intonation being the most important. Even the most expensive guitars are imperfect & require tempered tuning.
The previous owner of my guitar put locking tuners and a ball-bearing nut on it. World of difference, especially since I went from a cheap Squier to an American strat.
Good video! Every so often it’s good to hear a refresher of the basics. It’s easy to forget that in most cases, the best solution is the easiest solution.
I play Fenders, Danelectro, Epiphone, and some off-brands like Glarry, Grote, and HB...all my stuff stays in tune, some surprisingly well, over long periods of play.
Maybe you need a new tuner... 😁
Thanks man! I didn't need this video (my guitar is fine lol), but I just felt like watching it just in case one of my/someone I know's guitar is constantly out of tune! You're also my favourite guitar youtuber, so it was fun watching anyways!
I just got my String Butler installed Today. I seen it from one of your videos. Got in in the mail an on the guitar right away. Thank you sir.
Almost all new guitars have to be set up and nut slots are part of that process. I bought a new Martin that had been Pleked that needed adjustment.
I am very surprised I have a Gretsch Country Gentleman and it has a Bigsby tremolo system but in all actuality it stays in June unbelievable I can't believe that it actually stays into I have a graphite nut and I did put graphite where it was necessary
Thanks Darrell, this was very enjoyable and informative. I have a Squire Bullet strat that I abuse daily and it holds tune rather well. I blocked the trem. Love that Gretsch! 🔥🎸
OMG, when I saw your guitar, I have one , not exactly the same , I have not the ever tuned, I don't play mine anymore. The D and A open chords NEVER stay in tune. Thank you Darrel. Evertuned or evertune, however you call them, you get the point.
As always fantastic Darrell.. 👏
About those string trees, I have one in my strat, and I used to think that making them perfect straight and the screw so tight makes the guitar more stable in tune but I found that you HAVE TO lose the string tree screw just a little, it would be enough if after some playin you notice that its a bit rotated, you know: give some democracy to the B and high E string, they will handle each other :)))))
Awesome stuff as always! One thing I found is decked. Tremlows always cause me tuning issues if I use the bar at all. I even have a super v blade runner and when I had it floating it was fantastic. Switched it to decked due to my current set of guitars and it never stays in tune after a bomb
My two Epiphones stay in tune for long periods. The Fender strat until I had it serviced would go out of tune as soon I did any playing. Now holds tune for time to play a few tracks.
I have found on a floating trem if you go out of tune after a bend or something while playing, just mute the strings do a couple of quick dive bombs and it will usually settle everything back in tune.
I learn a lot from this video. Thanks, Darrel!
I'm with you all the way on friction points and hating string trees. I have rarely found they are needed. If your nut is cut properly, and you wind the string down the post a bit you should not need them unless you play really heavy open position chords. And as soon as you are fretting strings, the trees have no impact. Warning - non-staggered locking tuners can be your enemy. Forget conventional wisdom with locking tuners and leave enough slack so you can wind the string down the post a bit. If you really feel you need trees get something with rollers or a Graf Tech tree. But try living without them first. You don't even have to remove them - just pop the string out from under it and tune up.
Weird. I have close to no such issues on my guitars. Yes, I had to resort to GraphTec nuts, roller saddles, String Butlers or even a Nut Buster in one case, but that about fixed everything. And I have at least 3 really cheap Harley Bentons, and _all_ of my (electric) guitars have trem systems.
I got very lucky, my Cort M600 will stay in tune throughout a gig, even several months if left in case. But I admit, I don’t bend much, and humidity is pretty stabile where I live.
I have a Switch (remember them?) Vibracell composite guitar with factory graphite nut and roller saddles on the floating trem. I live in NH where winters are cold and dry, and summers are hot and humid, and I've never had to touch the truss rod. That guitar will not go out of tune even if I leave it in direct sunlight. I'd love if a company re-introduced composite guitars that actually looked good; the resonance and sound of the Switch is as good as any other guitar I own.
Great video nice to see more tips. Always good to have some simple reminders for keeping guitar intune.
I took my BC Rich Mockingbird out of its case, with 1 year old strings on it, and with a Floyd Rose, and it was perfect in tune since the last time I grabbed it, a long time ago.... So I was thinking playing it more often than my others guitars ..... !!!!!
It takes years of experience to run into every quirk a guitar might have and know how to fix it. I use Dunlop Ultraglide 65 on my strings, nut, and bridge. Keeping all the contact points lubed really seems to help my guitars stay in tune. I'll have to try the slightly flat B trick to see if it makes any difference for me. I do spend a decent amount of time getting my intonation spot on.
My Gibson Les Paul Standard (2019 50s) holds tune amazingly! As long as I string it up properly it I will barely tune it and when I do it’s barely moving the tuners. Seems that the more recent years have thankfully been much better!
Very interesting video Darrell, greetings from Italy! 🔝👏🏻
I used a little graphite power on the nut and it really helped.
Your video came at the right time, but I have lowered the slots on my nut now, still perfect tune when open, not digging, 😅 it has to be the intonation issue but I'm not great at that... It's an Epiphone lp custom, just wondering what to do with the truss rod. I even measured my depth and saddle😂 it's my dead best friends guitar, please lmk if you can recommend a dyi intonation video ❤
I have a Thomas Blug signature guitar which cost about £270 several years ago.and it stays in tune all day long. The setup this guitar was great .
I own a Gretsch and I felt that would be the one...lol. Mine, however, will need a locking nut because it does not have the locking tuners. I have a Bigsby, which could also be the problem on my G2655T P90 CB Jr. Going to replace the strings with some Ernie Ball Cobalt 10's today and see if they have a Floyd Rose Locking Nut in stock at my local music store. I don't use the Bigsby, but, loved the look of the hollow body and the store wanted to get rid of this model, so the price was right. Might just take it in to trade for another Gretsch at a Guitar Center. Not in any hurry.
Practical tips like these are always useful! 🎸🎸
Yay a New Darrel video👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
A lot of players waste their time and money replacing their tuning keys when the problem is with the nut. Even if the slots are the proper depth the guitar may go out of tune after bending or tremolo use by way of the strings binding in the slots. It’s always best to check that the nut slots are properly back-filed, smoothed and lubricated before spending a lot of money on new tuners. This is especially problematic with guitars that have a steeply angled peghead, because there is more downward tension on the strings in their slots. On my Les Paul I wind the strings upward on the tuner posts instead of down. This reduces the tendency of the strings to hang up in the nut slots. I don’t use graphite for lubrication because I don’t think it works very well, and I don’t like the way it looks. My favorite lube is plain lip balm. It works great and it doesn’t show like graphite. Whenever I put on new strings I gently stretch them from end to end, play the guitar a little while to make sure they are all stretched out, then detune just enough so that I can pop the strings out of their slots and put a small amount of lip balm in each one. Then I tune up, play some more, and re-check the tuning. I seldom have any trouble with tuning after that.
what about tall fretwire ? tall frets, every Squier comes with those tall frets shipped with 9's
@@diogomartinsmota5478 Tall fretwire by itself wouldn’t cause intonation problems. But if you have a heavy touch with your fretting hand then you will have a tendency to play sharp. So if you want to take full advantage of jumbo frets you need to have a light touch, particularly if you’re using very light gauge strings.
@@lumberlikwidator8863that is why i ask my luthier to remove fret height and replace the 9's with 11's flatwounds on my Jaguar. Vintage Fenders didn't came with that tall frets, it was in the 80's or something that this thing has started, and some or most players don't even know that they can play with a heavier touch because they don't know that small frets existed before
I am just not a Les Paul guy, never have been. I play my Tele more than anything...thanks for the tips!! 👍
You sound like me. Never liked the Les Paul. But I love my Teles.
@@danielhartman5086 if it ain't broke don't fix it 🤷 I also love my Tele!
After the nuclear Armageddon all that will be left are cockroaches and telecasters (and they’ll be in tune).
Thank you for showing are young player this, they need to learn this bro.
My ‘52 Fender Tele reissue is pretty damn stable.
I bought the cheapest PRS SE, Standard 24, and after a custom hand cut nut, locking tuners, and about of week of playing with trem and string tension, she stays in tune. This was hard, and I knew what I was doing.
Had the same problem. Shockingly bad.
Excellent video, great info - thanks Darrell
Ah! I used the pencil trick on my sons guitar! 😀 Very informative video Darrell!-Brent, VT
I fitted a graphtech nut on my IYV lp clone and it holds tune very well
A quick fix for high nut slots is to tune to Eb and capo the first fret. You lose one fret at the high end and all your fret markers are off, but you’ve basically replaced the nut with a zero fret.
I knew the last one was going to be the Evertune. I have one by LTD. Once the guitar is setup correctly, it will stay in tune indefinately. It's amazing.
Haha you just used the word "zingy" lol that made me laugh 😂
Honestly Darrell never had any issues with my guitar staying in tune, it was designed for tuning stability , my Vintage V6P designed by Trevor Wilkinson and Vintage design team with a staggered block low e and a have double holes for the stings with Graphtec nut no issues you can bend and hit trem bar still stays in tune,
Thanks to Leo, my G&L stays in tune for days!!
the epiphone firebird stays in tune pretty darn well. shocked me considering I use a Capo with it
I use the evertune bridge and it never goes out of tune , can you do some content on the evertune bridge it would be appreciated 👍🎸
I have an LTD that actually stays in tune rather well, even if I don't touch it for a week or two at a time, but yes, it's a rare thing to find any guitar that stays in tune for a long period of time!!!
Thanks for the info, nice video.
Interesting Evertune! never would of guessed a Gretch.
Locking tuners, Locking saddles, Done. Its that simple, Wilkinson locking saddles with good quality locking tuners basically are all it takes. And Also some form of lubricant in the nut.
I almost quit when I was younger, I spent $1000 on an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose, but was so frustrated with having to tune it every time I picked it up. I was clueless, but we also didn’t have the internet back in the 1900’s. I use Nut Sauce on all my nuts. ✌🏼
No mention of the importance of a straight string pull-through the nut. Even showed a Les Paul with a device on the headstock to achieve the straight pull-through.
I wonder what you're thoughts on the String Butler are?
This is where the locking Floyd Rose comes in super handy. I wish you would bring in a genuine superstrat with a Floyd Rose or Ibanez Edge to demonstrate locking bridges
Changing tuning or strings is a pain in the ass though...
@@darkmamba7025Maybe but I’m pretty patient with that.
@@darkmamba7025 I don't find changing strings on a Floyd Rose to take any significantly more time than a stop-tail bridge. Changing strings on a Fender with vintage tuners takes the same amount of time since you have to measure out the string length at the tuner and snip...no different than a Floyd.
Bought a Fender American Ultra Luxe Strat back in January. Finally changed the strings and oiled the fret board. It stays in tune beyond expectations. Edit…. I live in southwest Florida and the humidity doesn’t change much here so that consistency may be a contributing factor.
Evertune rules! I love it!
I have a Gretch acoustic I picked up at a flea market and I don’t care for it but, it’s still in tune after months of sitting in the case
Regular cleaning and care of the guitars are important if you want them to sound good. Sometimes I'm too lazy to do it regularly myself and when I've done it I'm always happy of the great sound and the tuning stability of the guitars. A set new stings also helps...especially if you played it over a year and you're not really happy with the sound. I have seven guitars at home and I try to change the strings every 8 or 9 month...theoretically... 😉🤘🎸
Darrell could a tuning issue on a gibson sg just be the nut being cut wrong or the material?
what was that blue and white guitar? the one where you were talking grip strength.
I feel personally attacked for my strong grip...😂
Haven't even started the vid yet,
and my guess for that last one is the EverTune.
I guessed it correct about the Evertune. I want a guitar that has one.
That was very interesting, thanks!
That’s why I want an ever tune, so damn bad !!!!!!!!
I had not even watched this yet when I stated I need an evertune!
My fender squire inffinity 199 made in Taiwan stays in tune because I blocked the tremelo and added locking type tuners. I must address now the 60 cycle hum. What a pain.
I've basically tried everything under the sun to keep my guitars in tune, I've stretched my strings out to the point where one literally broke, I've lubricated the hell out of all points on my guitars where there's friction, I've adjusted my guitars properly, absolutely nothing worked to fix the tuning instability on any of my guitars, even tried installing Fender LSR nuts on my two Fender guitars, a USA Strat and a Mexican Tele, that only made the tuning instability worse not better, even had tuning issues with a Floyd Rose equipped guitar too.
Would love to see you review a commanche
Have you given up on worship song?
I note that you avoid the Gibson issue.
Gibson Les Paul Guitars have Bone Nuts - something you always praise on a guitar you review
This issue with a Gibson Bone nut is that the nut has straight slots in line with the fret board, and the strings then splay out and down after they leave the far end of the nut
With new strings, and a nut slot that is greased - -pencil and vaseline - it works for a while. Strings on for a few weeks, or you revisit a guitar several months later? Not a chance. It will not be in tune, will not stay in tune - until you put new strings on, stretch them out, put loads of graphite and Vaseline in the nut slot, and play itfor a few hours, and keep retuning
I am about to replace the nut on a 1989 Les Paul Custom that I bought new in 1990 with a Tusq nut. I already have Tusq Saddles as the original kept breaking the strings at the bridge end
I have a guitar that cost £800 new in 1990 and I don't play it because it will not stay in tune unless I change the strings every day, and lube the nut every day
because of a design flaw that Gibson still perpetuate today because it is how they made guitars in the 1950s.
Well over 10lb in weight, also
This does not mean it's a bad guitar. But it will not will not will not stay in tune.
After this rant I might actually do something about it, though
If you like to bend notes, you really need to try an EverTune before you buy. I got rid of mine. If I were rich, I would have kept it for recording rhythms.
Check your intonation before you do anything else, especially if it's an open string vs fretted issue. That is the more likely culprit. Find a great luthier you know and trust and get your guitar set up every year. They know all the little tricks for different instruments. I found a luthier many years ago and kept coming back to him because of the way he was able to dial in my Strat. R.I.P. Jim Mouradian.
Do they make an Evertune for Telecasters?
Does anyone know how to fix a sensitive tuning machine? My low E string tuning machines changes 20 cents with just a slight turn. None of the other tuning machines are like that so I don’t know what the problem is.
i have a 1973 gretsch chet atkins country gentleman and it stays in tune very well
Proper tuning , I've seen many tune down , always tune up too the note and Cheap Tuner's.
Thanks . Here's my question. How are you able to keep a set of strings on a guitar for a year ? I have to change all of mine at least every 6 weeks . Answer please .🤘🎸🤠
If you sweat (and of course play) a lot, strings corrode and break much faster. Also depends on how much you care about having that super bright new string sound
All of mine stay in tune. You never addressed the string wrap on the tuning peg lol...
Thanks for the help.
Do you think painted necks can hold better tuning?
Hey Darrell, would you be open to featuring or mentioning Sweet T Guitars on your channel? He builds incredible instruments by hand, out of South Carolina!
Would like to see evertune come up with a trem bridge.