Mystery tuning stability problem (PLEASE HELP!!!)

[TomStephens]

Hello everybody,

The G string on my main electric guitar (an esp eclipse) just WILL NOT stay in tune. I've tried everything that I or anyone else I've asked can think of, I've even replace the nut, but the problem persists. It always goes a bit flat as soon as I touch the guitar after tuning. The guitar has locking tuners, I've checked that they're nice and tight on the string, I haven't tried replacing the machine head in question, or replacing the bridge saddle, but apart from that I've done everything I can think of. Any ideas or help on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!
Tom

[darren]

tried a new set of strings?

edit - not trying to be snarky, just askin :)

[chimpotle]

I just looked up that guitar online - i'm assuming you have a fixed bridge and not a floyd rose....

First try filing the saddle slot for the g string. You may have a burr that the string is hanging up on.

Also check the stop bar part of the bridge with the ball end of the string is seated for burrs. Touch it up with a needle file.

I'll bet that somewhere in the chain, your string is hanging up on something - so inspect the whole length of the string anywhere it contacts or comes close to contacting any part of the guitar.

[Ben-Had]

Hello everybody,

The G string on my main electric guitar (an esp eclipse) just WILL NOT stay in tune. I've tried everything that I or anyone else I've asked can think of, I've even replace the nut, but the problem persists. It always goes a bit flat as soon as I touch the guitar after tuning. The guitar has locking tuners, I've checked that they're nice and tight on the string, I haven't tried replacing the machine head in question, or replacing the bridge saddle, but apart from that I've done everything I can think of. Any ideas or help on this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!
Tom

1. On an electric, as you know, the G can be wound or unwound. Wound being thicker can mean the nut slot needs to be slightly widened so it won't bind (if yours is wound). Some graphite may also help. Even if you put a new nut on it, it may still need some adjustment.
2. Even when Locked it may have some slip if using too many winds. I like to see no more than 4 loops max around the post on the unwound strings and 2-3 on the wound strings. Stretching a new string helps break it in (not too much stretch)
3. Could be the saddle (I see you've thought about that)
4. Could be the machine head ( I see you've thought about that too)
5. Finally, it could be... NO, I better not go there!

[tippie53]

The advice so far should be helpful. There are some things that can be a pain to find. You had replaced the nut you said earlier and I agree that something may be holding off the string.
Steel will not bend at one point like a thread , so if you have an arc where the strings touch you can help to control this. A flat ramped string slot often will allow the string to "arc" and then as the string pulls the arc flat you will loose tuning. I have seen this often of steel string acoustics and a few times on some electrics. I hope you find the cause and let us know.
One thing else, you you have a tremelo bridge ? You may have a bad spring.

[TomStephens]

Wow, thanks guys, thats all really helpful.

It's a tune-o-matic + stoptail guitar, the strings have been changed 2 times since this problem first showed itself.

I will try filing the slots on the bridge and stoptail and take a closer look at every point on the guitar that the string touches, thats a great idea!

I filled the slots of the new nut with graphite as soon as I put it on, and stretched the new strings to hell and back, it's an unwound G string, because of the locking tuners none of the strings are wrapped at all round the pegs.

Now I think of it, i recently adjusted the truss rod and I'm not sure if this problem was present before that or not, I can't remember, but could that really just effect the one string and not the others at all?

You've all given me lots of great stuff to work with, so I'm going to try it all and see what comes up.

Thank you all very much!
Tom

[jrc127]

As I understand it the first electrics always had wound 3rd strings. The reason has to do with physics, I believe, something to do with tension, frequency, etc. Players moved to unwound Gs in the rock era because they are easier to play.

For several years now I have replaced the unwound G on a new set of strings on my electric with a wound G. I had the tuning problem with unwound Gs but since using wound Gs they stay in tune like the rest (although wound G seems to be the first one to go dull and from that I know the whole set is almost done0>

Hope this helps.

[chimpotle]

Hey Tom -

I haven't ever owned or used a guitar with locking tuners, but seeing as your guitar goes flat, i would be suspicious of the tuner for that string. If i under stand correctly, you thread just a bit of the string through the capstan, then screw down the lock? IF my understanding is correct, you may have a burr or groove or machine mark of some kind inside the through-hole, or you may have slippage from the locking mechanism. Do you know what make the tuners are?

If you can't find anything wrong with the bridge and saddle, i would look into returning the offending tuner for replacement, if thats at all an option.

[TomStephens]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for your advice, very helpful. Today I quickly filed the bridge saddle but that doesn't seem to have made the difference. I haven't filed the strings hole on the stop bar yet (I've been putting it off because once that string comes off I probably won't be able to get it back on, as I suspect I have cut the string too short and the headstock...) They are Schaller locking tuners. I think it could actually be very likely that the locking mechanism is the problem. I say that because I did used to somewhat over tighten the locking mechanism when I first got the guitar, so it could be that the pressure of the string being crushed against the piece of metal that clamps it has worn the clamping surface over time... it shouldn't cost me too much to replace just one locking machine head, but for now I may replace it with a standard spare that I have to experiment with the results. Thanks again.

James, I haven't used wound G strings before, I will look into that, thank you.

Tom