Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 6, 2010 at 8:25am

So when you say it won't stay tuned, do you mean that you get the note right, but then as you play, it goes out of tune?

If so, the first thing I would check is to be sure that you have enough wraps of the string around the tuning peg to ensure that it is not slipping.

What are you doing to secure the "ball end" of the string? It looks like you just have holes in the wood. Maybe the end of the string is being pulled into the wood by the tension. Can you put a small rivet or something in the hole so that the string does not cut into the wood?

if you have a piezo in it, you can always move it around to get a different sound out of it.

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Permalink Reply by kenrg on June 6, 2010 at 8:28am

Thanks - It could well be the ball end giving me the slippage. I did consider putting a small washer there, and may have to go back and put them in. Thanks!

Iggy said:

... What are you doing to secure the "ball end" of the string? It looks like you just have holes in the wood. Maybe the end of the string is being pulled into the wood by the tension. ...

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Permalink Reply by Hey, TURN IT DOWN! on June 6, 2010 at 8:40am

Something I also do every time I restring an instrument with new strings, is stretch them. I leave a little slack when I first wind the strings on, then take the string between my thumb and first finger near the bridge. I tilt my hand forward, so that my thumbnail is now vertical rather than horizontal, and run the length of the string a couple times. I learned this trick many years ago, and have done it ever since. Probably not the best way to break in the strings, but I "ain't no pro performing music maker," LOL...

Since I started doing that, I have noticed I have better luck getting a new set of strings to stay in tune

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Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on June 6, 2010 at 9:13am

Ah Iggy came up with the same thought I had - posted mine on the relevant photo. I didnlt mention stretching teh strings as I know you play guitar so I figured you are used to that being an issue with new strings.

What pick up have you installed and how did you do it? If it's a piezo I know a lot of people who just stick them direct to the wood - I use double sided padded sticky tape which seems to eliminate some of the clicks and knocks you get. Try it on the body and also on the underside of the bridge. You will crack it somehow

kenrg said:

Thanks - It could well be the ball end giving me the slippage. I did consider putting a small washer there, and may have to go back and put them in. Thanks!

Iggy said:

... What are you doing to secure the "ball end" of the string? It looks like you just have holes in the wood. Maybe the end of the string is being pulled into the wood by the tension. ...

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on June 6, 2010 at 9:19am

Make sure the ball end isn't coming thru the wood, and you have enuff wraps to hold the string.
But, it looks like to me you are using nylon strings. Are they?
If so, they will tale a while to stretch and settle in. They may also need a few more wraps, and I use the wrap lock method on everything now since using nylons on ukes.
String thru the hole, 1st wrap over the loose end, 2nd wrap under, then for me, 1 more full wrap just to be sure I have ebyff to hold.


Matt

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Permalink Reply by KaptnKen on June 6, 2010 at 10:18am

Along with what everyone else has suggested, take a look at how your tuners are mounted. The way the tension from the strings are on the posts, it would tend to pull the gear on the post away from the worm gear on the knob just a wee bit. That tiny bit of play could be letting the string tension change at random. If you have the other half of that set of tuners, try swapping them out and see what happens.

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Permalink Reply by kenrg on June 6, 2010 at 10:31am

Thanks, Matt - I am using steel strings, and let them settle in and stretch overnight before making this post. Thanks for the tips.

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Permalink Reply by kenrg on June 6, 2010 at 10:33am

Thanks to each of you who commented - I'm going to re-do the top of the neck with reinforcement for the ball-end of the strings, and see if that does it. if not, I'll return to the tuner end and see if there's anything more I can try there.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Alan Roberts on June 6, 2010 at 2:48pm

Photo #2 DOES look like you have those tuners upside down (I did that too). #3 A lot of people just pop the nail-looking thing out of a rivit and using the tube. ALWAYS have a flat piece of wood under something your drilling holes in; looks like you have a lot of "tear out" there. #5 looks like the culprit -- you need busings to keep the tuners tight.
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/GTM46.htm for example.

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Permalink Reply by kenrg on June 6, 2010 at 3:43pm

Thanks - #2 didn't even occur to me that there might an upside down! #5 looks like I'll be ordering a couple of bushings...

Alan Roberts said:

Photo #2 DOES look like you have those tuners upside down .... #5 looks like the culprit -- you need busings to keep the tuners tight. ...

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Permalink Reply by Crow on June 7, 2010 at 3:28am

i wasn't aware that there was a proper way to mount tuners. guys here have mounted them all kinds of ways. it seems like the gears should do thier job no matter how they are installed..

i've had poor luck with cheap open backed tuners exactly like these on my store-bought guitars. i was very upset. it's oddly satisfying and upsetting at the same time to know that i actually attain a higher degree of reliability with my eye bolt tuners than i do with a real guitar....

LOL

good luck man!

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Permalink Reply by Roger Morin on June 7, 2010 at 4:15am

No Crow when the tuner are mounted corecctly you have the tuning post being pulled toward the bridge causeing the grear to become tighter. The other way around after awhile the tuning post becomes lose nomatter what you do so yes the tuner should be turned around.

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