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Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:25 am
by bluecob
Staying in Tune

I have had a Gretch 6120 guitar for many years which is my pride and joy and have just decided it is time I tried a bit more seriously to play it and I have posted elsewhere asking for help in equipment etc.

I have a problem though. Recently (one year ago) I purchased a Takamine G Series guitar to enable playing without amplification which is a great guitar - but it will not stay in tune. I have stretched the strings, tightened the nuts etc. but it still will not stay in tune. This is so bad that I now rarely play it.

Can anyone give me some tips if I am missing something?

Re: Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:28 pm
by GORDON
Hi,the 6120 is one of my favourite guitars,would love to own an old one! Sadly I have no idea why your other guitar has tuning problems. If the strings have been fitted correctly which they obviously have, I'm at a total loss as to what to suggest. Any other ideas all you Forum readers? Be well. G.

Re: Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:37 pm
by bluecob
Hi Gordon

Yes I love my Gretsch but I do have one moan about it. Awhile ago the jack plug developed a fault (buzzing when inserting the lead) and not knowing how to get to it to change it I contacted Fender, who now own Gretsch, and asked them how to do it. Would you believe it but there is no access to the workings of the guitar so if you get a fault, tough.

Knowing the cost of this instrument I would have expected better, but there you go.

I think I will re-string my Takamine and see if this helps as I am not sure what strings are on it.

Re: Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:52 pm
by Trevor Raggatt
Have you ever had the Takamine set up by a local luthier or guitar tech? It might be worth considering. Tiny things like roughness in the nut, how it's cut or whatever can make all the difference to how a guitar settles down. You might think of chatting to a tech and asking him to set it up how you like it and mention to him about the tuning problems and ask him to check the nut grooves.

In my limited experience a good set up can really transform an average guitar. Get him to string it up with your preferred brand and gauge of strings and hopefully it might bring a nice guitar out of retirement. Takamines are usually well made and considered good workhorse guitars by many.

Again, with the Gretsch a good tech will know all the tricks of how to access the wiring of that type of guitar usually involving hoiking the wiring loom out through the f-holes with custom bent tools and bits of wore coat-hanger. Not for the faint hearted! You might find that a good tech can easily rectify this for you too.

Not sure where abouts you are but there are many here on this forum who can pass on recommendations. If in the SE of England/London/Surrey/Berkshire them Charlie Chandler comes highly recommended... http://www.guitarexperience.co.uk/

Re: Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:25 pm
by John F
Hope I'm not teaching Granny to suck eggs, but how many turns of the string do you have on each peg? I had a couple of Takamines until about 18 months ago and I found them amongst the most stable guitars I had ever owned, but only if I had enough string wound onto the pegs. I found that once I had at least a turn and a half (on the bass E string) all was sweetness and light. Better with two turns.

Re: Guitar Staying in Tune

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:18 am
by bluecob
Some excellent advise there and I will certainly take it. I live in France so I am not sure where I could get the guitar set up but checking the stringing is a good start point.

Thanks.