I've Got Serious Tuning Problems...need Advice

[Fstpicker]

I always had medium strings on my D-03E when I owned it. Never had a problem with the guitar handling them. You should be able to string them with mediums with the same nut slots you already have.

Hope you get the "tuner" thing straightened out. I can see how frustrated you are.

Jeff

[1954Gold]

If that is a stock nut, per Larrivee D-03 specs, it should "handle" mediums. If it is a mod, then you might have to visit your luthier and have the nut cut.

[sc morris]

****UPDATE ON TUNING DILEMMA*****

got an email from EM Shorts today.  they seem to think that the Webstrings are the problem.  they suggested that i string it up with D'Addario EJ16's and see if this doesn't fix the problem.  from what i understand, these strings will not last me very long.  i'm really not sure why they think this particular brand is the solution.  is there something special about these strings???  i hope this works.  if it doesn't i may have to ship it to them to look it over:(

[stevelawsn]

I recommend that you let unclrob look at it. He is a real pro and will get it straightened out for you and it will come back better than new.  He has wrked on mine and did a fantastic job. His shop is in Tallahassee. ..Steve

[1954Gold]

Before you go to the expense and hassle of shipping it anywhere, CHANGE THE STRINGS and see what happens. My guess is there is nothing wrong with the guitar and that a set of **quality** strings will resolve the problem. I have had no problem whatsoever with the Martin Phosphor Bronze Mediums. If you bought the Larrivee from EM, you are in good hands. Also, you may want to email Larrivee customer service, they are very responsive.

[Imapickn]

I am confused  :blink:  (nothing new, there)  But......
why would you not just put on a different pair of strings (as was suggested to you within minutes of your first post) instead of fretting (pun intended) over this for 2 days??? :blink:    Your gona make yourself ill.... just put on the new strings and see if the problem goes away..
Let us know what happened, SC....   Take care, Don

[Roman]

I find it pretty hard to believe that strings - any strings - would be the problem . . .

Here's a silly question . . . Have you tightened the little phillips screws on the tuners to make sure they're tight?  Not much more than that . . .

[sc morris]

I am confused  :blink:  (nothing new, there)  But......
why would you not just put on a different pair of strings (as was suggested to you within minutes of your first post) instead of fretting (pun intended) over this for 2 days??? :blink:    Your gona make yourself ill.... just put on the new strings and see if the problem goes away..
Let us know what happened, SC....   Take care, Don

one reason....because it was going out of tune with Poly's on it as well.  the only time it's held tune well was with the Nano's.  so i thought, "strings can't be the problem, right".  that's why i started freakin out.  i've tightened this and tweaked that and finally just wanted some input from the pro's here.  plus, i can't really break away during the week and go to the guitar shop.  it'll have to wait till the weekend.  

[sc morris]

I find it pretty hard to believe that strings - any strings - would be the problem . . .

Here's a silly question . . . Have you tightened the little phillips screws on the tuners to make sure they're tight?  Not much more than that . . .

i haven't done that yet....thanks...i will..

[sc morris]

Before you go to the expense and hassle of shipping it anywhere, CHANGE THE STRINGS and see what happens. My guess is there is nothing wrong with the guitar and that a set of **quality** strings will resolve the problem. I have had no problem whatsoever with the Martin Phosphor Bronze Mediums. If you bought the Larrivee from EM, you are in good hands. Also, you may want to email Larrivee customer service, they are very responsive.

i'm going to buy some of those Martin's this weekend as well.  same time i get the D'Addario's.  thanks for all the good input.  

[sc morris]

I recommend that you let unclrob look at it. He is a real pro and will get it straightened out for you and it will come back better than new.  He has wrked on mine and did a fantastic job. His shop is in Tallahassee. ..Steve

i have no problem sending the guitar to him.  i just figured i should go through EM Shorts first,since i have a warrantee with them. i wasn't sure if Unclrob was a certified Larrivee tech either.  i want to milk my warrantee for everything it's worth.  if they can't help me, i have no problem sending it to him.  just wanted to follow proper protocal first,that's all.  

[1954Gold]

I think all the bases here have been covered ad infinitum. EM Shorts offers a two year shop warranty along with the manufacturer's warranty, so if it is the instrument you are protected. One last possibility is the nut - sometimes the strings catch that "ping" or creaking sound when tightened... this is allievated with remedies from pencil lead in the nut to special lubricants such as "Nut Sauce". I rest my case - it's the strings.

[Imapickn]

Hey SC,  let us know how it worked out.... (no matter what you had to do)....  
Don

[sully]

I can't believe noone has mentioned this. Check to make sure the ball end is seated properly. If not, it will gradually loosen, and the guitar will quickly and constantly go out of tune. Look at this graphic to see what I mean.  http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdfs/s...ring_guitar.pdf

[sully]

Oh, and don't torque too much on the screw on the tuners. You'll ruin them if there's too much tension.  

[sc morris]

I can't believe noone has mentioned this. Check to make sure the ball end is seated properly. If not, it will gradually loosen, and the guitar will quickly and constantly go out of tune. Look at this graphic to see what I mean.  http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdfs/s...ring_guitar.pdf

done....

[naparuno]

I used to have this same problem years ago with my Epi.  Used to drive me crazy, had a bigsby style tremolo and it never stayed in tune.

I was jamin' with this guy one time, had to change to new strings, and he gave me the tip that I have used over ten years, and keeps the guitar in tune, almost instantly with new strings and keeps old ones in tune, weeks after.

Very similar to what everyone is saying about pulling the stings, but different.

Must make sure you have them wrapped correctly and on the posts, and not much; no more than three wraps and they should not overlap on top of each other.  Ensure that the ball is seated properly, very important.

Then, as you tune up, you bend the strings.  The best way to describe this is, at mid-point of the string, place the string between your index finger and thumb, with thumb on top.  Push down with your thumb on top of the string while your index finger is cradling the sting allowing you to bend it between your fingers, causing them to stretch quite a bit, be easy on the high E or it will break.  The string will now be tuned flat from the stretching (especially if new, but you can do this every time you tune the guitar, even with old strings) tune it up, and repeat this until stretching the string has no effect on tuning.  This pulls all the slack out of the strings, posts, gears, saddle, nut, etc...  

After that, you can put your capo on, you can do string bends all night long, it will stay in tune.  After I tune like this on my electric I am hard pressed to get it out of tune no matter how much I do string bends, 1 1/2 pitch bends, no effect, hit the whammy bar, no problem.

Let us know how it turns out.

[sc morris]

I used to have this same problem years ago with my Epi.  Used to drive me crazy, had a bigsby style tremolo and it never stayed in tune.

I was jamin' with this guy one time, had to change to new strings, and he gave me the tip that I have used over ten years, and keeps the guitar in tune, almost instantly with new strings and keeps old ones in tune, weeks after.

Very similar to what everyone is saying about pulling the stings, but different.

Must make sure you have them wrapped correctly and on the posts, and not much; no more than three wraps and they should not overlap on top of each other.  Ensure that the ball is seated properly, very important.

Then, as you tune up, you bend the strings.  The best way to describe this is, at mid-point of the string, place the string between your index finger and thumb, with thumb on top.  Push down with your thumb on top of the string while your index finger is cradling the sting allowing you to bend it between your fingers, causing them to stretch quite a bit, be easy on the high E or it will break.  The string will now be tuned flat from the stretching (especially if new, but you can do this every time you tune the guitar, even with old strings) tune it up, and repeat this until stretching the string has no effect on tuning.  This pulls all the slack out of the strings, posts, gears, saddle, nut, etc...  

After that, you can put your capo on, you can do string bends all night long, it will stay in tune.  After I tune like this on my electric I am hard pressed to get it out of tune no matter how much I do string bends, 1 1/2 pitch bends, no effect, hit the whammy bar, no problem.

Let us know how it turns out.

i have absoletely no clue what yer talking about here.... :(  

[naparuno]

Maybe these will help, sorry, they are blurry, taking pix myself.

The string is pinched between my thumb and index finger.  I am holding the string in my index finger while pressing down with lots of force from my thumb.  keep doing this until the string stays in-tune.

[Daddyo]

SC Morris. I have a L-03R which I love. No tuning problems. The factory installed Elixirs stayed in tune right? Well unless you moved from Nevada to central Brazil, it won't be the guitar. I'd put my money on the ball ends not being seated against the bridge. The slots in the bridge pins should be facing towards the headstock allowing the balls to slide up and seat against the reinforcement under the bridge. Often the ball gets hung up on the end of the pin or the wrap gets jammed, and the string is only held in place by fricton. Every time you hit a chord or do a bend, the ball slides up a bit putting you guitar out of tune. Try lossening off a string, pulling up on the bridge pin, and pull on the string until your sure it is seated against the wood of the bridge reinforcement. Next time you restring, put a little bend in the strings just above the ball end. This will let the ball end move away from the bridge pin. This should solve your tuning problems.

Also, you can get dud string sets even from good manufacturers.