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Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 05:51 PM

Hi all I have a Schecter Damien FR series guitar with the Floyd Rose special whammy bar. I find that my guitar goes out of tune when bending lots especially the G string my understanding is that is a common problem. Any suggestions on how to fix that or should I just go to a guitar tech and have it fixed? Thank you

Posted by: korblitz May 31 2013, 06:25 PM

Easiest solution...get a wound G string.

The normal way: pfff....I could talk here for ours...pros and cons...

Some people, like me, consider to tune the G string a little be flat...it helps with bending and intonation...if you didn't choose a wounded string.

You also check your nut, maybe....who knows, it's not slipping well. But this would be absurd on your floyd rose, bcause it doesn't matter one least bit.

Check for more resources online and live with the limitations of the guitar...or just talk with the luthier at the guitar shop.

Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 06:46 PM

Thank you Korblitz will look into it

Posted by: Britishampfan May 31 2013, 07:15 PM

How do you put on your strings? Do you stretch them good before locking everything down.

I will try to find a really good video on string installation that helped me.

Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 07:39 PM

Honestly I just get a tech to put them on, I get free strings and they change them for me every 3 months. I forgot how to change string when you have a Floyd rose a bit of a hassle from what I remember I really should learn again. Thank you

Posted by: Britishampfan May 31 2013, 07:46 PM

Dude this is what I do, better sound and tuning ever since.

Posted by: bleez May 31 2013, 08:06 PM

cool video. Ive never seen that with the '3 fingers / sharp bend' thing before. Im gonna try that next time.

Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 09:27 PM

That was a great video and damn didn't realise I had to change strings that often what a dumb ass I am . I have to learn how to change strings again with a Floyd rose, I know it involves cutting the end of the strings and some adjustment on the whammy bar as well. Thank you for all the help.

Posted by: Britishampfan May 31 2013, 09:41 PM

I find that most tremolo`s work really well and stay in tune, With a properly set up locking nut and tremolo you should be able to beat that guitar and stay in tune, that`s why I asked.

Ok if you use the same principals of the video, and I play an 8 string Ibanez double locker myself, it should work as well.

I have to cut the ball ends off, I lube lightly the bridge parts, lock down the strings on the bridge, loosen the locking nut, No lube there on a nut locker.

I slip the strings through the nut lock and land strings as described on the video, I stretch the strings while looking at my tuner until they stay in tune, all the strings, then I lock the nut.

As my first guitar teacher said to me- "You really need to learn how to do this stuff yourself to get it right." (He was right) and saved me money, thus started my journey on setting up and maintaining my guitars. it`s not hard just more learning.

Good luck

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 31 2013, 09:56 PM

As it has been commented here, changing strings at least once a month, and stretching well every string are keys to be keep the tune when you are using floyd rose. Experiment with it and if you still have issues, bring the guitar to a professional who will surely find the reason why your guitar doesn't keep on tune.

Posted by: guitarsennin May 31 2013, 10:13 PM

My tip is restring your guitar yourself. I know it's a hassle, but you're not helping yourself by having someone else do it, right? and if you're not gigging, you don't necessarily need to change your strings as often as people recommend, especially if you're on a low budget. Like, if you're just practicing, etc, it's not that bad if the guitar goes slightly out of tune (slightly) due to old strings. When I was in a band I used to change strings every two weeks, but now that I'm in between bands and just working on my craft, it's like every month, maybe even every two months XD.

when I string my guitar, I tune up, then pull the strings by hand, going up the neck as I do it, and then if it goes out of tune, I tune it back to standard. I keep doing this until it doesn't go out of tune anymore. Do it for each string.

You might also want to check out a channel on youtube, it's this guy. He has quite a few videos on keeping guitars in tune, changing strings, etc. His tips worked for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQQT9-Y0R9A

Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 10:37 PM

Thank you again for all the help, will look up videos on YouTube. I play everyday minimum a 1.5 hrs only sometimes with band. The guitar is a Scheter Damien FR series oddly enough never goes out of tune when I hit the whammy bar, I can do it all day and it stays in tune but as soon as I bend that's when It starts to go out. You are right its best just to learn it myself and plan too, Thanks for all the advice

Posted by: Todd Simpson May 31 2013, 10:44 PM

This is a common issue so don't worry too much New strings need to be worked in to tune and it takes a day or few in some cases. Bend, whammy, retune, repeat.


Once your strings are stretched, LOCK THE LOCK NUTS!!!!

If it drifts after that, you need to take it to a local guitar shop for them to take a look.


Todd

Posted by: Hajduk May 31 2013, 10:57 PM

Thank you again, damn this forum rocks, so helpful

Posted by: klasaine Jun 1 2013, 02:48 AM

He didn't mention it but you'll notice that when he was pulling on the strings to stretch them - he fretted a note either at the 1st, 2nd or 3rd fret. That's so he didn't crack the nut when he yanked the string hard side to side. It can happen - I've done it.

Posted by: dcz702 Jun 1 2013, 11:59 AM

Do you guys still wrap the strings around the tuning pegs at least a couple time with locking tuners? I have been thinking it will help with strings slipping, I find my g string goes flat with a lot of bending so I started winding it 2-3 times around seemed to solve the problem.

Posted by: Headbanger Jun 1 2013, 12:44 PM

Thanks for pointing that out...I never fret while I pull..I will Now.



Good idea...I have G problems..I might try that as both my guitars have either grovers or sperzels.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 1 2013, 12:45 PM

I guess that all the important stuff has been mentioned

Now, since I only play my Floyd guitar on Thursdays at the video chat sessions, I don't re-string it that often, but usually, I pull on the strings a lot to stretch them and then abuse bends and all sorts to get the strings settled in. It always worked for me and usually, I do the same routine for the tremolo I have on the Paul Allender.

Posted by: klasaine Jun 1 2013, 03:11 PM

Also, unless you completely abuse the trem bar (locking style or otherwise) or sweat like crazy and/or play hard 6 hours a day everyday(?). Or, you need/prefer the bright tone of new strings(?) ... you don't really need to change your strings every week or two.
Every tech - and I've had many - has their own idiosyncrasies that work for them.
Baker's method for measuring, locking and stretching the strings is definitely one of if not the best way of doing it.

*I'm not a big 'bar' user. I bend a lot though. I will keep strings on for months. I have no tuning issues.
Not advice, just a personal anecdote.

Posted by: Headbanger Jun 1 2013, 07:17 PM

I respect your point of view...so what does that sentence mean? If you used a wammy bar you'd expect tuning issues or more string changes or both?

Posted by: Britishampfan Jun 1 2013, 07:43 PM

I can only share what works for me, I never said it was the "only" way. I do use a American Standard Strat and keeping that guitar in tune using heavy trem sucked until I found this video that was suggested to me by a pro player.

On my strat I do use version of the Carl Verheyen style, I float the bridge and adjust the spring tension where I like it, it also sounds and plays a little different on the spring tension. I do not do exactly what Carl does but he led me in a good direction by sharing what he does.

Baker is right about guitar strings, they last a week, If I am doing session work they last a day sometimes two. Playing in a gigging band I change strings every week.

Do I always do this, NO right now my strings are a month old on my Les Paul and It sound great last night and stayed in perfect tune.


Recording is the biggest noticeable difference for me, Highs are not as crisp, that is the first thing to go, lows become muddy and less defined, and to be honest with my amps sometimes playing live on old strings is nice because of the natural treble roll off.

Used strings become rubbery too, it is fun to a point and the attack is gone.


When my tone goes meh, I need a string change and some fresh picks.

Posted by: klasaine Jun 2 2013, 02:33 AM

If you're really using the bar a lot and aggressively you'll probably put a kink in the strings quicker or separate a winding. Both those things will cause an unfixable tuning problem requiring new strings. I bend a lot but it still takes me a month or two to render a set of strings untuneable. I also dig the sound of semi dead strings.

Caveat: My axes are well maintained and set up which is also paramount for keeping things in tune.
Bridge intonation slippage, a divot in a fret, ground down nut slot, truss rod movement - the weather (humidity/heat/cold) - funky tuners or string tree ... all those things can seriously affect your tuning.