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The dang thing won't stay in tune

Matt Wildman

Free Bird Player
Nov 11, 2019
565
24
Liberty IN
5
  • #1
    I’ve got an epiphone les Paul special 2. It’s my first and only electric guitar I have. Ever since I got it last Christmas it has always had a tuning problem (granted it was a cheap $130 guitar) but I noticed that the g strings tuner was buzzing when I first bought it so I put some gorilla glue (yes I know weird) on the tuning peg where it was buzzing but hey it helped. Now the more and more I play the guitar, it seems like I’m always tuning it every 5 minutes when playing. I also know that the intonation of the guitar is slightly off. So my question is should I put new tuning machines in it or just buy a better guitar? What do you guys think?
     

    Ed Seith

    Supreme Galactic Overlord
    Staff member
    Legend+
  •
    • Nov 11, 2019
    3,882
    15
    6,603
    54
    Marana, AZ USA
    soundcloud.com
    35
  • #2
    Neither.
    Les Pauls of all stripes are notorious for tuning problems on the G string. It has something to do with the angle of the headstock and the side-by-side tuning pegs, making the break over the nut a confluence of evil.
    What does that mean for you? GET THEE SOME NUT SAUCE.
    No, seriously. That’s what it’s called.
    Big Bends Nut Sauce
    Next time you change strings, put a little sauce in the groove of the nut, stretch and tune as normal. If you leave strings on for a VERY long time, you may need to loosen a couple and re-apply.
    This happens on my $2,200 Gibson Les Paul, too. It’s not because your axe is cheap. Be good to her, and she’ll be good right back. Give her some nut sauce on the neck.
     
    J

    Jak Angelescu

    Guest
  • #3
    I had to adjust the intonation on my Les Paul studio several times. I would check the intonation on it first to see if it is in fact an intonation problem. You can do that by tuning it with a tuner plugged in (must be a plugged tuner and not by ear) and tune it to pitch. Then press the string down on the 12th fret and see if the note is still in tune. If it’s not it’s an intonation problem and it needs to be adjusted. Do this on all the strings to see which ones need to be fixed. But yes, Ed gave some sound advice as well! Try both methods
     

    Alan Celis

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
    112
    0
  • #4
    Another thing that helps is; when you are changing the strings, make sure the strings are all wound up like on the middle side of the headstock. What i meant with that is that you have to put them in a straight line, because if the strings are facing the other side they will have an angle and when you do that, it eliminates some of the extra tension and helps with tuning stability. (i dont know if i made any sense lol, english is my second language)
     

    Noah Berends

    Campfire Attention Holder
  •
    • Nov 11, 2019
    408
    86
    Fort Wayne, IN
    13
  • #5
    Funny story off Alan’s comment, the first time I ever restrung my Les Paul I strung the high 3 strings backwards so all strings were would in the same direction…looking back I’m 100% surprised the strings lasted a whole 6 months that way. I was too afraid to take the strings off and put them back on because I thought I’d never get them back on…but for reals, the lubricant will save your tuning. I have two guitars by Epiphone and they both have tuning issues. I used a bit more redneck lubricant (pencil lead), but even that was night and day for tuning stability.
     

    Jake Young

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
    193
    1
  • #7
    In the meantime..use graphite! Get a pencil and color in the bottom of the nut slots. Honestly, to me, it sounds like an issue with the tuners. It is possible it could just be the nut though..process of elimination!!! Hah
     

    Matt Wildman

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
    565
    24
    Liberty IN
    5
  • #8
    Yeah! I mean that’s the thing though, I have always used pencils to color in the nut slots so that’s why I thought it was a tuner problem. Plus there is a dent on the back side of the tuner for the G string so idk I guess I’ll try everything people have suggested here
     

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