How do you keep a Stratocaster in tune???

FarleyUK

I've played Gibsons all my life and recently inherited a Strat.

Had Charlie Chandler take a look at it and refret it, and received it back today. Plays much much better, but my god..... every time I even look at the whammy it goes out of tune.

I've stretched the strings, applied nut lube to the nut and saddles etc. but it's still doing it. Driving me crazy.

How are you supposed to use the whammy on these if they never come back to tune?

BillDL

Is it consistently specific strings that are going out of tune after using the trem, and if so are they going sharp or flat?

Is the bridge set up to be sitting on the guitar body and only available for downtunes or is it floating where you can make the trem lower and raise the string pitches?

It helps to know this because very often it's the nut slots and/or string trees grabbing the strings.

When actually tuning the guitar in between string stretches it helps with a trem bridge if you tune the high E, then the low E, then the B, then the A, then the G, and finally the D, and then start again.  It avoids massive jumps in tension where, after getting through the 6 strings the first ones are then very flat. 

FarleyUK

Thanks! It's flat against the body and is only available for downtunes. I learnt my lessons with floating trems years ago.

digitalkettle

This is going to sound massively patronising because I know you're an experienced player...but...even if the guitar is in good mechanical shape, keeping a trem well behaved requires a whole bunch of extra nervous tics while you're playing, e.g. wiggling the bar back into a neutral position, pulling strings, etc.

Also: fk decked bridges...it's not proper (sorry Eddie)!

Danny1969

If it's set up right then you can go pretty mad on the trem and it will be fine. I know I do. 

Eruption - Van Valen was done on a partscaster with a standard Fender trem. All Jeff Becks antics were Fender frem with a rolling nut .. the basic trem principle is fine. 

95% of issues are the nut. Bend the string manually behind the nut. Then check the tuning on that string. If it's out then there's your answer, the nut

stickyfiddle

99% it's the nut. Your slots need to be wide and a very smooth U shape, and ideally a bone nut. Graphtech is ok too. Most techs get it wrong.

ICBM

FarleyUK said:

Thanks! It's flat against the body and is only available for downtunes. I learnt my lessons with floating trems years ago.

They stay in tune better with the bridge floating. The small amount of movement in the bridge allows the friction to be released at the nut, if that’s where it’s sticking.

If it’s down flat it’s also possible that the pivot screws are too tight, which causes the underside of the bridge to bind against the body - there needs to be a tiny gap between the bridge and the body at the front, even if the back edge is resting on the body.

VimFuego

might be easier to tell everyone else in the band to play to your tuning. You are the guitarist after all, everyone else is sub-ordinate to you.

Offset

I fit all my F-style guitars with Tusq string trees (where they are fitted).  I never have tuning problems.  Worth a pop.

Schnozz

Sounds similar to my 'Chandler's Guitar Experience' - Take it back.

You've got trains and stuff down there, so I'd recommend the Little Guitar Shop in Birmingham.

Funkfingers

How old is the offending Stratocaster? What vibrato bridge type does it have? The vintage six screws type or the modern two-point?

As ICBM points out, on the six screw type, the adjustment of the pivot screws can affect the return to pitch. So can the condition of the screw holes. The contact point of the baseplate against each screw needs to be circular with a knife edge point (as viewed from below). Worn holes introduce instability.

On two-point vibrato bridges, again, the baseplate knife edges need to be sharp. The pivot posts should not be worn. They should also be perpendicular in the threaded inserts.

pt22

I’m sure everyone else more correct, but I also installed staggered tuners, a better string tree, and a trem with saddle designed to not interfere with the string path. Probably diminishing returns, but every cent helps when trying to return to pitch. 

Yorkie

Both my Strats have a floating bridge and will stay in tune for days. Literally. One is 6-screw and the other is 2-point. 

strtdv

Block the trem, then it's eliminated as an issue. If it still has tuning issues then it's probably the nut. 

axisus

Maybe don't look at the Whammy

steamabacus

This is a great - if a bit ancient ancient - video explaining Galeazzo Frudua's way. I think I'm right in saying he was the bloke behind The Valve amps (if anybody remembers them) ...

FarleyUK

Thanks all - it's a 2 point tremolo. I've ordered new tuning pegs and saddles so will see if that helps. Will test the strings behind the nut as well.

The guitar belonged to a friend's Dad; he loved playing it and they gifted it to me years ago when he passed. However, it's been stuck in my loft, unplayed - and I felt very guilty so have decided to get it in working order to actually use.

If this can be sorted, I'll be happy!

impmann

Imho, Strat trems need to float, especially the two post jobs.

steamabacus

Signore Frudua has a video specifically on setting up a two-pivot trem as well.

chris78

I can not play a Strat for weeks, pick it up and it’s in tune. As others have said, it’s virtually always the nut if it’s not staying in tune.
If you’ve paid Chandlers, take it back in and tell
them to sort it out. 

GoldenEraGuitars

How do you keep a Stratocaster in tune???

Buy a telecaster.