demonic high E string

Subject: demonic high E string
From: GUEST,mkebenn
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 01:13 PM

I have a problem I have never encountered in 34 yrs of playing the same guitar. My high E string goes WAY out of tune, and yet the tuning peg doesn't seem to move. The strings are only 2 months old (Martin Marquies, light). I've used them forever and never had this happen. Is it possible for an unwound string to just start stretching like this? Any thoughts appreciated, Mike

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 01:15 PM

Check for slippage (round the peg)

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 01:20 PM

Sounds to me like it's slipping on the tuner shaft... Did you go thru the hole twice before tunin' it when you last replaced it...

Might also be in the tuner itself... You won't see alot of movement fir it to go flat Maybe not enough to visually detect...

Other than those obvious possibilities, check yer bridge pin and bridge... Maybe the ball didn't get a good fit in the bridge???

Do you stretch the heck outta new strings... If not, good idea in them future...

Keep us posted...

Bobert

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 01:21 PM

What kind of pegs? Horizontal or vertical posts?

Maybe the winding around the barrel under the bridge pin is loose or the bridge is loosening.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:00 PM

Is it just the one string, or a succession of E strings? If just the one, change it and see what happens. If it is a succession of strings, hit the machine head hard with a hammer. If that doesnt work go out to the pub. Or consult someone who knows more than me.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Peace
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:23 PM

Two months is a long time for a set of strings. I've had that happen before. It was the tuning head. Gear beginning to slip. May need to have it replaced. Easy to do for yourself.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:24 PM

I always tune a semitone sharp when I restring , then tune downto concert when i have tideied up all the ends !! IF anything is going to slip it shows up straight away ! But by the same token , last time I restrung the mandolin , I had a string that kept goin flat for a few days ! Sorted itself out inside a week though !

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 02:28 PM

First guess is the ball end isn't seated quite right at the bridge. Second, tuning machine issue. Third, change those strings anyway, they're too old to know for sure. At that age it won't be a stretch issue imho.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 04:01 PM

The first thing I would do is take it off and put it on again, making sure both ends are done right. Also make sure it hasn't wiggled out of the slot in the nut. Feeble, I know, but it might help.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Grab
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 05:32 PM

If they're nylon strings, the high E will *definitely* slip given half a chance. On my classical, I put a stopper-knot in the string at both ends in addition to the usual tie-off, to make sure it can't pull through.

Not necessary on steel strings, but still vaguely possible. The smart way of stringing so as to prevent this is to put the string through the tuner, bend the "tail" up so it's against the tuner post, and then make sure the first half-turn goes over the top of the string tail, so it's locked in place. After that, wind normally onto the peg. Oh, and while I remember, try to always have at least 2 full wraps of string on the tuner post - the more wraps, the better grip the tuner has on the string, and the less likely it is to slip.

As Peace says, tuners do wear out over time, but you usually get plenty of notice of this. They start becoming sloppy, and it gets difficult to tune - the tuner won't seem to change the pitch as you turn it, because there aren't many working gear-teeth left. New sets of tuners are relatively cheap and easy to fit.

Graham.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:09 PM

If guitar, or etc, the gears will wear out but I'd guess string stretching or ball end first.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Nov 05 - 07:29 PM

Just to add confusion to the fussion. Check the bridge.

Check the warp on the guit- face....you are looking at a lot of torque with high E.

Check the Humidity - of the 80% summer and 20% winter.

Switch out the current strings for another set...and you can begin to focus on the possible problems.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Currently, I am going through diagnostic "hell" regarding another esentila por mi via loco.

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 05:07 AM

Go to FRETS.COM to find the totally unslippable method of stringing anything

eric

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 06:04 AM

Although it's a somewhat different situation, I encountered a similar "suddenly one string won't stay in tune" with a mandolin a while back. It started happening just before I noticed that the bridge had cracked and was slowly sinking. (Actually I figured it out when the bridge abruptly separated almost completely.)

Since it was at the beginning of our major festival, and no replacement bridge was available, I whittled one from a clothespin and made it through the festival. When the clothespin finally cracked (about 2.5 years later) exactly the same symptom appeared (briefly).

A sudden onset of failure to stay in tune, whether one string or several, could possibly indicate a "structural" slippage. Most gitar bridges shouldn't be subject to the same sort of cracking as my mando, but loose tailpiece screws, loose machine screws, or (hate to say it) a top plate crack or a loosening brace could be allowing the bridge to sag.

These are unlikely, probably, but a thorough and close insepection of everything hooked to the string or supporting any surface it bears against wouldn't be amiss. And you might find the real reason while you're looking.

John

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: mkebenn
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 08:48 AM

Thank you all. I've never put the string thru machine twice (Grovers), guess I'll try that. Bridge was reseated 4 mos ago, so doubt that's an issue. I'll replace string, double loop and go from there. Thanks again to all. Mike

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: mooman
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 10:19 AM

No need to put the string through twice if you do it the way Frank Ford describes on frets.com (which is how I've always strung my instruments).

Peace

moo
(P.S. It sound like slippage on the post to me but check the machine for wear also)

Subject: RE: demonic high E string
From: GUEST,Billy
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 12:21 AM

ALWAYS put the thinner strings through twice! When tuning ALWAYS tune UP to the note! It's that simple.