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Keeping my Martin in tune

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GUEST,TomBliss 19 Mar 06 - 11:58 AM
Seaking 19 Mar 06 - 11:22 AM
Willie-O 19 Mar 06 - 11:21 AM
mandotim 19 Mar 06 - 08:44 AM
van lingle 19 Mar 06 - 08:13 AM
John MacKenzie 19 Mar 06 - 08:06 AM
Big Al Whittle 19 Mar 06 - 07:51 AM
kendall 19 Mar 06 - 07:31 AM
Leadfingers 19 Mar 06 - 07:04 AM
GUEST,Commander Crabbe 19 Mar 06 - 06:51 AM
Seaking 19 Mar 06 - 06:40 AM
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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: GUEST,TomBliss
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 11:58 AM

Try Newtone strings, but not the lightest. Both my Martins stay in tune and sound excellent. Yes the Tacho is quicker to capo (the Martins have to be retuned very slightly for every capo shift - but most guitars do) but up and down the neck (I play up to the top-but-one-fret) with just fingers and they're bang on, all six strings, in any tuning.

Newtones are completely different to any other string type, and a godsend to any guitarist.


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: Seaking
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 11:22 AM

Interesting that this may be more common than I realised. Van Lingle, no I didn't realise DADdGAD sets were available...problem is I also occasionally play in standard and other non-standard set-ups. Thanks anyway (I might give them a try having said that).

Mandotim - I like the theory but why don't string manufacturers compemsate for this ?

JGM - you've got me seriously thinking about my set-up..

WLD - I'm in Felixstowe (Suffolk) but prepared to travel to get the job done properly, there are a couple of Martin dealers I know in this area but personal recommendation is everything here.

Still love the guitar, know the Basil Fawlty feeling though...

Chris


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 11:21 AM

Where are you Seaking? On the west coast of Canada (we still use Sea King helicopters, is that where your handle comes from?) Rufus Stewart is the man for this kind of set-up and regulation work. My Martin O-18 always had intonation problems until he got hold of it--he actually rerouted the slot groove in the bridge (invisibly!) and shaved each portion of the saddle for perfect results.   

Rufus Island Guitar Shop is in Victoria BC. I would take my guitar several hundred miles to have him work on it (alas, several thousand is not practical). www.rufusguitars.com He even posts a detailed schedule of rates for different operations on the site. Not cheap but an excellent investment.

W-O


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: mandotim
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 08:44 AM

There's a reason why lots of working musicians use a Takamine, and leave the Martin at home...
Seriously; a compensated bridge might well help (Takamines tend to have them as standard), and a check on the neck relief might be worth doing. You may be hearing the effect of the problem more on 2 and 6 because they are the strings with the heaviest solid 'core'.
Tim from Bit on the Side


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: van lingle
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 08:13 AM

Have you tried Newtone strings DADGAD set. I keep them on one guitar for Dsus and Open D and that Lowden always sounds right, even with a capo. You can find them at Guitar Gallery (guitargal.com).


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 08:06 AM

I have the same problem with my top E if it is tuned perfectly as per the electronic tuner, it is out when I play a chord. I am using Elixir Mediums for the first, AND ONLY, time. I suspect that these strings are making the problem worse, as I find them a bit 'fat' and suspect the thickest string doesn't fit the groove in the nut properly. This changes the 'break over' angle to the headstock and might also decrease the amount of string in actual contact with the nut because of its poor fit in the nut groove.
I suspect in my case it is because of the guitar needing to be set up properly.
Giok


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 07:51 AM

I wish I had perservered with my D35. I got rid of it for similar reasons. When a guitar makes you look a fool on an important occasion, and you've paid a lot of money for the damn thing, it really is bloody heartbreaking -brings out the Basil Fawlty in you - you want to hit it, and get your own back.

In retrospect, what I should have done is look hard and long for someone who really knew about guitar construction and Martins in particular - an be prepared to spend another couple of hundred quid. People like that don't grow on trees, and theres a lot of cowboys out there.

In a way Martin should be ashamed of themselves - doing this to their customers. When it stayed in tune though, it was the best guitar I ever had. But if you're hoping to make a regular income out of playing - just off the shop wall, they're a bit of a joke.
Get a Yamaha - one of the workshop ones for about two thirds the price of your Martin - may not sound as good, but it has more chance of staying in tune.

Where are you. I know a luthier in Nottingham I would trust to sort out a Martin as best it can be sorted.


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: kendall
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 07:31 AM

I recently had a nightmare, that I had a Martin with ALL "b" strings.
Martins are famous for tuning problems. Have you tried a compensated bridge? A good luthier can do that for you.


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 07:04 AM

The second (B) string seems to be a problem on a lot of guitars ! I used to have trouble with it on my D35 , but reduced the problem by going up a weight !


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Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: GUEST,Commander Crabbe
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 06:51 AM

Seaking

I have this problem with my Suzuki 3S which is basically a Martin copy. Have spoke to some people about it and it is likely due to the string gauge used and the placing of the capo. I have extra Elixir extra lights fitted and like you often play in an alternate tuning (DADF#AD).

It is quite likely that it happens because the action of my guitar has not been adjusted for the open tuning but left as it was for tuning in concert. However that said I play in both and occasionally dropped D so I just put up with it and re tune the offending 2nd and 6th strings. It also seems to help if you position the capo close to the fret.

I like you would appreciate any further enlightenment!

Chris


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Subject: Keeping my Martin in tune
From: Seaking
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 06:40 AM

My HD28 has a tendency to slightly sharpen the notes on the 2nd and 6th strings as I move up the fretboard. It's only those two strings, the remainder stay perfectly pitched. It also doesn't matter which strings I use (I'm currently using D'addario EXP12s), the effect is the same.   

Any ideas or advice on how to fix this ?, I use a Shubb capo and mostly non-standard tunings which means continually retuning two strings every time I capo above the third fret. More frustrating than anything, I've got used to it over the years but I'd be happier if it didn't drift as it can be a bit of a pain especially in a session when I'm using the capo between D and G in DADGAD

Does anyone else have this problem with this guitar or any other for that matter?

Chris


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