locking nut tuning problem - string retaining bar all the wa

[utopia]

On my JS1000, when i lock the nut, the e string pulls sharp.
This would be an obvious problem. But when i lowered
the string retaining bar, i went as low as possible and
its still happening. what should i do next?
the nut already has a factory shim under it, and
its set at the perfect height for the strings on the neck,
but can i get a slanted shim to raise the back of
the nut to solve this problem?
or could this be something else?

thank,
mike

[jay ratkowski]

generally when you put that added force on the string (via tightening the locking nut) it will pull sharp. *At least, that's how it usually is for me. *That's why there are fine tuners. *

[utopia]

Yeah, I can accept a little pull to sharp, but this
goes a quarter step sharp only on the low e.
the other 5 strings change hardly at all.

[Rich]

It's typical. All you have to do is leave it a 1/4 step flat before you lock down. Not rocket science!!

[jemsite]

generally when you put that added force on the string (via tightening the locking nut) it will pull sharp. *At least, that's how it usually is for me. *That's why there are fine tuners.

I disagree. If you set the retainer bar properly, the string should NOT go sharp at all.

In fact, if you study the mechanics of the locking nut, you'll see with the clockwise tightening of the pressure pad, the torque could pull one string will slightly sharp, and the other string flat, since each pressure pad effects two strings. The low-E could pull sharp, while the A pushes flat. This only happens if the nut is worn/sloppy, pads worn, of if you overtighten slowly allowing the pressure pad to rotate. Investigate further... glen

[Coolstu]

There must be something wrong. After tuning the guitar, tightening the locking nut screws shouldn't really affect the tuning.

[utopia]

Well I guess if Rich says it's typical, I'll have to live with it.
Never had the problem with my jem, though

[Vaibanez]

The locking pads have a rounded inner side. Make sure this is lined up with the rounded top of the nut. Also, make sure the nut is tight to the neck. You also may have the string retainer TOO low, which woud cause tuning problems.

J>

[Rich]

Diferent nuts are set at diferent hrights, as Glen said just screwing down the retainer usually stops this, but some just don't have an answer. A couple of my JS's are like that and I really never think twice about it, I'm too busy futzing with everybody elses stuff. I just leave the low e a few cents short and it all works out

[jemsite]

Diferent nuts are set at diferent hrights, as Glen said just screwing down the retainer usually stops this, but some just don't have an answer. A couple of my JS's are like that and I really never think twice about it, I'm too busy futzing with everybody elses stuff. I just leave the low e a few cents short and it all works out

*TRANSLATION *- i'm a slacker technician who doesn't mind using the fine tuners as a workaround

[steve]

If I may say so... the likely situation is that the locking pad is a little 'loose' in the pad slot of the nut. And hence, as it's being locked down, there is that twisting action that's allowed by the extra room of the pad slot. That would pull the Low-E sharp, and that string will show that quite quickly in terms of how many cents it goes up. Does the A happen to drop a bit, to go along with that?
I assume that all locking nuts have this to some degree; my solution is simply to pre-pressure rotate the locking pad in the slot enough that it can't twist (or not much) as the screw pressure locks it down. This really minimizes how much the strings are pushed/pulled.
Another important factor to watch for; never overtighten those locking screws - that'll cause exaggeration in the tuning tweaks of the lock-down procedure.
=]

[Rich]

OK, absolutely true when it comes to *my* guitars. I've got 6 I kept from last year I haven't even had time to clean and change the strings yet!!

[kirk]

I've the same problem with one of mine, but my problem is obvious, the nut is a POS, and the slots are so worn that even with the retainer buried in the headstock, the strings still do not rest in the proper place.

[jemsite]

[shredmaster]

yeah, what rich said!