Having trouble with tuning

offie · #1 04-11-2006, 06:53 PM

Hey there

Just got a new j custom 8270 onyx black. i cant get it to stay in tune!! its always going flat and i have no idea how to use this bridge properly. Im at the stage atm where i just want to slap a chunka wood under it and have done.

tighten the fine tuning screws on the bridge, and then check all the strings. more have gone flat. retune and run out of thread eventually. undo nut locks, repeat process. Gah and then i notice the bridge has been pulled miles into the air so i undo the nut locks again and lower it and now its all out of tune again.

any help at all? I love everything about the jcustom except i cant play it

ibanez2005 · #2 04-11-2006, 08:20 PM

You gotta tighten the springs up in the trem cavity more then, thats the only problem here i can see.
Also, set the fine tuners to around center, tune with the tuning pegs, once youve done that, lock the nuts down and fine tune it from there, should be ok.

norvan · #3 04-11-2006, 08:29 PM

new strings i'd say. Yeah, getting it to zero point and all strings in tune is harder than rocket science.

S-man · #4 04-11-2006, 08:38 PM

Stretch your strings, if new.

It is the springs and strings, you need to balance the string tension to the spring tension. In the cavity, on the back of the guitar, behind the plate, there are screws to adjust the spring tension.

Those springs need to be adjusted to balance the string tension.

Either look here (jemsite.com) under setup or at ibanezrules.com.

That always happens at first, welcome to the club.

Don't give up.

lyconxero · #5 04-12-2006, 01:01 AM

If the guitar has the factory strings on then I would suggest cutting them off and putting on a fresh pair. I don't know why, but I could never get my guitar with the factory strings to stay in tune like I wanted but after I changed the strings the first time I didn't have any more problems. So I would say start anew, stretch, stretch, stretch some more, take a breather, stretch, stretch, REALLY stretch, and then set the trem level and get the guitar in tune. After that, lock the nut, adjust with the fine tuners and see if you still have the same problems.

GTR-MAN · #6 04-12-2006, 03:23 AM

Vists the tech section of this site or click on the ibanezrules banner at the top of the page and check out the tech section there.

offie · #7 04-12-2006, 05:20 AM

I'm scared about adjusting the spring on the back... is it safe? will i break it?

Also im nervous about replacing the strings. i mean i know i need to undo the screws on the trem itself but how do i get the balls out?

Yes these are factory strings. Why would the springs make a difference? Is it to do with the see-saw effect? If so, could someone explain how the springs tie in with this?

Cheers!!

Offie

Bezial · #8 04-12-2006, 05:25 AM

slacken of the locks on the trem enough and the balls will come out. adjusting the springs at the back is no hassle either just tighten them to bring the trem down or visa versa to go up(hope i got that the right way round ) the strings will make a differance as they may have been on there for a year (2005 model) and could be shot completly , when you change them depending what gauge you are going to have to adjust the back springs anyway (i like 9-46 and they come with 9-42 )

hey hope you get it sorted as i have the 8270 and its a lovly guitar

AleTheNervo · #9 04-12-2006, 06:15 AM

you only need some practice and be patient

eviltwin · #10 04-12-2006, 06:50 AM

In addition to the previous remarks:

Don't take off all of the strings at once, only change one at the time.

Also make sure that (supposing your guitar came with 009s) you put 009s on it.
If it came with 009-042 *don't* put 010s or hybrids (009-046s) on it until you know how to compensate for this in your set-up!

Keep the ball ends on. Edge pro allows you to load them into the trem, but I prefer to have the balls at the headstock end. See 6th post from top:
http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showth...ight=ball+ends

SSV has been doing this at least since 1991:
http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1992/uv.jpg

The trem angle should be such that the knife edge is parallel and coincident with the top of the body. Assuming the neck, nut and intonation are set-up properly, if the knife edge is not coincident the tremposts may need adjusting. (best to check this using the bar to hold the trem in a parallel position, if it isn't parallel already)

Tuning guide (use a tuner!):

Unlock nut.
Tune completely using the pegs, keep fine tuners centered (so you can still go up or down).
I usually tune low-E to high-E then back and again if necessary, some prefer to go low-E to hi, then low to hi again.
- Check trem angle & height.
  If angled backwards/forwards, turn trem springs by 1/4 to 1/2 turn
  And retune completely using the pegs
  (Check trem angle again repeat loop^^)
Lock nut.
Finalize tuning using the fine tuners. (locking the nut will throw the tuning out by a hair)

Done

(BTW I don't believe in stretching, if the nut and trem are properly fastened there is *no* stretch. Just pull the new string hard to make sure it's properly locked on both sides)

If any tuning instability remains, this is most likely due to some other part not being fastened correctly, IE neck bolts, locking nut, trem posts (not on Edge Pro)

fettouhi · #11 04-12-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTR-MAN

Vists the tech section of this site or click on the ibanezrules banner at the top of the page and check out the tech section there.

+1

Regards

André

markg5150 · #12 04-12-2006, 08:57 AM

Ibanezrules tech section is all you need to know

offie · #13 04-15-2006, 05:16 AM

Went into my local guitar shop - they recommended I stick 2 extra springs in the back of the guitar. There are 2 extra holes for springs, so i'm presuming this is possible.

Any ideas where I can find the springs?

S-man · #14 04-15-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offie

Went into my local guitar shop - they recommended I stick 2 extra springs in the back of the guitar. There are 2 extra holes for springs, so i'm presuming this is possible.

Any ideas where I can find the springs?

There should be 3 spring there already. 5 springs?! Put some .009 guage strings on it and adjust from there. You need to adjust the springs that are there, so that the trem ,with the guitar in tune, is parallel with the body.

Don't listen to the guitar shop dude.

Don't be scared to adjust the springs, it's just 2 philips head screws. Tightening the screws will have a similar affect as adding a spring, you will be increasing spring tension. Now stop being a wus, break out the philips and adjust that thing

READ the Tech section here and at Ibanezrules.com.