RG2550 doesn't stay in tune

[jobabrinks]

I just bought an Ibanez RG2550 with the Edge Pro Trem. I whammied it a good amount and it managed to stay in tune fairly well. However, I just noticed that when I bend the high strings (high E, B, and G) like a crazy madman, basically as hard as you can just to see what happens, it throws the guitar out of tune. But it throws out the Low E and Low A of all strings and badly. The guitar appears to be in really good shape, almost new (bought used), what could be the problem? Any ideas?

[Team J Crafter]

The first thought that entered my mine when reading your thread title was WRONG. I'd suggest a new set of strings and reading here http://www.jemsite.com/tech/ before messing with anything.

[jobabrinks]

I've owned many guitars but this is my first floating trem. So, if set up properly it should withstand any degree of stringbending madness and whammy shennanigans? The strings could be pretty old, I don't know, so I'll change them and see what happens, but I'm a little worried, the guitar was thrown off tune BADLY.

[andy7jem]

Yeah, put on some new strings and make sure they are stretched PROPERLY!! Got to eliminate the simplest and easiest fix first!!

I own Edge, Lo-Pro and Edge Pro and they all stay in tune phenominally well!

This is a good place to generally start!!

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/stretch.htm

From the Ibanez bible

[GTR-MAN]

defintely go to Ibanezrules.com & read the tech tutorials, Rich know's his ****e.

In my experience with Edge Pro trems, (currently have two axes equipped with them) my tuning problems have always been Fat Knife edges. Once they're properly filed they stay in tune like a champ. Make sure you know what you're doing before attempting something like that. The knife edges on Edge Pro's can NOT be replaced (as far as I know) so you don't want to screw it up if you don't know what you're doing or are mechanically retarded.

[Of Angels]

Yeah - honestly, stretch your strings when you put new ones on... and STRETCH THEM WELL!!!!! That can not be stressed enough. Stretch them at every point that you can stretch them and do it probably 10 times over. You don't want to snap any strings, but if they have ANY room to stretch while you're string bending, whammying, etc., then every string will be out of tune when they do.

[axemanrio]

Do what andy7jem suggested and get yourself a pair of locking studs when you can... my RG2550 hasn't gone out of tune since.

[jobabrinks]

I'll change the strings and see what the outcome is. As far as the knife edges go, I can't tell if they're worn because, I don't know what one is. But I doubt that because the guitar honestly looks like its barely been played at all.

[mike570]

You might do yourself a favor by taking it in to a proper guitar tech to have them look at it. Then, once it's fixed and you're playing a properly tuned and intonated guitar, take your time to learn how to set it up yourself.
Best of luck!

[jobabrinks]

Ok. I changed the strings and it stayed in tune. For a while...

I didnt play the thing for about a month and then when I took it out of the case today to play, I noticed it was in tune with itself, but all the strings were flat by a semitone. So it went flat while sitting in the case. The angle of the trem isnt perfectly flush/even, but should that make that much of a difference. I can't see how this thing would be defective. It looks like its been played twice.

[Foulacy]

seriously, if you don't play a guitar for a month, things go out of tune...

[Tubyboulin]

Do you meen the strings go out of tune during the bend, or after? Because its normal for them to go flat while you bend one string. If its after bending a bunch, then it might just be a stretching problem, or you might have gotten a bad edge.

[mike570]

Originally Posted by Foulacy

seriously, if you don't play a guitar for a month, things go out of tune...

I don't necessarily agree. My black RG350 can stay in a gig bag for two months or so and I can take her out and she'll be relatively in tune. This is one of the reason I think Edge 3 gets a bad rap. Really, a good setup can work wonders.

[Shredder87]

Yes, I agree it is unusual for a guitar with a locking trem to go out of tune when left sitting for ages unplayed.

Have you read through Rich Harris' Ibanez Rules tech setup guide? I'd recommend that first. Considering the guitar is nice and new that's probably the cause; perhaps it's needing a good setup.

Failing that take the guitar to a tech.

'87