Tuning issues

[Bridge The Void]

Righto. My Eclipse has Sperzels. Sperzel locking tuners are meant to be great at keeping the guitar in tune, right?

The damn thing won't stay in tune. At all. Ever.

What else could be wrong with it? Its a standard series Eclipse-II, so i'd expect good quality stuff but...tuning up every 5 minutes is beginning to get on my tits.

[idpmofo]

sounds like u didnt stretch out the strings....or the strings SUCK

[guitarsatbmusic]

How old are the strings?

[Bridge The Void]

I've stretched and restretched. It did this with the old strings that were on for more than a month, changed string gauge 2 weeks ago, been stretching until it settles, then I play a couple of songs and boom - out of tune. Its not major out-of-tune-ness, but its enough to make you cringe on an open chord.

I know about new strings and stretching, I'm not a complete n00b :p This has been an ongoing issue no matter how long the strings have been there.

[KH Guitar Freak]

An issues with the nut at all???

[Bridge The Void]

Nut is lubricated and fine as far as I can tell.

[fickle19]

maybe your intonation is off??

[Bridge The Void]

I have meticulously set the intonation perfect.

Maybe I'm not being clear. I'm not new to guitars, I have been playing and maintaining all my guitars for over 6 years now. I know what makes guitars tick. I have gone over all the usual possibilities: The nut is lubricated, intonation set, strings stretched and stretched again until they are set, all the usual junk. Yet I play a song or two on my guitar, go to strum an open chord and all of a sudden it sounds horrible.

The only suspicion I have is the sperzels. From what I know you put the string through the post, tighten the lock and tune up, no wraps around the post are necessary. I trust I am correct on this? Is there any way that the sperzels could be loose on any part of the machine head which would cause this intermittent fluctuation in tuning?

[Corrigan]

Perhaps you could try wrapping the string halfway around the post? That's what I do. Also, make sure the thumbscrew is tight.

[ryan1112]

I have the same problem on my LTD EC1000. It is specifically on the G or 3rd string. No matter how is stretch or set the strings it always falls out of tune after one song. I have no idea what is wrong, I've tried everything just as you have.

[ESPointer]

LSR>Schaller>Sperzel

/thread

[Nematon]

I get the same or similar problem on my Eclipse VTB

At first i thought it was due to strings sticking in the nut. Agfter lubricating the nut there was no real improvement.
If I bend behind the nut on A or D strings, the string stays sharp
I had the nut smoothed out and that helped a little, but didnt fix it.

I also seemed to be breaking A strings at the bridge.
I had a tech look at it and he said there was a raised lip on the bridge
Perhaps the string was sticking and this was altering overall tension
That has been filed down and again I see an improvement but still not perfect

Do you see any of the same issues?

[Bridge The Void]

Well so far I haven't snapped any strings on it...been changing fairly regularly and setting up for different gauges. Don't really bend behind the nut much either...

I'll have a look at the bridge though, cheers for the heads up ;)

[ryan1112]

Well I lubricated the nut with some graphite. It seems to be staying in tune better. When I change strings next I will lubricate the nut again and I will do the bridge as well. I think you just polish the bridge a little and there is some kind of lubricant you can get at the guitar store as well.

[Chucksplatter]

Sounds like the nut slots need to be filed/cleaned out!!

[80sMetalDude]

I have the same problem with my D string it will NOT stay in tune on my Eclipse STD. The sperzel just seems to go out after 1 or 2 bends. I can't keep my guitar in tune to save my life... I've tried all the above.

I could actually "hear" while tuning up that there was some play and the note would dive at some points while turning it to the sweet spot.... I dont know if you notice this on your's with your tuning issue.

Contacted Sperzel and they responded the SAME day that I can get a single tuner... one on the way now.

It IS possible to just have a bad tuner don't rule that out.

[TheDevilHimself]

My guess is you guys are using heavier strings than the nut was filed for. That's why they get stuck in the nut despite the lubricant.

[Bridge The Void]

Is that a suitable explanation for why my strings keep going sharp as I play then?

Didn't think of that. Might look into filing the nut a wee bit then...thanks!

[TheDevilHimself]

It's just a guess from me because apparently you guys went through all other steps.

I slightly enlarged the slots on my nut for my Eclipse and I actually only use .52 strings, but it helped.

[Choppychunks]

I just encountered something similar. My DV8R has locking tuners. I've been playing standard tuning; no problem. When, I dropped the tuning I had trouble keeping it in tune.

[Nematon]

Is that a suitable explanation for why my strings keep going sharp as I play then?

Didn't think of that. Might look into filing the nut a wee bit then...thanks!

Its interesting that your strings go sharp, cause that is what I see.
If you then lift the string up from the fretboard as you would when stretching them in, does the pitch return back to tune or stay sharp?
Often for me the string returns to being in tune, which is why I assumed that the strings must be sticking on the nut or bridge.
By the way I use 10-46 standard gauge on my Eclipse

[Grof]

I have some similar problems im thinking of buying some Gotoh tuners

[espsy]

I have an ESP eclipse II STBC and use 12-54 daddario's on mine and tune down to drop C i usually just restring it give the strings a good stretch and tune back up and its fine. But i did take it to a guitar tech when i first got it and had a proper setup done on it and the the nut cut and intonated properly. This may help....:)

[Zakk Amott]

I have two guitars with Sperzel . I use 10/60 and 12/60 strings .
I had the same problems .

Which I resolve by simply tightened the screws and the "nut" of the Sperzel .
You will have to check this point every time you change strings in the future .
That's all !

But don't forget to stretch strings and lube the nut .


I have seen that new guitars with Sperzel have this problems .

PS : I hope it helps to resolve your problems .

[Kannon]

I have this same issue for the most part with my EC1000. It was beginning to drive me nuts after doing the intonation myself and then seeing a tech. I decided to give that damn Earvana nut a skip.