Tuning problem

[lone-woodwose]

I don't know if this should be in the repair forum or not. Feel free to move it it it should be.

I am having a problem with my Fender A-style. I can give the model if you need it.When I am am tuning it I run into the same problem every time. When tuning the A strings I turn the peg and feel it get tighter but the sound does not change, not to my ear or the tuner. I turn it again, past where I think it should be. and still nothing. After one more turn I hear a pop come from around the bridge and the string moves...only it moves sometimes up to a whole note sharp. I don't remember if it always did this but it is costing me a lot of strings. Some times it happens to the E strings too, but not as often.

I found one way to get around it, I turn the peg to where I think it should be tuned right; then lift the string off the bridge with my pick. When I lower it back down it is where I want it, and with no scary popping or broken strings.

To me it seems like the angle might be too sharp from the bridge to the tailpiece so when you tighten the strings it pulls the bridge.


Anybody know what is making this happen? should I get it looked at by a repair person?

thanks,
Alden

[stratman62]

You might try a pencil (graphite) to lubricate the slots in the bridge. This should ease any binding issues.

[Jim Broyles]

Yeah, your string has cut into the bridge saddle and is getting stuck. Happens at the nut too. I thought it was the nut until I finished reading your entire post. It is usually the nut.

[lone-woodwose]

I just looked, your right, I saw little chunks of plastic running along the stings. It must get pulled off the bridge when I tighten the strings.

I lowered the action, lets see if that helps. If not I can think of other things.

thanks much,
Alden

[Big Joe]

Check the nut slots to ensure they are not binding either. If the string binds in either the nut or saddle it will cause the tuning issues you describe.

[Phillip Tigue]

I had a b@njo that did that. I would just tune and press the string with my right had, tune, press, tune, press. That worked for me. Never thought to use graphite in the nut.

[JeffD]

Some folks have recommended this: http://www.guitaristonly.com/

[Jim Broyles]

I just looked, your right, I saw little chunks of plastic running along the stings. It must get pulled off the bridge when I tighten the strings.

I lowered the action, lets see if that helps. If not I can think of other things.

thanks much,
Alden

Plastic from your bridge??? Are you sure about this? There might be plastic from the nut, but the bridge shouldn't have any plastic.

[lone-woodwose]

Looks and feels like plastic to me. Remember It is only a Fender.

It could be the nut too now that I think about it.
When I first got the instrument I played it for a few days and went to tune it, when I did a corner chipped off the nut. It must have had a hairline crack from manufacturing. I took the mandolin to the place I purchased it and they fixed it for free. They did not cut the notches deep enough so the G and D strings were way off.

[allenhopkins]

Methinks a qualified repair person oughta take a look at it. Strings are binding somewhere. Usually it's the wound ones that have this problem, but in your case it's the A's.

The pencil-graphite lube is good "first aid," but if the slot's so (a) tight (b)mis-cut (c)whatever that particles of nut or bridge material are breaking off, you may need some re-cutting or even replacement.

[fhaz]

The graphite in the nut worked for me. What helped even more was switching from medium to light gauge strings, which also sound better on my oval hole mando.

[Capt. E]

You might consider replacing the nut with bone. Don't know if it would be worth it on your Fender. I have also heard of people putting a drop of superglue in the slot (string removed of course). It will raise the string nicely. Add a bit of graphite and you are set to go.

[lone-woodwose]

I am an idiot. the bridge is wood, you just need to look really close at it. All of you were right I was wrong.

I have powdered graphite for painting so that might be a good thing to try on the bridge and in the nut.