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Thread: Poltergeist on my A strings?

  1. #1
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Poltergeist on my A strings?

    They keep going out of tune I can tune up and then an hour or so later they're out of tune. I don't think that it's temperature as the other strings are pretty much spot on.

    I assume the nut slots should be my first port of call?

  2. #2
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Poltergeist on my A strings?

    Do they go out of tune even before you've played them after tuning & do they go 'sharp' or 'flat' ??. I tune up (or at least check the tuning) on my mandolin before i play it,& very often the "A" strings will go out of tune to 'a degree' after i've played it for a while. If the strings are simply going out of tune on their own - then it's odd to say the least. With no problems of humidity here in the UK,i can tune a mandolin,put it in it's case,come back to it several days later & it'll still be in tune.

    As you mention - it might be the nut slots. If the strings are binding,maybe simply getting a small piece of coarse brown paper,folding it up to make knife edge,& polishing the slots a bit to smooth then out might work,or apply a tiny amount of some form of lubricant.

    I had a problem with one of the "A" strings on my Weber going 'sharp' ?. I couldn't understand that at all until a Cafe member explained it to me. I used a piece of brown paper,gave the offending nut slot a good polishing & it's been fine,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

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    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Poltergeist on my A strings?

    Sorry should have said that they go sharp, I'm assuming that there is excess tension "stored" between the tuner and nut that slowly slips over time.

    I'll have a look at the nut slots - thanks!

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Poltergeist on my A strings?

    Yes, do that...also, A strings being difficult to keep in tune is usually my first clue that a string change is in order...
    Chuck

  5. #5
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Poltergeist on my A strings?

    Strings have only been on for about 6 weeks and I don’t play that much, plus they’ve been doing it since the start so I suspect the nut

  6. #6
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Poltergeist on my A strings?

    Well I took the plunge yesterday. I'd been putting it off but was actually far easier than I'd expected.

    Tuned up last night and when I came back this morning the A strings (and the rest) were still in tune.

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