Bending string going out of tune after tuning down

[LeoLmX]

Hi fellas.

I'm having a small issue with my guitar, there are some days where the strings just go a tiny bit up because of temperture change or whatever, just a normal guitar thing. I tune down the string to standard pitch, the problem is, if I try bending the string right after this tuning, the strings goes down the pitch a bit more, making it go out a few cents down the correct pitch, so I have to tune up again, so now I'm always tuning a little bit down the correct pitch and then up so the guitar can be stable again. Is this normal? After much research, I lubricated the nut with a mix of vaseline and graphite powder, it just alleviated the problem, but it's still there.

I bought a Mayones Duvell Elite 7 because I just wanted a perfect guitar
This "imperfection" is getting me nervous. This happend with another 7 string of mine with locking tuners and Graphtech nut, but never with my floyd guitar. Is this a normal guitar thing?

 

[prlgmnr]

Always tune up to pitch, not down, or the thing that you are describing will happen.

 

[LeoLmX]

Ok but is this a common thing to do on all guitars, should this be also normal on a guitar with Graphtech nut, Hipshot locking tuners and bridge?

 

[shupe13]

Common.

 

[DudeManBrother]

Double check the spring tension of your floating bridge. If it’s a tiny bit too loose (claw not screwed in enough) it will drop the tuning a bit. Next time you see it down a few cents, try tightening the trem claw a little to bring it up to pitch.

 

[budda]

Have you stretched the strings?

 

[TedEH]

It's also going to be exacerbated by using new strings that haven't been stretched or broken in yet. I stretch the bajeezus out of new strings, so between that and always tuning up to pitch, the problem is mostly negated. It's a common thing for sure though.

 

[LeoLmX]

The strings are not new, they are almost 2 weeks old, I always stretch them after changing for new ones, the problem is with my fixed bridge guitar.

edit: weeks not years lol

 

[prlgmnr]

If you tune down, the tuner releases tension but the string doesn't necessarily 'relax' all the way until it is pulled, i.e. by you bending it.

By tuning below and then up to the pitch you make sure all the slack is taken out of the string.

 

[Konfyouzd]

If you tune down, the tuner releases tension but the string doesn't necessarily 'relax' all the way until it is pulled, i.e. by you bending it.

By tuning below and then up to the pitch you make sure all the slack is taken out of the string.

I have always known to do it because someone told me. Never actually saw the explanation before. And it makes so much sense now that it feels like it should have been obvious all along.

 

[LeoLmX]

If you tune down, the tuner releases tension but the string doesn't necessarily 'relax' all the way until it is pulled, i.e. by you bending it.

By tuning below and then up to the pitch you make sure all the slack is taken out of the string.

Ok, so that seems to be a common issue on all guitars. Thanks.

 

[NoodleFace]

Also you said 'because of the temperature', is the room humidity controlled?

 

[LeoLmX]

Also you said 'because of the temperature', is the room humidity controlled?

I was just referring to the common weather variations, there's no humidity control in my room.

 

[NoodleFace]

What I'm getting at (along with what people already said about tuning down vs up), is if there are wild humidity variations in the room it can really mess with your guitar.

In the winter if I don't run a humidifier my guitar room swings between 10-45% naturally depending on the day. I aim to keep it around ~50% or else my guitars tunings are all over the place, along with the setup.

 

[Konfyouzd]

^ +1

 

[prlgmnr]

oh yeah the unfinished neck on my Axis is a nightmare for humidity-related shenanigans

looks and feels awesome though

 

[LeoLmX]

edit: Double post

 

[LeoLmX]

So humidity does affect more the unfinished woods, that may be also a problem.

The looks and feel are definitely worth the sacrifice.

 

[Synllip]

Yep, my Mayones Regius is the same thing. I close my door and tune it to pitch, I open the door and the strings are all flat. Also when you're going down on pitch to retune do it like a tremolo bridge, start with the high E up to the low E, the neck increases the tension a lot while tuning.

 

[LeoLmX]

Yep, my Mayones Regius is the same thing. I close my door and tune it to pitch, I open the door and the strings are all flat. Also when you're going down on pitch to retune do it like a tremolo bridge, start with the high E up to the low E, the neck increases the tension a lot while tuning.

I never knew that.
I play guitar for 15 years and this post made me realize that I don't even know how to tune my guitar