Introduction
No matter how well you play, if your tuning issues are not fixed, your guitar will never sound right. If you are experiencing tuning issues while playing, it could be one of several things:
The nut is too high or too low (sloppy intonation). This means that the string moves back and forth as it passes over the saddle on its way from one end to another. This will cause a drifting sound in pitch so that it won’t stay in tune for long periods of time.
The nut is cut improperly or the string windings may have cut grooves at each slot’s edge and these grooves can catch on strings as they pass over them causing them to bind and warp which affects the tuning stability;
Strings are stretched out causing them to go flat after playing for awhile;
Check the tuning pegs
Check the tuning pegs, especially that the bushings are tightened. The bushing fastens the tuning post onto the front side of the guitar headstock from the front side of the guitar and they are responsible for holding the whole machine nut onto the headstock. If they are loose, they will affect you tuning stability.
If you see any rust or corrosion on your Gibson’s tuner screw, it may be time to replace it with a newer one made by Gibson or another reputable company.
Examine the nut slots. If your slots are filed straight, you can fix your tuning issues with Tune Voodoo string guide.
The nut is the piece of plastic or bone that the strings pass over on their way to the tuning pegs. The slots are the grooves in this piece of plastic or bone that determine where the string sits. A reason for bad tuning could be a damaged nut or string slots, so check that your nut is in good shape. If your nut is in order but your nut slots are filed straight then the angle from the nut slot to the tuning post is too deep which will cause tuning issues. This can be fixed by using the Tune Voodoo string guide. Tune Voodoo will straighten the angle and you guitar will stay in tune after the installation. Just remove your truss rod cover’s upper screw and screw the Tune Voodoo in place and your tuning issues are solved.
Check your strings. Use a fresh set of strings.
One of the first things that you should check when your tuning issues are with a Gibson is to make sure that your strings aren’t too old. If they’re relatively new, then there’s a good chance that they’ll be fine, but if they’ve been in use for years and years, it’s probably time to replace them. Old strings can be brittle and break easily, which will lead to tuning problems; moreover, if you’re using really old strings that have lost their elasticity (i.e., “lost their memory”), they may not pull up as high into pitch when tuned higher on the fretboard—and this can cause issues with intonation because each fret has its own specific place along which it’s supposed to vibrate at its highest pitch.
Conclusion
If you found out what was causing your tuning issues and followed the steps in this article, you should be able to fix them. Remember to check the nut slots, especially if they are filed straight, install the Tune Voodoo string guide to ensure your tuning stability.
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