43 posts
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Post by jayjacque on Jul 10, 2019 17:34:36 GMT
I've only had this guitar for less than a week. I think it will be great, but just one thing. So far it's not holding tuning well. After playing for a half hour or 45 minues 3 or 4 strings go out. Can't remember that being the case with any of the other dozen HB's I've bought in the past. Not sure if strings still not all the way stretched or tuners are just insufficient. The nut is also one of the first things I usually check for tuning issues, so I'll likely get a tusq nut. Anybody else run into this on this guitar? If I need to, what are some decent replacement tuners off ebay or Amazon? Don't want to pay large shipping cost from Thomann to Canada just for that.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 11, 2019 3:28:25 GMT
Tuners have nothing to do with holding tuning.
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34 posts
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Post by mitchmacblues on Jul 11, 2019 12:59:24 GMT
Try with the old pencil graphite in the nut trick. It is surprisingly effective , in my experience it works better than specific lubricants. I didn't need to use it in my HB SC 450 Vintage Plus (also the 2017 batch with Wilkinsons), as its tuning was really stable, but in my HB TE-52 it greatly improved tuning stability in the 3rd string. I was also contemplating installing locking tuners, people say that they improve tuning stability (with a similar principle as a Floyd Rose) but I have never tried them. They make changing strings easier too. These ones might work for your SC 450: www.thomann.de/intl/harley_benton_parts_locking_tuners_3r_3l_chr.htm?ref=search_prv_5
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chubbles
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by chubbles on Jul 11, 2019 14:00:36 GMT
The most common cause of tuning instability is the nut. Try graphite or nut lube. It may help.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 11, 2019 14:06:41 GMT
Try with the old pencil graphite in the nut trick. It is surprisingly effective , in my experience it works better than specific lubricants. I didn't need to use it in my HB SC 450 Vintage Plus (also the 2017 batch with Wilkinsons), as its tuning was really stable, but in my HB TE-52 it greatly improved tuning stability in the 3rd string. I was also contemplating installing locking tuners, people say that they improve tuning stability (with a similar principle as a Floyd Rose) but I have never tried them. They make changing strings easier too. I use pencil too. Vaseline under cheap string trees. Never had to buy anything else. I don't buy the locking tuner stuff. Yes, I know, some guitar tech who changes strings before every gig and needs them to be ready in 3 seconds has said that eliminating windings around tuning posts helps. I believe that. I also believe that stretching strings using the tuners themselves, instead of stupidly pulling on them by hand as every clown on YouTube demonstrates, does the job just fine because it involves the windings in the stretching process. It just takes a few minutes, or maybe even a little more. I don't know. I don't do it often and I'm never in a hurry but the last time I did it on my ST-62 I just tuned sharp, wiggled with the vibrato, tuned up again and was done in about three cycles.
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43 posts
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Post by jayjacque on Jul 12, 2019 2:19:17 GMT
Had a closer look at the nut and it appears a few of the strings are binding in the slots. I'll prob just order a tusq nut and that'll probably solve it.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Jul 12, 2019 2:36:57 GMT
Had a closer look at the nut and it appears a few of the strings are binding in the slots. I'll prob just order a tusq nut and that'll probably solve it. I would get a nut file. I suppose a new nut can be the cheaper option, depending on where you buy, though.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Jul 12, 2019 8:30:00 GMT
If you get a new nut you're still going to need those files jayjacque. I'm with LeoThunder on working on those existing slots to make them lovely and smooth, nicely shaped, wide enough, not too deep and all shiny polished. At a push you can use a length of old roundwound guitar string of the necessary gauge as a file, either just held between your fingers or, much better, glued to a short length of wood. This has worked great for me but still leaves you short of a file for the B and top E. Acoustic guitar strings are great for this as they will usually be just a little wider gauge than the strings on your electric...and you'll be able to find a wound G. I have one of those types that LeoThunder linked to but found them rather hard to hold, a bit short, and the thinner ones a bit useless and too flexible.Of course the real answer is proper nut files of all the required gauges but they do seem to always be remarkably expensive or else the cheaper ones are not fine enough for the B and top E.
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viro
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by viro on Jul 18, 2019 6:52:19 GMT
Free solution: pencil graphite thing
10 euro solution: new graphite nut
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