Author Topic: SC Dlx keeps going out of tune (Read 144 times)

glocke · « **on:** October 31, 2007, 03:41:45 AM »

Hi All,

I purchased (new) a SC sig deluxe around august. I posted about how it got rained by a flood from a dishwasher malfunction it did seem to survive that water ok, but lately it doesnt seem to want to stay in tune, it keeps going flat. Any suggestions ?

terryc · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:00:00 AM »

Did water get into the tuners??

glocke · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:38:16 AM »

From what I recall, most of the water was concentrated on the body and the neck (amazingly the control cavities stayed dry), a small amount of water may have gotten onto the tuners, but I dont think it was significant. In terms of water damage to the tuners, is there something I should look for?

The strings were pretty soaked, and I havent changed them since than. Could that be part of the problem?

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:43:28 AM »

You'll need to replace those strings anyway, if they were soaked. I think it's the best starting point for troubleshooting.

terryc · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2007, 07:31:33 AM »

glocke--you didn't mention the strings got soaked!! I agree with adriaan, the cores will be corroded as well as the windings so micro fractures will be occuring due to corrosion metal fatigue.Oil the board whilst the strings are off and remove the nut and truss cover plate and apply a little oil to those exposed surfaces. Water and wood do not mix well just like water & electricity.
Personally I would have stripped the whole thing and dried it with cloths and oiled the fretboard straight away.

glocke · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2007, 10:03:25 AM »

Thanks...just ordered new strings so hopefully that will take care of the problem. I dont know why it didnt occur to me to strip the whole thing down, I think I was mainly worried about the electronics.

Can I used bore oil (for horns) on the fretboard ? A jazz bass enthusiast friend of mine uses that on his jazz bass necks.

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2007, 10:13:18 AM »

The only oil that you should consider to use is essential lemon oil. Make sure it is 100% pure, without additions - should be available through healthfood shops. It is kind of expensive (and some brands more so than others) but you only need a couple of drops of it at a time, and in a temperate climate with no airconditioning you probably need to do it not more than once or twice a year.

Read all about it in the FAQ/Must Reads section.

jakebass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2007, 12:22:04 PM »

I will apologise in advance if I'm stating the obvious, but just in case you don't know:
always tune up to the tone you want to achieve, this leaves no slack on the peg which, if you tune down to a note leaving slack, can slip to tighten and make the note fractionally flatter.
As I said I would expect that most here know this but if you don't there it is.
Jake

Ps hence the term 'tune up'

glocke · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2007, 06:48:21 AM »

Just an update....replaced the strings on this and all is good. played a solid 5 hours last sat. with the new strings, and there was no sign on the tuning problems I had before.

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2007, 07:27:28 AM »

You can't beat the sound of new strings..nice & trebly..even more if you turn the filter up and switch the Q

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2007, 08:17:34 AM »

Glad it settled down !

In my experience, a good 90% of the ' . . just can't get this $#**%(*# thing to stay in tune' problems are string related.

Wind the excess around the keyposts like spaghetti?

'Oh yeah, these strings have been on here since '87, I want that Jamerson tone!'

The retainer nuts around the shaft on the face of the peghead were loose.

The tensioner screws in the ears of the tuning keys were loose.

The saddles/tailpiece/bridge, etc., were loose.

The saddles hadn't been tuned to the string lengths (intonated) properly, or they still were set the way they left the factory.

The truss rod nuts were completely loose.

VERY occasionally, you run into the odd failing nut, frets gone wrong, or other mechanical issues from age or sloppy fabrication or the randon 'problem child' piece of wood, but MOST of the time, new strings and a proper setup kills 'it won't stay in tune' problems PDQ.

J o e y