Difficulty tuning the E&A strings.

[Jazzcaster]

Hello !

I have a Squier Jaguer Classic Vibe. I am having difficulty tuning the E&A strings. The tuner cannot settle even when the note seems right. Is it due to the design of the guitar? Bad tuner?

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Best thing you can do is train your ears to not be totally dependent on an electronic tuner. But if you're satisfied that the top 4 strings are up to pitch try playing the 7th fret harmonic on the D string and tuning the 12th-fret harmonic on the A to it, then repeat the process on the A string to tune the low E.

[Jaguar018]

What kind of tuner, and approximately how many winds around the post?

Also: have you stretched the strings and all that jazz?

[alexpigment]

This is kinda normal - to some degree anyway. First, use the neck pickup for tuning, and turn the tone knob down all the way for good measure. This will provide the best tone for the tuner to lock onto. Secondly, pick lightly, with a pick if possible. For context, the lower strings will vibrate more when plucked and take some time to settle to their actual pitch without a gentle touch. This will probably be more pronounced if you're using lighter gauge strings (like 9s).

Hope that helps!

[jorri]

As mentioned its normal to a degree and best to use ears
or the start of the note where the tuner slips.

It can also be from having pickups too high, as they call 'stratitis' the magnetic pull bending the string out of pitch.

[Maggieo]

Put some pencil lead (graphite) in the nut slots.

[ChrisDesign]

If the other strings tune perfectly, your tuner is probably fine. Your problem can be the nut, the tuners, or bridge, or the vibrato.

Squire nuts are famously rubbish. If you like the tone and play, upgrade the nut to TUSQ. Strings often bind in the but causing tuning problems. A TUSQ but costs around £10.

My first guitar is an Encore; the worst guitar make on earth. I replaced the nut with a TUSQ nut and the neck feel is now better than a pro installed bone nut. TUSQ is cheap and self lubricating so your strings are unlikely to bind.

It's a simple job, but you need feeler gauges, sandpaper, and a capo. Here is a video: https://youtu.be/uWXgOWrd2aE

The bridge can be a problem with tuning stability. If you have a standard jazzmaster bridge you need the strings to grip the saddles. Never lubricate saddles! Ensure your saddles are parallel to the bridge plate (each saddle is flat) and the strings are not touching the metal or screw ends.

On a Jazzmaster, your vibrato unit is also part of the tuning equation. If the internal spring is unbalanced, you will have problems. Tune up, depress your whammy all the way and then recheck your tuning. If your strings are now flat, you need more spring tension (turn that spring balancing screw clockwise). If your strings are now sharp, do the opposite.

You can upgrade your tuners too. Fender USA tuners are around £60, and locking tuners are £80. Tuners have a lower impact on tuning stability than the nut so if you upgrade them, do it after your nut.

[jorri]

^i dont think the OP means string are going out of tune like a nut issue. More the problem of plucking a string and the note lowers or wobbles in pitch over its sustain.

[CorporateDisguise]

^i dont think the OP means string are going out of tune like a nut issue. More the problem of plucking a string and the note lowers or wobbles in pitch over its sustain.

This is sort of the nature of short scale guitars, isn’t it? You either have a adjust to playing more lightly, or embrace the doomy, out of tune wobble. Heavier strings help a bit, but it is always there.

[DeathJag]

^i dont think the OP means string are going out of tune like a nut issue. More the problem of plucking a string and the note lowers or wobbles in pitch over its sustain.

This is sort of the nature of short scale guitars, isn’t it? You either have a adjust to playing more lightly, or embrace the doomy, out of tune wobble. Heavier strings help a bit, but it is always there.

That is 100% false, for me at least.

[andy_tchp]

^i dont think the OP means string are going out of tune like a nut issue. More the problem of plucking a string and the note lowers or wobbles in pitch over its sustain.

This is sort of the nature of short scale guitars, isn’t it? You either have a adjust to playing more lightly, or embrace the doomy, out of tune wobble. Heavier strings help a bit, but it is always there.

No.

[jorri]

^i dont think the OP means string are going out of tune like a nut issue. More the problem of plucking a string and the note lowers or wobbles in pitch over its sustain.

This is sort of the nature of short scale guitars, isn’t it? You either have a adjust to playing more lightly, or embrace the doomy, out of tune wobble. Heavier strings help a bit, but it is always there.

No.

Well potentially /more/ than a long scale, relatively, but apparently not to this extent.

[CorporateDisguise]

This is sort of the nature of short scale guitars, isn’t it? You either have a adjust to playing more lightly, or embrace the doomy, out of tune wobble. Heavier strings help a bit, but it is always there.

No.

Well potentially /more/ than a long scale, relatively, but apparently not to this extent.

Sorry, I should have been more clear, I was replying to the quoted post, not the OP. I was more inferring that the slight out tune ring was normal for these guitars, not that it should cause problems actually tuning it. Unless, the tuner is having trouble picking up the signal from the E and A, and the OP is picking harder to try to get it to register. I wonder if a headstock tuner that works off of the guitars vibrations might work better.

Also, I didn’t mean to offend. I played a Mustang as my main guitar for almost 10 years. I still have it and love it.

Maybe I’m just a ham fisted picker, but I notice the wobble on Gibson scales as well. You can adjust it out by picking lighter, but it does take some adjustment coming from a fender scale. I don’t infer it as a negative trait. It is just part of how they sound to me.

[DeathJag]

Not offended, but I truly have no idea what you’re talking about. The notes sound true and the tuner hears everything normally.

[Sweetfinger]

Try lowering the neck pickup. Does the problem go away or get better to some extent?
If not, some tuners have difficulty with lower notes. Use the 12th fret harmonic to tune.