Intonation/tuning problems

[WillRTR]

Long story short, my Ltd MH-1000 is being a son of a bitch to tune in terms of the first 3 strings (e-b-g), in that while it was set up not too long ago, those 3 strings in particular seem to go out of tune the second I look at them!
Proof of this is when I tuned my guitar perfectly at the 12th fret (tuning by harmonics), played a song only using the 3 thick strings, and STILL the e-b-g went out of tune.

I've tried stretching them, I've tried tightening & loosening the locking tuners (they're the ESP locking tuners - cheap Sperzels in other words), and my band are going into the studio tomorrow, and we're using this guitar as its the only one with BKPs in it. The thing which annoys me most is, theres one particular riff I play on those strings, and as I play it, I can hear the strings going slowly and slightly out of tune, but still quickly enough to a point that its not bearable at all.

Any hints/suggestions/instructions/miracles shall be welcomed with open arms!!

p.s. if there is an obvious solution, please do mind my ignorance - despite what I may try to portray in real life, I actually know sodall about guitars, especially when it comes to setting them up!

[Ratrod]

If it's been setup right, I'll bet you a pint it's a pinching (aka binding) nut.

Pick and bend the culprit strings BEHIND the nut. If they don't return to normal pitch, you have a pinching nut.

If so the nut slots need to be filed out a little. You can use a needle file or proper nut files, if you have acces to those.

And don't forget to lube that nut with nut sauce or graphite.

I just looked up that model. Doesn't yours have a locking nut? And a tension bar behind that?

If so, lock it tight. And fine tune with the fine tuners on the Floyd. If it still goes out of tune after that, there's probably something wrong with the trem setup.

[WillRTR]

Thanks for the reply dude, I'll give it a go when I next am next to my guitar - you see, I'm a genius and completely forgot that I had tuning troubles and so decided to leave it at the studio, which means I can't get near my guitar or anyone who has keys to the studio (i.e. recording guys) until Monday. Smart!

I might've left out that my one is the no trem model - its basically a slightly cheaper ESP Horizon, except with a 5 way switch, better pickups (BKPs obv) and these tedious ESP tuners that I am just not fond of. Theres probably nothing wrong with the tuners at all, I just wanted Sperzels but forgot that they'd taken those off for anything past the 2008 version of this guitar 

Anyway, as I said, thanks very much for the advice, I shall carry out what you suggested the second I get to my axe =]

[WillRTR]

Oh yeah - just to mention, I have also fuddled around with the bridge saddles, and now it is intonated perfectly (admittedly I did next to sodall to fix it, just very minor adjustments), but the strings seem persistent in going out of tune.

I've been informed by Dan Wellar, one of the guys I'm recording with, that it could also be the strings I'm using, so I'll be testing that out with him when I go down there tomorrow. Fortunately we should be having the whole band in the studio, so I'll be able to update with whether or not your suggestion works.

And for anyone else who reads this, please feel free to post any more suggestions so I have a small arsenal of stuff to attack my axe with!

[WillRTR]

It's either a pinching nut or its related to Hitler.
Just focusing in the G string, I pressed it down behind the nut, and it wouldn't return to normal. So I filed it away a very small amount and added some graphite (I don't own any real guitar tech gear, so just used a standard pencil) and the little beggar still keeps acting up.
I spent at least one and a half hours trying to fix this, and it hasn't worked.
Goddamnit I hate guitars :P

[Ratrod]

File the back of the nut slot in the direction the string is going on the headstock.

When setting your intonation, always use a fresh set of strings.

In some cases you simply get bad strings that just won't intonate or stay in tune. Ernie Balls are notorious.

Edit: what string gauge are you using BTW?

[ToneMonkey]

Graphite power isn't too much good on it's own.  Try mixing it with a tiny bit of vaseline and put a tiny blob in each slot.

Also check that the slots are nicely cut with no burrs.

Sounds like a set up and a nut change could be a good idea.  Chances are it will pay dividends and you'll have much nicer playing axe.

[AndyR]

+1 to what both the rat and the monkey are saying :D

I do use graphite powder alone on all string slots on all guitars - just something I've done for years, it's probably habit rather than necessary...

If I have a troublesome guitar, I mix up the graphite and vaseline compound and use that for a bit - I might also use an old string of the right gauge with that compound as a "sort of file" in the slot. This is particularly good for sorting the covered string slots (I fixed an aluminium nut on a Dano like this) - make sure you "file" at the right angle like Ratrod says though...

If I can't fix it like that, I start looking at replacing the nut - either myself if a pre-cut one (eg Graph Tech) is OK, or take it to a professional if anything too clever is required :D

[WillRTR]

Once I'm finally out of the studio and have money in my pocket again, I might just take it along to Jonathan @ Feline for a diagnosis of the problem and just generally throw money at him until it works again, I'm past the point of trusting my own DIY skills just incase I ruin something somehow, haha

Thanks for the advice though, once I get competent enough at doing this sorta stuff I'll be able to put these tips into good use - sorry if it did seem like a bit of time wasting on my behalf though :P

[Ratrod]

Good plan.

A full professional setup is the best thing you can do for a guitar.