cheap guitar wont stay in tune!

[_tom_]

So the school I'm doing my A levels at  finally bought a guitar for students to use, a cheap "Elec" strat copy. The thing wont stay in tune atall! I've tried stretching the strings a number of times, the nut looks fine, and the strings look like they are wrapped fine around the tuners! Any ideas what the problem might be? Its like you play something and it instantly goes out of tune! I thought maybe the springs in the back are too loose?

Cheers for any help

[Ratrod]

Try blocking the trem. Those are usually dodgy on cheap strat copies.

[Searcher]

Sometimes the intonation is no good on guitar like that. Although that is more of a matter of the guitar not properly going in tune alone the whole string length in the firs place.

Other than that it could be the tuners. Even the angle that the strings meet the tuners at can have some effect on the tuning. Gott ahve a reasonale amount of a decline in the string from the nut to the tuner.

[_tom_]

Sometimes the intonation is no good on guitar like that. Although that is more of a matter of the guitar not properly going in tune alone the whole string length in the firs place.

Other than that it could be the tuners. Even the angle that the strings meet the tuners at can have some effect on the tuning. Gott ahve a reasonale amount of a decline in the string from the nut to the tuner.

Oh yeah I forgot to say I checked the intonation but according to the tuner on my mates cheap Zoom multifx thing its fine. Intonation is where the open note is the same as the fretted note at the 12th fret right?

Ratrod, I dunno if the school would like me to start modding their guitar to how I like it  :lol:

[38thBeatle]

Tom, I have a near neighbour's son who has a similar problem. I spent ages mucking about with it and decided it was the cheap bridge. I ended up blocking the trem off. The boy was a little crestfallen but it was no use, even a moderate yank on the "handle thingy" ( as his Mum put it) sent it out.

[The amazing Phil]

Sometimes the intonation is no good on guitar like that. Although that is more of a matter of the guitar not properly going in tune alone the whole string length in the firs place.

Other than that it could be the tuners. Even the angle that the strings meet the tuners at can have some effect on the tuning. Gott ahve a reasonale amount of a decline in the string from the nut to the tuner.

Oh yeah I forgot to say I checked the intonation but according to the tuner on my mates cheap Zoom multifx thing its fine. Intonation is where the open note is the same as the fretted note at the 12th fret right?

Ratrod, I dunno if the school would like me to start modding their guitar to how I like it  :lol:

Make 'em understand, Bareknuckle pickups are essential educational tools I hear.

[_tom_]

haha I guess I could just do it without him knowing, measure up the hole then cut a bit of wood at home and wedge it in there  :D Its not like anyone uses the trem anyway, the whammy bar itself is missing  :lol:

[The amazing Phil]

If the bar's gone then it's deffintiely worth doing, if they complain charge them for your expensive technicians services. :lol:

[_tom_]

haha they probably wont even notice now I think about it! Im gonna open it up soon and see how big a bit of wood I need..

[tewboss]

somebody I know had a fender jaguar and he had problems with it staying in tune. when he sold it, he used blutac to make the tuning stable!

[_tom_]

somebody I know had a fender jaguar and he had problems with it staying in tune. when he sold it, he used blutac to make the tuning stable!

How do you do that exactly? Like where do you put the blutac?

[tewboss]

I haven't a clue.  He said he used the blutac before he passed it onto a guitar shop!

I'd use wood if I were you.