kingtf Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Hi all: I have a fairly new (1.5 yrs) Gibson ES-339 that just doesn't seem to stay in tune. Mainly the G & B strings. ANy thoughts or advice? Thanks for you suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Happens a lot on the 339... I had the same thing with mine. All you need to do is lub the nut... Get some Big Bends Nut sauce at your local music store and lub up the string grooves in the nut. If you can't get any Nut Sauce take a sharp pencil and draw in the slots. If those things don't work you may need to have the gooves filed a little... Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks Dave, I'll try those things. I suspected it was the nut, seems to happen a lot on Gibson's for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Happens a lot on the 339... I had the same thing with mine. All you need to do is lub the nut... Get some Big Bends Nut sauce at your local music store and lub up the string grooves in the nut. If you can't get any Nut Sauce take a sharp pencil and draw in the slots. If those things don't work you may need to have the gooves filed a little... Good luck Just what dave says use an HB pencil.... Nice soft graphite.... Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I've never had that problem. Mine gigs bars every weekend. It's as stable as any guitar I've ever owned. I wouldn't trade mine for a solid gold monkey. Best to ya. Murph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Please let us how it turns out. Murph convinced me enough to make it my next purchase.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Please let us how it turns out. Murph convinced me enough to make it my next purchase.... And one you'll not regret. A true modern classic. I think I just broke mine in so fast, it never had time to get a sticky nut. It went straight to work in the bars, and now it smells like cigarette smoke, even though I quit smoking Jan. 1, '08. Oh well, Ky. will probably go smokeless pretty soon, Illinois already did. The Ky. gigs are the ones stinkin' it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 And one you'll not regret. A true modern classic. I think I just broke mine in so fast' date=' it never had time to get a sticky nut. It went straight to work in the bars, and now it smells like cigarette smoke, even though I quit smoking Jan. 1, '08. Oh well, Ky. will probably go smokeless pretty soon, Illinois already did. The Ky. gigs are the ones stinkin' it up.[/quote'] NY went smokeless a few years ago and I really like it. KY may be smokeless before I get my antique red one. There is a huge backorder for them (it may be available by the next equinox!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Thanks to all for the suggestions. I will have to give that a try. I've never done this before... so is the graphite "treatment" something that is done everytime the strings are changed.... how often is it necessary? I've had the 339 since Dec. '07. I do about 60+ gigs a year (not including misc rehearsals) so this guitar has definitely seen some break-in time. It's a very versitile axe, I love the variety of tone it is capabale of producing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_randy Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 My G string on my sg's go out alot and my epiphone dot has numerous strings which go out alot.Little graphite from pencil is cheap fix that works to some extent,but a couple weeks ago I gave in a dropped $10 for that tiny container of bigbends nut sauce and that stuff works 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Does anyone know what Big Bends Nut Sauce really consists of? Is it petrolium based, silicon based, etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Thanks to all for the suggestions. I will have to give that a try. I've never done this before... so is the graphite "treatment" something that is done everytime the strings are changed.... how often is it necessary? I've had the 339 since Dec. '07. I do about 60+ gigs a year (not including misc rehearsals) so this guitar has definitely seen some break-in time. It's a very versitile axe' date=' I love the variety of tone it is capabale of producing.[/quote'] I re-apply graphite at every string change. I also coat all the slots, probably not necessasry but that's how I roll ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swmcv2007 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I had the same exact problem with my SG Standard. Apparently it's a Gibson trademark. I tried the pencil thing for a while but yesterday I finally took it to my local shop and they are going to file the nut down. If it continues I'm getting locking tuners. I'll let you know how it works out, it should be done within the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I had the same exact problem with my SG Standard. Apparently it's a Gibson trademark. I've owned many Gibsons, and have heard of people with the problem, but in my 39 years of Gibsons, never had it. And I use tuners, and always have, even the old Peterson strobe back in the day. I'm just lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 I've been looking around for a suitable Lubricant (other than Nut Sauce). Don't believe there's anything secret about that concoction, and it's very pricey. I been looking at a common product, teflon grease. There's a product called Jack's Multilube used in pool pump applications. Resistant to water and chemicals, safe on plastics and metals, and cheap. I happen too have some around the house (beacause I have a pool) and it is VERY slick. Got just a drop on my finger and it's smooth as silk. I am prety certain this stuff is probably as good as anything else out there for guitar nut lubrication. I am only concerned about any chemical reactions, but it's doubtful that it would be a problem. There are many PVC & plastic parts in pool pumps and parts. There are also tubes of powdered graphite easily available. Used a lot in the lock industry, but you can pick it up at mostany good hardware store. Just another option. Anyone here hae experience with these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I've never put anything on my nut. Tune down, tune up. I don't know. I swear man, I wish you the best. But mine has been it the case since Sat night (Sunday morning), and I'd bet I could pull it out and it would be close right now. I can't relate.... I'd bet $100.00, 3/6 strings would be perfect. And it was tuned BEFORE the start of the last set, Sat night. That's how stable mine is. I wish you the very best. Murph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Are you sure you have them wrapped tight around the tuner when you restring? Zero slack? I don't get it. The tuners don't move, the strings HAVE to be "zero tolerant" for movement. The nut just sits there. It ain't movin'. WHAT'S MOVIN'? Just sayin...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 I have noticed a slight "tink" sound when tuning these strings. From what I have read from the Luthiers, this is an indication that there is some sort of hangup on the string, usually at the nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 DISCLAIMER. MURPH IS A BAR GIGGIN', BEER DRINKIN' NOBODY. I would take a string that fits each nut groove, and work it like a file, gently, through my nut, IF IT WAS MY GUITAR. A little. Back and forth like a chain saw sharpening thing. Very softly. DISCLAIMER. MURPH IS A BEER DRINKIN', BAR PLAYING NOBODY, DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM. I won't let anybody work on my guitars. If I can't fix em' with science, and physics, and construction experiance...... I sell em'. Best to ya. Murph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarooster52 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 That "tink" has to be the string binding in the nut. I have the same issue with my LP but my 335 does not seem to have as much of an issue. My luthier gave me some very fine sandpaper and told me to sand it until it stops. I did some sanding but in the end I use a nut lubricant and it helps quite a bit. It is a Gibson trademark as far as I'm concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtf Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 So Gibson cannot fit a nut to save their a@@? What's up with that? I had a 80's LP once that did the same thing. Also, a guy that I was playng with (huge LP guy, has many) had the same problemwith some of his LP's. This 339 is the first Gibson I have owned in years, primarily because of this tuning problem the they seem to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Please let us how it turns out. Murph convinced me enough to make it my next purchase.... Oh please, it's a girl's guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Oh please' date=' it's a girl's guitar. The ladies call me Tim [/quote'] See, now with comments like this, I would never buy an R9. And this during our Holy Week. ?t??p? sa?. Anyhow, your logic doesn't make sense. I never call you Tim...only Timoleon! He he he... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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