Wildkat with minor problems

[lostindesert]

My first guitar with P-9'0s and a Bigsby vibrato.

I'll start with the ''Grover'' tuners, When tuning down and then up to pitch most of the times it's going sharp.

Once in tune it stays in tune.

The Bigsby, looks great, don't use it. Compaired with my other guitars i'll have to tune it more often.

Temperature changes got something to do with it ? Floating Bigsby ?

P-90s, like them but when i adjust my amp on the neck pu the bridge sounds like Minnie Mouse.

Adjust the amp for the bridge pu and then go for the neck is like plug in a bass guitar.

I'm exaggerating a little bit, i think it's a great guitar.

Anyone with the same problems, your solutions ?

 

Peter

[garyelcrrt1281733995]

Lostindesert said: "I'll start with the ''Grover'' tuners, When tuning down and then up to pitch most of the times it's going sharp.

Once in tune it stays in tune."

 

If by that you mean that it goes sharp AFTER you tune it, your strings may be binding in the nut. This is a quite common complaint, and usually (from my own experience) because the nut is poorly cut. It is the first thing I change on a new Epi, even before the 1st set of new strings. My personal preference is for Earvana nuts because I don't really have to do anything except put it in. People will say EVERY nut should be custom fit to the guitar you put it on, and they are right!, but I'm a lazy kind of guy overall, and these have always been close enough that getting it better might be more bother than cure. I also don't trust my eyes in that close of work any more. Plus, I like the intonation better with them.

[lostindesert]

Thanks garyelcrrt, that was my first thought to but i experienced this problem on other guitars with

Grovers to. I find them somewhat loose, not accurate.

The Earvana nut is a good idea.

The nut is the cheapest part on the guitar but causes the greatest problems.Still looking for a tech who can help me

but not in my town. Must learn to do it myself but those files are pretty expencieve.

Thanks.

 

Peter

[BENT E]

I change out the nut on most of my guitars with a Graphite nut first thing myself. The WildKat has a lot of downward force on the bridge due to the Bigsby. You might consider Graphite bridge saddles as well. For now just add some pencil lead to the slots of both the bridge and nut as a temporary fix.

 

You might want to check your out put at the jack with an ohm meter. It wouldn't be the first time there were wiring problems with Epi' guitars. The output should be about 7 ohms I believe. Mine is fairly balanced, could be a bad cap or pot. Like I said check the output.

 

Anyway, when all is correct, they are a very sweet guitar, one of my fav's, although I'm currently enjoying the hell out of my new Casino-bigtime, same P-90's, totally different guitar tone.

 

Here is a site to get some info about GraphTech products. Hope this helps.

 

http://www.graphtech.com/tremnut_info.php

[Sinner 13]

My first guitar with P-9'0s and a Bigsby vibrato.

I'll start with the ''Grover'' tuners' date=' When tuning down and then up to pitch most of the times it's going sharp.

Once in tune it stays in tune.

The Bigsby, looks great, don't use it. Compaired with my other guitars i'll have to tune it more often.

Temperature changes got something to do with it ? Floating Bigsby ?

P-90s, like them but when i adjust my amp on the neck pu the bridge sounds like Minnie Mouse.

Adjust the amp for the bridge pu and then go for the neck is like plug in a bass guitar.

I'm exaggerating a little bit, i think it's a great guitar.

Anyone with the same problems, your solutions ?

 

Peter[/quote']

Welcome to the world of owning a guitar with a bigsby.

Three words:

Sperzel locking tuners.

I can beat the **** out of my LPJ all day long and even with lockers its not perfect.

But the do help tremendously.

As far as tone, replace the Pots with top shelf and get a couple of bumblebee capacitors.

[Tukinator]

I agree with xsinner13x about the Bigsby, but. . .

 

Strange as it may sound, I've noticed that if you just thump the trem a little when you notice it's out of tune, it will correct itself almost all the time.

 

By 'thump the trem a little' I mean just bump it. Don't smack it or hit it with a lot of force, just bump it.

 

I've been playing mine tonight, and as well as on other nights, that seems to do the trick 95% of the time.

 

Honestly, I don't know how much a tuner upgrade will help.

 

That's my .02 anyway.

[Ricochet]

Pretty solid advice so far. I'd try the graphite nut first. I'm really surprised how the Grovers on my LP are holding up.

Is the PU difference in volume or tone? If it's volume you could try adjusting PU height. If the latter it's a change in either neck or bridge PU I'm afraid.

[lostindesert]

Pretty solid advice so far. I'd try the graphite nut first. I'm really surprised how the Grovers on my LP are holding up.

Is the PU difference in volume or tone? If it's volume you could try adjusting PU height. If the latter it's a change in either neck or bridge PU I'm afraid.

 

The PU's aren't height adjustable' date=' only with the polepieces.

The problem is the bridge PU which sits low on the bass side [low E-string'].

Adjusting the polepieces higher get's me more volume but thins out the sound, less bass.

The output is okay, neck PU 7.8K and the bridge PU 8.2K.

As for the tuners, never been a fan of Grovers, I like the KLuson types made by Gotoh or Schaller.

Definitly will try the graphite nut.

As i said, minor problems......the PU's will stay...Bigsby will stay [in tune lol].

Thanks for your answers and advice.

 

Peter

[daneman]

Some years ago I had a bigsby equipped SG. It didn't like staying in tune so I replaced the spring with an appropriate sized socket from a cheap socket wrench set. The tuning problems disappeared as it was now basically a hard tail,yet kept the cool vintage look intact.

[layboomo]

"As for the tuners, never been a fan of Grovers, I like the KLuson types..."

 

I'm the exact opposite....Grovers are my first choice....but to be honest most of my grovers are the "USA" variety....the ones being used on the Epi's now look the same,but they are much cheaper asian made parts....so you may have a very good point there. I don't like kluson's at all even on Gibsons......I agree that locking tuners with the bigsby should help,but Bigsby's are nortoriously hard to keep dead on in tune. A good roller bridge and high end nut are a must do on it as well IMHO.

[lostindesert]

Some years ago I had a bigsby equipped SG. It didn't like staying in tune so I replaced the spring with an appropriate sized socket from a cheap socket wrench set. The tuning problems disappeared as it was now basically a hard tail' date='yet kept the cool vintage look intact.[/quote']

 

Great idea, thanks

[daneman]

You're welcome Peter !!

[lostindesert]

"As for the tuners' date=' never been a fan of Grovers, I like the KLuson types..."

 

I'm the exact opposite....Grovers are my first choice....but to be honest most of my grovers are the "USA" variety....the ones being used on the Epi's now look the same,but they are much cheaper asian made parts....so you may have a very good point there. I don't like kluson's at all even on Gibsons......I agree that locking tuners with the bigsby should help,but Bigsby's are nortoriously hard to keep dead on in tune. A good roller bridge and high end nut are a must do on it as well IMHO.[/quote']

 

I got a acoustic guitar with the ''Asian'' Grover tuners, got the same problem [not the nut].

Never had problems with the American made Grover tuners.

The reason i don't like them, they're bulky and heavy, i like lightweight hardware and the vintage look.

I'm considering a roller bridge and graphite nut.

 

Thanks for your time,

 

Peter