BlUeS mAn BeLl Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Ive owned my Epi. G-400 for about a year as a backup stage guitar and ive just started to experience some problems with my tuners mostly the D, e, and b (i.e. going out of tune quicker, very tempremental, and just inaccurate tuning). Now ive adjusted them and experimented with them myself but no cigar on my part i guess cause no matter what i do there just getting worse and worse with every jam, session, gig, ect. I think that it may be that the gears have been stripped from excessive playing and was mostly wondering if i myself could repair them and if not some better made tuners. Any and all feedback we'll probably help me out so Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Moore Tribute Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Ive owned my Epi. G-400 for about a year as a backup stage guitar and ive just started to experience some problems with my tuners mostly the D, e, and b (i.e. going out of tune quicker, very tempremental, and just inaccurate tuning). Now ive adjusted them and experimented with them myself but no cigar on my part i guess cause no matter what i do there just getting worse and worse with every jam, session, gig, ect. I think that it may be that the gears have been stripped from excessive playing and was mostly wondering if i myself could repair them and if not some better made tuners. Any and all feedback we'll probably help me out so Thanks. Buy some NEW GROVER / KLUSON TUNERS its takes 10 minutes to fit all 6! (Chinese G400 has Grover or Koreans had Kluson) But it definately looks like they need replacing is my surgestion as they sound like their completely worn out nothing lasts forever after all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Before you fork over the cash for a new set of tuners you might want to check some other things first. Most of the time, the problem is not even the tuners. (I had a similar problem a while back). The first thing I would look at is the nut. It could be binding up or not correctly cut. It also may not be properly lubricated. If your strings are old, that could be the problem too. It could be a number of things and I'm not saying it ISN'T your tuners, but I would take a look at other possible problems first and you might save yourself some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I've never heard of or seen stripped gears on tuners, even when they're 50 years old - there's just not enough force on them to grind off the teeth. G400s have Grovers already I think, which a pretty good tuners to start with so replacing them seems like a bit of a waste to me. Coupla things to try are: 1) Tighten the button heads with a small screw driver - that will make them harder to turn so less likely to get knocked or pulled out of tune. (Try to make them all consistently snug so they feel the same when turning.) 2) While you're at it, check the screws that go into the wood, and tighten as needed. (Be careful not to over-tighten as they can strip out the wood.) 3) Check the nut that tightens around the tuner shank and snug up needed with a small crescent or box wrench. Again, don't crank down too much as you can strip them or damage the headstock if you over tighten. 4) Lube the nut with graphite (pencil lead or store-bought), or if you'e feeling spendy, Big Bends Nut Sauce. 5) Put some lube on the bridge saddles as well, that's another area where strings can bind up and release, making them go out of tune. And of course, new strings always help. All of this can be done for free, and I'm betting your tuning problems will disappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 It's almost NEVER the tuners, as has been submitted earlier in this thread. And I'm telling you from personal experience - I chased a "tuning problem" for a long time, including replacing the machines, only to find out it was a string/intonation problem. If you carefully explore all of the other possibilities, including how you wrap the strings around the posts, you will get to the root cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickman Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I've got Grovers on my G400 and they're rock solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I've NEVER had a problem with my Grovers, and I have a set that's 23+ years old on my Gibson MM. BUT, I do have a cheapo tuner that the gear is torn up on. Put some graphite (pencil lead) in the grooves on the nut, under the strings. 10 out of 10 times (for me anyways) that has remedied the problem! Also, the screw that holds the knobs on the tuner also adjusts the tuner's tension! SNUG them down, NOT TIGHT! And do the pencil lead trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfa Sprint Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Don' t pur Grover those tuners are heavy and the G400 is light. You will have balance problem If you want to upgrade tuners, Grover Deluxe are fine and light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karine_plays Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Before you fork over the cash for a new set of tuners you might want to check some other things first. Most of the time, the problem is not even the tuners. The purpose of this thread is not for people to debate on whether or not the tuners are the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 The purpose of this thread is not for people to debate on whether or not the tuners are the problem. I quote the OP verbatim: "Any and all feedback we'll probably help me out so Thanks." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karine_plays Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I quote the OP verbatim: "Any and all feedback we'll probably help me out so Thanks." Of course, on-topic would be assumed. I don't think he's looking for gardening tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 The purpose of this thread is not for people to debate on whether or not the tuners are the problem. OK, so IF the problem is not the tuners, then we should just give the OP advice that they do not need? Your logic is absolutely illogical! If the OP is trying to fix a problem, and somebody helps them to understand the problem is not what they think it is, but something else all together, then that is wrong? That is crazy talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karine_plays Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Yes, I agree. And it's an open forum, right? Certain people don't think so though, so I thought those certain people should be a little more consistant in what they post. . . .I'm just looking for input because it seems like it would be an interesting project and I have nothing to loose since I have nothing whatsoever invested in this guit. Thanks guys what a waste of a perfectly good guitar I've never seen any relic'd guitar that looks anything like real playing/gigging wear. Would love to see pics if anyone has an example. I'm not wasting anything and the purpose of this thread is not for people to debate on whether or not they like the idea or look of relic'ed guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budglo Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I bought a Dot a month or so ago and had the same problem.Changed strings and lubricated the nut , now the guitars tuning is rock solid .Even when I take it out into colder weather .The tuners are NOT the problem.The nuts are plastic and probably not the best, but before you change the nut change the strings and use some graphite in the nut slots.I would think trying to help someone out would be the purpose.It isnt a "debate" really.I would imagine spending 100 dollars and the time to change the tuners only to find the problem not fixed would be more frustrating than anything.I have read so many places about people complaining about the tuners when they arent the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Yes, I agree. And it's an open forum, right? Certain people don't think so though, so I thought those certain people should be a little more consistant in what they post. You do realize you're making yourself look like a complete idiot right? The two threads are in no way similar at all. Quit hijacking this one and let people get on with trying to help with the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karine_plays Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 A complete idiot .... as opposed to a partial idiot? Are you a partial idiot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disaster Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I also have a g-400 that's about a year old. I've been trying to get the tuning fixed on it since I bought it. I'm convinced it's the nut I just don't know what I'm doing so I've been experimenting for a LONG time. I tried one technician 3 times & 2 other technicians one time each with no success. I realized if I wanted it fixed I'd have to fix it. I removed the original nut without damaging anything & replaced it with a graph tech teflon nut. This didn't fix it. I've been trying to get the slot width/angle right for most of the year. I'm convinced that the width of the slots is ok now but that I don't have the angle quite right yet. I started with tuning problems on Low E, A, D, & G. On rare occasions the B or high E. I now have problems on the D & G strings only. The others seem fine. I keep working slowly to file the nut angle a little more each time. I alternate between the original nut & the Graph Tech nut. The orignal is a little better than the graph tech at the moment but it'll all even out. I believe the intonation is fine, I'm convinced the problem is really the tuning. The more I fiddle with it the better it gets. It's just taking me a while....... I also find that the tuning is more stable when using a capo. Try it & see if things get any better. If it does I think you'll find the problem is the nut as well. I also tried pencil lead, graphite compounds, liquid lubricants without any sucess. So I say if it's the nut you'll have to invest in some files & have at it. I had to anyway. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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