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View Full Version : Is your guitar this hard to tune? HELP

edwardcav
08-09-2003, 01:49 AM
Hi everyone.

I have a month old Ramirez 4e and am extremely happy with the playability, look, tone and feel of it.

I have, however, a rather large problem.

It is immensly difficult to tune! Sometimes, I think my treble E-string is Sharp with intonation, other times I don't, but no matter what combination of sharps and flats that I tune the guitar up with - it will always sound out with another chord! I am suspect on every single one of the treble strings on the guitar - they hold their tune well but are sharp when fretted.

I can not stress how hard it is to tune up with my 4e - in fact, I am willing to say that it is, indeed, impossible to tune it perfectly - that is, to satisfy every note on the guitar.

I would like to know how to fix this problem. Does this sound like there is an inconsitency in any specific place on the guitar? Should I get the instrument to a luthier and see what they have to say? I need a diagnosis! :cry:

It sounds, looks and feels too good to have the tuning characteristics of a $50 instrument :(

What can you guys recommend to me :?:
Jon Carter
08-09-2003, 09:34 AM
Do you use equal temperament tuning?
adrian
08-09-2003, 10:58 AM
There's an article about this sort of problem here:
Rapid, Accurate Tuning (http://www.guitarsalon.com/index.php?site_url=68)

Hope this helps.
edwardcav
08-09-2003, 03:57 PM
I have read that article already adrian :cry:

And, what is equal temperement tuning?
Jon Carter
08-10-2003, 04:10 AM
The 'Rapid, Accurate Tuning' method looks pretty sound to me.

If you want more info on equal temperament, there is a method from
The Guild of American Luthiers that is accurate and easy to learn.

http://musproshop.com/Tuning.htm
edwardcav
08-10-2003, 11:25 PM
Thank you very much for that link. It is very interesting, and was what I was after.

As long as my ears are not going insane....
Ron
08-22-2003, 11:14 AM
The strings you choose can make a HUGE difference. If your problem is intonation (sounds like it), then no matter what tuning method you use, it will be wrong. I went thgough about 30 different sets (manufacturers and gauge) before I found the right ones. Hope this helps.
edwardcav
08-22-2003, 04:18 PM
In fact Ron, the link was perfectly what I was after. I can't see a top-line student guitar, which is less than a year of age, having an intonation problem. The tuning method known as "Equal Temperament" is THE IDEAL way of tuning your guitar, and it doesn't take too long at all. Thanks anyways Ron, and once again, thanks to Jon Carter.