Holding tune...

[mrokern]

I have my MIM Jazz strung with a little lighter-gauge Roto rounds (.40-.95), and have noticed that:

a) I have a very hard time keeping it in tune when tuned normally for EADG, especially the E and A strings

but...

b) it stays in tune decently when tuned down one half-step across the board.

Any thoughts on what could cause this?

Thanks,

-Mark

[lowendgenerator]

Poor stringing technique is the root cause of most tuning problems.

[stanknuckle]

What I do after I read an article/interview with Lee SKLAR who does this, is you string your bass of course. Tune the strings. Pull the string up at the 12th fret, giving it a slight pull and let it slap against the fingerboard. In doing this, you are trying to take out any slack in the string around the peg. retune the string and keep doing this until you find that it mostly stays in tune. Do this for each string. If the string wrapped around the peg is loose, tuning will go way out very easily.

[Pilgrim]

When installing the strings, did you bend the end of each string 90 degrees and insert it in the hole down the center of the tuner post, then wrap over it? (I wrap from the top downwards, with at least 3-4 wraps around the post.)

Chances are that the problem is in how the strings are mounted.

[stanknuckle]

String mounting is almost an artform in itself.... If you can't get it right then the bass will be hard to play, out of tune....
Pilgrim, that's exactly what I do too.