Musicman Sterling Intonation issue

[stjohn1299]

Hi, I have a Sterling 4 that I bought used. I am thinking that I just may have gotten a bad set of strings, but wanted to see if there is anything else I may need to look at.

My problem is that after I tune up and play for awhile, the bass seems to fall slightly out of tune. I have tweaked the truss rod for weather changes...between an 1/8 to 1/4 turn clockwise. This helped, but it still sometimes seems to slip out of tune

The neck was lightly sanded, and had the Tru-Oil and gunstock wax treatment. It feels great. The last time I changed strings, I was easily able to dial in a setup to MM specs. Neck relief and string height matched spec. The open string and harmonic was intonate properly.

Could this simply be a matter of a lemon set of strings? Could it be that I need to put multiple coats of gunstock wax on the neck to better seal it to weather changes? Could the tuners be slipping? If so, could tightening the screws on the back of the tuner help? I know some will say take it to a repair guy for a setup, but it's not very convienent to do so, and I'm pretty competent in setting one up. This particular deal has me perplexed and I'm really thinking it's a bad set of strings. I'd appreciate some feedback from some of you who have had a similar issue. Thanks.

[lethargytartare]

A few questions:
- Is it slipping out of tune, or is the intonation getting "lost" or is it losing its setup? So the truss wouldn't likely be the best solution for tuning problems. If it keeps slipping out of tune, then I'd suspect the tuners, or, as you are thinking, the strings. I might also check that I've got enough windings around the tuner posts.
- How quickly? And are these new strings or not? If it's happening over weeks, then it's probably normal. Can also depend on your weather. But if it happens over the course of an hour, then I'd suspect the strings are breaking in, or I'd check for really loose tuners. Or, again, not enough windings on the posts.
- The way to decide if the neck is holding its adjustment is to measure your relief once a week. If it slips into greater relief quickly (like, in a week or two), then maybe the conditions in your area are severe, or maybe the neck WAS sanded too thin. Would adding more oil solve it? Honestly I really don't know.

I have a sterling, and I find that the relief grows a bit over the course of 3-6 months to the point where I want to adjust it -- since I know how, I check and adjust whenever I feel any change in my comfort playing it. I almost never have to readjust my intonation, and the thing stays in tune for very long spells without much adjustment at all. I did have an Ibanez that someone sanded down the neck on severely, and I think it wrecked that instrument's setup -- I would have needed to re-level the frets to get it playable again...but I did something else to that neck first hahaha...

In cases like yours, I suggest you get it set to your liking, and then take extra care of it day-to-day and just keep checking the measurements every week -- you should be able to isolate any culprits.

Post your findings -- good luck!

ltt

[Rickett Customs]

If all of your strings are going out of tune vs. 1 string, I'd probably rule out strings, although I have heard of strings getting "twisted", although it's uncommon on that type of bridge (I have seen the issue on Spectors, on the Euro and US versions.)

Also, define "slightly out of tune", how many cents is it dropping?

[stjohn1299]

Slightly out of tune is no more than a cent or two. It's not really all the strings, maybe one or two that need a twitch. And it can lose it's tuning on a string or two within an hour sometimes. I play pretty much every day, and the next day when I come in to play, 2 or more of the strings need a cent bump up or so. I honestly don't think the neck has been sanded too thin, as I've had an old guitar where someone did that chop job, and it's pretty obvious. I'm thinking that if it is the neck, then it might not have enough oil/wax treatment to completely seal it. I bought it used, and have no idea if it was done before I got it. I was pretty sparing with it when I did it.

I really think it is the strings. They are Dunlops, which is all they had at the store-bassists have all the luck. I have never used them before, so who knows. It's either the strings themselves, or they are slipping slightly in the bridge, which I haven't noticed. The only other thing it could be is the tuners. I have enough windings on the posts.

One question: will tightening the screw located in the center of the gear on the backside of the machine head tighten up the tuner's ability to hold the string in tune, or is it simply to tighten the gear to the machine head?

I'm making a point to go to my main store out of town and get my normal strings (GHS Boomers 45). I'll string it up sometime hopefully over the weekend or Monday and see if the strings are the issue. I'll also check the relief more accurately. I usually just go by feel there after I have set it to spec...but I'll measure it out to see what it is and if it changes.

Thanks for the advice, guys!

[ddnidd1]

I have always noticed that my tuning goes slightly flat after playing for a while. The heat from your hands causes a slight expansion of the metal strings.

[Mrdak]

Important question .......... Are you leaving the bass out of the case, like on a stand all the time?

[stjohn1299]

Yes it is out of the case....have done this with all of my guitars/basses, and never been an issue. However, this is the only one with an unfinished neck. It is not hanging on an exterior wall, and it is climate controlled. All of my instruments will lose tune over a long period of time, none as quickly as the Sterling though.

[JLS]

How long have you had the strings on it? It could be that they are still settling in, especially if you have too many wraps around the post.

[Mrdak]

Originally Posted by stjohn1299

Yes it is out of the case....have done this with all of my guitars/basses, and never been an issue. However, this is the only one with an unfinished neck. It is not hanging on an exterior wall, and it is climate controlled. All of my instruments will lose tune over a long period of time, none as quickly as the Sterling though.

OK.... thats why it's going out of tune every day. Especially right now while the seasons are changing, and even more so in LA. It's going from cold and somewhat humid to warm and quite humid. The neck needs to be in a stable environment. So try leaving it in the case every time you put it down for a couple of days. If you always case it, you'll rarely need to tune it or make small adjustments.

Hope that helps

[stjohn1299]

JLS: the strings have been on it probably a couple of months, and each string has about 3 winds on the post.

Mrdak: Yeah, it makes sense...thanks. This is the first instrument I've had that's been able to change as quickly as LA weather, lol. The weather should be settling in here before too long, which should solve that problem. I'm going to try a couple of other things first before I resort to casing it. It is a very good idea, but I'm going to see if new strings, a little more gunstock wax, and a nudge with a screwdriver on the tuners help.

[Mrdak]

Bro........... your strings won't go out of tune all at once unless the neck moved due to changes in humidity. New strings or gun-stock wax won't change that. If your tuners don't have a tension adjustment, a nudge on the back screw won't change anything either. Try this........ Before you spend a dime on strings, try casing the bass every time you put it down. After just a day or two, I'll bet it's in tune every time you pick it up.

I'm from New Orleans, so I've dealt with my share of humidity on Monday, and dry as a bone on Tuesday. But it doesn't matter where you live, because wood reacts to the moisture in the air.

[stjohn1299]

thanks, I'll give it a try....