Removing "play" from tuners

[blipndub]

I have an admittedly cheap set of tuners on my jazz, they hold tune ok, but when tuning they have some looseness I guess that translates into my being a cent flat and then the pitch jumps up more than a cent and it takes me a few downward twists to get back in to pitch.

It's not a big deal and I'm sure better tuners with a high ratio would solve the problem but I would like to see if I can fix what i've got. I've played around with bending the small flat sheet that goes between the tuner peg screw and the tuner stalk but that doesn't seem to do much, tuner plates are fastened securely, and the main screw itself is tight. Any other thoughts on how to tighten up tuners so they are more solid?

Thanks in advance.

[PJSShearer]

OK, I'm sure you'll get a few replies and suggestions to this issue but, assuming the strings are correctly wound around the tuning pegs, it sounds to me like a lack of tightness isn't the problem here, more likely the opposite - too much friction!.

I would say that what you describe is being caused by the strings sticking in the nut slots and so they are not moving smoothly when you turn the tuning pegs - this is why the pitch "jumps" as you turn the peg. You can fix this quite easily by rubbing a soft pencil in the nut slots to lubricate them so the strings can move easily back and forth as you tune up.

You should also make sure the tuners are lubricated - once the strings are under tension, any looseness you describe will disappear - use either a drop of light oil on the gears, or some graphite powder. This will ensure the gears turn smoothly.

Finally, when tuning, ALWAYS slacken the string so it is slightly flat and tune up. This will take up any slack in the system.

[blipndub]

I do practice tuning up to pitch that was a good tip learned years ago. I'm interested in the nut issue I hadn't thought of that, i've never had to lube a nut before so maybe that's what's going on. I'll give that a shot and see what happens. The only thing that makes me think it's not the nut is that the tuners feel loose like I can move the pegs a bit without changing pitch which i why i thought that they were loose.

[Chowowbus]

Blip, some tuners like on my G&L have screws just under the shaft of the peg holding them together. I never even noticed they were there until one fell out..My tuners will wiggle like crazy if I dont check those screws.