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Consistently Out of Tune

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by NTL, Aug 1, 2009.

  1. Aug 1, 2009 #1
    NTL

    NTL

    Mar 1, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
    I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question, but here it goes.

    I recently bought a Ibanez SRX 400 to upgrade from my Fender Jazz knockoff and really enjoy this new bass. The one problem I have been having is that the bass is consistently out of tune. All the strings will always be a little bit high when I pick it up. Even when I tune up before practicing, by the end the strings will have returned to their previous pitch.

    I'm guessing this might have something to do with the bass lying dormant for a while before I bought it and the strings just sinking into some grooves that developed. Is this possible and if so should restringing the bass fix this problem?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Aug 1, 2009 #2
    ByF

    ByF

    May 19, 2009
    How long have you had the bass? It sounds like the neck is still settling in to your climate. Do you go in and out of an air conditioned building with it a lot? Is your house hot during the day and cool at night?

    Some necks are more sensitive to weather and temperature than others. My first Carvin was that way--I needed to tweak the truss rod several times a year, and I would usually play it for a while before I bothered to tune it. My Ibanez SR505 is more stable.


    Ed
     
  3. Aug 1, 2009 #3
    NTL

    NTL

    Mar 1, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
    I've had the bass for about 2 months now. I currently live in an apartment without AC so the temperature will fluctuate between night and day a bit, but being on the bottom floor it stays pretty constant.

    I even had this problem for the first few weeks I had the bass when I lived in a house with AC at a set temperature.

    One thing that seemed kind of weird to me is that the tuning always goes high rather than going high sometimes and flat others. Is this what commonly happens when storage temperature is always changing?
     
  4. Aug 1, 2009 #4
    T-Bird

    T-Bird

    Apr 29, 2007
    Finland (Northern Europe)
    Hi.

    Strange indeed.

    Are the strings quality ones?

    POS "OEM" strings can behave rather strangely, especially if they come from...You know where ;). But those usually go flat, not high.

    Regards
    Sam
     
  5. Aug 1, 2009 #5
    NTL

    NTL

    Mar 1, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
    I think these still may be the original strings, however I'm not sure. I know the previous owner didn't play it much and the strings still sound good (then again most basses/strings would sound good next to what I was playing before). Maybe I will try putting some other strings on and testing those out since I do have a couple sets around.
     
  6. Aug 1, 2009 #6
    Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Supporting Member

    Jul 8, 2004
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    If I understand...it's not unusual at all for strings to go a bit sharp when an instrument is sitting. When you play, your hands warm the strings....as it sits, the strings cool and contract. Result is that next time you pick it up, the strings are a bit sharp. Just re-tune as needed.
     
  7. Aug 1, 2009 #7
    Grissle

    Grissle

    May 17, 2009
    Exactly what Pilgrim said
     
  8. Aug 1, 2009 #8
    standupright

    standupright

    Jul 7, 2006
    Phoenix, AZ
    Brownchicken Browncow
    if you haven't done so yet, purchase a set of new strings and take it to have set up done.
     
  9. Aug 2, 2009 #9
    Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Supporting Member

    Jul 8, 2004
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    I don't think there is any problem. From what we've learned I think no action is needed, including setup or strings.