Tremolo Tuning Issue PRS SE Custom 24
A tremolo tuning issue can be hard to run down.
This time I had an issue I hadn’t experienced before. So, it took me a little while to figure out what was going on with my PRS SE Custom 24 tremolo.
You may be aware of some of the standard tuning issues with non-locking tremolos. The main one is the string sticking in the nut slot. A string can also bind under a string tree.
The nut slot is an easy enough fix. In most cases a little graphite or “nut sauce” does the trick.
Locking tuners can also help. When strings have many winds deep dives on the tremolo will loosen the winds. This causes them to not go back to their original position. Strings can go out of tune as a result.
Finally having strings stretched and played in will help to keep the guitar in tune.
Still Not Staying In Tune
So, I did all the typical things I listed above. It was still going out of tune when using the tremolo bar.
The weird thing was that it wasn’t slightly out of tune. It would be significantly out of tune.
I looked closely at the bridge to see what was happening. When I would pull up it would stick back about 1/16″ after I would let go. The strings would all go noticeably sharp.
My first solution was to give up on using the tremolo and instal a tremol-no unit.
I couldn’t figure out the issue so I thought I’d just make the guitar a hardtail and forget the tremolo.
Problem Solved (Mostly)
Well, after putting the guitar away for a while (I purchased a whole bunch of guitars and put this one up) I took it back out and had another look.
I finally figured out why the tremolo was sticking.
The trem block was actually rubbing against the edge of the route for the tremolo!
It wasn’t a lot. However it was just enough to make it stick in a spot that made the guitar go sharp.
There was a little finish paint built up there and the block would rub against it.
So, I sanded it down enough to where it couldn’t make contact. That problem was solved.
But, like I said earlier, strings can bind in the nut. Unfortunately lubrication doesn’t always remedy the situation. If you look at PRS SE nut slots they have way too much material and the nut sluts are cut very deep.
Even with lubricating the G string nut slot it still goes slightly sharp after using the tremolo.
So, I’ve ordered a new nut. I’ve had good experiences with Tusq XL nuts. They are man made ivory and impregnated with PTFE, the slipperiest substance on earth. This helps keep the strings from sticking in the nut.
