Winged Tuners Gone Bad?

[CantankerousCarl]

On my 97 CE24 the high E string consistently goes flat under hard bending. Changed strings twice, stretched them out well, same result. I can get it down a half step with 2-3 bends.

Is there anything I can do to fix, or is it time to try to score some replacements? Can the PTC fix them?

 

[markie]

The cam or post have likely galled on that tuner. It is normally the cam that galls in my experience. The galling will prevent the cam from locking down on the string tight enough. Either can be polished. You have to be a little careful when polishing them & the galling must be removed in the polishing process.....

 

[CantankerousCarl]

The unmitigated GALL of some tuners...even at my advanced mental age of 97 I am still learning stuff. Thanks, Markie.

OK, so since I am not mechanically inclined, can you please give a little more advise on how to proceed with polishing? What did you use to polish, how much (you said to be careful)...thanks.

Also, if this doesn't work out, are the Phase IIs a drop-in replacement? This 1997 still has the shared D/G screw.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Damn... I was hoping this would be a Girls Gone Wild type thread from the title, only with wings....

You'll have to drill a few holes for PII's.

 

[JRod4928]

what string gauge are you using? If you're using larger strings, it might be sticking in the nut.

 

[CantankerousCarl]

what string gauge are you using? If you're using larger strings, it might be sticking in the nut.

I am using .10s, I will check the nut but it came with .10s from the previous owner, and although I don't play this particular CE daily, it seems to have surfaced recently.

Damn... I was hoping this would be a Girls Gone Wild type thread from the title, only with wings....

Me, too, Sergio...me too...there's still hope. Maybe it can turn into a photo journal with pics of winged tuners in randy situations...cavorting with open-backs, streaking without their collars...

 

[JRod4928]

Me, too, Sergio...me too...there's still hope. Maybe it can turn into a photo journal with pics of winged tuners in randy situations...cavorting with open-backs, streaking without their collars...

That would definitely require drilling...

 

[sergiodeblanc]

That would definitely require drilling...

:laugh:

 

[CantankerousCarl]

huh huh, huh huh...you said "drilling..."

 

[Deleted member 2284]

Try the simple stuff first - make damn sure it is not just a sticky nut (uh huh huh)...

Can you get it out of tune by pressing on the string behind the nut? Can you detect any movement in the tuner when wiggling your whammy (uh huh huh)

If it is the nut, you could try the old trick with a dab of vaseline and rubbing your pencil around in that (dammit!!! What is wrong with this thread???) until it is thoroughly black/dark grey and then apply the grease to your nut slot

 

[Deleted member 2284]

BTW I don't THINK this (the vaseline) could harm the nut in any way, but I make no guarantees. I know many people use it, but I don't know if there might be some adverse reaction due to the specific nut material...

 

[CantankerousCarl]

OK, so now I am just confused.

Michael, I tried pushing on the string behind the nut, as well as wiggling my whammy (fully clothed I might add) and in all seriousness I cannot get it to go flat today. I tried the same bends I was using consistently last night (playing along to some Santana) and it will not slip. It will not go flat this morning.

WTH? I don't normally use the trem (although it's not blocked) and I can get some general very minor sharp/flat variation (1-2 lines on the Snark) with repeated down/up wiggling...but that's across the guitar, and nothing like the full-note flatness I repeatedly experienced last evening.

FWIW I did not detect any tuner movement today when wiggling. Did not really see any last night either (was basing that primarily on the fact that I did not see the collar move at all).

I did nothing else to my nut yet.

Any ideas as to what could be causing this? Makes no sense to me.

 

[alantig]

The cam or post have likely galled on that tuner. It is normally the cam that galls in my experience. The galling will prevent the cam from locking down on the string tight enough. Either can be polished. You have to be a little careful when polishing them & the galling must be removed in the polishing process.....

So wait, you're saying a chick got hold of his guitar and that made it play funny? :vroam:

 

[CantankerousCarl]

Man, all of this and I was trying to start a thread about Kip Wingers' tuners...DAMN.