The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi!

I have a relatively new (2021) made Williams D10 Keyless.

I've noticed when I just sit down that my 6th String (20p) and 5th String (18p) are ever so slightly sharp on the pulls to their respective note (A, and C#).

After about 5-10 minutes of playing, I'll notice that they'll both start landing perfectly in tune to the desired raised note.

*The amount these two notes are "sharp" when pulled I first sit down are really only registering on my tuner, and not really to my ear.*



As an aside, they're both They're both returning totally fine. The guitar is like new, and has been lubricated in all of the bellcranks, changer, cross-shafts.

I'm well aware of the 5th and 6th string squirreliness in regards to temp. That's a whole other issue that I've become well-versed in!



I'm very much splitting hairs, and am overall not very concerned as the problem kind of sorts itself out, but is this something anyone else has noticed? Any advice if so?

Thanks!

Hi Anthony. Do you warm up your strings at all before you play ?
You might try running your bar up and down the neck about 12 times
and then play .

Bryan Crowley wrote:Hi Anthony. Do you warm up your strings at all before you play ?
You might try running your bar up and down the neck about 12 times
and then play .

Hi Bryan - The problem sorts itself out after a few minutes of "warming it up" by playing for sure.


I'm mostly curious about the physics as to why the pulls would be sharp when "cold" if the open string notes are in tune, and return in tune.

One would think that somewhere in the pull-train. i.e. pull rod/bellcrank/nylon tuner?

check for a Free play/slack in the pull rods chain on the the problem strings.

Many years ago I noticed my guitars would be a bit squirrely, with regard to tuning, when I would first sit down to play. After playing for a little while, all would be well.

I found that I could run the palm of my hand up and down the top of the strings a few times while pressing the pedals and knee-levers, before playing, and hasten the process.

~Lee

When I sit down at my guitar, it is always sharp.
I never tune it until I've played if for a while.
Erv

Yep, what Erv just said!
Play a few minutes, then tune.

Warming up the strings. By sliding your hands and bar up and down neck on the strings helps warm up the strings, Also at the same time shoving the A and B pedals down, Shove the the C pedal down a few times, Engage knee levers several times on the E Raise and E lower. These moves, Will help Normalize the strings to their active playing condition and tension.

With many guitars if you get the strings Normalized and warm they will return to previous proper tuning.

If a person just sits down and and checks and tunes strings, After just 1 or 2 tunes the guitar will have to be tuned again, Once the strings Normalize after raising and lowering strings with pedals and knee levers in normal playing moves.

Thanks all - Glad to know it seems common. It certainly hasn't stopped me from playing!

Under stable playing conditions the strings are slightly warmer than the rest of the guitar, because of the heat from your hands.

When you finish and go away the strings cool, contract and go sharp. That is how you will find them when you return.

I have a Williams keyless and I ignore what it sounds like to start with but it always comes good. I'm sure the same applies to other brands, and of course the magnitude of the effect will increase as the ambient temperature falls.

I REMEMBER SOME ONE SAYING EMMONS USED A HAIR DRYIER TO WARM HIS GUITAR TOP AND BOTTOM.BEFORE PLAYING.