Epiphone Elitist LP Problems...

[Jayce62]

Ok I posted this in the Epi forums and I was advised to post here to ask you specialists if it is a problem with the guitar or the strings and some additional advice.


I just bought an Epiphone elitist LP on a 7 day approval deal and it seemed to be in good condition and the store's head repair guy apparently gave it a full set up the day before. However I had some tuning problems. The top three strings would not stay in tune no matter what. I noticed the strings were old and oxidized so I changed them out. I stretched the strings, but still the strings went out of tune. I brought it to the store for the guy to look at and the guy just said the old strings caused it at first and I wrapped the strings around the pegs too many times. (which I admittedly do, 3-5 times, but I had no idea before today that it had impact on tuning stability) He also told me that I didn't put the string through the peg correctly, I didn't bring the excess string around the peg and wrap it around the other part of the string before winding it like it shows in the elitist manual. Then he said I didn't stretch the string enough and he yanked on the low E string and it dropped a step and a half. He said regardless of my poor stringing skills his stretching of the strings would fix it. Well, I got home and everything seemed ok until I started playing. The G B E strings didn't stay in tune for a minute and now the frets were buzzing up a storm. I stretched them (more aggressively than I have before) and they stayed in tune for a while. When I do really huge bends they seem to stay in tune but I play a couple measures of Crossroads with light vibrato on the G string and it is down almost a half step. I spent the whole night stretching the G string as far as I could and all I have to show for it is a really sore finger. I am confused.


Summary: My Elitist goes out of tune and it may or may not be because of my bad stringing skills. I have it on approval, so I can return it up to Thursday. Should I?

[kherman]

Did you change string gauge?
If so, it may take a bit for the neck to settle in with the new gauge.

[Jayce62]

Well I use 10-46 and even though the guy didn't tell me what gauge was on it before... I thought it would be like 9-42 because the strings were really easy to bend. And I put a new G string on, I did the little thing where you take the excess string, bring it around, put it underneath, and bring it up before winding. It wound around the post about two times and I stretched it at 17 15 12 7 and 5 and I'm still having the exact same problem. So, I'm about ready to rule out the way I string my guitar as a cause.

[stryker59]

it could be an issue with the nut, drop some lube in the nut slots, tune up and see if that helps!

[kspeed]

Or just use some pencil lead if you don't have any lube. Or chapstick. Just tune down enough for the string to slip out of the slot, apply whatever lube you want, and tune back up.

[Jayce62]

I doubt that's the problem because I bought it used and when I changed the strings there was a dark substance in the nut slots which I would guess to be graphite. Just a side note but when I was detuning the G string I noticed clicking sounds in the bridge/saddle area, I tuned up again... same noise. Not sure on the significance of this.

[IceGator8]

Why did the store repairman not put a fresh set of strings on prior to doing the setup? My setup guy will not touch the guitar unless you put a fresh set of strings on.

[Jayce62]

Eureka? (Look at the nut!)

[Jayce62]

Could this be the cause?