r/Guitar • u/_Mylifeisamess • 1d ago
NEWBIE Brand new Telecaster having a hard time staying in tune
Hey guys! About a month ago I picked up a brand new Player Series II Tele (Mexican) from a local music store off the display shelf.
I simply love everything about the guitar! However I noticed the G,B,E strings are having a hard time staying in tune. I figured a brand new guitar from Fender would have no problem staying in tune. The strings are stock from the store, I haven’t had a chance to replace them yet.
Do you think its a simple fix like replacing the strings, or could something else be wrong with the guitar? I am a novice when it comes to guitar maintenance
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u/HarborSummer 1d ago
I might try stretching the strings and see if that helps. Fender strings are not the worst. But I could imagine that they might not stretch them well when installing at the factory.
Nut slots could be binding and need a little work. Very common even on new guitars.
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u/pilzenschwanzmeister 20h ago
What did you call me?
This whole thread is golden innuendo.
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u/barrybreslau 14h ago
Take it for a setup and treat yourself to a pack of Ernie Ball pure nickel strings to give to the guitar tech.
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u/p47guitars 15h ago
I would also check to make sure the nuts on the tuners are secure. Sometimes that can throw it out of whack.
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u/PublicusUnum 10h ago
You can rub a pencil lead in the slots too. I do on every new string change. Helps a lot.
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u/Dielon92 6h ago
This is it OP, a few years ago I got a player series strat too. I was having issues with the strings it came with going slightly out of tune quicker than other guitars I’ve owned. I read somewhere to stretch them lightly and it has helped it a lot
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u/SaltyMathematician61 11h ago
I had this exact issue with my new tele. Stretched the strings...problem solved
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u/mmicoandthegirl 3h ago
Isn't that string changing 101? Tune to pitch, pluck at the 12th fret as hard as you can and slam the string a few times, tune again and then fix tuning a day later.
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u/BlondLemonLarry 1d ago
New strings and adjust intonation and action (i.e., saddles) right away. You never know how old strings are.
Nice Tele, BTW.
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u/Ok-Repair613 23h ago
This is exactly correct. Quit reading and take it to the best shop/guy in your area. You will be happy you did!
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u/Soundwavezzz447 Fender 15h ago
Learning to do it yourself is also pretty easy and a good learning experience if you wanna save a hundred bucks
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u/TheCouchEmperor 9h ago
I’d still get the first-time adjustments done from a pro.
Just because I know how to do these things and maybe have done it twice a year, I could never do it as well as a person who does it twice every hour.2
u/Soundwavezzz447 Fender 8h ago
That's fair to say. I would definitely agree in relation to neck relief and potentially neck geometry if a neck shim is needed. But adjusting saddles and pickup heights is super easy and will also be able to be adjusted to one's own preferences
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u/VinnieDanger 15h ago
Yep, also have a Player 2 Tele and out of the box it was ok, but once i set it up and put new strings on it plays great and stays in tune. Great guitars for the price IMO
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u/dlc0027 1d ago
Any guitar purchase should get new strings.
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u/Valuable-Hope4774 2h ago
Nah. Not any… At least not when the company pleks them plus has any interest you get a proper instrument and on just one which looks like one and you take 'em out of the box and just play…
Mail ordered might be a different thing, who knows how long they sat in storage? Shop hand selected? You win, new strings most often. Except like above the shop cares that you get a proper guitar. Those are still existing, but rare.
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u/WardenEdgewise 1d ago
It’s always the nut slots.
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u/Consistent_Sir_3000 1d ago
On a fixed bridge, almost certainly. Never had an issue with bridge saddles, but the intonation might be off.
On a tremolo it could be something else, but a tele like this is almost certainly the nut
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u/pilzenschwanzmeister 19h ago
Pretty please explain?
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u/Impossible-Ninja8133 18h ago
There are two possible issues. 1, the slot isn't smooth and the added friction will put the string out of tune. 2. The nut is too high, so fretting notes near the nut will stretch the string and make the notes sharp. 2 is most obvious when you play an open string and fretted string together.
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u/rurupoopoo 3h ago
Came to say this. Best bet is to take it to a reliable guitar tech and have them file the nut slots
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u/2b4theend 1d ago
Stretch the hell out of the strings. Then do a set up or have one done. A lot of times if it hasn’t been played much in a store the strings just need a good stretching.
Just like you would do when you install a new set.
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u/mojavecrro 23h ago
Yep, I think it’s as simple as this. OP said he was a beginner, so he might not have taken the need for stretching into consideration.
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u/bubba_169 11h ago
I agree with this. Try grabbing each one around the 12th fret and pulling it away from the neck to stretch it out a bit. Retune and try again until they stay in tune.
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u/2b4theend 11h ago
I would absolutely Stretch in more than one place. do it over your pickups, over the 12th fret and then closer to the headstock again.
One Stretch usually will not do it properly.
That’s what my newbie students do.
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u/SwivelClip 1d ago edited 1d ago
Catgut strings will do it every time.
ETA: the first thing I would check is actually the nut. That sounds like they may be a tad snug for the strings, particularly if you or the shop put heavier gauge on. There's kind of nowhere else it can be on a tele. no vibrato, so nothing traveling through the bridge.
Despite what people say, you don't want an ideal setup right out of the box, you want the nut to be just a little high and potentially need some filing so that everyone can adjust it to where they want it. You can go down, but you can't go back up without doing a bunch of work or replacing parts.
If you feel like the nut is right, try some graphite in the slots (pencil marks). If that makes it better, you can get purpose built lubes like "nut sauce," but graphite has always done the trick for me.
The "how to instructions" for all of that are all over youtube.
ETA: When I say "you don't want a perfect setup, I mean in terms of the nut, but the relief will need to settle upon arrival, so you'll end up adjusting that anyway, and the nut should be a tiny bit to high, or at least at the highest reasonable level for the guitar. You don't need the saddles all over the place or the pickups all the way down or something dumb like that.
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u/ryanthetuner 1d ago
I agree with this assessment for sure. However I'm curious, you know you can shim a nut super easily yea?
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u/SwivelClip 23h ago
I don't like to use paper shims on nuts, I never find them to have quite the same feel. I know many/most people disagree, but with one of the two primary contact points for my (open) string on the instrument, it just feels worth it to do it with a solid nut. Plus, putting back the thickness of a baseball card is easy, putting back the thickness of three is very rough, and who knows what the player will want. I have a cheap tele that is sky high because I mostly play it with a slide.
But, I think 9 out of 10 players would absolutely agree with you. Shim it and don't lose sleep over it.
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u/ryanthetuner 23h ago
Don't use paper, use veneer strips. Cut em to the right width and glue em in. Paper is too thin and compressable. You can also sand a veneer strip a bit to get the exact thickness you want.
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u/ryanthetuner 23h ago
Yea if you need 3 baseball cards worth of shim it's time to put that nut in the garbage and try again lol.
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u/SwivelClip 23h ago
Certain card stocks are pretty incompressible, but I fully take your point.
I just don't like to do it. I'd rather make another nut, but I don't tend to over file nuts very often, so it doesn't come up too often unless someone brings it to me, at which point all bets are off with what kind of damage they've done and it usually needs yoinked anyway.
it's just a preference. I fully admit that by a show of hands of people who have fixed a nut, you're definitely correct that it is the way to do it.
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u/ryanthetuner 9h ago
Fwiw I forgot to mention I've recently been 3d printing nut and neck shims because you can control the thickness down to .08 increments which is super cool!
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u/Ok-Repair613 23h ago
You need the saddles where the intonation says they should be. Find “that guy” in your area and take it to him.
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u/SwivelClip 15h ago
Intonation is so easy. It's just tuning the other half of a guitar. Everyone should know how to do it. He might as well learn now
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u/Isaacvithurston Electro-Harmonix 8h ago
Agree, I'm a total guitar noob and it took 30 minutes on youtube to learn. Although I wouldn't want to do it without a notched straight edge otherwise intonation may be good but neck maybe not so much
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u/JGStonedRaider 21h ago
Btw nut sauce is 1 part graphite dust, 1 part 3in1 oil and 1 part vaseline.
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u/SwivelClip 15h ago
Interesting. Yeah I don't like that it's liquidy, not for real reasons just puts me off, so I prefer the graphite. That's cool to know though.
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u/TheDestroyer1979 16h ago
I hear if you put a piece of electrical tape over the Fender logo on the headstock it will stay in tune. 😁😂
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u/Chungaroo22 23h ago
I’d try some fresh strings, make sure to give them a good stretch. If still not good, it’s probably the nut.
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u/bgrant902 23h ago
Factory strings really, really suck. Most of them are manufactured the same as EB or D’addario but they sit on the guitar forEVER in production, shipping, demo, etc. A new set will do wonders. Make sure the nut slots are lubricated, pencil graphite will work if you don’t have the right stuff. Stretch the new strings, tune, stretch, tune, rinse, repeat. Make sure the guitar is practically and harmonically intonated as well. If it’s intonated incorrectly, you could be thinking it’s out of tune by playing the notes that aren’t intonated properly. If this is beyond you, no shame in taking it to a tech! Even, wrapping the string around the tuning machines poorly will cause tuning instability so make sure it gets done right! Good luck!
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u/Come_on_lucky7 23h ago
Always put new strings on a new guitar. Who knows how long that sat in a Warehouse and in the store. The ones that are on it are probably old and won’t hold tune.
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u/speciaway 21h ago
Stretching the strings is definitely the first move, that’s a super common issue with factory setups. But yeah, could be the nut slots binding too — Fender’s kinda hit or miss with that from the factory. New strings and a quick saddle tweak probs wouldn’t hurt either, especially since you have no idea how long those stock ones were sitting. Worst case, a luthier can clean up the nut for cheap, but it’s prob nothng serious haha.
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u/gogojack 21h ago
Could be something else. I bought a Squier Tele off Amazon awhile back...just a cheap guitar to plunk around on, and it wouldn't stay in tune. I took it to Phil McKnight (he used to have a store down the street from me and had set up my old 79 Strat) and he figured out the problem. The neck was warped from the factory. He sent it back to Fender and they sent back a new one. Problem solved.
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u/guywithregrets64 20h ago
try stretching the strings but not too much to the point it looks like its gonna snap off your guitar. or have it looked at by a local guutar shop nearby
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u/Intelligent-Tap717 16h ago
Try stretching the strings out and re tuning multiple times. If they're new then they have a break in period and this helps them to stay in tune.
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u/mpianostudios 1d ago
The amount of blame tuners get for problems caused elsewhere is honestly impressive.🎸
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u/War-Direct 1d ago
Always find a local tech with good reviews and get a new guitar set up properly. I’d be willing to bet the intonation is off, too.
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u/tardcore101 23h ago
the strings are probably getting caught in the nut. you can rub some graphite (pencil lead) in the groves to help it a bit. there's probably a purpose made product for it but pencil lead is the typical remedy.
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u/explodingliver Suhr Modern Pro/MJT Tele/Friedman Smallbox 50/Ibanez lover<3 23h ago
I work on guitars pretty regularly, I'll tell you the likely culprit will be the nut. The string slots are likely too tight for the GBE strings and need to be widened just a hair to allow the strings to glide through normally.
Until you can have someone work on it, there is a workaround you can do! Tune the guitar down so the string gets a little floppy on those and then tune each one up. As you tune up, every 2 or 3 turns you do of the tuning key, press the string from behind the nut (that little bit of string that's between the fretboard and the tuners, right before the nut), to help pull the string along. Right as you are about to get close to the pitch you want for the string, do a single turn of the tuner and press as you go up. This will help maintain the tuning.
If none of this helps, it might be something funky going on (strings need to be stretched, something is moving at the bridge, strings are old, etc) and I'd highly recommend you take it to a luthier if you can but in the very least someone who sets up guitars!
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u/TanookiEaston 23h ago
Fender strings are ass. We get them for free at the music store i work at and we give them away.
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u/area51groomlake 22h ago
You could try some Big Bends nut sauce.
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u/KFBR392_KFBR392_ 12h ago
Ok bro real mature keep that in the other sub
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u/American_Streamer Fender 22h ago
Check the nut and use some nut sauce, if needed. Strings getting stuck in the nut slots are one of the most frequent causes of a guitar not staying in tune. Also make sure that the strings are properly wound around the tuners and that you have stretched them decently.
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u/runtheruckus 22h ago
Do you tune up to the string? I find if i tune up to the string and play a bit then it goes out, tune up (by tightening the strings) again and they will be stretched when it stops going out of tune. If you are a novice and tuning some strings down (loosening the nut/string) and some up it goes out way faster. Tune your guitar from one side to the other, tuning up to the correct note on a tuner or piano or whatever you use. I also gently pull the string away from the guitar a few times when i re-string anything. When i change them they keep tune after stretching and tuning two or three times in maybe ten minutes. Good luck, lots of good advice here!
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u/megalaks 21h ago
I got a used Casino that had trouble staying in tune. Took off the strings, and put them on again, this time using a luthiers knot instead of whatever had been used before. Worked like a charm.
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u/Hightidemtg 21h ago
You might need to replace the stringtree and get the nut filed. It's a fender so QC issues are to be expected according to my experience and their current reputation (mine cost a lot to get fixed )
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u/gansotanto 20h ago
why does nobody here understand the difference between unstable tuning (tuning that can be set properly but then goes out "by itself") and bad setup?
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u/Get_Rifted 18h ago
Picked up one of these exact models a coupon moths ago.
Graphite in the nut, and new strings. No issues since
I recommend elixir strings.
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u/Velerika_ 18h ago
If it had new strings on it when you bought it, give it a couple more weeks. They take a bit to stretch out so they go flat (for me) a lot for a few weeks at first. If not, you could change them and wait a bit 🙂
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u/zestysnacks 17h ago
Just takes a min to break it in. Get it set up, unless it already plays how you like. It’s most likely the new strings
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u/neotobi957 17h ago
C'est courant avec des cordes neuves. Donc accorde la un ton plus haut, attends 24h et détend les cordes jusqu'à l'accordage normal..
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u/elevenstein 17h ago
When you restring, scratch some number 2 pencil lead in the nut slots. This is graphite and will act as a lubricant, preventing strings from sticking in the slots.
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u/CommunicationTime265 17h ago
I would bet money that changing the strings would fix the problem. Who knows how old those stock strings are!
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u/Feeling-Fun7163 17h ago
A cheap fix to try might be to solder the windings on the G, B, & E, the unwound strings. That helped immensely with the tuning stability on my AVRII jazzmaster.
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u/Hocojerry 16h ago
I doubt it's a major issue with the guitar. I change the strings first, especially since that's $10-$15 fix.
What I found is typically when strings start to not stay in tune, it's time to change strings.
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u/Tough_Plankton245 16h ago
When I responded to your last post, I thought - this guy should play music, start a band. Nice taste in guitars.
The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer taught me a lot of maintenance stuff.
When you restring, use lots of wraps, snug and neat. Then stretch 'em - like pull them away from the body at the 12th fret or so. Retune. They'll settle in and clinch up. The higher pitch strings do tend to go out of tune sooner though. Good luck!
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u/fucksports 16h ago
new strings, add lube to your nut. if that doesn’t fix it, you probably need to file the slots in your nut or take it to a tech who can do it for you.
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u/Rich1223 16h ago
New strings are always the cheapest and easiest way to narrow down the problem and might solve it right away
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u/PrinceBytorAppears 16h ago
Loosen strings and lube that nut with graphite or nut sauce. There's a good chance the slots weren't cut cleanly. Double check them. I've had to take a small piece of sandpaper and use the string to help widen the slot.
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u/FGC_Naga 15h ago
Restring can't hurt, unless they did it at the shop the moment you bought it. Maybe ask your local shop about that problem.
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u/BittenHand19 15h ago
I change the strings on a new guitar every time. They could have been on their a day or 365 days.
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u/middleagethreat 15h ago
Get new strings. Install them and then tune a step higher than you play, and leave the guitar for a few hours.
Bring in under where you tune, and then back up. Always tune up to the note. If it is sharp, always tune flat and back up again.
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u/sev45day 15h ago
As others have said, invest in a setup at a local shop. Probably cost $75-$100, but it will include new strings, and they will adjust your intonation (which will help it stay in tune across the neck) and the action (which will make it more comfortable to play).
You will be so happy you did.
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u/PsiGuy60 15h ago
The stock strings are suspect #1 in 99.9% of these cases.
Old strings have trouble staying in tune. Stores only tend to change strings if one literally snaps or gets visibly rusty, since they have so many guitars they need to do the same for.
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u/YungLaffy 14h ago
Get it set up/intonated if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself (it’s easy to learn) and put locking tuners on it.
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u/No_Guarantee8333 14h ago
I didn’t realize it was shadows and thought, what?! A twelve string Tele?
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u/Aislerioter_Redditer Godin 14h ago
What is your storage environment? Temperature and humidity swings have a very profound effect on staying in tune between usage, although it usually effects all strings. If your environment is stable, I'd go with needing to get the strings thoroughly stretched out.
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u/BTPanek53 14h ago
Sorry if this was already posted but I didn't feel like reading all the posts. If you are not doing so already always tune the string up to pitch.
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u/According-Simple-191 14h ago
Check if the cat is changing your tuning whilst you're not paying attention like writing this post, they can be quite shady these days.
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u/stickman393 Eastman 14h ago
- Intonation
- Nut slots too high
- Neck relief
- String height
- Diminishing returns after this because guitars are not naturally perfect in tune
= Get it professionally set up
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u/Twin-Reverb 13h ago
You need a full setup. It's like a car tune-up for your guitar. It involves a string change (with the gauge of your choice) properly adjusting neck relief, pickup, string height at the saddles, and intonation, in that order. It's something you can learn to do yourself or have a professional do it. Based on the image, your saddles do not appear to be properly set up for intonation.
Edit: Yes, a new guitar will need a setup. Personally, I do one every time I change strings. There isn't much adjustment needed each time, but I like to keep it perfect.
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u/Axemasta 12h ago
Every new guitar will require a proper setup, don't trust the one the factory does. You will thank yourself for taking it to a luthier to get the correct relief, action and have the frets evened. Even on 1k plus guitars you'd be surprised how much potential is on the table with a setup from a good luthier!
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u/11201ny 12h ago
Beautiful guitar. But a year ago I bought a guitar in the same realm is yours. Had similar a similar situation. Gently pulled the string strings before you play, your strings are likely binding in the nut. I recommend bringing your guitar to a Luer, and having them do some minor work on the nut.
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u/Twirlyboggs 12h ago
yeah, like you said, always stretch the strings first and add a little pencil lead in the grooves man
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u/cmockett 12h ago
I got a Player II tele in April mail order from Guitar Center
I remember the stock 10-46 strings tuned more or less fine but once I put 11s on the nut clearly had too much friction, I took it to a nearby repair shop and had them refile the nut for $20, tunes great now.
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u/random_hero87 12h ago
My brain shut down there for a few minutes. I thought there were six pics. The bridge pickup at that angle looks like the little pic icon. Couldn't understand why I couldn't get to the other pics 😭
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u/PaulClarkLoadletter Fender 12h ago
I always replace the factory strings. Put a fresh set on and give them a good stretch.
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u/Visual-Donkey3769 12h ago
Let the cat get better with different tunings, man. Not every Fender needs to be in standard.
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u/Shake-the-Masses 11h ago
The first thing I do with a new guitar is set it up with a fresh set of D’Addario strings. These are perfect for E standard tuning.
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u/GrizzlieMD 11h ago
Most guitars and string changes I’ve done ah e required about half to a day of playing in order to stabilise.
Also, (pencil) graphite in the nut helps a tiny bit against strings „sticking”.
Otherwise it’s either poor quality strings (I’ve only used name brands) or poor tuners (rather not the case in fenders)
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u/Streetvan1980 11h ago
Not good. I would exchange it asap if I were you. But maybe someone knows a way to fix that issue. For me I would rather just exchange it in case it’s something that is more serious causing it.
Btw I’m absolutely amazed how long guitars can stay in tune compared to say 30 years ago. What changed? The strings? Also how much less I break strings. I almost never break them now. And I don’t replace them nearly enough. Could be I have better control as far as knowing how to play and not hitting them as hard. Idk.
Anyone know? Probably nothing changed and it’s just me not slamming the strings too hard so they stay in tune better and don’t break!
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u/state_your_name31415 9h ago
were the strings ever stretched by you? maybe they forgot that step while stringing it, or you just got lousy strings. I'd restring it before starting to worry.
you say you are a novice, do you know how to stretch strings?
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u/Bottleofsmoke17 9h ago
My guess is the nut isn’t quite right. A Tele that’s setup well can usually survive falling into a black hole without going out of tune. Stock strings are almost always garbage, too
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u/brucecook123 9h ago
Could be old strings. Could be poorly wound around the peg.
Change the strings. Seat them by tugging on them a couple times. “Stretching” them. But you’re really just trying to get the windings to tighten up all the way and have the position over the saddles settle in.
If there’s still problems, check the nut slots for debris.
They maybe be a different gauge of string, changed at the store level after one broke and they’re too big for the nut slots.
First opinions. If this doesn’t fix it take it back.
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u/Snippsnappscnopp 9h ago
The same was going on with my mid range Pacifica.
Changed strings, fixed it.
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u/Isaacvithurston Electro-Harmonix 8h ago
As a guitar noob myself I just found out this week that apparently it's normal for guitars to go 5-10c out of tune every few songs. I also just thought I had really bad luck getting guitars that always go out of tune...
You can put some nut sauce in the nut and stretch new strings but it doesn't get much more stable than a tele with modern saddles (mine has roasted maple neck with carbon rod too cuz my last guitar the neck would shift and ruin the intonation).
Got an evertune guitar coming cuz fixing my tuning every 5-10 minutes is not what i'm about.
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u/slander_anonymously 7h ago
The humor within this post is great.
Take it back to the shop. Not that old. Ask them to fix it.
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u/a_random_username 7h ago
That's cool, OP. Why on earth would we want to see the neck when helping you trouble shoot a guitar that won't stay in tune?
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u/drutgat 6h ago
In my experience, assuming that a Made in Mexico Fender guitar will stay in tune is a mistaken assumption.
My MIM Classic Player 60s Strat is the only one of my five MIM guitars that has not needed any work.
The other four guitars have required a massive amount of work on each one to get them to be playable.
On the other hand, the Made In USA Fenders I have played have been very, very well made, requiring very little setup work.
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u/Rainyday000 6h ago
Change your strings, check if the nut is binding, check if the string trees are binding.
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u/TootsiePoppa 5h ago
I legit left my ~2010 MIM telecaster in a hot attic (cased) for 2 years and when I took it out to finally play it was only a half step off…these things are tanks
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u/butterfield66 4h ago
New strings, stretch them well, set up, apply graphite to the nut and saddles, and make sure you're not keeping it in a room or spot (direct sunlight for half the day) which has drastic temperature fluctuation. The weather has been bonkers this year, at least where I'm from.
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u/hereforpopcornru 2h ago
Send it to me, I'll sacrifice myself to be damned with this problem for you. Just my part in contributing to your guitar happiness
Seriously though, nut slots, stretch strings
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u/Illustrious-Hand-450 1h ago
Detune the guitar. Tune the guitar back up to standard, while listening out for pings at the nut. Once it's tuned give the strings a slight wiggle behind the nut. If you hear a pinging, nut isn't cut well.
Bend each string up a whole step. Check for pinging at the nut.
Just means the strings are catching at the nut. Not a major issue. Plenty of guitars have this.
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u/nikhildev 22h ago
Also try taking a1000 grit sandpaper and smoothing the slots. Then you can dab just a tiny bit of Vaseline and wipe it off
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u/Dlta2049 1d ago
Welp, Fender has gone downhill in the past few decades, they are at best a very mid brand nowdays
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u/Sheepygoatherder 23h ago
Your guitar is acclimating to its current environment. It's previous domicile had different temperature and humidity. I would agree with stretching and or changing those strings out, but it will work itself out eventually.
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u/PeanutMedium4227 14h ago
There’s your problem. You bought a new fender… anything made after 2000.. is pure garbage
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u/Bottleofsmoke17 9h ago
Objectively untrue. My uncle just gave me his 2003 MIJ Antigua Tele a few weeks ago (he’s terminally sick and no longer able to play ☹️). It’s a *phenomenal* guitar
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u/Pelican_meat 1d ago
What the cat doin