'65 Jaguar problem.

65fenvox · Post by **65fenvox** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:34 pm

So I have a '65 Jag that is having a problem with keeping the low E string in tune.
There is a crack in the headstock that seems to be solid and hasn't gotten worse in the years I have owned the guitar.
Robert (OG) assured me that if the crack doesn't open up if you push it that it shouldnt be worried about until it breaks.
The crack goes around the g, b and e strings. Not any where near the low E sting.
All the other strings stay in tune very well. But as soon as I touch the low E its goes out. If I bend the string, even slightly, its fucked. Normally the low E is the easiest string to keep in tune.

I have the tremolo screwed all the way so its blocked, as I dont use it.
I have a vintage mustang bridge on it with tape around the posts.
I have cut the nut so that the strings fit and move through easily.
I put pencil shavings in the groves of the nut.
I have the neck shimmed.
Has Grover mini-Rotomatic's tuners. (check link)

What else could there be? Time to change to to lighter gauge strings? I use 10's with a .52 low E at the moment.
Time to change the nut??
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guit ... ml#details

Will · Post by **Will** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:45 pm

Sounds like yr doing everything right. Is this a consistent problem, or could it just be a bad string? I would suspect strings first, then maybe the tuner. Sometimes the washer that keeps tension on the key part degrades or gets flattened and allows the gear to slip.

65fenvox · Post by **65fenvox** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:47 am

DuoSonicBoy wrote:Sounds like yr doing everything right. Is this a consistent problem, or could it just be a bad string? I would suspect strings first, then maybe the tuner. Sometimes the washer that keeps tension on the key part degrades or gets flattened and allows the gear to slip.

Thanks for the reply Duo!
This has been going on now for a few months. I have battled with this so much that I had to switch the low e tuner for the high e one as it felt like the tuner was getting a little, dry from being tightened and loosened again and again. They are otherwise new tuners.

I also tried a tune-o-matic bridge for a while but hated the radius and it didnt feel very solid.
This is gonna sound strange, but both my '66 mustang and '65 jaguar have uneven neck pockets or necks.
The treble side sits higher on both of them. What I do is, I shim the neck on the bass side and then add a normal shim. I have pictures of the neck joints that I'll try and post later.
I'm starting to think I should try .10's without a thick low e? I have been wanting to this for a while now as the .52 E is too loud against the other strings and even more so with hotrail type pups.
I thought about trying out a new .42 for a E string (like you find on .9's) that I have sitting around. Though not to play with the .10's! Just to see if it holds the tuning. Gonna do that tonite!

65fenvox · Post by **65fenvox** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:25 am

So after leaving a .42 low E string on for about an hour, I think it solved the problem!
I'm gonna just switch to normal .10's and see how that goes. One thing I did notice was that the rest of the strings became a little more flabby with a lighter low E on there. I hope theres not a problem with the truss rod now!

DuoSonicBoy-Cheers for the advice. I was looking at the guitar the whole time and not the strings. Thanks.

Post by **Hurb** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:42 am

take the tape of the posts for fucks sake.

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:47 am

I think its too old. send it to me, I'll give you a new one.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:00 am

[quote="Sublimedo"]I think its too old. send it to me, I'll give you a new one.[/quote

Hehehehe.

Such generosity.

65fenvox · Post by **65fenvox** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:45 pm

Hurb wrote:take the tape of the posts for fucks sake.

I guess you missed the part with "I screwed in the tremolo as I dont use it".

Post by **Hurb** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:49 pm

65fenvox wrote:
Hurb wrote:take the tape of the posts for fucks sake.
I guess you missed the part with "I screwed in the tremolo as I dont use it".

No, I miss nothing.

65fenvox · Post by **65fenvox** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:00 pm

No, seriously I have tried the thing without tape, and it didnt work for me. I have a heavy hand at times and that just fucks it all up.
Is that blue, custom Jag/stang of yours up and running yet Hurb?? Its a crime to let that thing sit in pieces!