Spurzels...not staying in tune?

[OldScratch]

I recently acquired a used ESP/LTD in near new cond., which has Spurzel locking tuners. These are a first for me - I put new strings on and well...it keeps going out of tune everytime I look at it! My other LTD's with Grovers can be played upside down in thuderstorm in a swamp and wont lose their tuning?? Any pointers/tricks to the Spurzels anyone can offer? Or is something amiss?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ParsonsMatt]

I had Sperzels on my Parker. You have to string them differently than a regular tuning machine.

1) Pull the string all the way through the hole until it is taught. Not "tuned to pitch" but there shouldn't be any slack.

2) Lock the tuner

3) Clip the string

4) Tune to pitch

5) Stretch the string, repeat 4 until string no longer loses pitch

There might be a problem with the nut as well. Is it a fixed bridge or tremolo?

 

[OldScratch]

Thanks!

I'm fairly sure that's how I did the strings...may have to try again I suppose, may have screwed up somehow. It's a string-through/fixed bridge. model(MH-1000)to be exact.

 

[viewerfromnihil]

double check that they're locked all the way. if they're like the one's on my carvin, you have to tighten them back up every once in a while. and stretch them as much as possible of course

 

[OldScratch]

^
Will check again - that was what I thought might be the issue at first, but they were snug as "finger-tight" would get 'em.

 

[ParsonsMatt]

That's odd. Make sure the strings sit well in the nut, if not you might want to file the nut a little bit where the strings go. Other than that, you could try rubbing some pencil graphite in the nut slots.

 

[sumairetsu]

Or, if worse comes to worse, replace the nut with a graphite-impregnated one.

Of course, there's always the possibility that someone is fucking with you and detuning your guitar when you're not looking.