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[Anonymous]

Not sure which forum this one should have gone in ...

When I play an open 'E' quite often the string will unhook from the nut and take the shortest route from the bridge to the tuner. Anyone else suffer from the same problem ?

I thought about getting a string retainer and slapping that on but I'm loath to screw something into the bass that shouldn't be there.

Thanks

[Brock]

This should be added to the FAQ.

Your problem is that the string isn't wound sufficienly down on the tuning peg. Generally this is the case because the E isn't long enough. Thankfully, this can be fixed.

1.  Take off the E string and streatch on that puppy for 5 or more minutes. This should make your string longer, and will also make it more stable.  (this is a good thing to do with all the strings)
2. Reattach to the Ashbory.
3. As you're tuning the now longer string, push it down on towards the bottom of the peg (near the headstock). The E string needs to leave the tuning peg at the center at the highest, and if you can have it leave lower that's better still.

No need to add the string retainer.

For the record, the Guilds don't have this problem. That said, I'd take this small. managable hassle over those nasty old friction peg tuners anyday!

Also, all the Ashbory strings perform better if you streatch them by hand prior to installation.

[Guest]

[Note: I am not the original poster.]

That's all well and good, but it's difficult to wind the string accurately until the last wind is at the bottom. On my last restring (I have the DeArmond model) both the E and D were popping out of the nut due to having started to wind back up the peg.

I think I'll fit a retainer bar to mine. Anyone have any particular recommendations?

Titch.

[Brock]

[Note: I am not the original poster.]

I think I'll fit a retainer bar to mine. Anyone have any particular recommendations?

Titch.

Not a clue. If you figure something out please report back so I can add the info to this site so others can gain from your experience. I'll put up a page something like http://www.largesound.com/ashboryarticle/mod/strapmove/

Also, the DeArmond tuners don't have a directional center like the Guild ones did, so you can wind the E backwards and it has a much more direct pull through the nut, which discourages the string from leaving as well.

-Brock

[««Groove·Facilitator»»]

Hopefully this time I'll be ««Groove·Facilitator»» and not guest !

The E does leave the post from below half way up the post so I think I'll make up a retainer - I've got some black perspex round here somewhere which would look pretty trick.

Thanks for the reply though !

[Brock]

Please let me know what you try and how it works so I can document it here at LargeSound.com and others will learn from your experience.

Thanks.

[Frode Berg]

Any luck on the retainer?
I just got an Ashbory, and can't really use it due to the problem of the strings not lying firmly down in the nut. Have tried unwinding and rewinding them to get as much down pressure as possible, but it seems to me that the best solution is a retainer.
The E string always comes loos when plucked open, and the a string rattles because it is loose in the nut...

Would be very grateful for any ideas!

Thanks,

Frode

[Titch Tracey]

Any luck on the retainer?
...
Would be very grateful for any ideas!

Frode

Well, I went round all the music shops in Edinburgh, but none had any retainer bars at all -- only poxy little string trees.

However, holding the Ashbory against a Floyd-Rose equipped guitar shows that the string spacing should be safe to use a Floyd-Rose retainer bar on.

I might get one through mail order soon.

[Wolf]

I put a capo just above the nut. It works quite well so far.


Wolf

[Brock]

I put a capo just above the nut. It works quite well so far.

Nice! That looks like an elegent solution. I ought to see if I can borrow a capo from someone.

Can you tune with it on there?


(I remember why I set this board up... ...because of stuff like this. Thanks.)

[Wolf]

Can you tune with it on there?

Yes, no problem.

Wolf

[Wolf]

Here's a way to eliminate both the E unhooking and the G breaking. I removed the G tuner and moved each of the other three tuners up one spot. A bit radical, but I like it.

[Steve]

Hey Everybody,

I use a capo behind the nut as well.  I find that it not only keeps the strings in place but reduces the string rattling in the nut as well.

On another note...  Be careful when stretching those G's!  I recently broke one and ended up breaking another one while going through the usual stretching ritual and I'm hardly a muscleman!  Don't yank too hard on those G's, folks!

Take it easy,
Steve

[cyclone]

Here's a way to eliminate both the E unhooking and the G breaking. I removed the G tuner and moved each of the other three tuners up one spot. A bit radical, but I like it.

Hey Wolf, that looks like you've reduced your Ashbory to a 3 string! What'd you do with the G?

[Wolf]

Hey Wolf, that looks like you've reduced your Ashbory to a 3 string! What'd you do with the G?

For now, I'm hanging on to it in case I change my mind about the 3 string approach, but so far I like it.