I have a Stagg Les Paul that goes out of tune like no other guitar I've ever owned before. I can tune it up and after playing a few notes it goes out, sometimes it'll stay in tune for a while but it's constantly needing to be retuned. What can I do to fix this problem? Besides changing strings.
I'm thinking replacing the machine heads, but I've never done this before, how much would it cost to get a new set if this would fix the problem?How can I keep my guitar in tune?
Like you, I'm suspicious of the tuners. Anytime you're dealing with a Chinese knock-off, the tuners are suspect...but after reading some reviews, it's one of the few things that nobody complained about. Most of the reviews are by inexperienced players, so you have to take that into consideration. If there is a common thread in the reviews, it's that the guitar arrives in desperate need of a set-up. High action can throw your intonation off, so this may be a factor. Before replacing the tuners, make sure your action is set properly and your intonation is correct. Then try a new set of strings, and when you wrap them around the tuning post, *lock* them as shown in this link: http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/strin If the strings aren't attached properly to the tuner, they can slip and cause tuning problems.
If you do decide to replace your tuners, don't buy cheap ones......that was the problem to begin with. You can replace them yourself, it's not difficult especially if you use the same style. You probably have copies of either Grover or Kluson tuners. Expect to pay between $50 - $100 for the real thing.
Grover: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guita
Kluson: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guita
Reviews of the Stagg Les Paul:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revie
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Stagg_LC500_Les_Pa
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/e
Setup guide for Les Paul:
http://martinrivers.com/Les%20Paul%20SetHow can I keep my guitar in tune?
You could take it to a guitar shop, and get it setup. That may help. Also, with new strings, it's just going to go out of tune. And you should tune it every time you play.
