Guitar went off tune when pluged into amp

[Ericx11189]

I hope this post is appropriate to be in this column.

My church has a strats copy, I think more than 10 years old. I tried to tune it unplug using both clip tuner and the build in tuner in my zoom g1-x. I manage to get the right tune for each of the string and the sound is correct when I strum a chord and power chord when it is unplug. BUT, when I plug it in to a amp(an old old fender 15W amp with reverb), the guitar went off tune.

Does anyone know what causes this, is it the pickups problems or the guitar itself? Is there a way I can work it on by myself or I should send it to guitar shop and let them check for me?oh ya, forget to mention that the amp works properly with other guitar, so I guess it shouldn't be the amp problem.

Thank you for all the help given.

 

[Godspeed64]

The amp only amplifies your signal. Tuning is only affected by the strings itself, the tension of it, which is affected by the bridge, tuning heads, etc.
Plugging it in and being NOT in tune can mean that:
Guitar was not tuned in the first place
Guitar got off-tune in the time taken to plug it in

 

[Ericx11189]

Thanks for the information given. I tried to tune it when plug in to the effector tuner and I guaranteed it is in tune but it still off tune when I play it so I was really curious about what happened to the guitar. will the internal factor such as the spring of the tremolo affect the guitar went off tune because last time a guitar shop owner told me so.

 

[J.custom]

Have you tried plugging the guitar into another amp? Like what Godspeed says, it has probably gone out of tune in the time after you tune and when you plug in, or your tuner's wonky.

 

[Ericx11189]

nope, since there's only an amp in my church. I don't think my tuner wonky because it works well with my personal guitar. I think for time being, I will just sent the guitar to the guitar shop for a whole set up. Thank for all the ideas given everyone.

 

[wck]

Other than the guitar not being able to stay in tune it could also be really crappy intonation. If you're tuning just the open strings and then you play something on it like a chord or some lines it will sound out of tune without proper intonation.

If you know how, you can try fixing the intonation first. Cos its the easiest to fix among the possible problems like changing the nut/ tuners, bridge etc..

 

[Ericx11189]

Thanks for the advice wck, I guess it was the intonation fault. as I can't do the fix'in of intonation I'll just send to the guitar shop and let them do it for me..gratefully thanks for the advices given by all of you...

 

[wck]

No problem! Hope the guitar gets fixed soon.

 

[Watchtower]

Check the neck too; it could be warped.

 

[junkiemanxl]

sounds like that guitar needs a good setup

new strings, neck adjustment and intonation tweak should do it.

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

are the strings rusty? rusty strings don't vibrate uniformly and are the simpliest cause of out-of-tuneness when the tuners says otherwise

 

[AzNjT]

Lol theres NO way that an amp would affect the tuning, first of all don't use the clip on tuners, your action on the strat is prolly too high which causes the tension of the strings to change as your fret the notes. so obviously when you tune, it will be out of tune when you play as the strings are too far from the neck, that is the only issue i can think of with your guitar, either that or the frets are so worn out that the notes dont even have proper tension across the neck anymore.

 

[valentinik_15]

You got some voodoo shit going on in that amp. What amp is it, cos I'm gonna stay far far away.