B-string slipping out of tune- what helps this?

[soli'd]

I'm not sure if it's a flaw in my own setup process, or the guitars I own, or just the way I play.  But one thing I constantly fight is the out-of-tune B-string.

Some gtrs exhibit the problem worse than others, but when I play a chord that is audibly out of tune, it's always the B string that is the primary offender.

What causes this, and how do I fix it?  

[scottcald]

Could be a rough spot in the nut slot that's not letting it tune all the way smoothly.  

Could also be that slot is too high and you're making it sharp when you fret.

That's all I've got. 

[gorch]

Have you checked the way you wind the string on the mechanic? The B string can be somewhat slipping. It is comparably thin.

[soli'd]

7 hours ago, gorch said:

Have you checked the way you wind the string on the mechanic? The B string can be somewhat slipping. It is comparably thin.

Well, they're Hipshot locking tuners on the main guitar (Shish 0091), mini Grovers on the Ultimate, and Graphtec Ratio on the parts strat.  All have the same issue, the one thing they have in common is six-in-line headstocks.  I'll try the string-wrap lock thing on the machine post and see if it helps.

[Dave Scepter]

Mine is usually the G string but it's usually the wrap on the tuners, nut, string stretching or perhaps a old string with a bit of corrosion "at the nut"... or binding string tree?... what type of bridge are you using?

[soli'd]

16 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

what type of bridge are you using?

I wish they were consistent enough to isolate an issue, lol.  Schaller signum wraptail on 0091, typical ABR/stop tail on 0033, and a Sofia 2:22 trem on the strat.  Surprisingly, the B-string is the most stable on the strat with a trem set up to float.

[topekatj]

Are you a big string bender? Try overstretching the (new) string a few times and then retuning. 

[soli'd]

I'm an obnoxious string bender.  I'll try more stretching and re-stretching.  I have no doubt that it could just be me yanking away at the string that's pulling it flat, but with different tuners, and one set being locking, I wondered if it's some other mechanical or setup issue that could be addressed.  Doesn't sound like it's a common issue so far. 🤪

Thanks for the replies.

[topekatj]

@soli'd I had a guitar drive me crazy (for a LONG time) — the B string on an intonatable wrap-tail. A big bend, and boom, flat every time. Changed tuners, string brand, etc. It turned out the tolerance between the bridge piece and its adjustment screw was poor, and the torque of the bend was enough to ‘creep’ the bridge piece along the screw and drive it flat. You MIGHT want to recheck and set your B string intonation, and try some thread lock (I used clear nail polish on the threads adjacent to the bridge piece). Make sense? It would be hard to believe this could be happening on two different guitars, but hey, you’re the mad string bender! FYI, I ultimately changed to a ‘no moving parts’ wraptail, and no more problems!

[JGale]

Another point to ponder: Use nut butter in the nut slots and on the bridge slots and on the underside of the stringtees and lastly and liberally on the shafts of the tuners so it gets on the strings and definitely pull the string end around and up to catch it in the winding. 

[gorch]

What‘s left to check, especially for obnoxious benders, is if a higher string gauge would solve the issue. It could be that the string gauge under ‘B’ tension is slightly thin, so that the string gets stretched noticeably with every bending and otherwise treatment during play. 
 

Sherlock Holms would even think of that the string producer silently had changed tolerances of string gauge due to material costs and inflation, so that the issue becomes aware to obnoxious benders.

[Jimbilly]

some youtube guy claims that one should be wound 'up' from the hole instead of down on a 3x3 headstock, and that it stays in tune better that way. 

[Dutchman]

I know some that solder the unwound strings at the ball end when their whammy hammy. They claim it works. SIT strings used to do that and had a piece of tubing on them also. I used them when I abused my Kahlers and Floyd's. I felt they where great strings and once dialed and stretch I could shake my guitar by the whammy bar and they'd stay in tune!

[tweed]

Might be a dumb longshot here, but are the tuning posts snug ?  How about the tiny screw on top of the tuner button ? 

[hamerhead]

When re-stringing, tune to pitch then give each string 2 healthy tugs at the 12th fret and re-tune. For me it's the G, but the wrap method I use on the post triple locks the string there. If it's still an issue, it's usually binding at the nut or bridge. Check the angle/downward pressure.