The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum-‘71 D35 is incredibly hard to tune… (2024)

I’m sure this sounds ridiculous because I think it’s ridiculous that I can’t figure this out after 40 years of playing guitar. But I have ‘71 D35 that is a bear to tune. The tuners just seem somewhat “off”. I’d love to keep it original but it seems that the tuner may be the issue - but - anyone else have an issue with the tuners and their linearity?

Thank you

If the bridge is misplaced, you'll never get it tune. Has nothing to do with the tuners.
If the ball ends are slipping, you'll also never get it in tune and you'll blame the poor tuners.

We need more information about your tuning.

Does the tuning "slip"? That's almost certainly either the way you wrap your strings or the ball end working its way into the pin.

Do open strings tune but fretted notes don't? That's the bridge.

Disclaimer Section: IMHO, YMMV, IMHE, Don't Try This At Home, Take With Grain Of Salt, etc, etc.

Bryan Kimsey
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bryankimsey
EMAIL: [emailprotected]

And if it really should be the case that the tuners do slip or are hard to turn - they are easily adjusted with the screw that holds the button.

Best regards,
Kurt

I have a '71 D-28 that I played out of tune for 40 years. I just thought 'this is how Martins sound' because...well, Martins are the best acoustic guitars, right? I had no idea the bridge on many 71 Martins was put in the wrong location, just forward a little bit, and there is no way to play in tune up the neck.

I sent the guitar to Bryan Kimsey, and he put a new bridge in the correct place. There is a small scar- that I never really see- and guitar is sweet as can be, in tune all the way up and down the neck. Thank you Bryan.

Mike, Bryan is booked years in advance. Find a luthier that can measure the placement of your bridge. I bet that's the problem. In my experience it is worth the time, effort and $$ to have the bridge fixed. It makes it a whole different guitar.
Dick

The bridge was moved years ago and that part is spot on. I think - based on comments - I will check the tuners to see if they can be cleaned and adjusted and I will clean up the nut slots and maybe give them a little of the old pencil graphite to help.

Thank you all - I'll let you know how it turns out

Howard Klepper wrote: ↑

1:43 PM - 1 day ago

I take the OP to be saying he has trouble getting the open strings in tune. And if that is so, I suspect that the problem is that the strings are getting hung up in badly cut nut slots.

Yes. I haven't seen mention of exactly what "bear to tune" really means. Like many here, I've played for over 40 years and have never had a difficult-to-tune guitar. If the OP means intonation, that's a completely different issue than tuning machines or properly seating the ball ends. I guess if I was having trouble with a guitar, I would take it to my dude and have him diagnose the issue.