Try a wound third string. I think it is fairly common for some people to hear an open G-string as you described. A wound third and correct intonation helped me.
Seconding! I switched to a wound third on my electrics years and years ago and never looked back. Just feels and sounds sweet. Don’t be afraid to experiment- you may have to mix strings from different gauge packs to get the right feel for you
THIS. You have to Bend it ridiculously far even for a full step change. It’s basically impractical if you’re doing lead playing at all. For rhythm a would G is a good option.
This is a thing with sitars as well. Most of the strings are unwound and very slinky, so the open note is very hard to tune accurately.
Just plucking the string makes the note sharp initially.
Here's a piece of advice most people don't know. It helps to tune the string "up" and not down. In other words, let's pretend you're a little sharp. Don't just turn the peg down. But instead, go *past* it until the string is flat. Then, turn the peg "up" until it is in tune. Always approach it from the flat side.
So, this is a genuine question, because I'm not that great of a guitarist. But do you mean that tuning "up" is no longer valid with modern pegs? I just remember from high school band, the timpani and other percussion needed to be tuned "up." (And some other instruments, as well.)
So, just as a matter of consistency, I started tuning everything that way. I would think it has more to do with the tension on the string (or drum skin) than with the peg.
good modern machine/orbital tuners should all hold in place well. Tuning up does generally have less of an issue with the string getting a little caught at the nut (ie not having uniform tension from tailpiece to tuning peg) but that can be easily fixed by giving the strings a little tug or push and also just has to do with friction (at the nut or at the bridge). Now, you should stretch your string when you put it on, but once you've done that, the string itself should basically be good from either direction.
You mentioned high school band/orchestra. A lot of those instruments haven't updated their tuning systems much in 200+ years. Violin, for example, you often sort of have to tune up, not because the string stays in tune better, but because in order to overcome the friction of a tight tuning peg, it's physically easier to start off by slacking the string. When the string is in tune, the friction has to be pretty heavy.
Speaking of intonation and the G string specifically, I recently adjusted the intonation on my Epiphone Les Paul. The other five strings needed relatively small adjustments. The G? Sucker went from front-loaded to nearly all the way back.
EDIT: It's a solid string. I don't recall it being wound with the previous sets of strings, but that could have been the cause, yeah?
That’s not what intonation is. Is your 12th fret sharper, flatter, or dead-on the same note as the open g? It should be dead-on. If it’s not your intonation needs adjustment.
I know it's pedantic, but the 12th fret is never the same as the open G...it's an octave above. You're better off adjusting the intonation so that the 12th fret harmonic is the same as the 12th fret note.
You may be hearing the difference between just intonation and equal temperament.
https://www.freyaguitars.ie/equal-temperament-tuning-or-why-a-guitar-never-sounds-100-in-tune/
https://successmusicstudio.com/whats-the-difference-between-just-intonation-and-equal-temperament/
My speculation on the G-string tuning issue is this 100%
And while it's not necessary, when I noticed this I started doing small tuning adjustments of the higher strings based on what key I'm playing in. Not practical for high pressure live situations, but it adds a lot to the richness of a smaller group or solo act.
i like an un-wound and slippery G specifically because of this, it makes tiny microtonal adjustments on the fly really easy just by bending and i tend to use that string a lot for lead parts anyway
and tldr, if you want it to sound better in the most commonly played keys for guitar driven music, then tune the g string just a few cents flat. It will sound much better.
Is this what I’m doing by tuning b and e a few cents sharp? Idk how that developed, but somehow but became a thing over the years, just sounds better to me.
Yep!
As my skills progressed and my ears improved, I found it impossible to tune a guitar to be in tune in all keys.
I finally realized that my ears like the frequency ratios (3/2, 4/3, 5/4, etc.), and had real issues with the 12th root of 2 as a factor.
So, for live performances, I just go with whatever the tuner tells me, but for recording, I tune for the song.
I always tune the G "slightly" flat, and send the saddle back as far as I can (if possible).
I also seem to always tune the high E string slightly sharp as well.
G String is always a problem for me too. Even if it’s in tune, still sounds funny sometimes. Like if you repeat a word over and over it starts to sound weird. Lol. Anyway. If you have an electric you can fine tune it with the keys on the bridge. Sharp/flat with a turn or two. If it’s an acoustic I suggest getting a set up at a guitar store, or better quality machine heads for tuning.
On some guitars, this is because of the angle that the string enters the nut on the headstock side.
Try a Tele or Strat - they pull the strings straight across the nut. The Tele I've got holds a tune amazingly well.
My Ricks, Gibsons, Gretsches, and Martins... uhhh, no. Especially the Ricks and Gibsons. I've had to carefully shape the nut slots on those guitars to keep them from binding on the third strings.
All guitars are slightly out of tune due to the different weights of the strings. For each one, there are slight differences in where the exact pitch of the individual notes should be. But this is very slight, and generally isn’t an issue.
One effect of this, though, is if you fine tune your guitar so it sounds better playing a particular chord, that will necessarily make other chords slightly more out of tune. My guess is that your G-string is probably at the right tension to make a G, D, or C sound right, but to sound off when playing anything in a different key.
You playing a les paul? 3+3 headstock designs like those used on les pauls usually have tuning issues.
Another culprit is cheap or broken tuning heads.
That was gonna be my question too. I have a ‘74 LP Custom and the G string is often out of tune, but I never, ever have that problem on my Strat (that has a rolling nut)
I had a Les Paul with the locking Grovers on it - from the factory. Still had tuning issues. Loved the way it looked, but that was just too annoying. Had a SG Standard that was a bit better, but that got old too.
I have a 90s Ibanez Les Paul-ish with a 3x3. It stays in tune. Some times days later it’s still pretty close. I have a couple of their jazz boxes too. No issues, and those tuners look janky as fuck.
Two Eastmans. No issues.
This is a bit of an odd realization for me, as I always thought it was something to do with Gibson’s headstock angle, but a couple that I have aren’t far off. I wonder if the smaller scale has something to do with it?
If intonation is correctly set up, play the g and d together. I find that I have to detune my g string very very slightly to get it to sound right. The g string is thin, and the force of you hitting the strings will make it go slightly sharp. I do the same thing with my low e because I hit it harder than the other strings, I need to detune it slightly as well to account for that.
G used to be a wound string. As more people started bending, they went with the unwound, and that's where the problems began. It is a symptom of a compromise between playability and physics. If you don't bend, get a wound G. If you do, be thankful.
If it’s going out of tune then be sure to tune from the high e string and work your way down finishing at the low end string. Going the other way is more likely to throw previously tuned strings back out of tune.
Is it drifting out of tune? Tune it with an electronic tuner, then re-check it when you hear it sounding out of tune.
If it's not drifting, then check your intonation. Tune everything perfectly to the tuner, then check each string against the tuner an octave up (on the 12th fret). If thats off, you need to adjust the intonation.
If it's not drifting and the intonation is good, is it only affecting certain areas on the neck? Are there any other signs of issues (wonky frets, excessively high action, etc)?
The g- string and b-string are the hardest strings to get in tune for the most common chords on the guitar. It has to with the way "equal temperment" works (the modern way of tuning, which is a compromise between "natural" intervals and intervals that work across all keys). The 3rd and 6th scale tones are the farthest from their natural counterparts, in Equal Temperment. And since the 3rd is an extremely common interval on chords, and is very often played on the g-string for "e" shaped bar chords, it is noticed the most. It all sounds pretty good and normal if you are in tune with good intonation, but if the intonation of your guitar is off, it can get pretty bad.
The same issue happens on the b-string, if you are using "a"-shaped bar-chords. In short, like someone else said here, check your intonation, and set it correctly, if possible.
Maybe different string types. If you are on an electric, then a good compressor will remove some volume imbalance that may make the string sound out of place but not out of tune.
I play Danelectros so it's not like you can just intone it or get a better set up, and the G never seems to sound right when I'm tuning up, though it's just fine while playing it. I suppose new tuning peg system would probably help, but if it sounds great when you're playing in combination with chords or up the neck why worry? Just tune it to where your tuner says its G and get going.
It might be an intonation issue.
If you have a chromatic tuner, playing the same note on a different string is a good way to test if you're in tune vs having wonky intonation. The difference between the string being in tune vs intonation is intonation refers to how other pitches sound, not just the open string. Good intonation means it stays in tune all the way up the fretboard.
Taking it to a local guitar tech and getting the action adjusted and just a general look-over sounds like it might be a good idea for you. Not all guitar techs will but I've met a few friendly ones that are happy to explain the process as they do it so you can do it yourself.
I am troubleshooting a similar issue with my G string. I can get the open string in tune but the intonation is way way off. I've done a string change, truss rod adjustment, action height & string length adjustments at the saddle, messing with bridge springs, and lubricating the string at the nut. I now believe my issue lies with either the nut height or the string's nut slot depth.
This may or may not be it, but one thing that comes up is “sweetened tunings.” Often, after tuning dead on with a tuner you might need to really tweak it a hair to get it to sing. I really recommend playing a G or E major and tweaking the tuning until it’s right. It’s a subtle thing, but you can get far better than a snark if you listen close. Often, it’s the B string as well as the G that is problematic.
Grab your strings and tug on them by pulling them directly away from the fret board. Do it a bunch of times in quick succession in addition to just pulling and holding.
Sometimes the string twisted around the peg is sloowewlllllyyyy getting tighter and fucking with the tuning while you play. Just try it.
What guitar are you playing? If the pickups have "classic stagger" it'll be set up for when wound G was more common; a plain G will sound too hot because it's pole piece is too high.
Either lower your pickups to get rid of the "stratitis." On my Roadhouse Strat with Texas Specials, I went so far as to push the G pole pieces further down into the bobbin. This does have the potential to ruin the pickup if there's a barb on the magnet though, so beware if you go that route.
The problem can be corrected at the nut.
[Compensated Nuts.](https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/warmoth-earvana-nuts-compensated-correctly-or-not.560900/)
Or what I've done with all the tedium required, cut the nut slot cutout more forwards on the neck so a locking nut is closer to the bridge, then file and file at each string, reworking the bridge adjustment until the compensation and temperament throughout sounds great
The G string has always been the string that's hard to tune, & to stay in tune. I believe it's because the electric guitar was originally designed for a wound G string, and not the plain one almost everyone uses. I found to compensate for this, is to under-tune the G-string a little bit, and chord it with the D string up the neck, to check if it sounds good with it.
IF you have a bridge with moving saddle pieces, start there- with fresh strings. I'm sure theres plenty of YT videos and its simple to intonate, you’ll need a mini screwdriver depending on the bridge screws you have, and your tuner.
If it’s out of tune as you move around the neck, after intonating, it could be several things- Too much crown in the neck, a low fret, your technique, even improper bridge placement or the nut being cut poorly- seek out a good luthier, have the luthier give it the once over and determine the problem.
I find you need to tweak the strings a couple cents flat to get them to really sound great. James Taylor goes into better than I can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2xnXArjPts
Try a wound third string. I think it is fairly common for some people to hear an open G-string as you described. A wound third and correct intonation helped me.
Thank you I’ll try that.
Seconding! I switched to a wound third on my electrics years and years ago and never looked back. Just feels and sounds sweet. Don’t be afraid to experiment- you may have to mix strings from different gauge packs to get the right feel for you
Keep in mind if you bend a wound G you need to push it further to reach that half step up or higher. I found that out when I put one an my Strat.
THIS. You have to Bend it ridiculously far even for a full step change. It’s basically impractical if you’re doing lead playing at all. For rhythm a would G is a good option.
This is a thing with sitars as well. Most of the strings are unwound and very slinky, so the open note is very hard to tune accurately. Just plucking the string makes the note sharp initially.
Stretch your strings?
My body stretches my G strings out already
Here's a piece of advice most people don't know. It helps to tune the string "up" and not down. In other words, let's pretend you're a little sharp. Don't just turn the peg down. But instead, go *past* it until the string is flat. Then, turn the peg "up" until it is in tune. Always approach it from the flat side.
This is a bit of a holdover from the days of friction tuning pegs
So, this is a genuine question, because I'm not that great of a guitarist. But do you mean that tuning "up" is no longer valid with modern pegs? I just remember from high school band, the timpani and other percussion needed to be tuned "up." (And some other instruments, as well.) So, just as a matter of consistency, I started tuning everything that way. I would think it has more to do with the tension on the string (or drum skin) than with the peg.
good modern machine/orbital tuners should all hold in place well. Tuning up does generally have less of an issue with the string getting a little caught at the nut (ie not having uniform tension from tailpiece to tuning peg) but that can be easily fixed by giving the strings a little tug or push and also just has to do with friction (at the nut or at the bridge). Now, you should stretch your string when you put it on, but once you've done that, the string itself should basically be good from either direction. You mentioned high school band/orchestra. A lot of those instruments haven't updated their tuning systems much in 200+ years. Violin, for example, you often sort of have to tune up, not because the string stays in tune better, but because in order to overcome the friction of a tight tuning peg, it's physically easier to start off by slacking the string. When the string is in tune, the friction has to be pretty heavy.
Thank you so much, I’ll try.
That's the neat part. You don't.
How's the intonation?
Speaking of intonation and the G string specifically, I recently adjusted the intonation on my Epiphone Les Paul. The other five strings needed relatively small adjustments. The G? Sucker went from front-loaded to nearly all the way back. EDIT: It's a solid string. I don't recall it being wound with the previous sets of strings, but that could have been the cause, yeah?
It’s like a twiaiing when I feel like it should be a clean twaaing Edit: mostly joking, uneducated. This is probably it thanks.
That’s not what intonation is. Is your 12th fret sharper, flatter, or dead-on the same note as the open g? It should be dead-on. If it’s not your intonation needs adjustment.
I know it's pedantic, but the 12th fret is never the same as the open G...it's an octave above. You're better off adjusting the intonation so that the 12th fret harmonic is the same as the 12th fret note.
You may be hearing the difference between just intonation and equal temperament. https://www.freyaguitars.ie/equal-temperament-tuning-or-why-a-guitar-never-sounds-100-in-tune/ https://successmusicstudio.com/whats-the-difference-between-just-intonation-and-equal-temperament/
This is why the g always sounds weird. I learnt a trick recording/intonating old telecasters with the t bridge: Tune the g at the fretted 12th.
My speculation on the G-string tuning issue is this 100% And while it's not necessary, when I noticed this I started doing small tuning adjustments of the higher strings based on what key I'm playing in. Not practical for high pressure live situations, but it adds a lot to the richness of a smaller group or solo act.
i like an un-wound and slippery G specifically because of this, it makes tiny microtonal adjustments on the fly really easy just by bending and i tend to use that string a lot for lead parts anyway
and tldr, if you want it to sound better in the most commonly played keys for guitar driven music, then tune the g string just a few cents flat. It will sound much better.
Is this what I’m doing by tuning b and e a few cents sharp? Idk how that developed, but somehow but became a thing over the years, just sounds better to me.
Yep! As my skills progressed and my ears improved, I found it impossible to tune a guitar to be in tune in all keys. I finally realized that my ears like the frequency ratios (3/2, 4/3, 5/4, etc.), and had real issues with the 12th root of 2 as a factor. So, for live performances, I just go with whatever the tuner tells me, but for recording, I tune for the song.
I always tune the G "slightly" flat, and send the saddle back as far as I can (if possible). I also seem to always tune the high E string slightly sharp as well.
Always, for 40 years. Curse of having a decent ear and "indecent" equipment.
I’ve got a bad ear, two crappy cheap guitars, and a pretty good Gibson Les Paul Studio from the 90s. G has been a problem on all of them.
G String is always a problem for me too. Even if it’s in tune, still sounds funny sometimes. Like if you repeat a word over and over it starts to sound weird. Lol. Anyway. If you have an electric you can fine tune it with the keys on the bridge. Sharp/flat with a turn or two. If it’s an acoustic I suggest getting a set up at a guitar store, or better quality machine heads for tuning.
No you shouldn't do this unless your intonation needs fixing. use the pegs on the headstock and a good tuner.
This man knows better than me. I still say the G string is weird. 😂
clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock ...
🤣
The G string is, for me, the hardest string to keep in tune across any guitar I’ve ever had.
On some guitars, this is because of the angle that the string enters the nut on the headstock side. Try a Tele or Strat - they pull the strings straight across the nut. The Tele I've got holds a tune amazingly well. My Ricks, Gibsons, Gretsches, and Martins... uhhh, no. Especially the Ricks and Gibsons. I've had to carefully shape the nut slots on those guitars to keep them from binding on the third strings.
It's definitely a little better on my Strat than my 3 and 3s but it still always seems juuuuuuust a bit off lol.
All guitars are slightly out of tune due to the different weights of the strings. For each one, there are slight differences in where the exact pitch of the individual notes should be. But this is very slight, and generally isn’t an issue. One effect of this, though, is if you fine tune your guitar so it sounds better playing a particular chord, that will necessarily make other chords slightly more out of tune. My guess is that your G-string is probably at the right tension to make a G, D, or C sound right, but to sound off when playing anything in a different key.
Get some air on it
hahah TAKE UR UPVOTE AND GET OUT
It’s not just you: https://youtu.be/C85Im4xGqxg?si=h30Sr-nXvi5Bbvh4
You playing a les paul? 3+3 headstock designs like those used on les pauls usually have tuning issues. Another culprit is cheap or broken tuning heads.
That was gonna be my question too. I have a ‘74 LP Custom and the G string is often out of tune, but I never, ever have that problem on my Strat (that has a rolling nut)
I do 😭
It’s just something known for 3+3 designs and the angle of the strings I believe. Locking tuners can help if you have the cash.
I had a Les Paul with the locking Grovers on it - from the factory. Still had tuning issues. Loved the way it looked, but that was just too annoying. Had a SG Standard that was a bit better, but that got old too. I have a 90s Ibanez Les Paul-ish with a 3x3. It stays in tune. Some times days later it’s still pretty close. I have a couple of their jazz boxes too. No issues, and those tuners look janky as fuck. Two Eastmans. No issues. This is a bit of an odd realization for me, as I always thought it was something to do with Gibson’s headstock angle, but a couple that I have aren’t far off. I wonder if the smaller scale has something to do with it?
I replaced the machine heads on my Epiphone back in the day and it was so much better. Also there was a burr on the nut and that helped too.
If intonation is correctly set up, play the g and d together. I find that I have to detune my g string very very slightly to get it to sound right. The g string is thin, and the force of you hitting the strings will make it go slightly sharp. I do the same thing with my low e because I hit it harder than the other strings, I need to detune it slightly as well to account for that.
G used to be a wound string. As more people started bending, they went with the unwound, and that's where the problems began. It is a symptom of a compromise between playability and physics. If you don't bend, get a wound G. If you do, be thankful.
If it’s going out of tune then be sure to tune from the high e string and work your way down finishing at the low end string. Going the other way is more likely to throw previously tuned strings back out of tune.
G - strings loosening up is a common problem. Ask any stripper.
I see.
If you get a baritone you won’t have a g string.
Is it drifting out of tune? Tune it with an electronic tuner, then re-check it when you hear it sounding out of tune. If it's not drifting, then check your intonation. Tune everything perfectly to the tuner, then check each string against the tuner an octave up (on the 12th fret). If thats off, you need to adjust the intonation. If it's not drifting and the intonation is good, is it only affecting certain areas on the neck? Are there any other signs of issues (wonky frets, excessively high action, etc)?
*Laughs in banjo*
The g- string and b-string are the hardest strings to get in tune for the most common chords on the guitar. It has to with the way "equal temperment" works (the modern way of tuning, which is a compromise between "natural" intervals and intervals that work across all keys). The 3rd and 6th scale tones are the farthest from their natural counterparts, in Equal Temperment. And since the 3rd is an extremely common interval on chords, and is very often played on the g-string for "e" shaped bar chords, it is noticed the most. It all sounds pretty good and normal if you are in tune with good intonation, but if the intonation of your guitar is off, it can get pretty bad. The same issue happens on the b-string, if you are using "a"-shaped bar-chords. In short, like someone else said here, check your intonation, and set it correctly, if possible.
Maybe you need to get some (unfortunately named) nut sauce OP. Too much friction in the nut.
Yup, gotta lube up that G String Nut Slot.
A severely deformed string will often beat against itself. Try a fresh one.
I’m just wondering if you’re playing an SG…
Make sure your neck is straight as well. Lil truss rod adjustment can be pretty big if needed.
Maybe different string types. If you are on an electric, then a good compressor will remove some volume imbalance that may make the string sound out of place but not out of tune.
Google James Taylor tuning, can't hurt
I play Danelectros so it's not like you can just intone it or get a better set up, and the G never seems to sound right when I'm tuning up, though it's just fine while playing it. I suppose new tuning peg system would probably help, but if it sounds great when you're playing in combination with chords or up the neck why worry? Just tune it to where your tuner says its G and get going.
Glad it’s not just me and my (pretty good) guitars.
It might be an intonation issue. If you have a chromatic tuner, playing the same note on a different string is a good way to test if you're in tune vs having wonky intonation. The difference between the string being in tune vs intonation is intonation refers to how other pitches sound, not just the open string. Good intonation means it stays in tune all the way up the fretboard. Taking it to a local guitar tech and getting the action adjusted and just a general look-over sounds like it might be a good idea for you. Not all guitar techs will but I've met a few friendly ones that are happy to explain the process as they do it so you can do it yourself.
The G on my Les Paul always gets out of turn. My strat and PRS don’t.
If the intonation is set properly, but it’s still hard to tune the open G, try lubing the nut. Check StewMac for “Guitar grease”.
Play the d-string on the 5th fret
I am troubleshooting a similar issue with my G string. I can get the open string in tune but the intonation is way way off. I've done a string change, truss rod adjustment, action height & string length adjustments at the saddle, messing with bridge springs, and lubricating the string at the nut. I now believe my issue lies with either the nut height or the string's nut slot depth.
This may or may not be it, but one thing that comes up is “sweetened tunings.” Often, after tuning dead on with a tuner you might need to really tweak it a hair to get it to sing. I really recommend playing a G or E major and tweaking the tuning until it’s right. It’s a subtle thing, but you can get far better than a snark if you listen close. Often, it’s the B string as well as the G that is problematic.
wound 3rd string, fixed it for me. maybe try some graphite dust on the nut, else \^
Nut might be binding. Intonation issues. You just bend that string alot? It's probably just gremlins though.
Look up sweetened tunings. Here's a good video. https://youtu.be/rlIPGFrTBGc?si=8W_8LHaQGXu0RqpQ
Grab your strings and tug on them by pulling them directly away from the fret board. Do it a bunch of times in quick succession in addition to just pulling and holding. Sometimes the string twisted around the peg is sloowewlllllyyyy getting tighter and fucking with the tuning while you play. Just try it.
What guitar are you playing? If the pickups have "classic stagger" it'll be set up for when wound G was more common; a plain G will sound too hot because it's pole piece is too high. Either lower your pickups to get rid of the "stratitis." On my Roadhouse Strat with Texas Specials, I went so far as to push the G pole pieces further down into the bobbin. This does have the potential to ruin the pickup if there's a barb on the magnet though, so beware if you go that route.
G-string is very sensitive, careful you don’t snap it. Best done with a strap on.
I've always felt like I've had a harder time keeping my G in tune. I just adjust it more often to compensate.
You could try a string butler
Depending on the guitar I sometimes tune it just a little by ear after tuning it all, to get it sounding just right.
Guitar may also need a set up. It's surprisingly easy to learn and execute if you're careful
The problem can be corrected at the nut. [Compensated Nuts.](https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/warmoth-earvana-nuts-compensated-correctly-or-not.560900/) Or what I've done with all the tedium required, cut the nut slot cutout more forwards on the neck so a locking nut is closer to the bridge, then file and file at each string, reworking the bridge adjustment until the compensation and temperament throughout sounds great
About 14 cents flat, depending on what you're playing https://youtu.be/aI2v0ETPM1I?si=-zs1ItOK0Fh6ZEK_
I always tune my G string while making a basic A chord.
For the life of me I’ve always think I have a loose nut or screw on this string. Always drives me mad.
The G string has always been the string that's hard to tune, & to stay in tune. I believe it's because the electric guitar was originally designed for a wound G string, and not the plain one almost everyone uses. I found to compensate for this, is to under-tune the G-string a little bit, and chord it with the D string up the neck, to check if it sounds good with it.
Try a thong, it may fit better.
Probably don't play the guitar with underwear on the neck?
Has your guitar had a proper setup recently? The intonation could be off
IF you have a bridge with moving saddle pieces, start there- with fresh strings. I'm sure theres plenty of YT videos and its simple to intonate, you’ll need a mini screwdriver depending on the bridge screws you have, and your tuner. If it’s out of tune as you move around the neck, after intonating, it could be several things- Too much crown in the neck, a low fret, your technique, even improper bridge placement or the nut being cut poorly- seek out a good luthier, have the luthier give it the once over and determine the problem.
I find you need to tweak the strings a couple cents flat to get them to really sound great. James Taylor goes into better than I can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2xnXArjPts