New Ibanez RG120 doesn't stay in tune well

Hello there, new to this site. It has been an invaluable resource so far.

I bought a new in the box Ibanez RG120 about a week and half ago. I have noticed that I have to tune it just about every time I play. I know this is a cheap guitar, but I have had cheaper guitars that stayed in tune better.

In the box there was a plastic bag with a third spring for the tremolo/bridge. I don't have the whammy bar inserted at all and aren't going to use it for now. Should I install the third spring? Will this help to keep it in tune better?

Thanks for any assistance.

What kind of tremolo is it? Is it a floating tremolo? For a non-floater it will help to add the extra spring. If you definitely are not going to use the whammy, then even screw the spring claw in until the trem is tight to the body.

If it's a floater, I think you'll have to block it. If you look around the Guitar Tech forum, there is some advice on how to block the trem.

One thing that could also be part of the problem is if the strings are new and/or cheap. Maybe try a new set and make sure they are stretched. By the end of a session you should be staying in tune.

There is a third possibility, which is the tuners slipping.

There might be some other, less likely factors, too, such as a loose truss rod (and your neck relief is gradually increasing) or even temperature changes from times of day or one day to the next.

But the trem is probably the culprit. I pile all the springs I have onto mine except my Floyd (which is the only one I actually use). Why don't they sell more hardtails?!? :D

Thanks Rasbo, after I posted this in here, I saw the Guitar Tech area and posted it there also. The site guitar tech told me pretty much the same thing so I will try this tonight. Thanks again for the reply.