note is going mute - tech setup question

Goofy · #1 11-06-2004, 04:01 PM

I've got a 7V and when I bend more than a half step on the 18th fret E-string, the note goes mute. This doesn't happen on any of the other strings or frets. I tried raising the bridge but it doesn't really go away until my action is too high. Any advices? Thanks!
~Goof

john1880 · #2 11-06-2004, 06:48 PM

hey goof,
1st thing i would check is the string itself. make sure there's not a kink in it at that point. if there isn't then it's a matter of the frets. if you're bending on the 18th fret, then the 19th fret may have a high spot, sometimes they pop out a little. it doesn't take much. see if you can find out exactly what fret is touching it, causing it to mute. but because it's not happening with any other strings, i would try changing the string first. keep us posted. thanks. one last thing to check is the pickup height. i had a guy who had me look at his guitar because he had the same problem and it was simply hitting the pickup when he bent it.

john

Rich · #3 11-06-2004, 08:53 PM

It's a high or low fret. I used to give lots of advice on how to tackle your own fretwork but it really should be evaluated by somebody with experience, or better yet, just have it leveled. Nothing plays better than perfect fretwork.

MicJustMic · #4 11-07-2004, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

It's a high or low fret. I used to give lots of advice on how to tackle your own fretwork but it really should be evaluated by somebody with experience, or better yet, just have it leveled. Nothing plays better than perfect fretwork.

Agreed, I'm with you on not giving fret working advice anymore as well.

I was brought a "ruined" guitar after someone tried to level it himself.

The guitar was actually fine, but the frets had gouges cut out of them.

I don't do refrets . . . so it cost them the price of a refret instead of a simple level at a shop that could do it.

NEVER again will I suggest they try it themselves, NEVER! :-)

Mic

john1880 · #5 11-07-2004, 11:49 AM

Great advise guys, but BEFORE spending any cash on fret work, PLEASE check the string itself. I do some side guitar setups and stuff, and on more than one occasion, I've had a friend come in with a "dead-note" on a string, and the string was bent in such a way to make it die out when he bent it. His cat bit it or something.
Definitely worth checking before getting into fret work.
And as I said, I've also seen a case where the pickup was too high, and when the guy bent the high E, it would fret-out. But that will usually happen on more than one fret.
All that being said, it's probably a high or low fret as Rich said.

John

Rich · #6 11-07-2004, 11:55 AM

Always good advice, $1 is a whole lot cheaper than a good level

john1880 · #7 11-07-2004, 12:16 PM

this is a related story...
i had a guy where his 1st fret high e was buzzing really bad and just about dead. the truss rod needed to be backed off a tad. no charge on that one. it took me like 2 minutes. the wizard necks are so thin, it seems like they need a truss rod tweak when the weather changes sometimes. luckily, the weather doesn't change very often in L.A.

john

napee · #8 11-08-2004, 04:02 AM

related to the above, i have problem with strings going mute when i play artificial harmonics + bending. it rings and sustains OK if i pick normally + bend. only when i do harmonics + bend it will die easily.

i don't think it is my techniques problem, as this is not happening with my other yamaha RGX. could this be a pickup issue, as i noticed i can do harmonics much easier on the yamaha.