i bought a new 2010 Am Std tele 2 wks ago.took it in for good set-up and level & crown at 12th fret up for better bending.picked it up from the shop yesterday.played it the rest of the day only to find out it was fretting out on the 14th fret hi e. checked it for any more fret problems,and found none. just the 14th . is there any thing i can do with out spending anymore cash? [/list]

Hi art t,

You could raise the high E saddle just a little bit, that would probably do it. Loosen the high E string with the tuning key for easier adjustment. With the small Allen wrench that came with your guitar, turn both saddle height set screws clockwise about a quarter turn, retune and check for fret out, repeat if necessary. Your kit may have several Allen wrenches, make sure to get the one that fits tightly, I think it is 1.5 mm. If this doesn't work, you should return it to the shop that set it up, as the leveling should have taken care of any problem like this.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

If the truss rod was adjusted as part of the set up, often slight tweaking is necessary afterward as the neck bow "settles". Shimmilou's response should fix the problem.

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The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

Take it back to wherever you had the work done and tell em to do it properly this time.

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No no and no

indeed. You already spent money to have it set up. If they are any good they'll stand by their work and make you happy.

Before assuming that the job was "done improperly", let me share some first hand experience. I have set up guitars myself and when trying to get the lowest action possible and adjusting the truss rod, the action was perfect upon completion and several days later had a buzz. This is because the neck finally settled to the truss rod adjustment and not becasuse it was done improperly, given the objective of 'lowest possible' action.

The guitar tech. could have left the action higher than necessary to avoid complaints or kept it for a week and rechecked it a couple of times, but neither of these are usually satisfying to a customer.

Also, the lowest possible action differs according to playing style.

It's an easy fix to tweak, so be patient. I'm sure the tech. can tweak it for you in minutes.

_________________
The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

With all respect RVM, truss adjustment doesn't move the higher register end of the neck. Where the 14th fret is. It moves the headstock end only. I can't see how the neck would have bowed to cause this problem on only the 14th fret high E string and nowhere else.

It's either
a imperfect fret job, (highly possible from the description we've been given. My bet is they've taken too much off the 14th fret just above the line of the high E.)

Action too low (all too common, but would usually get worse going to lower frets)

Pickups too high. (unlikely as when bending you move the string off the top of the magnet. And it only occurs at one specific place)

Of course if the problem occurs when the string is just fretted normally then it is definitely a fret problem. Perhaps the 15th is too high, perhaps the 14th is too low.

So I think I'll carry on assuming just what I like based on experience. And probably have to continue justifying myself too.

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No no and no

thanks to all of you for the advice,and direction.being new to the art of guitar,im not sure im ready to tweek and turn on my own. from what ive been reading on your post,it seems like i have no choice but to take it back to the shop and deal with the tech.once again thanks to all!

nikininja,
You are absolutely correct in that the greatest effect by truss rod adjustment occurs on the first 7+/- frets. If however, the buzz is very minor, it is possible that the bow has contributed. I have experienced this myself. It was just a suggestion for a possible simple tweak that might save going back to the tech. I would hope that the guitar had been checked out prior to giving it back to art t and logic would tell you that it would have been OK or it would not have been released.....but of course, that's not a given!

The one thing I can say for sure is that I've set up guitars and they were perfect upon completion and a day or so later buzzed.

_________________
The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

_________________
The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

RVM

Absolutely, the things move, or you'd never have to set em up at all.

Personaly I go well above Fender spec and learnt to love it. That way I don't have to bother mucking about quite so much.

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No no and no

I agree. Guess I was showing some sympathy toward the tech. who may have been trying to follow directions...i.e. 'set it to the lowest possible action' Message: Be careful what you ask for.

Of course, maybe he botched the job too We may never know.

_________________
The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars