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Post subject: Issue with the b string on my Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:22 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2019 2:59 pm
Posts: 5
Location: Paige, TX
Hi all. Brand new to the board. Have been attempting to learn to play off and on for the past 10 years or so. Have finally decided to quit letting life get in the way and start really figuring things out. Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to have the funds to purchase new a 2012 American Standard. I've fooled around with a Squier and a MIM Standard prior to that, so while I'm hardly a guitar tech, I do understand a bit about what goes into a proper set-up.

Purchased the strat late at night from Guitar Center, so there wasn't a tech around to do the free set-up with purchase and the guitar was pulled straight from the box, so it had the standard factory set-up from the plant. Seemed to play fine, so I left it alone.

A few weeks ago, I decided to put some locking tuners on it and change from 9s to 10s. Tuned it, made a slight adjustment to the intonation, and gave the truss rod about 3/16ths of a clockwise turn to correct the neck relief. Also tightened the spring claw as I like my bridge just touching the body rather than floating.

The b string's intonation is correct at the 12th fret, but is sharp on the first 4. Especially noticeable when played with an open e (it's always had this problem and I've noticed it on most other guitars I've picked up, but it's a little more pronounced now). From the 5th fret on up, everything is fine. The other 5 strings are all good on the first 4 frets. Is this normal or did I miss something in my set-up? Something as simple as the nut slot needs filing? Any advice would be appreciated. Trying to save paying $70 for a professional set-up by learning to do it myself (I live in the sticks, so it's an hour+ drive to take it anywhere that could do it).


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Post subject: Re: Issue with the b string on my Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:52 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4240
Hi & welcome.
Web diagnosing, so the usual caution clauses apply…

Sounds like a classic case of too-high-nut-slot on the B-string, although a bit strange if this didn't show up with the .009 string set.
So the first check is that the string sits properly on the slot bottom; just lift the string out, check that the slot is clean, put the string back. (A slot can also be too narrow for a string, but that shouldn't happen with a .010 set.)
Then a quickie test for the nut slot height: Capo on the third fret. Check the gap between first fret top and the string bottom with feeler gauges. The gap can be very small, but if it's in the .015"/0,4mm and above range, it's probably the cause.

The slot can be deepened if necessary, but you need to evaluate your skill levels before a DIY.
I strongly recommend using a good pro (one remark here; GC techs don't always get the highest of ratings here - but as a European, I have no personal experience) for the "initial setup for a new guitar"; that 70-100 is usually money well spent.


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Post subject: Re: Issue with the b string on my Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 9:11 am
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2019 2:59 pm
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Location: Paige, TX
Thanks. I think I'll just take it to the local shop. The issue was present with the 9s, but seems more pronounced with 10s. Wasn't sure if the problem was the nut slot or the nut holding the guitar. :D


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Post subject: Re: Issue with the b string on my Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:16 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
:lol: :lol:
I had to think for a second there before I got it.
When I first read that I was like,
What the heck is the nut holding the guitar?
Does he have some kind of nut and bolt strap lock or something?
Then I had a Homer Simpson moment.
D'Oh!

LOL

Good luck.
Hope your tech gets it sorted for you.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Issue with the b string on my Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 1:47 pm
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Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
I have a similar issue with my Epiphone SG.
It's really turned me off to Epiphone and their QC... the nut is cut too high, and it looks like it was perhaps to compensate for either back-bow (easy to correct) or excessive fallaway at the top of the neck (baaad news).
But your problem is just on the B, and without a scarf joint, Fenders are not very prone to fallaway, so it really does sound like the nut isn't cut properly.

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