Look at your string tree and see if theres a problem. Check your tuner and see if its loose. Is it just on one puckup pos. or all 3? Could have some broken pickups... I guess

I've had to do this before. Sometimes you have to just loosen the neck bolts just enough to reset the neck. Make sure you loosen the strings first. Sometimes the neck can be ever so slightly askew and that can affect the angle of the string over the nut.

_________________
"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ

Thanks Ceri for the info. I was playing for about 2 hours today and I don't think its the high E string at all. It looks like the G and B strings are just higher in volume, making the high E sound weak. I started comparing the G and B strings volume to their volume on the other pickups. Their volume is much lower when im not using the Lace Sensor. I also noticed that the staggered magnets on the other two pickups have the pole pieces pretty low on the G and B strings. I think that is why I am getting a difference.

Maybe the Lace sensor is running the G and B strings a little loud or maybe the other pickups are running them a little weak. I'm guessing Ceri's Lace sensors do the same but he probably can't tell the difference becaues he has all Lace sensors.

I wounder if the original poster had all the same pickups on his guitar.

Anyway that's my story, I can't believe I got through all that without saying G-String. lol

There is one more aspect to all of this, which I address not particularly to anyone in this thread, but just as a general observation.

When we start out on electric guitar, so many of us are surprised to find that the treble strings, particulary the top e, seem too low in output in relation to the wound strings, compared to the unplugged sound. That's why you often find beginners with the treble maxxed out on their guitar and amp, as a desperate attempt to counteract that perceived effect. Later we make the discovery that you are allowed to alter the height of pickups, and so not-quite-beginners are often found to have their pups at extreme, drunken angles to try and capture more treble output.

Something happens as we gain experience: partly (without even realising it) we learn to vary our picking strength across the strings. Partly we perhaps discover slight palm muting on the lower strings. And partly our ears just become more educated and learn to like mid and low tones better.

I wonder if others recognise that particular playing journey?

Cheers - C

If it's happening on all three pickup positions it's not likely the pickups,,, I would look elsewhere for the problem. Like the nut and saddle. Examine them carefully,, something like a hairline crack could cause it.

Indeed, it seems that the mind tunes in with the ear.
And the hands & fingers inately take whatever form necessary to satisfy the ear.
This comes with experience & is mostly subconcious...
So all u starting players - don't worry about it, just play & develop your ear.
Good comment Ceri...
You should never stop learning/developing your touch just like you would tweeking your instrument/gear, probably even more.
To the starters out there, u will be amazed at how different your instrument can sound as u experiment with your touch.
In my opinion, EVERY note has its sweet spot even when playing chords!
Play for the song, make the guitar full of song oriented nuance, as alive as a human or living voice.

_________________
explorationx

Excellent. Specially the bit about playing for the song.

Cheers - C

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Hi again
Glad to hear that others have experienced the same/similar problem.
I've tried adjusting the pickups as suggested. Slight benefit but still an annoying imbalance between the B and E strings. It's not so much the volume that bugs me, it's the marked difference in tone - B string nice and zingy, E string dull and lifeless. That's what makes me think it's problem with the construction of the guitar rather than pickups. It happens with fretted notes so nothing to do with the nut as has been suggested.
I am currently using a B string (0.013") in place of the original E (0.010") as suggested on another forum (http://charliehall.proboards.com/index. ... =technical). This has certainly increased the output but has done little for the tone. It does spoil the playing experience somewhat having a highly tensioned E string which is much harder to press down right next to the more lightly tensioned B string.

Based on what I've read, sight unseen and experience, it seems to me that your problem is with the bridge saddle. Oftentimes, the bridge saddle is not firmly seated on the bridge plate as the intonation screw is actually suspending the saddle ever so slightly off the bridge plate. This will cause a weaker, kind of "fizzy" response from the plucked string on any and all frets including when played open. Try pushing down on the saddle and string at the same time right where the string lies across the saddle. Don't be surprised if the height of the saddle/string decreases dramatically. If this alleviates the symptoms, here are the causes:

If there is any decrease when you push down, raise the saddle screws alternately and equally to restore and support the string's action to where it was before you pushed on it while keeping an eye on the two saddle screws, ensuring they are firmly making contact with and standoff from, the plate. If this solves your problem, you're done. If it helps but doesn't make it all go away, the tremolo block itself may be angled up too far off the back of the body of the guitar which gives you the same saddle malady. This could be caused by either or both of these conditions: The front of the bridge plate is screwed down too low on the body and/or the tremolo springs need to have more pulling tension assigned to them to lower the angle of the back of the block closer to the body.

Oh, and as appealing as this thought may be, do NOT bend the intonation screw!

_________________
You dig?

I've solved the problem with my 1988 US Standard Strat. I tried all the above ideas but they made no difference. I've just changed the pickups to Tonerider Pure Vintage. The difference is amazing - better tone on all strings including the top E. Better volume balance across the strings and better definition - no muddiness even when backing off the tone control. And, best of all, the set of three matched pickups only cost me £60. Beat that!