Hi every one,

I've a strat HighWay One HSS and I've realiced that playing some chord like A or D I get an strange sound. Specifically when I've to press the 3rd string.

Using a tuner I've realized that the 2nd fret of 3rd string (A) don't give me a pure A but almost an A#. I've also realized that the note depends of de pressure I make in this fret.

I'm a bit novice so maybe the problem is that I shouln'd press the strings so much playing chords, but with others guitars I haven't had this problem (Please, some advice?)

I was trying to improve the intonation by playing with the bridge (acording to the Fender advises) and, while for example the 6th string sound very fine in all the frets, I't almost impossible get the same accuracy for the 3rd.

I've got in some adjustements that the 12th fret sound a G like with the open string, but in this case the seconud fret is very unsharp. To take an idea, I'm using both a Korg CA-30 tuner and a Line 6 POD X3 Live to do the job. Using the Korg I was not able to get a A sound below the +20 (it's very difficult get this sound).

I was intonig the remainder string and all of them are more easy that the 3rd one.

In the other hand I've realized that I've got very similar results on very different screw adjustement, but I never got one as fine as the other strings.

Is this normal?
How can I get the 3rd string sound fine?
Are the problem in my fingers? Should I do less pressure playing?

There are many posts on this topic, way too much information to list here. And i'd spend the rest of the day typing to explain exactly what the problem is.
Basically your hearing a inherent flaw of modern guitar building. As the intonation is adjusted at the bridge end of the strings it only covers frets 6-22. frets 1-6 need to be adjusted at the nut end. Earvana make a good system to deal with this

http://www.earvana.com/

I have it installed on one of mine and it does sort the problem. There is room for technique to alleviate the problem too though. I noticed it on other guitars particularly on open A chords when i play em just barring with the index finger. If I play the shape in the correct manner though using 3 fingers it sounds ok. Not perfect but good enough. The reason being to get all your fingers onto the fret the index finger must be placed near the first fret which does flatten the note.

The earvana system is good, theres some guy in the UK that claims to have a better system and noted problems with the earvana that i also found (excessive compensation on certain strings with non on others).
I agree with his faults in the earvana but find it more nitpicking than valid gripes.
http://www.guitarsetup.co.uk/TheFunkyNut.php

Heres another page explaining in detail what your hearing
http://soundlogic-usa.com/c20.html

I must add its not your guitar, all guitars suffer this problem some more than others. Its just that your hearing it now, comes as a shock doesnt it.

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No no and no

But honestly, why mess around making fiddly adjustments at the nut - when you could simply compensate the frets?



But seriously folks: too weird, huh? It's for real - it is a Michael Sanden VRB TT guitar. More info here:

http://www.fuzz.se/main.asp?go=9&src=9& ... =2&aid=637

I think I feel a bit dizzy...

Cheers - C

Thanks for your help, I'm going to have a look to those info in order to decide what to do.

No that is just plain weird! Who would come up with such a thing? I can't imagine how strange it must be to play...

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If you are beginning and have a set of high frets on your guitar, it's bound to be a bad combination that would explain your problem.
Try this;
Get your tuner, plug your guitar and fret your A at the 2d fret, 3d string, - with only enough pressure to produce your A.
Check your tuner.
If its good, you're pressing way too hard.
If you are licky enough to have long, flexable tips, you can mini-barre w/one finger.

The bridge saddle is where to go next if nothing else works.
Don't do it unless you try harmonics first.

If you are beginning and have a set of high frets on your guitar, it's bound to be a bad combination that would explain your problem.
Try this;
Get your tuner, plug your guitar and fret your A at the 2d fret, 3d string, - with only enough pressure to produce your A.
Check your tuner.
If its good, you're pressing way too hard.
If you are licky enough to have long, flexable tips, you can mini-barre an A
The bridge saddle is where to go next if nothing else works.
Don't do it unless you try harmonics first.

Customized fingerboards have been around more than 20 years, to include slanted formats.
If you have a customized scale that adjusts for just the strings of a natural scale, you will only be able to play 2 of 24 keys.