Hey guys,
Looking for a little help. I am new to the Fender group.I have been playing a Les Paul in a band for the past 20 years but have always wanted a Strat. My wife bought me for Xmas a 2004 American Deluxe Strat HHS but I can't seem to stop the wow factor from turning my lower barr cords from going sharp. If I push my finger between the end of the neck and the first fret, I can change the octive to sound out of tune depending on how hard I push. Is there an adjustment that I need to make. I am using D'Addario medium strings.

There's no way to fix it unless you file down the fret. You're just going to have to play with less pressure. Your les paul may have shorter frets that you got use too. That's why I don't like jumbo frets, I tend to squeeze chords. Higher frets are good for speed because you only havde to touch the string light to get the note to play, that's why shredders use scalloped fretboards.

Thanks, I figured as much but thought I, must be wrong.

The scale length of strats leads to intonation problems on fretted notes too, as it creates more tension. When you fret a note the increased tension gains more than Gibson scale guitars.

A lighter touch is the way to go. If your hearing one or two chordshapes out of tune and other chordshapes are fine then you need a earvana nut.

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No no and no

I think I am going to look at the cost of re-freting the neck. I love the guitar sound and it will probably be my last guitar purchase but what is the down side of a smaller fret?

Hi Sixstring Paul: if you've been playing for 20 years I doubt you're fretting too hard - you've learnt about that by now. Within which case the size of your frets is not an issue regarding intonation; and it would be a minimal factor even if you have the left hand of a troll!

One thing to look at: if you are tending to go sharp on the lower frets, and at the first fret most of all, then there could be an issue with the nut cut too high. That would create an appreciable distance for the string to travel downwards before it meets the fret, causing it to go sharp. Most of all near the nut where the angle will be steepest.

If you know how to measure your nut height with feeler gauges then do so. If not, a rough and ready test is this. Fret a string at the first fret and look at the gap beneath that string over the third fret. Now fret the string at the third fret and look at the gap it makes above the first fret. Those gaps should be the same. If the gap above the first fret is appreciably higher then your nut needs work to lower the slots.

Couple of things. Check each string individually. Also, using a capo helps, making it easier to look closely and check those measurements accurately. Again, feeler gauges will make the process more accurate.

If your nut needs work either do it yourself if you know how or take it to a good tech: it shouldn't cost much.

And if it's not the nut then after all perhaps you need to think about fretting more lightly!

Good luck - C

smaller fretts? noooooooooo!!

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sombody get me a doctor!

Haha - I agree!

Cheers - C

Thanks Ceri,

There is a big differance between the height at the first fret and the third fret. I got the Strat used and it looks like the nut who owned it screwed around with it. I will adjust it tonight and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.

Tish tish: not at all.

But if we really want to address intonation via the frets, this is the neck for the job:


That's a Michael Sanden VRB TT guitar (Sanden's a Swedish luthier). Apparently, you can buy a set of those frets for self-installation. I haven't the faintest notion of how you'd cut the slots for them - that's one tool Stew-Mac don't sell!

Cheers - C

You are most welcome.

Have a look at the lacquer around the nut. Does it join to the plastic (or whatever) of the nut? Then that nut is original. If there is a gap where the lacquer has been slit to get an old nut off, then you know it's been modded.

Easily sorted either way.

Good luck - C