Aloha,
I just received my new Malmsteen stratocaster (Sonic Blue) and the high E string almost falls off of the fretboard at the 21st fret. After looking closely I can see that the neck is not straight and that all six strings $@!&# down the face of the fretboard toward the high E string. I've heard from one other person who just received their Malmsteen strat, that this is the case for them too. Anybody else have this problem? Any Ideas what to do about it? For the money I feel like the neck should be straight. If the neck were 24 frets (instead of 21 frets), the high E string might not sit on the fretboard. As it is the E string can slip off the fretboard if your not careful to always apply a slight upward pressure ...

RObert

I have the Malmsteen Strat too. Awesome guitar. I just looked at mine and my high E string is not falling off the fretboard even at the highest fret. I put on a Callaham bridge too.

Maybe verify that the strings are sitting at the correct location on the saddles. The treble strings will move on you when changing strings and even cleaning since there is no winding on them to keep them in the same place on the saddle.

I have always noticed though that with a scalloped fretboard there is a tendency to have the string fall off the fretboard while playing a note on the high E string. You do gotta be careful in this regard. Since there is no wood underneath to help you grip the string and board the string will always want to veer off.

Thanks for the reply 357mag,
All 6 strings move across and slant downward (toward the floor) as you climb up the neck toward the bridge, or the further up the neck you go. So the 6th string or low E string has extra room from the edge of the top of the fretboard by the time it gets to the 21st fret (if that makes sense). Either the bridge is not in the right place, or the neck is not in a straight line between the nut and the bridge. If I measure the distance between between where the 1st string meets the nut and the edge of the fretboard, it is not the same further down the neck. The strings (all six) keep creeping toward the lower edge of the fretboard, and away from the top edge of the fretboard. I hope that makes sense... When you look at the strings you can see a slant in them across the fretboard. Maybe I can take a picture. I love this guitar though! it is great, just need to figure out why the strings are askew?...

This is the 3rd post I read regarding problems with the neck on the Malmsteen strat...

Try slackening the strings and then unscrew the 4 neck-plate screws just enough for the neck to be loose. There may be enough 'play' in the the screw holes through the body to allow you to move the neck ,so it is aleigned straight. Tension both high and low E strings enough so that they form a 'straight edge', to enable you to see when the neck is in the correct position, then retighten the neck plate screws and retune.

If that does not work, take it back! I had a Sonic Blue/maple that went back to the shop in south east UK, because there was a slight neck twist. I've now got a vintage white instead, not such a nice colour in my view.

Interestingly, both the blue AND the white had slightly sub-standard gaps arround both the neck pocket and the pick guard where it meets the neck. I don't quite understand how they can't get this right on such an expensive guitar, when most other Fender Strats are OK in that respect!

I love the YJM tone though, difficult to 'shread' with, in my opinion; but FANTASTIC for blues!

Thanks for the advice! I will give it a try. I'll let you know if it there is any play in the bridge... That could do it... also the more I look at it I realize that the $@!&# of the strings is not huge so any adjustments I could make would help.
Anyone else hear about these types of issues?

RObert

Er, no: this is wrong. The bridge doesn't come into it.

Read adriandavidb's post (just above) again - he is accurately describing how to adjust the angle of the neck to the body. Assuming there is some play in the neck pocket, that is.

This is an issue that can occur on any bolt-on neck guitar, not just the Malmsteen. Though it is blessedly getting less common as machining gets better over the years.

If you can't sort it easily for yourself, Hammerhead, take that Strat straight back to the shop. They have to resolve it for you, one way or the other.

Good luck - C

Thank you all! I appreciate the support. It's hard to know what to do with something like this. I will take a look this weekend at the neck and see if I can loosen the screws and adjust the angle of the neck. I am surprised that this guitar (like you said) for this money would have this problem? But if I can adjust it ,no harm done! I'll post it if it is a success!

I got it! I was able to move the neck I followed adriandavidb's post and now the strings are straight! Thank you all of your help. I could not have done it without you!!!!

Fender guitars have had similar neck pocket problems from day1. You would think they would be more 'on the ball' towards the problem.

Glad you got it sorted.

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No no and no

If it were me I would take it back to where I purchased it and have them check it out. You should not have to compromise on a new Strat, especially on a higher end model.

Of course I was a lot more forgiving when Fender was a little more reasonable with their prices.

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

Flanker,
I 'm with you... I will write to Fender with the issue and let them know the Inspectors # on the tag that came with the guitar. If it is inspected, then this kind of mistake shouldn't slip by? One quick look and you can see it's off!

follow these steps :
1. unscrew your neckplate
2. put the guitar face to face with you
3. pull off the neck to the left side (pull it nearer to the longer cutway of the guitar, it means the left side)
4. screw the neckplate again
5. then, tuning your guitar and feel the difference ! your 1st string will not falls off of the fretboard at the 21st fret anymore

i have 5 malmsteen strat, and since the 1998 model (large headstock, vintage style bridge), the same problem sometimes happened, coz of the string spacing of the vintage style bridge is wider than the american standard style bridge

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http://public.fotki.com/Gooswyn

I adjust mine by giving it a firm yet careful yank without loosening the screws or strings. You might find that if you bump the headstock smartly enough you will need to make this adjustment again.
Just FYI. Callaham guitars makes what is called a vintage narrow bridge. It has the same mount stud spacing as your YJM strat (2 7/32'') but a more modern string spacing (2 1/16''). The string spacing on your bridge is 2 7/32 (same as the mount spacing). You might look into one if you don't like the e strings so close to the edge of the neck. I know I don't.

I got these for my 2 YJM strats, still getting 'round to fitting them 'though! I did this for the same reasons: I prefer the more modern string spacing of the Am Std, and I also had string falling-off problems with the tradional spacing coupled with the scallops.