hey guys quick question. i just got a fender from my girlfriend, it was sitting in her closet for about 8 years, and for some reason when i tune it all the strings play fine except the low e. it almost sounds like there's a steel slide resting on it... all the strings are new and the e was replaced twice just in case i got a bad one and it still sounds like there's a slide on it. Any ideas as to what might be causing this?

oh and the set up is exactly to spec from the manual. I've spent hours trying to figure this out and now i pass the ball to you.

Thanks

Does the low e sound metallic played open or just when fretted? If only when fretted, I'd suspect one of your pickups could be a little high. You probably already looked into that, but it's all I can think of. Only test I know is to lower the low e side of each pickup until the metallic sound goes away.

Or maybe just a weird resonance with one of the trem springs, in which case I'd remove the back plate and mute the springs with my palm to see if I can eliminate the metallic sound.

Welcome!

Based on your statement, either the nut for that string is cut too low and/or one of the pickups is too high.

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it plays like that when its open. when its fretted it sounds "more" normal. all clearances are good. tried the spring muting. nothing works. just to clarify, it sounds like a sitar. its really odd and i cant figure it out... i don't know if its worth taking to a shop...

Sight unseen and based on all your statements, there's probably something not right with the string's nut slot and/or less probably, the bridge saddle. The worth of taking it to a shop however is your call. IMO, if you got the guitar for nothing (and it surely isn't a piece of junk by any means), I'd do it.

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ok il take it in. thanks for all your advise guys. much appreciated.