I have a nice American Standard Strat that I love but the high e frets out. I paid a guy for a set up at the local Sam Ash but the darn thing still frets out. The action of the other strings are fine but the high e frets out even when I have it set rediculously high. BTW I use 10 guage Blue Steel strings.

My Tele has very low action with no problems whatsoever.

Many Strats I've tried in the store seem to have the same issue. Is this the nature of this guitar because the neck shape or something or is there a solution to this problem?

Thanks

It frets out by traditional playing ? Or you´re trying to bend down the high E for some instance ?

Traditional playing. I typically don't bend more than a whole step.

Can you post some detailed pictures of that particular string as in action for the fretboard and a close pic of the saddle that holds it ?
I would recommend you some narrow saddles from callaham or even fender, but I want to be sure that this is your issue.

Callaham Vintage Styled Strat "CG" Saddles for 2 1/16 Spaced Bridge
$40.00 per set of 6
In order to meet the demand for a quality saddle for the 2 1/16 Mexican Standard guitars, we offer narrower vintage styled stamped steel saddles for Mexican Standard guitars. These saddles are far superior to the Fender production saddle in every aspect. They have English 4-40 stainless steel height adjustment and intonation screws and springs. The height screws are much shorter than the factory metric screws and because they are English, they are available at any good hardware store. They are supplied with 5/16 length screws for the E strings and 3/8 length for the rest. An allen wrench is included. These saddles could also be used for 2 1/8 spaced bridges.
Nickel. 2 1/16 string spacing.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

Thanks,

I don't have a pic thats close up enough on hand but I will take one tonight (I'm at work right now) and post it.

Thanks for the help!

Personally I don’t think its time to start changing parts unless you tell me you just dug it out of a dumpster! and maybe not even then.....

Without seeing it, I'd say it needs a better setup. I know you said you just got someone to do it, but it doesn’t sound like it was done properly. I suppose it could also be a fret issue. If you don’t feel comfortable in trying it yourself, I'd bring it back and tell him to try again if you want to go that route.

Where does it fret out? Anywhere on the fret board? Above or below the 12th? Just when bendng?

Have you done any measurements yourself? Neck relief, string height? Could be a number of different things.

But to answer your question: Absolutely you should be able to get it where it doesn’t fret out on any string. I do all my own setups on my guitars (I think I tinker with them better than I play!) and have my strat with zero issues.

You could follow Fender's setup guide which may tell you where the problem is. This is a good starting point anyway.

http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php

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'00 American Deluxe Stratocaster (Kinman Hx pups)
'08 Ibanez AS73 (Gibson Burstbuckers)
Fender DeVille 410

Based on your statement about multiple Fenders in the store having the same problem coupled by you liking low action and light gauge strings, it seems to me that the problem lies in your string bending vs. (typical Fender) 9.5" radii fingerboards. See, with low action, light gauge strings and 9.5" radii fingerboards, you are literally bending 'uphill' on the frets rather than just across, causing the strings to cut out as they come into contact with the next fret higher than you are bending on.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not knocking your technique yet the above conditions all interact causing your complaint. Which I may add, is a common one I hear all the time. The REALISTIC remedies are as follows in order of least invasiveness, technique wise and financially:

1. Have less bow in the neck than you have now.

2. Raise your action.

3. Change to a heavier gauge string set.

4. Have those offending frets tapered down to a less steep radius than that of the fingerboard.

Any one or combination thereof will surely solve your problem.

Beyond these, we're talking changing your technique to prevent the notes cutting out; shaved or new fingerboards, different necks entirely, different guitars entirely, etc.

_________________
You dig?

I Dig,

+2

If you like um low and loose, the temperatures and humidity of colder weather will make a significant difference in the set up.