I recently purchased an MIM Strat and have a very annoying problem. Using a tuner, the low E string is tuned right on the money at both open string and 12th fret. Going up chromatically from open initially produces a note that is severely sharp and, as I lightly press at each fret, very gradually returns back to being in tune when I reach the 12 fret. When playing and E chord the string is in tune. When playing an open G chord the low G is extremely sharp and needs to be flattened. This seems to be the only string having this problem. The neck is dead straight. I brought the guitar back to the tech (at a national music chain where I bought the guitar) and he said there is nothing that can be done with it and that it was a common problem with Strats. He took a new American Strat from the display and tuned it and sure enough it did the same thing. Is this something I'm going to have to live with or can someone offer up a fix? Thanx

hi , it could be the nut slot for the low E is needing lowered a touch , i had this once and that was the remedy , HTH , cheers
Alan

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Hi AndyD, welcome to the Forum.

Bwaaahaha! If we had a dollar for each time we've heard that about an issue a tech doesn't know how to solve...



That's it in a nutshell. The E string slot is not cut low enough, so when you stop the string in order to travel down to the fret it has to stretch enough to go sharp. The problem is most acute at the lowest fret where the angle means the stretch is largest. The effect diminishes the further up the neck you travel.

You can do a rough and ready check for nut slot depth like this. Fret the string at the first fret and examine the gap between the top of the third fret and the underside of the string. Now fret the same string at the third fret and examine the distance between the top of the first fret and the underside of the string. Compare those two distances.

If the two gaps are pretty much the same the nut slot is cut to the right depth. If the second gap is significantly bigger than the first one it means the slot is not cut deep enough. If the second gap is smaller than the first or there is no gap at all it means the nut slot is cut too deep.

There are more scientific ways of checking nut slot depth, but this quick guide will get you in the ball park.

Now. Fire the tech, go to someone else who knows at least the basics and have him adjust your nut slot heights.

Good luck - C

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Is the bridge at an upward angle, backward angle or flush the with surface of the guitar?

That's it in a nutshell. The E string slot is not cut low enough, so when you stop the string in order to travel down to the fret it has to stretch enough to go sharp. The problem is most acute at the lowest fret where the angle means the stretch is largest. The effect diminishes the further up the neck you travel.


Very nicely done Ceri! I'll be checking that out on my California series Strat. I think that is such a common trait, no-one really pays it any attention.