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Post subject: Tele string issue
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:22 pm
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G'Day all. Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I have an interesting problem. I've had my Std MIM Tele for a couple of weeks and love the instrument and the sounds.

My issue is that whenever I play any notes or chords which involve pressing the G,B or high E string in the first fret, it'll sound out of tune. The issue I seem to have is as I press down on the string the note goes sharp as I'm guessing that I'm pushing the string too hard. Any other fret positions seem fine.

My question is would fitting heavier gauge strings fix this problem for me? I currently use the std 9-42 that it came with. Years ago when I had my Strat I ran 10-46 and never remember having this issue. I'm used to playing an acoustic so going to 10s or even 11s wouldn't be too much of an issue for me.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Markus.


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:47 pm
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have you had this instrument set up?


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:50 pm
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I've adjusted the action and checked the intonation which is spot-on.

Was trying to avoid the cost of taking it to a proper guitar tech.


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:21 pm
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The first thing I do when I get a new guitar is put a new set of strings on it because you never know how long the strings have been on it, and if its from a store where people can play it, I would definitely re-string it...re-string it, then intonate it. If these are new strings on it...I dunno, frets might need levelling or something?

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Post subject: Re: Tele string issue
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:31 pm
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mhainz wrote:
G'Day all. Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I have an interesting problem. I've had my Std MIM Tele for a couple of weeks and love the instrument and the sounds.

My issue is that whenever I play any notes or chords which involve pressing the G,B or high E string in the first fret, it'll sound out of tune. The issue I seem to have is as I press down on the string the note goes sharp as I'm guessing that I'm pushing the string too hard. Any other fret positions seem fine.

My question is would fitting heavier gauge strings fix this problem for me? I currently use the std 9-42 that it came with. Years ago when I had my Strat I ran 10-46 and never remember having this issue. I'm used to playing an acoustic so going to 10s or even 11s wouldn't be too much of an issue for me.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Markus.


I have an MIM strat....and I've noticed that if I press hard (maybe cuz it's a light string), it will sound slightly out of tune for me. I like the lightger gauge, so I just sor to live with it. Another guitar has 10's and I don't have that problem. But.......I have an American Deluxe with 9's and I don't have that problem.

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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:42 pm
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Hmm I just had a thought :idea: which may solve / help my problem. While I have restrung my guitar since I got it, I didn't lube the nut and thinking back, last night when I tuned it, the higher strings actually "plinked" as I turned the machine heads so maybe the strings are getting caught on the nut and as I push near the nut when fretting a chord, the string probably goes temporarily sharp. Will lube it tonight and see if it makes a difference.

Syeklops you probably don't have the issue with your Deluxe Strat because it has a Roller Nut?


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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:21 pm
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mhainz wrote:
Hmm I just had a thought :idea: which may solve / help my problem. While I have restrung my guitar since I got it, I didn't lube the nut and thinking back, last night when I tuned it, the higher strings actually "plinked" as I turned the machine heads so maybe the strings are getting caught on the nut and as I push near the nut when fretting a chord, the string probably goes temporarily sharp. Will lube it tonight and see if it makes a difference.

Syeklops you probably don't have the issue with your Deluxe Strat because it has a Roller Nut?


No.....Deluxe Strats do have roller nuts, however my version (SSS with S-1 switching) has a regular nut.

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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:23 am
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according to what you say i believe that the tension of the strings might be kinda loose..perhaps the neck must be adjusted properly first of all..then you have to put new strings and then fix the action...intonation comes last...i 'd say that you should get it to a repair store...


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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:01 am
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I had that same problem with my 06 MIM Tele.

With the stock 9 - 42's on it, I had to be real careful how much preasure I put on the strings.

I changed to 10 - 46's and all was well.


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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 1:37 pm
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No problem at all with my Dlx tele and stock strings.

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:04 pm
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Dude:

You need a professional setup. I never had a 3-barrel bridge before so I chickened out on the intonation adjustments. My fear was that I could mess up the action on the neck. I still occasionally have a problem with tuning the G string. I use 0.010-0.046 gauges on all my guitars, and the Baja is near perfect while playing. The setup was done by a Fender authorized dealer.

I couldn't tell if a change in gauge would help, but a setup should not be expensive, and you'll be happier. I think my Strat needs another setup only because I tinkered with it so much. Besides, I can't find my feeler gauges I used to use adjusting my old VW Superbeetle, so I let the pros do the setup.

See this link:
http://www.fender.com/support/telecaster.php

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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:48 pm
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Well I decided to fit some heavier strings (just 10-46). Was actually really peeved because the first pack of strings I opened (Fender Super Bullets) only contained 5 strings :x which'd be ok if you're Keith Richards but I prefer 6 strings on my Tele!

At the same time I decided to give setting it up a go. Adjusted the neck curvature according to spec, adjusted the action, intonation, and pickup height. I'd have to say it actually plays better than before (apart from a tiny bit of fret buzz which you can't hear through the amp anyway) so I must have done it right. I can still make the B and high E go sharp in the first fret but I think it's probably just a case of ME pushing on the string too hard. Will just have to try and adapt my "playing style" if you could call it that!

Thanks for all your input guys! Cheers.


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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:58 pm
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The 2008 MIM tele I got has the medium jumbo frets. I use a planet waves strobe tuner and it sets the intonation perfectly. If you don't use a strobe tuner, you will not get it dead-on and the guitar will sound bad, for sure. I'm bugged when it's out by a micro-tone. If you are serious about playing, the first investment you need to make is in a strobe tuner or you will be irrateted beyond playing cuz you just don't sound right, and you can hear it. You'll see it with a strobe tuner and cream when you hear what a perfectly intonated guitar sounds like! But, there's a lot that goes into learning how to actually intonate a guitar. The strings have to be warm, fully stretched and tuned. The bow of the neck and string height and string radius has to be dead on. AND, on medium-jumbo or smaller frets, 9-42's will sharpen if you press hard. You have to play 9-42's with a perfect approach or you will bend strings sharp all over the place. I had to learn how to keep my finger tension equal to the strings too. After all that, a medium-jumbo fret with a 9-42 set on it is quite nice and easy on the fingers too! When I let loose on anything 10 and over, my finger tips just get shredded and end up looking like...hammers after getting calloused. Then...if a callous gets knocked off, forget about playing. So...I just stick to the 9-42's on concert pitch and use beefier strings on the guitars I drop tune and I'm okay at that tension.

Also, put some chapstick on the nut after the strings are fully stretched and tuned, don't put too much or you'l dull the sound a hint. Make sure there's no nicks on the string saddles where the strings sit. And finally, pickups shouldn't be too close to the strings. Oh, make sure the nut height isn't too low or high.

I got lucky with the MIM tele I just got. It needed on saddle adjusted and a full-on intonation, and that's it. Done. Oh...I found Ernie Balls intonate and stay tuned the best thus far between D'Addario and Ernie Ball only. I haven't tried anything else, yet!


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Post subject: Re: Tele string issue
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:47 am
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mhainz wrote:
whenever I play any notes or chords which involve pressing the G,B or high E string in the first fret, it'll sound out of tune. The issue I seem to have is as I press down on the string the note goes sharp as I'm guessing that I'm pushing the string too hard. Any other fret positions seem fine.


Sharp notes at the first few frets (assuming 12th fret intonation is set correctly) usually means the nut slots weren't cut deep enough at the factory. I know this from personal experience with a few guitars - some Fenders and some other brands.

Have a professional guitar tech set up your guitar. Explain your problem and have him pay particular attention to the nut. I prefer having a new nut made from bone but you can probably get by with the one you have if that's the only problem with it.


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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:59 am
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Some excellent advice by the great members of the forum. In the end, it is always better to spend a few bucks and have a professional give a once over. I am sure he will be able to zero in on the problem and get your playing!

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