It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:43 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Telecaster out of tune in certain area.
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:04 am
Posts: 87
Hey i recently got my new Fender American Standard Telecaster 2008 bout 2-3 months ago. and i have realised that if i play a Barred F-chord on the 1st fret. its out of tune. Any ideas why and how to resolve it?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:52 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:21 am
Posts: 55
The post is a little vague, but i would say it would be your intonation. Is the same chord out of tune further up the neck? If you notice that your notes are out of tune as you move around the neck then it is just an intonation issue. Have it setup completely and it'll sound great in no time.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:10 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:57 am
Posts: 602
All guitars (and pianos for that matter) suffer from small tuning problems. On guitars the problem is normally most pronounced at the lower frets. I am assuming the intonation was done properly. The reasons behind this are pretty complex, but the bottom line is that both guitars and pianos have to use "tempered" tuning in order to sound decent in all keys. If you were to tune your guitar such that all of the chords you use in the key of G sounded sweet, other keys would sound bad.

The best you can do after setting the intonation is to tune to a tempered tuning. You can find this on the web. The Guild of American Luthiers offers advice on how to tune.

But you can't get it perfect.

_________________
James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:05 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:59 am
Posts: 457
My answer assumes you have fresh strings and your intonation is correct at the 12th fret.

By "out of tune", do you mean sharp? If so, I suggest the nut slots were not cut deep enough at the factory. You are having to press the strings down so much at the first fret that you're pulling them sharp.

This is a common problem with new guitars, and not just Fenders.

Some things to try to see if I'm right, again assuming your 12th fret intonation is correct and your action is within in the realm of playability:

Check each string, one at a time - Open, 19th fret, 17, 15, 12, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. If the nut slots aren't deep enough, you'll hear (and see, with a good electronic tuner) the notes getting sharp maybe around the 5th fret and definitely at 3, 2, and 1.

It might not be every string, but I bet a couple at least will be sharp and that's what's making your F chord sound out of tune.

Here's another thing to try:

Play your F chord. Now stick a capo on the first fret and play the same chord, which is now a F#. Is that one in tune? If the problem is too-high nut slots, the F# should be in tune.

If you decide I'm right, take the guitar to the best tech you can find and show him the problem. Ask for a setup with particular attention paid to the nut. Personally, I prefer a bone nut to be made and installed, but usually the stock Fender plastic nut is fine if a good tech levels and polishes the nut slots.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:54 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:56 am
Posts: 2766
Location: metro Chicago USA
You could always rip out the frets....


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:58 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:04 am
Posts: 87
George wrote:
My answer assumes you have fresh strings and your intonation is correct at the 12th fret.

By "out of tune", do you mean sharp? If so, I suggest the nut slots were not cut deep enough at the factory. You are having to press the strings down so much at the first fret that you're pulling them sharp.

This is a common problem with new guitars, and not just Fenders.

Some things to try to see if I'm right, again assuming your 12th fret intonation is correct and your action is within in the realm of playability:

Check each string, one at a time - Open, 19th fret, 17, 15, 12, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. If the nut slots aren't deep enough, you'll hear (and see, with a good electronic tuner) the notes getting sharp maybe around the 5th fret and definitely at 3, 2, and 1.

Hey i havent had time to try the capo thing. But i think it is a bit sharp. cause wen i do a F chord there, it does feel like im pulling down too much string.

It might not be every string, but I bet a couple at least will be sharp and that's what's making your F chord sound out of tune.

Here's another thing to try:

Play your F chord. Now stick a capo on the first fret and play the same chord, which is now a F#. Is that one in tune? If the problem is too-high nut slots, the F# should be in tune.

If you decide I'm right, take the guitar to the best tech you can find and show him the problem. Ask for a setup with particular attention paid to the nut. Personally, I prefer a bone nut to be made and installed, but usually the stock Fender plastic nut is fine if a good tech levels and polishes the nut slots.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:49 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:28 pm
Posts: 1956
Check this out: http://www.earvana.com/


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:38 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:13 pm
Posts: 57
Location: LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK
8)
MOSTLY in the summer you'll have this problem due to MAPLE NECK and HUMIDITY .

Being a new ax doesn;t help either...It sounds like the ax was never intonated correctly right off the bat......unless you;re very good aat doing your own set ups i suggest you take it to some one VERY REPUTABLE and have a full set up done......you may need it done again for the fall/.winter.

OR there may be a neck problem but I would bet on the first

St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:51 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:41 pm
Posts: 1257
I'm with George: If you notice it most on the barre-F, then it's probably a nut that's cut too high, and fretting that chord pulls the strings sharp.

A good nut is one of the most important parts of your guitar but also one of the parts most likely to come from the factory needing a tweak.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:19 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:13 pm
Posts: 57
Location: LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK
8)
Are you using the 3 barrel bridge or the blockhead bridge????

IF its not a 3 barell bridge I go along with GEORGE as well

Your nut can be off thus not allowing the ax to intonate correctly,

BUt it can also be you;re fretting out else hwere.....is there any BUZZZZZ

St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:03 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:04 am
Posts: 87
SlapChop wrote:
I'm with George: If you notice it most on the barre-F, then it's probably a nut that's cut too high, and fretting that chord pulls the strings sharp.

A good nut is one of the most important parts of your guitar but also one of the parts most likely to come from the factory needing a tweak.


O sweet thanks. i might have to get it checked out one day. But most likely wont get around to doing it lol. But i talked to Billy Tk Senior (Awesome NZ Musician) and he said that the set up on the bridge only has little to do with the tuning. But he said it just because its practically impossible to tune any guitar 100% accurate. They will always be out of tune open or barred.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron