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Post subject: String size problem.
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:22 am
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Location: Hill Country, Texas
I need help with a problem that's could be on any brand guitar, I'm thinking. Anyway, I've put a set of .011's flatwound D'Addario on my guitar, the intonation is perfect, string height is correct, set up is right on the money and it plays great. But... I need to put a set of strings on with a the third string being a .016, because I play country and I'm trying to do some serious string bending (pedal steel sound) The .011's have the third string at .022 and I just can't get there with the bends. I've tried a set of .010's and everything goes sharp really bad, even with the intonation readjusted but... the bends are really easy. I tried just changing the third string to .016 and that doesn't work. I've replaced the bridge and the nut, the nut came from StewMac and was precut and I'm thinking the nut string grooves are too high causing the thinner gauge string to go sharp. The guitar I have doesn't have forum (De Armond) and I'm looking for a Telecaster to replace it with, but I was wondering will I run into the same issue with the Telecaster with the thinner strings and is this a common generic problem with a simple fix? I also tried giving it a lighter touch but that is a hard thing to manage and think about on top of all the other stuff that's going on. I'm way out in the country and the nearest Lucifer is about 100 miles away. One of our band members has a MIM Telecaster and about 50 other guitars and his Tele is the only ones he plays, but he has a set of .011's and he doesn't bend strings. Anyway I would appreciate any insights anybody has for this problem. Thanks!

My other stuff: Fender Mustang III with all the foot switches and a Dunlop volume pedal, Fender Jazz Bass MIM Deluxe Series 60 anniversary. Ampeg BA-115.


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:47 pm
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If your nut grooves are too high, you should have intonation problems on the first few frets, and worst on the 1st fret. The solution then is to have the nut fixed - plenty of instructions in the net, but an easy & cheap job for a proLucifer :twisted:

Otherwise, guitars (almost always) need to be set up if you change the string gauge. I hope you know what that means, and if not, DeArmond has their instructions here:
DA Setup

I'd say change to .010's and do the setup (/have it done), but you still have to pay attention on your touch - even more, because the strings are lighter. A Fender with vintage frets (low, lower, lowest...) is more forgiving for a player with Hulk touch.


Last edited by jmattis on Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:44 pm
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Location: Hill Country, Texas
Thanks jmattis, pretty much what I thought, but it's great to hear it from someone else who really knows. I haven't had a lot of experience with the light gauge strings and didn't know if there was something that experienced folks knew that was not obvious to the untrained. Sorry about the misspelling...Luthier is what I meant. Yeah, the first fret is the worst and it continues up the fretboard, but it's amazing how much different it is with the larger gauge strings, it just goes away! I'll have to decide to try and find a good Luthier a long way off or invest in some good nut files and do it myself. Right now I'm thinking nut files and the right measurement tools. But.... If I lower the grooves does that rule out completely putting high gauge strings on again without a nut change?


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:04 am
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It's possible to sand the nut from the underside, too. That would eliminate the need for a nut file set, and most guitar players really don't need one.
Check first that the nut follows the fretboard radius as it should, and pay attention to that the lowE side should sit a bit higher than the highE side. Be careful not to overdo things, check constantly while you work.

The groove depths in the nut are the same for all string gauges. The string height is adjusted at the bridge, not the nut.

And if you intend to file the nut slots, here's a quote from my earlier post:
jmattis wrote:
If you need general specs, a nice start would be
.010" / 0.25mm for the lowE and
.006" / 0.15mm for the highE
(Capo on third fret & measure the clearance from the top of the 1st fret to the bottom of the string).
The middle strings should follow a descending curve in between those measures.

If you are new at this, stack some feeler gauges on top of the fretboard just beside the nut [stack height = (fret wire height) + (.030" / 0.75mm)] so you won't file too deep.

Some reading to do before you start: StewMacFreeInfo: Nut Making and Setup


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:14 am
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Thanks again jmattis, that really sounds great and a good direction to go. The strings really set well in the nut and I was afraid if I filed them any deeper that I was going to need to reduce the whole nut height so the strings wouldn't be buried in the nut, and there's the proper slant issue as well. Hence, take the height off the bottom, GENIUS! As soon as I get my "morning routine" over with I'll get into it and see what I've got, I'll keep you posted. I really want to play that short lead part in "Neon Moon" and make those bends sound just right!


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:29 am
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Yeah jmattis major nut mess. With capo on 3rd fret, I have .014 clearance on 1st fret low E and barely a .002 on high E 1st fret. Makes me wonder how it played so well with the 11's, shows just how bad I am at working on my on stuff! I sure want to start over with a Tele and be done with this. Anybody want a D' Armond M-72 with the gold pickups and trim, set neck, Korean version, new bridge, and has good Luthier close by?


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:39 am
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I've seen & played guitars with zero fret that's set at the same level as other frets, so those .014-.002 ain't nothing alarming. Nut grooves can be cut very low - in fact to the point where the guitar starts buzzing.

Selling your guitar (which IMHO only needs a proper setup) may be a bit over the edge. But on the other hand, it's always nice to get new members to the Fender family...


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:01 am
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Location: Hill Country, Texas
jmattis, No fret buzz, but been trying to find a Luthier, maybe combine a couple trips to the big city. I'm in the family on a different branch of the tree with the Fender Mustang III and the Fender Jazz Bass, everybody over there is great also. But, I sure want to be a cousin with the Tele boys and girls, I'm looking really hard, probably won't be too long. I'm one of those thrifty shoppers and I really enjoy horse trading! Thanks for all the info, you've been a great help!


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Post subject: Re: String size problem.
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:31 am
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At this point, all I can say is get a G-Bender installed if that's your problem. I'd imagine many tele country players have the same problem you have, hence the invention of G-Bender...

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