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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I have been playing around adjusting the neck on my legend and think I have it just about to factor specs according to the manual. Anyway I am having a little trouble with my low e string. Using my tuner I tune to dead on. when I play notes on the string it gets sharper as I go up the neck. Not really progressivly sharper. F is somewhat sharp, G a tad sharper and pretty much the same up the neck. I am using ultra lights and was wondering if it is the strings, neck, machine or what. It is not too bad but noticable to me anyway. Any help or suggestions? |
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December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | Light strings are sensitive to fretting pressure. Could also be a problem with saddle height. Sometimes new strings are easier tuned. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| The nut is cut and the saddle is intonated for "lights" with a bass E string of diameter 0.053" or 0.054". The ultralight diameter may be part of the problem. You might try a tapered shim under the saddle (thicker on the bass side) to see if that helps. |
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November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | I have had a couple of O's in my repair shop with the same problem. One customer wanted me to move the saddle to make the guitar intonate properly. Problem was solved by replacing the strings with 12-53.
Scott Lamperd B C (before computers) :cool: |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Thanks for the quick responses. I will throw a light E on and see what happens. If it works out fine I will assume it is the ulra light string and either adjust the nut/and or saddle or just move to a heavier gage string. I may also pose to John/or Kim to see what they say. But, hey, thanks for the responses. It was beginning to get me a little nutty. |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | It was beginning to get me a little nutty.
...you'll fit in here just fine. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by g8r:
You might try a tapered shim under the saddle (thicker on the bass side) to see if that helps. I would think that would actually exacerbate the problem, the string would have to stretch just that little bit MORE to reach the fretboard, therefore even more sharp.
I think a thicker string would a be more likely solution. Ultra lights are very easy to overstretch if your left hand gets a little over-excited and you press down too hard. |
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Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I do get excited easily :) |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Well I changed to a heavier gage string and it did not really help too much. Put the lighter strings back on. I then capoed to the 3rd fret and tuned from there. It seemed pretty good all the way up which leads me to think perhaps the nut is a tad too high? Any thoughts?
TPA an Muzza are correct the ultra light are more sensitive to the fret pressure. I can lessen the problem by not applying as much pressure on the string. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Also with the lighter gauge strings like 10s you need to be very sensitive to the right hand picking strength as that can also affect pitch, keep your right hand power slightly lower on the E, B strings especially when playing the lower frets, i.e. 1,2,3 etc.
I have discovered a lighter touch often produces "better", more even tone/volume across the range of the strings/fretboard. There should be no need to beat the bloody thing, Ovations are typically great at producing acoustic volume and if you really need to belt it out plug it in! Even my SSBs with 10s produce a remarkable amount of acoustic volume.
I suppose the analogy is painting a picture with a finer brush, more detail, more refinement, more control. Yeah if you want Pollock get the LES PAUL and MARSHALL out! :cool:
(Still on the healthy side of less than 1000 posts) |
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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Which E, bass or treble? I always have this problem to a greater or lesser extent - on the bass side. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Originally posted by sycamore:
Which E, bass or treble? I always have this problem to a greater or lesser extent - on the bass side. It is the bass E. I have been watching both my picking and pressure and it seems to help the problem. |
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September 2008
Posts: 58
Location: Just outside Dallas, TX | I had a similar problem... It was the Shims under the Bridge |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Thanks, DRk. Did you fix it yourself? If so can you give me a little tutorial? |
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September 2008
Posts: 58
Location: Just outside Dallas, TX | I have a guy at the local GC that is O factory trained repair tech... took him 10 mins to shim properly... Once complete she has been dead on from Zero fret to 7th... He adjusted neck etc as well... polished frets and was literally a tornado working on her |
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Posts: 58
Location: Just outside Dallas, TX | MI huh??? In Ferndale there used to be a shop - Music, Strings and things (Woodward around 13mile)... if they still exist... I'd be willing to bet they could help ya real quick |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I think they are long gone. I may take a trip to elderly intruments in lansing. BTW. Kim seems to think it may be a nut slot problem based on my symptoms. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by twistedlim:
Kim seems to think it may be a nut slot problem based on my symptoms. ...and it's a soft lob to the infield... |
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December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | The slot is normally cut so the string length is determined by the front edge of the saddle. A saddle may be worn so that the effective edge moves, resulting in a longer first fret. This could be the case. If sufficient nut material is available the bottom of the groove can be recut with a suitable backwars slant. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | tpa,
What do you mean by suitable backwards slant? I am a bit confused. (not unusual for me) |
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September 2008
Posts: 58
Location: Just outside Dallas, TX | The backwards slant helps to ensure the String "breaks" at the edge... Not actual string breaking, but the point at which it literally begins for playing... measured from the ridge of the Nut (at this point) to the bridge...
Try Bob Colosi - Bone saddles and nuts... AMAZING guy |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Is this what you are talking about?
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December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | Nice illustration, and yes, that is the angle. |
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e string problem?
