Dead spot - deal breaker?

[EvanSinga]

my strat has a deadspot on the G string 12th fret. and B String 15th fret.

would changing the strat saddles eliminate/lessen this problem?

[EvanSinga]

any idea?

[ten56gibby]

Any particular reason we're keeping the brand of the guitar out of the discussion? :poke:

 

Or did I miss something?

[Virgman]

 

any idea?

 

 

It's got a high fret(s).

 

Get a fret polish. About the cost of a setup. (which should be included).

[EvanSinga]

 

It's got a high fret(s). Get a fret polish. About the cost of a setup. (which should be included).

 

 

i am sure it is not a high fret

but some sort of resonance cancellation

[Virgman]

i am sure it is not a high fret but some sort of resonance cancellation

 

Right.

[foppy]

 

i am sure it is not a high fret but some sort of resonance cancellation

 

 

Yup. My 335 had a sort of resonance problem on one note, mid-neck, not severe. I talked about it with the luthier who did a set-up for me, before and after, about it. It was a resonance issue, NOT a high fret, and nothing could be done.

 

Mind you, the note just resonated for a shorter time than the others. It wasn't completely dead. And the rest of the guitar is exceptionally alive-sounding.

 

So I've kept it. And I'm using the past tense because it isn't really a problem any more. Maybe still there a little, but it seems to have diminished. Or maybe I'm just less anal about it.

[=JL=]

Tune the G string exactly a tone sharp and see if the dead spot moves. Then you'll know if it's a fret or a resonance issue.

[AndrewGG]

 

Weird. I've never played a guitar with a "dead spot" I own 30 guitars too.

 

 

Try an acoustic and play an F/F#/G on the A string. One of those notes, unless you're very fortunate, will be louder and more dead-sounding than its neighbour with a pronounced 'thunk' and little or no sustain. Every guitar will have a wolf-tone somewhere; in fact every acoustic, stringed instrument will to a greater or lesser degree, although this is usually less noticeable on a solid-body. The resonant frequency of the fretted note and that of the guitar body cancel each other out producing an unpleasant and unmusical note.

[Oldskool Texas]

 

Yup. My 335 had a sort of resonance problem on one note, mid-neck, not severe. I talked about it with the luthier who did a set-up for me, before and after, about it. It was a resonance issue, NOT a high fret, and nothing could be done. Mind you, the note just resonated for a shorter time than the others. It wasn't completely dead. And the rest of the guitar is exceptionally alive-sounding.

 

 

I believe that this is what's happening with this guitar. He's taking it in today to have a tech take a look.

[Dmerge]

It's possible there is a gap under the fret tang. You may be able to wick some Superglue underneath the fret to fill the void and improve the sustain.

[Pope on a Rope]

Has he put new strings on it since he bought it? It could be a kink in the string. Slide your finger along the bottom of the string. You can sometimes feel the deformity.

 

I would at least try replacing the G string if he as already put new strings on it before trying anything else. If it's an actual dead spot caused by phase cancellation you could try a heavier gauge string for the G.

[Virgman]

Well, I never heard of the resonance thing but you learn something new everyday.

[NITROHOLIC]

since in never up that high on the neck no way.

[Oldskool Texas]

Update:

 

According to the guy who owns it, the "luthier" was off for the holidays, so a "tech" took a look at it. He lowered the pickups and raised the stopbar. I personally haven't seen it or heard it, but apparently it's much better now.

[EvanSinga]

i am thinking of changing the saddles, upping the gauge to 11 and changing the springs.

 

Would this help the resonance problem at all?

[EvanSinga]

upzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Oldskool Texas]

 

i am thinking of changing the saddles, upping the gauge to 11 and changing the springs. Would this help the resonance problem at all?

 

 

Beats me. The only "solution" I know of is a Fatfinger, but I've never tried it.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Groove-Tubes-Fat-Finger-Guitar-Sustain-Enhancer?sku=420270

 

I personally prefer 10s on Fender-scale guitars and 11s on Gibsons.

[EvanSinga]

would putting a capo on the headstock help lessen the dead spot?

[Pope on a Rope]

 

would putting a capo on the headstock help lessen the dead spot?

 

 

Possibly. If it is a resonance related dead spot.

[snowaie]

In how many other spots can you play the G note on the 12th fret of the G string?

[Oldskool Texas]

 

In how many other spots can you play the G note on the 12th fret of the G string?

 

 

1st string 3rd fret

2nd string 8th fret

4th string 17th fret

[EvanSinga]

 

1st string 3rd fret 2nd string 8th fret 4th string 17th fret

 

 

i noticed all G notes on the neck decays in less than 2 seconds

sounded like resonance cancellation.

 

was also thinking whether if replacing the tremolo block will help?

[*BLEEP*]

I've ran into such "repeatable" problems (these were minor dead spot problems). The fix ended up not just changing the strings, but changing to a different brand and/or gauge of strings.

 

And, yes, believe it or not, a FatFinger works -- but better on a Tele than on a Strat (because a Strat has a heavier headstock than a Tele). You already have significant mass with the bridge and the body its anchored to, and now the FatFinger adds a spot of mass that you lack on the opposite end of the vibrating strings. There's also a larger heavier FatFinger model for basses.

[docjeffrey]

Some guitars just have dead spots. It would drive me nuts because that's a note I use a lot, and the underlying knowledge that my $1500 guitar has a major flaw is a dealbreaker.