question about dead-ish spots - frets

[GoDrex]

Now if you're pretty good, string buzz-wise, everywhere except a couple of places, it's probably the frets themselves right? Like I've got a somewhat bad dead spot when I play at the 9th fret - no mater how I adjust the action or the neck relief. Would that probably mean the TENTH fret is high? Also I'm fretting out on some pretty lame bends on high frets, like around the 17, 18 19 or so frets. I'm thinking that might be residual effects from when my fret board looked like a quarter-pipe, from the binding pushin it up. Should I get a plastic hammer like CB says and wack the fuck out of it hahahaha  :laughing8:

 

[dbw]

Now if you're pretty good, string buzz-wise, everywhere except a couple of places, it's probably the frets themselves right? Like I've got a somewhat bad dead spot when I play at the 9th fret - no mater how I adjust the action or the neck relief. Would that probably mean the TENTH fret is high? Also I'm fretting out on some pretty lame bends on high frets, like around the 17, 18 19 or so frets. I'm thinking that might be residual effects from when my fret board looked like a quarter-pipe, from the binding pushin it up. Should I get a plastic hammer like CB says and wack the frick out of it hahahaha  :laughing8:

Yeah it's probably the frets.  Either the 10th is high or the 9th is low...  the fretting out is probably because of the binding issue... you're the one who bent his fingerboard because the neck binding was hitting the body?  Take it to a luthier or tech or whatever, shouldn't be anything too hard to fix IMO.

 

[GoDrex]

yeah I've been to a tech already - - I guess he didn't do such a thorough  job...

I'm just depressed about this guitar today. I want feel happy about it and stop paying for it.

 

[-CB-]

You can try seating the 10th fret.

I use an aluminum strip (heavy, about 1/8 in thick) and lightly tap on the fret (with the strip there as a fret protector)

 

[GoDrex]

thanks - I'm already having a luthier look at it since the tech I took it to first didn't really do much to the guitar in the first place. I have multiple problems with my neck - some of which stem from the binding f-up that was given to me. The other tech also installed the nut poorly so that has to be re-done. I also have a stripped neck screw hole, which I don't understand at all.

Sometimes I feel like guitar techs don't give a shit about certain jobs and just rush them through because they've got a lot of work to do - or because they just plain don't know what they're doing. I've been having trouble finding a decent one lately. Thought I had one found years ago, but he turned out to be a dick that's always trying to talk me out of doing what I want - and then does a half assed job. Found a new place closer to home and he also did a half assed job. Now I'm trying a guy that builds acoustics and violins and all kinds of stringed instruments, and I'm hoping he won't half ass me too.

Should've paid the $325+ tax for a complete assembly by a pro (does the set ups for Martin) that I moaned about in the first place. He probably would have noticed Warmoth's f-up in the first place (though you never know) before bending the shit out of the fretboard like I did. Oh well. I love to play guitar, but I this custom ordering shit is for the birds. I was really hoping that my $1500+ Warmoth would play better than my $500 Made in Korea Parker, but I'll be happy now if it turns out to be equal to it. To be fair, it does sound better. $1000 better? hmmmm

 

[Funky Phil]

Sometimes I feel like guitar techs don't give a shite about certain jobs and just rush them through because they've got a lot of work to do - or because they just plain don't know what they're doing. I've been having trouble finding a decent one lately. Thought I had one found years ago, but he turned out to be a dick that's always trying to talk me out of doing what I want - and then does a half assed job. Found a new place closer to home and he also did a half assed job. Now I'm trying a guy that builds acoustics and violins and all kinds of stringed instruments, and I'm hoping he won't half ass me too.

I am a full time guitar tech...(UK based)...and I DO care about all the jobs I do!
I can't be the only one...can I? :icon_thumright:

 

[Rickgrxbass]

Sometimes I feel like guitar techs don't give a shite about certain jobs and just rush them through because they've got a lot of work to do - or because they just plain don't know what they're doing. I've been having trouble finding a decent one lately. Thought I had one found years ago, but he turned out to be a dick that's always trying to talk me out of doing what I want - and then does a half assed job. Found a new place closer to home and he also did a half assed job. Now I'm trying a guy that builds acoustics and violins and all kinds of stringed instruments, and I'm hoping he won't half ass me too.

I'm sure it's hit-and-miss, as with most technical specialists ie car mechanics, plumbers, handymen, dentists...
I took one of my basses to a luthier, and he did a professional job; another bass ended up going to a repairman/tech, and he shuffled his feet, didn't fix the frets I specifically addressed, and used superglue to build up the nut slots instead of cutting a new nut.  I figure just find someone you can trust with your stuff and stick with them, or learn to do it yourself.

 

[dbw]

You need to find a luthier and not a tech.  Guitar techs generally do electronics, setups, and fretwork, and deal with hardware... a "real" luthier can take a bent fretboard and flatten it out... look for someone with a bunch of half-assembled acoustics in his shop. 

 

[m4rk0]

ha, sounds familiar.. I had some bad Technician experiences as well!!

the last one I tried was really funny... I never met him in person, but when I picked the guitar up, the old lady attending the shop had a whole list of things the the tech was pissed off about.
actually, he made her call me before he started the job trying to talk me out of using 9s strings.. I told them no... why the hell is my preferred string gage their business??? :tard:
anyway, the list mentioned he was pissed off about the string thickness, the stainless steel frets and the fact that my wilkinson was floating, so he charged me an additional $40 on top of the agreed price.
the set up was ok, but he did a crappy job on polishing the sharp fret ends..

another one I used, used to have a tech that was also a luthier. but of course, by the time I left my guitar with him, he had moved on to be a full time luthier, so the shop owner had a go at it..
my guitar ended up with an extra strap pin.. (the original one was so far off center that he added a second one, anderson style)
and with a screw straight through the fingerboard.. I guess he had not worked with a contoured heel before.

 

[guitlouie]

Hey GoDrex, I know it's hard to find someone who cares and does a good job when it comes to just about everything these days, so I hear ya!  I am extremely lucky to have a guy that is a little over a block away who is just the Sh@t.  He knows his stuff, and he cares.  He cares enough that when I bring him my stuff, he usually tells me it's going to be 3 weeks or more, and I don't care, because I know he says that because he is going to take his time and do the job right.  He studied with Frank Ford, he has had some high profile jobs, and he is just an all around cool guy.  I hope you find someone like him some day!  Here is a link to a cool repair he did: http://www.darrenriley.com/1958LesPaulJuniorsmokedamagerestoration.htm

and here he is at his last job:

C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Administrator\My Documents\My Pictures\edkinggoldtops.jpg

 

[GoDrex]

a "real" luthier can take a bent fretboard and flatten it out... look for someone with a bunch of half-assembled acoustics in his shop. 

That's who I'm dealing with now. I hope it works out OK.

 

[brownsound79]

me too having same problems.. bending at 17 & 20 frets.. the string just choked.. buzz-dead...  is it because of the angled neck pocket..?? no matter how i set the action it still choked.. (or what-ever u call it)..  Warmoth gave me a pretty darn cool birdseye maple neck... but...
any body help..???

 

[Shmoopie]

CB would probably say to seat the frets around the choking frets, or see if they are level, then he would go on about that vile drink.  :toothy12:

 

[DiMitriR33]

me too having same problems.. bending at 17 & 20 frets.. the string just choked.. buzz-dead...  is it because of the angled neck pocket..?? no matter how i set the action it still choked.. (or what-ever u call it)..  Warmoth gave me a pretty darn cool birdseye maple neck... but...
any body help..???

how much releif ya got? string height?

do ya have a strait edge? a fret rocker? you say it only happens at 17 and 20, not 18 or 19? sounds like you need to reseat a couple frets, 18 and 21. just a little tap should do it with a small soft non marring hammer.