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 Post subject: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:02 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:54 pm
Posts: 12
The patient is a 50s D-28 that has had a good deal of work done to it over time but is in good playing order. The guitar came into the shop because the customer was having some fret buzz and action issues. After leveling and recrowning the frets and doing a fresh set up (action at 7 and 6 at the 12th) the buzzes were eliminated and the customer is comfortable with the playability. HOWEVER, there is a problem on the high E string, 10th fret (D note). That note is dead or dull sounding, it lacks the clarity and sustain present on that string at every other note (and on the rest of the scale on all strings). The clarity of the note improves totally if you bend the note sharp. The frets are dead level, there is no buzz at all with the dead note, just a noticeable decrease in clarity and sustain. The string clearance over the 11th fret is sufficient, and with the lack of any buzz I know it is not the next fret deadening the note. If you play the same D note on the B string the clarity is good, no dead quality at all. I'm stumped.

Any ideas?


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 Post subject: Re: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:59 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:17 am
Posts: 995
Location: United States
City: Tyler
State: Texas
I'd check that the fret end is not up from the fretboard. Clamp it down and wick a tiny bit of CA under it. Let it dry, test. If it still had the problem, I'd replace the fret.


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 Post subject: Re: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:35 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:24 pm
Posts: 314
First name: EddieLee
Last Name: Brown
If you tune it up or down a half step does it still have a problem?

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 Post subject: Re: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:35 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 1:11 pm
Posts: 2335
Location: Spokane, Washington
First name: Pat
Last Name: Foster
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Assuming you've tried a new string. How about putting the e string where the b string usually is.

Pat

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 Post subject: Re: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:58 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:54 pm
Posts: 12
Thanks for the suggestions. Several folks (here and off the forum) have noted that perhaps the fret is loose. It does not appear to be loose at all but I'll give the cyano trick a shot. I've been doing this work for 17 years professionally and have never run into this kind of single note dead spot before. I'll post here again after I fuss with the fret a bit to make sure it is well seated and secured.


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 Post subject: Re: dead note conundrum
PostPosted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:40 am 
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Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:42 pm
Posts: 2360
Location: Windsor Ontario Canada
First name: Fred
Last Name: Tellier
City: Windsor
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: N8T2C6
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
If the fret is the problem the CA will cure it. Check by tapping on the fret and the ones on either side of it with the steel tip of a screw driver if the fret sounds dull compared to the rest, it is probably the problem.

Fred

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