Problem at 20th fret

[bgunckel]

I've got a G&L S-500 Tribute that I really love. I've recently been playing some stuff at the 20th fret on the 1st string (high E), and I'm getting no sound through my amp. In fact, it almost sounds like a very faint harmonic. If I bend the string slightly I can get the note.

At first I thought maybe it was the amp I was playing through, so I plugged in my LP and played the same note. No problem.

Any idea what's going on? The high E string is sitting right over the center of the pole on the neck pickup. It sits at the very bottom of the pole on the bridge pickup. It's interesting that I have to bend the string slightly at the 20th when using any pickup. When using the bridge pickup, I get a harmonic as soon as I fret the string at the 20th.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

[Craig]

I've got a G&L S-500 Tribute that I really love. I've recently been playing some stuff at the 20th fret on the 1st string (high E), and I'm getting no sound through my amp. In fact, it almost sounds like a very faint harmonic. If I bend the string slightly I can get the note.

At first I thought maybe it was the amp I was playing through, so I plugged in my LP and played the same note. No problem.

Any idea what's going on? The high E string is sitting right over the center of the pole on the neck pickup. It sits at the very bottom of the pole on the bridge pickup. It's interesting that I have to bend the string slightly at the 20th when using any pickup. When using the bridge pickup, I get a harmonic as soon as I fret the string at the 20th.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

When you fret the 20th fret, how close is the string to the pickup pole of each pickup?
Is it resting on one or more of them? If so, lower the pickup or individual pole piece.

Another possibility, the string may be resting on the 21st or 22nd fret when fretted on the 20th.

You might do a setup of the neck and bridge to current specs and possibly lower the pickups or individual pole pieces which
might be interfering with the string(s) during fretting.

Hope this helps.

[bgunckel]

Yes, that does help. I'll put my reading glasses on tonight and take a good, close look. My initial thought was to check the height of the string from the top of the pole, but I wasn't sure how much clearance there should be. It wasn't touching any of them though. But I'll definitely look into the specs.

I also took a peek to make sure the string wasn't hitting the next fret, but my eyes aren't good enough w/o reading glasses to see it. I'll check this tonight as well.

Thank you very much!

[TMO]

adding onto what craig said: lower the bridge pickup evenly a few turns. Set a nickle on the treble pole (a pre-1982 is best- 100% nickle and non-magnetic). Raise the treble side until the nickle just touches the string. Now do the bass side with a nickle and a dime together. This reduces the likelihood that the pole is pulling the string mute when you are on the 20th (i.e.:just about as far down as the string can go from the perspective of the pickups.) IMHO, neither the middle or neck pickup can be any higher relative to the strings than the bridge. When you are fretting at 20, my guess is that your neck pickup will "appear" to be significantly lower than where you set your bridge. In actuality, when fretted at 20, I bet they are both within 1mm from pole to string. But the pickup won't "look" that way if you know what I mean. Fretted at 20 on neck pickup is just about as close as a string gets to a pole.

If you still aren't getting sound, it may be that you need to (find a tech or DIY) file your 21 or 22 fret. Truss rod adjusts do very little that high up the board. Shimming the neck joint "up" a little too may help, but will raise your action a little, even taking into account a truss rod adjustment. If the rest of the neck and action is good, there's nothing wrong with a little fretwork. especially up there in "special purpose" territory. I expect it when I get a new guitar. Sharp fret ends. Low E, and A strings buzzing a little on high frets. G&L has spoiled me in that the neck I received on my trib ASAT classic is really nicely finished, and just the way I like. That said, I'm still going to have my guy file a couple frets to my taste. Low E and A for example, I lower the frets above 14 under those two string because I hardly ever play up there on those strings. and it keeps stuff from buzzing when I'm Barre-ing chords on 7 through 12.

Good luck

Tim

[bgunckel]

Thanks Tim. I'm not getting any buzzing at all on the upper frets. My guy set it up pretty well , but that was over a year ago. I live in Albuquerque, NM so it's very dry here. Neck shapes have a tendency to change here, so I think I'll just take it to him to check out. I fretted at the 20th early this morning, and the string's so close to, if not touching, the 22nd fret. I'm guessing a slight adjustment may be all it needs. Hopefully, we won't have to resort to filing.

Appreciate the insight. Every little bit helps!