Odd guitar issue....

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R_ADKINS80

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I got something going on wth my Hamer that I can't pin down. The low E string has no attack what so ever. It sounds all round and fat as if you plucked it with your finger instead of the pick. It is not just the open notes, but every fret up the scale has this same dull muted tone. Seems to me that the bridge would be causing this because the fretted notes would then have a sharper attack if it were the bone nut at fault, but I can't find anything wrong with it. I have smoothed the nut slot and bridge saddle with a nut file, but to no avail. The bridge is a brand new nickel Gotoh bridge. Any ideas?
 
I had something similar and it was a two part solution. Long story short, a fret level job and changing the culprit string.
 
Guitar was just 3 months ago completely refretted with SS frets and it has new strings on it and it still does it. I have checked everything with a straight edge and it appears to be flawless
 
That's a tough one, Mr.A ... might it be electrical? Have you ruled out the tone controls?
 
I'd have to agree w/ MikeK's first post. if you just had it refretted recently then it could be settling in. take it back to the guy that did it for a check up.
 
Jacko123 said:
Does it do the same thing with both bridge and neck pick ups?

It does it unplugged, even......the low e string has no attack to it what so ever....it sounds like it's being finger picked, where as all the rest of the strings have plenty of attack.
 
that sure is odd. The only time i've seen that is when I restring and don't notice the string is off the saddle. Keep us posted. Never happened to me, but could be a bad string.
 
R_ADKINS80 said:
It does it unplugged, even......the low e string has no attack to it what so ever....it sounds like it's being finger picked, where as all the rest of the strings have plenty of attack.

... I guess this rules out any electrical problem.
It's something in the string path ... perhaps a loose or cracked nut?
 
Check the breaking angle of the nut and at the bridge. Since its the largest diameter string, it would be most affected by an angle issue more so than the smaller strings.
 
What kind of guitar, what type of bridge, and what type of strings?

It may sound dumb, but have you checked to make sure the string is completely seated?
 
It's my USA Hamer Standard. It has a bone nut, Gotoh bridge and stp tail piece. I use 11-52 Dean Markley's on it. Stll has the issue. I've tried deburring the saddle, running a string back and forth in the nut a few times as well. The action is flawless with no buzzes anywhere and has the perfect amount of relief to the neck. It's just this stupid low E always sounds like it's half ass palm muted at all times. I've emailed the luthier that did the refret and new nut on it a few times and tried all of his suggestions. Only thing left is to make the 2hr drive back down to him and leave it with him to figure out. This sucks crap. My USA made Hamer is collecting dust and is getting the snot stomped out of it by a $1300 LTD Ninja 600 lol.
 
What about your pickups? How far are they from the string. Does the issue happen with every pickup? What sort of angle is there on the headstock from the nut to the tuning peg?
 
Tried 3 sets of strings (different brands), Pickups are EMG's and are as close to the strings as they'll go without hit them under heavy palm muting and picking. But I have messed with pickup height and it does nothing. The angle off the nut is good. I forget the exact spec on the headstock tilt, though and I don't have a protractor. It's just hanging on the wall now until I can get back down to the luthier. I have informed him of the issue and he agreed to take a look at it and fix it.
 
I kinda have the same thing going on with my Ibanez RG470. I bought it new in 1994 and have never had any major work done to it... within the past 5 years or so it just sounds dead.... If i were to guess you have the same thing going on. I bet the 6th string is just barely touching the first fret... just enough to deaden the sound. The action on my 470 is too low and does the same thing. New strings and a good set up/ possibly fret level will do the trick!
For an immediate fix, try raising the action and changing the strings.
 
TimeSignature said:
I kinda have the same thing going on with my Ibanez RG470. I bought it new in 1994 and have never had any major work done to it... within the past 5 years or so it just sounds dead.... If i were to guess you have the same thing going on. I bet the 6th string is just barely touching the first fret... just enough to deaden the sound. The action on my 470 is too low and does the same thing. New strings and a good set up/ possibly fret level will do the trick!
For an immediate fix, try raising the action and changing the strings.


Tried all that to no avail. The low e is not touching any frets. It was just completely refretted w/ jumbo stainless steel wire and a new bone nut was made for it as well. It just sounds lightly palm muted on all 22 frets and open as well. got me stumped as hell. It's only on the one string and won't go away no matter what I do.
 

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