D string issue at 12th fret and close by

Ok fellas, got another one for you.

When I tap on the d string at the 12th fret and frets close by higher and lower, it frets out. I'm not sure if this is normal and something I just haven't noticed before. I think "frets out" is the proper term. It sounds and looks like the string is hitting the fret ahead of it. It produces a very weak sound compared to the other strings when doing the same tapping. Aside from that, the D string sounds fine during normal playing.

Any information on the topic will be very helpful. Thanks again.

I'm thinking I might need to adjust the neck to have a little less relief?

When I have that problem I look for a high fret. First adjust the truss rod to get the neck flat. Use a fret rocker like stumac sells to find the high fret. Sometimes it can be tapped into place if it is not seated. Some times if it is seated it needs to be brought down level. Beware, you may have to chase several to get all of the frets flat. Don,t attempt this if you are not capable.

When I have that problem I look for a high fret. First adjust the truss rod to get the neck flat. Use a fret rocker like stumac sells to find the high fret. Sometimes it can be tapped into place if it is not seated. Some times if it is seated it needs to be brought down level. Beware, you may have to chase several to get all of the frets flat. Don,t attempt this if you are not capable.


I don't think thats the issue. I was looking at the nut a little while ago and it looks like the strings are sitting too low. When I first got the guitar the strings sat with a bit still exposed. Now they all sit completely in the nut. Except for the low E but even that has sunk to the point of almost being consumed. I also noticed a small crack underneath the nut on the low E side. I've been fussing around with my guitar for a few weeks now trying to get it just right and it never seemed to get exactly where I wanted it to. Adjusting the neck, string height and intonation seem easy enough. Especially after purchasing the proper measurement tools to assist me. I'm guessing that adjusting the truss rod too much forced the strings to cut into the nut and cause the small craack? I'm at a loss here. I pondered buying a new neck but I really like the feel of this one. Also it a Classic 60's MIM that I got a super deal on so I'm not sure it will be worth buying a new neck. I'm bumming. I've been bumming since I've started messing around.
So, I'm going to try a new nut unless the you guys think otherwise. At this point I don't think trying will hurt.

I've poked around the internet and I see pre-slotted nuts. I'm very pleased to see that they exist and that Tele specific with the 7.25 radius I need are available. Has anybody used pre slotted nuts for replacement? I'm probably going to grab a few tusq nuts from Stew Mac.

Hey MrCrappy. I agree with first responder. To me it sounds like a high fret problem. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "tap" but when your playing up on the neck at that point the nut is out of play and has nothing to contribute to the sound or tone. In effect the fret that your playing at has now become the nut if you see what I mean. In other words the string is now vibrating only between that fret and the saddle. The nut needs to be replaced from your description but it will not be causing the problem you describe around the 12th fret. Also the relief is probably not the cause either as that tends to affect the middle area of the neck and not up where you are noticing problems. I think you can save your money from buying a new neck and take it to a good guitar tech and check for a high fret or two. That would likely be a much cheaper solution than buying a new neck.

Good luck

My guess is that the neck angle is insufficient. I would try what i did with my TelePartsCaster: slacken the strings, remove the upper neck mounting screws and loosen the lower two. Insert half of a business card between the upper edge of the neck pocket and the heel of the neck. Reinstall the upper neck screws and tighten all four. Re-tune to pitch and adjust the saddles accordingly.
It's a lot easier than dealing with trying to find high frets that might not be there, and it's certainly an easy undo if it is actually something else. It's free, and it avoids a trip to the tech. IMHO, it's definitely worth a try.