My New Telecaster sounds dreadful!?

[timmilesmusic]

Hello everyone, what a great forum i didn't even know it existed, i'll try not to make this too longer message because i really need some help!

I recently became an owner of my first telecaster. it's nothing overly special its a Left Handed Fender Mexican Telecaster Standard in the Brown Sunburst colour, i've played acoustic for 6 years and have always wanted to play electric so when viewing the guitar in the shop i just wanted to see how it felt and buy it and thats what i did, especially as it was the only one there.

Anyway to the point i brought the guitar home, plugged it into my little Marshall MG15CD while my VOX amp is away and it sounds dreadful!

Theres two Major issues, both problems with the G string actually, firstly the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Frets on this string are sharp quite considerably, considering the 12fret, fretted and harmonics are the same note the string is in tune with itself but these lower frets when played are sharp?

That being said that issue i can somewhat live with, but an issue i can't live with is the Dominance of the G string. When playing an "E Major" chord in the 1st most well known position, the G is just a muddy sounding mess amongst the other notes and volume wise its way above the other strings. It is a much louder string when soloing and playing other chords aswell but seems to stand out considerable when playing an E Chord.

What i've tried to do -

I've tried perfecting intonation, Adjusting both pickups slightly (mainly the neck as this is the one it sounds worst on) and have had no luck!

I really don't want to have to go through the saga of returning it and waiting months for a new one! so i was just hoping for some advice, could i have a g dominant guitar? or do you think the dominance is an issue that can be fixed?

Thank you!!

[Bolide]

Some guitars do have wolf tone problems, and this sounds like one.

Strange sounding idea: Try it with a clamp on tuner on the headstock, and see if that changes anything, if that makes it better, then heavier or lighter tuning gear could change the resonant frequency of the neck and that might be all that's needed to detune the wolf tone.

[timmilesmusic]

Hey thank you so much for your quick reply! :)
I don't actually have a clip on tune unfortunately only a normal one that i usually tune with, that or the iphone tuner i have works well aswell, I'm currently using 9-42 gauge strings which i imagine are pretty much the lightest its worth going, i figured if i go heavy potentially it could make the issue worse.

Some people have suggested returning the guitar, if thats all i can do, i will need to do it. But i would rather try and resolve the issue and understand what it is because i'm hoping its something that can be fixed inexpensively during a set up possibly. If not, then the guitar will need to go back as i cannot afford new pickups at this time! sadly..
Thanks for your help though i really appreciate it!

[kddean66]

Have you checked to see if the nut is cut too high? I have similar problems with intonation (especially on the G string) in the first fret on a few guitars. When I checked the nut clearance, it is too high. I've since ordered some nut files from stew mac to remedy the problem.

[timmilesmusic]

I haven't nope! I'm not really big on the technical side of things with the electric guitar so i have no idea what i'm looking for, i have been lead to believe the nut can effect the intonation on the first few frets as you said but can if effect the entire tuning of the whole string, the tuner says the g is in tune, but it just over powers all the other strings, more so on the neck pickup!

[kddean66]

Check this thread out for more info. It's the one I started with a similar issue. If it is indeed the nut, you could always take it to a luthier to get it setup properly.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tab-tips-...ays-sharp.html

[timmilesmusic]

Thank you very much!

Also quick question, any ideas as to whether the Amp could have an effect on one string frequency? Im currently using an Old MG15CD marshall amp, its like a little practice amp, My vocx AD50VT is in the recording studio at the moment, but just wondering if i am making assumptions something is wrong with this guitar having only played it through this one amp at my house? could it be the amp causing the issue? The G string is somewhat louder than the other strings thats a certain, but the amp be causing it to sound worse?

thanks for all you help!

[Bolide]

Well, any mass you can put on the headstock without voiding the warranty, even a clothespin, or a hackie-sack tied on with a shoestring, might show some change. Just trying to think of things you can do to troubleshoot without having warranty questions as this could be a real booger.

Likewise a string gauge change and truss rod adjustment would also change the resonant frequency of the neck. I'm not certain that the neck would be the problem, just that like the drunk looking for his car keys under the lamppost the neck is the easiest place to look. If that is eliminated as a part of the problem we would know something, even though knowing this would mean you have to have it taken care of under warrantee.

[1962guitargeek]

It sounds to me like it just needs a good going over...

A thorough set up, including adjusting the pup height, will do wonders.

[krisls]

I had a G string problem on an Am Std a while back, not quite the same but... it's almost certainly the nut. Mine needed that slot filling and recutting, done under warranty. Maybe a slight truss tweak too. But a simple thing...could the G string be low set on the bridge. Look down the body from the bridge up the neck. Do the strings follow a smooth curve with the neck or is maybe the G a little low/flat on the curve. Only needs to a be slight. Also going to tens may fix it, I play acoustic and 9 are way too light for me, I'm pondering 11's actually. See how you go.

Kristina

[timmilesmusic]

Thank you again for all your great replies! I certainly do think it needs a good going over, i'll take a look at the height of the G string, i tried making amends to the neck pup which is the one that sounds like it is causing the main issue with this ringing out G and lowering the PUP did absolutely nothing to the Sound of the G.

You say a string change may help, perhaps gong up to 10s on it. Would the thicker strings not just make the problem louder?

Sorry if i sound a bit naive, this is my first electric guitar, i've played acoustic for 6 years so don't fully understand them yet! I'm more worried about it not being a fixable problem and having to return it because being left handed it is a nightmare!

I know on my acoustic the "A" string is especially loud and this can't be changed because its the nature of the guitar, but i was hoping dominant strings on an electric guitar could be changed somehow!

My final question, when set to the "NECK" pup the guitar sounds awful, all the notes sound out, it sounds muddy, certainly not as a neck pup should and for some reason the neck pup is slightly angles towards the fret board? is that normal?

Thanks everyone!

[Ricky D.]

Originally Posted by timmilesmusic

...

You say a string change may help, perhaps gong up to 10s on it. Would the thicker strings not just make the problem louder?

...

My final question, when set to the "NECK" pup the guitar sounds awful, all the notes sound out, it sounds muddy, certainly not as a neck pup should and for some reason the neck pup is slightly angles towards the fret board? is that normal?

Thanks everyone!

Try 11's with a wound 3rd. The wound third has lower output than a solid 3rd.

Do you mean that the neck pickup sounds like the tone control is rolled all the way back - no highs at all?

[timmilesmusic]

Originally Posted by Ricky D.

Try 11's with a wound 3rd. The wound third has lower output than a solid 3rd.

Do you mean that the neck pickup sounds like the tone control is rolled all the way back - no highs at all?

I would try the 11s but would that make bends somewhat harder?

Also yes! The neck Pup sounds like a muddy mess, all bass, can't here the highs atall, pretty much as you described it yes!

[Lost_N_Austin]

What I've tried to do - I've tried perfecting intonation, Adjusting both pickups slightly (mainly the neck as this is the one it sounds worst on) and have had no luck!

I'm not sure from your post if you tried adjusting the pickups to correct the intonation, but you can learn from a search of Youtube for help on intonation adjustments.

Here is a decent one if you can get by the introduction and get to the good part.


After the end of this video, some other video's will pop up that might also be helpful.

Also a new set of strings can't hurt if you are going through these adjustments anyway.

Good luck with your new Tele.

Lost_N_Austin

[garrett]

I have the problem with the G string ringing out on my Tele. I even had a new nut put in, but it didn't cure the problem. I just stick a pick in between the strings and it's all good. I think a second string tree would do the trick too.

As far as the intonation, even if the open string and 12th fret are perfect, the rest of the notes will not be. That's just part of a guitar's design. Generally, everything is "close enough" but the G and B strings tend to fret particularly sharp on the low frets. It's especially a problem if you apply too much pressure, which is very possible in this case since the OP is coming from an acoustic background.

Developing a lighter touch and/or using bigger strings will help. What I do is tune the G string to the "A" on the second fret, and the B string to the "D" on the third fret. The open strings are slightly flat, but the ever-present A and D chords are in tune. The open strings are just slightly flat, so chords like G and Em still sound fine.

[randomhitz]

The problem with the G string being too loud on first position chords is something I find is almost every electric I have. Drives me crazy. If you have staggered pole pickups they probably are in the old style where the G string pole is too high. I have a P-90 equipped guitar with adjustable pole pieces and to get the G string to blend properly I had to radically lower the g pole piece. I would consider a pickup replacement anyway given how you describe the general sound. A set of Wilde keystones would get you closer to what you are looking for and they are not expensive. On the more expensive side you could talk to any one of the great pickup winders (Don Mare, Lindy Fraiin, Bill Lawrence) about your problem and see what solutions they come up with. I know for strats some manufacturers offer a pickup with what is called "modern stagger" where the G pole is lower than the rest as it should be for an unwound G.

[Suicideking]

It can b as simple as some few adjustments in the intonation, also check the nut cause you would b surprised how many tuning problems start there...

[timmilesmusic]

Thank you everybody for your feedback and help so far!
I got my Vox amp back this evening, plugged in the Tele and it does sound considerably better through the amp, It's not a top end vox but it certainly makes the guitar better. It doesn't however no matter how much tweeking resolve the G string ringing out.

I will call the store tomorrow and advise them of the issue i'm having, i'm hoping its easily fixed! being left handed as i said i'll be waiting in Feb until i can get a new tele if they have to order one in.

randomhitz im glad you told me that! Just so i know its not just my electric guitar, it rings out loud and proud in 1st position but not so much in other positions, it is very noticeably louder during a scale aswell, running through the strings, you get to the g and the volume jumps. I'd say its about 20% louder than the other strings or there abouts.

hopefully a good set up will rectify the issue or atleast resolve it slightly!

A question for anybody really - Can you get a G dominant guitar that can't be resolved? I know you can with acoustic, but with electric are there means to make all string volume the same? or can you get guitars that for one reason or another just won't change?

Thank you again everyone!

[Tim Armstrong]

Just want to +1 the comments about the nut slot being too high. I had the exact same problem with a bass a few years ago. Drove me crazy until someone suggested filing down the nut slot a little deeper, and the problem was fixed. When the string is too high at the nut, you have to push it down farther to hit the fret, and it bends the string a little bit sharp. As you go down the neck away from the fret, the amount of bending decreases, and so the notes are closer to right.

Tim

[timmilesmusic]

Thanks for all of your responses so far! I feel the guitar needs a good overhaul, a good tech needs to have a crack at it i think!

My main worry is the string volume now, whether or not this can be resolved, i don't want to find it can't be and the guitar has then gone out of its return period thats my main worry! Equally i would rather not return it to get a new one and find similar issues or worse, Being left handed i'm very choice limited! Looking at the G string it doesn't seem overly low, but it could well be raised slightly maybe?