Nocaster Question

[Steamroller]

I'm a happy owner of a Nocaster, but I have a "little" problem : the setup of the neck basically down of the 12th fret. When I bend the 1,2 (mainly) and the 3 string I get a buzz string.

I've talked with my luthier and he said me that vintage teles are very difficult to set up up the 12th fret. He solved the problem but four months later I've the same problem.

Is this true? Anybody has the same problem? Is the only solution to re-set up the neck each two/three months?

[soulman969]

Yes, the 7.25" radius of those necks can create some problems with fretting out above the 12th fret. It's tough to defeat it and have it stay that way if the neck is flexing for changes in humidity. As dry as it is here in Colorado mine does fairly well but deep bends up there will always be an issue I'm told. The 9.5" don't seem to share that problem.

[Steamroller]

Then I blew it because the Spanish Northwest is more rainy than Ireland and my bending technical is basic for my way of play.

I love this guitar and still I haven't found a tele with this sound, then the only solution is learn to setup the neck by myself each time I change the strings and keep her into the case when I am not playing.

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by Steamroller

Then I blew it because the Spanish Northwest is more rainy than Ireland and my bending technical is basic for my way of play.

I love this guitar and still I haven't found a tele with this sound, then the only solution is learn to setup the neck by myself each time I change the strings and keep her into the case when I am not playing.

Don't know if this helps you much or not but where we out here need to humidify our guitars to keep them stable you may need to dehumidify. Perhaps the ones they sell for gun cases or cameras may help to keep it more stable but if your setting it up and then losing it again shortly thereafter my guess is this is why. But it is the nature of the beast.

Another possibility would be to put a 9.5" radius neck on it which may help as well. I don't gig my CS Nocaster anymore but like you I love the tone of that guitar so I bought a Nocaster conversion of a Nashville Deluxe from one of our guys here and it's great.

It has the same Soft "V" neck as my Nocaster (I had Fender swap the "U" neck for that "V" when I bought it), same pickups, bridge, ash body, and everything else but that 9.5" Mexi neck doesn't have that same problem.

You could put a different neck on and just set the present one aside. You preserve the value of the guitar in it's original configuration because you always have that original neck to put back on if you ever decide to sell it.

Mine will never be 100% original after the neck swap but it didn't matter to me. I'll never sell it. Good Luck with a solution.

[Steamroller]

I have two dehumidifiers, one in each floor, but I think my problem is due the humidity changes. We had a really dry winter but the last month was raining everydays and I started to feel the @#$*@@ string buzz again.

I love this guitar and I think the neck is a important part of his sound. I think I will talk with my luthier for he teach me how setup this neck's guitar. If this doesn't work I have a partcaster with a Allparts TMNF-FAT neck with 9.5" radius. I'll try this neck on my Nocaster and see what happen.

[boris bubbanov]

New Orleans is a real humid place, although not quite so much in mid Winter.

The airconditioning is on quite a bit in summer.

I've had Zero need to adjust anything on mine, over 5 years.

Could be the neck on yours is an outlier; much more sensitive than most.

Have you got one of the newer ones with the thinner neck profile?

[Steamroller]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

New Orleans is a real humid place, although not quite so much in mid Winter.

The airconditioning is on quite a bit in summer.

I've had Zero need to adjust anything on mine, over 5 years.

Could be the neck on yours is an outlier; much more sensitive than most.

Have you got one of the newer ones with the thinner neck profile?

I don't know the exact year (I'm gonna see it), but It's a really fat neck. I have a Allparts TMNF-FAT (U shaped 9.5" radius) in my partcaster and the Nocaster neck is only a little thinner and it's not the same profile exactly. I think is a U Shaped 7.25” Radius. This is my guitar still in the store two years ago. Beautiful,ehhh?

[telex76]

Learn yourself, it's easy.
I never fret out on my Nocaster or 52ri, of course I like my action on the higher side of the listed Fender recommendations.

[Steveareno]

Originally Posted by telex76

Learn yourself, it's easy.
I never fret out on my Nocaster or 52ri, of course I like my action on the higher side of the listed Fender recommendations.

+1: They work better with higher action.

Swang on,

[fancychords]

I suppose this is why they say every guitar is different..I've had 2 Nocasters with the 7.5 radius set up to 4/64ths and have never had a problem..I have a Mexican strat in surf green 7.5 and no problem..Yet I've tried a Custom Shop Relic 56 Strat with a 7.5 and it fretted out like crazy above the 12th fret..
Go figure..

[burtwangcaster]

+1 telex and stevearno, Raise your saddle up....extra benefit your vibrato will improve.

[Encinitastubes]

Where do you get a replacement Nocaster neck? Is that something you have to get from Fender or are there ones available from guitar/body makers (sorry, I have not experience replacing major parts).

[Middleman]

If you play a lot of bends up there you only have a few choices.

1. File the fret centers down, very tricky to do and you need someone with experience.
2. Have the frets removed, flatten the radius, put new frets in.
3. Get another tele with a compound radius neck for lead playing. Keep the 7.25 for chickin pickin below the 12th fret. This is my favorite approach. Right tool for the right job.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by burtwangcaster

+1 telex and stevearno, Raise your saddle up....extra benefit your vibrato will improve.

+2!

A 7.25" radius usually needs a little higher action.

Is the neck straight/has a slight relief? The truss rod is your friend.

[Ron Garson]

If your strings/saddles are curved to match the radius of your fingerboard, flatten it out on the top three strings by raising them just a little, so the string radius is a little flatter.
It sometimes takes just a minimal change to stop the bends "choking!"

[xtrajerry]

Originally Posted by Steamroller

Then I blew it because the Spanish Northwest is more rainy than Ireland and my bending technical is basic for my way of play.

I love this guitar and still I haven't found a tele with this sound, then the only solution is learn to setup the neck by myself each time I change the strings and keep her into the case when I am not playing.

Some very helpful videos on youtube. Wouldn't give the truss rod more tha1/4-1/2 turn. I suggest you keep a note book with the guitar and list the changes you make and maybe the recent weather/humidity. You'll be able to dial in the setup next season..

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by Encinitastubes

Where do you get a replacement Nocaster neck? Is that something you have to get from Fender or are there ones available from guitar/body makers (sorry, I have not experience replacing major parts).

You can order aftermarket necks from a number of vendors including Warmoth. There's a link to their site in the banner at the top of the page.

You may want to ask some of the tech's and builders for a recommendation as to who can give you a neck with the specs you want and who has the best product for the money.

A traditional Nocaster neck profile is "U" shaped but from what others have said their dimensions can vary and you may able to order one exactly as you like. Personally I prefer a "V" profile which may not be vintage correct but for me it's far easier to play.

[Steamroller]

Wow, thanks to everybody. You have helped me a lot. I will try to adjust the B-E saddle (and a little bit of one side of the D-G saddle) and I will try to do the next setup by myself with high action.

Originally Posted by fancychords

I suppose this is why they say every guitar is different..I've had 2 Nocasters with the 7.5 radius set up to 4/64ths and have never had a problem..I have a Mexican strat in surf green 7.5 and no problem..Yet I've tried a Custom Shop Relic 56 Strat with a 7.5 and it fretted out like crazy above the 12th fret..
Go figure..

I go to use this thread for another question for nocaster owners. I don't know if is my guitar or all nocaster models has the same peculiarity but I think the A string and specially the E(6) string sound weaker comparing them with the other strings.Does anybody feeling the same with his Nocaster?

I think put compensated saddles is like to use sledgehammer to crack a nut and I don't think I can solve the problem change the one side height of the pups because I have the same feeling when I play without amp. ANd I don't think the problem is due to my way of play.

I use this strings :


Do you think this could solve my problem/feeling/preference? Is any nocaster player using this gauge?