Any guitar experts out there?

[minimoog]

I can't play for shit but I've been spanking me plank in the bedroom anyway today (fnaar) and I noticed that the low E string is doing some weird 'double pitch' thing. Sounds like two notes are playing at once on every fret and it's pretty horrible and dissonnant. It's the same all the way up the neck, and just on that string. Not the same as an occasional buzzy fret. The action isn't overtly low, least it doesn't seem so.

I recently played with the pickup height and bridge saddles etc as per the instructions on the Fender site to set the guitar up, so I suspect one of these might be out of whack. Rather than randomly change things around does anyone have an idea of what is wrong? It's a Squier strat with a standard trem/bridge.

Cheers for any help.

[smiller]

Does this dissonance occur when plugged in to the amp, or unplugged?

If it happens when playing amplified, are you playing through effects or clean?

[suthol]

Winding on the string has gone loose perhaps, not common but it has been known to happen, you would also hear it when it is open.

Or alternatively you've simply stuffed it by trying to get it too low.

[Matthew_Eames]

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/46290_fender-st...

try this....might work

[minimoog]

I noticed it when amped but without any fx. Just tried it without the amp and I have to admit there is a fair bit of fret buzz, contrary to my earlier claim. When unplugged the 'detuned' effect gets really noticeable at the 14th fret, but amped you can hear it right from the 2nd fret or so. Though it isn't playing that low I'm starting to think I've lowered the action on that string too much. When I've sobered up I'll have a go at the bridge saddle

[gbbird]

Sounds like you have gone too low with the action on that side of the bridge. Just try heightening it a little bit and the buzz should go away.

That or you have a dodgy string.

g

[Rob-C]

Another thing to check is the gap between the string anf the pickup poles. If they get too close together, the magnetic field interacts with the string vibration and causes all kinds of weirdness.

You can lower the height of the pickup if this is the problem.

[smiller]

Yea.

First thing I'd try is a) raising the action a tad on the E to D adjuster and b) lowering the pickups (all three if your Strat has three single coils) on the wound string side.

[splitter / judas]

Agreed - the action is too low somewhere. It'll either be the bridge or the pick up.

[NARB]

also dont forget to get new strings

[Airbag]

Strings can fail and produce a sound sort of like a ring mod. Is that the sort of thing you're getting?

[minimoog]

Airbag said:

Strings can fail and produce a sound sort of like a ring mod. Is that the sort of thing you're getting?

Yes a bit like that. They're newish strings too. I've raised the action, which has relieved the buzzing, and reset the intonation but the two-notes-for-one thing is still going so I'll try a new string.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[suthol]

minimoog said:

Airbag said:

Strings can fail and produce a sound sort of like a ring mod. Is that the sort of thing you're getting?

Yes a bit like that. They're newish strings too. I've raised the action, which has relieved the buzzing, and reset the intonation but the two-notes-for-one thing is still going so I'll try a new string.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ernie Ball Earth Wound strings in the 70s were a bit like that, seemed to generate harmonics on my Tele naturally, they were very difficult to tune.

[Mudbug]

a good new site is www.nowplayit.com has real bands showing you how to play songs.