The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-30-2017, 06:42 PM
sandspike15 sandspike15 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 200
Default Accidental Harmonic after resetting action

Have a 2012 Epi LP Traditional Plustop Pro that I recently changed strings on. I lowered the action a bit, and (while the neck seems straight and I have the relief I'd like down most of the neck) I get to a place on the 16th feet- right above where the neck joins the body- that all I get is a harmonic when I fret the note on my B string. It seems to play fine on both sides of that fret in all other places.

Could this be a fret that needs leveling, or do I need to cheat the action back up a little more and not be so lazy?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-30-2017, 08:49 PM
Bob Womack's Avatar
Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
Guitar Gourmet
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Between Clever and Stupid
Posts: 26,989
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sandspike15 View Post
Have a 2012 Epi LP Traditional Plustop Pro that I recently changed strings on. I lowered the action a bit, and (while the neck seems straight and I have the relief I'd like down most of the neck) I get to a place on the 16th feet- right above where the neck joins the body- that all I get is a harmonic when I fret the note on my B string. It seems to play fine on both sides of that fret in all other places.



Could this be a fret that needs leveling, or do I need to cheat the action back up a little more and not be so lazy?


I think you are experiencing the limit of your guitar's fretwork. That's the classic sign of a high fret or an uneven fretboard extension. Typically your choices are to get a tech to level the frets and set up the guitar or raise the action.

Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' "
Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring

THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-30-2017, 09:04 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack View Post
...That's the classic sign of a high fret or an uneven fretboard extension. Typically your choices are to get a tech to level the frets and set up the guitar or raise the action...
Speaking from experience the fretwork on post-2008, MIC Epiphones is notoriously inconsistent - the typical cover-up for which is ultra-light strings and higher-than-necessary action ("Don't worry, you can always lower the bridge and adjust the truss rod when you get home - now, will that be cash or credit?"); if you're looking to keep the guitar over the long haul, I'd go for the fret job/setup...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-01-2017, 06:17 PM
clintj clintj is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Posts: 4,267
Default

Either the 16th is low or the 17th is high, is my take on it. Using a short straight edge to rock on the frets should expose the troublemaker. If you like the guitar other than that, have them leveled, crowned, and polished by a pro. I've done a few of those jobs on Epiphones, and you can get the action super low and easy to play when it's done right.
__________________
"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar

Acoustics
2013 Guild F30 Standard
2012 Yamaha LL16
2007 Seagull S12
1991 Yairi DY 50

Electrics
Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Fender Am. Standard Telecaster
Gibson ES-335
Gibson Firebird
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=