Dead spot" on 15th fret, 3rd string?

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 18 Apr 2003 12:33 pm

I had to take the neck off my Remington U12 because the pin broke off the 12th string finger. It was easy to replace, but when I reassembled the guitar, I noticed that the "cut-tail" piece between the saddles was loose. I tightened it up (not too tight) and tested the guitar. Now I seem to have a very distinct "dead spot" on the 3rd string at fret 15 and 16. The other fret positions on string 3 are fine. Pedal up or down makes very little difference. If I sound the same note on string 4, a couple of frets higher, it sustains like it should. So it is not the guitar. Could it be the string? Or this particular finger? Or could it be that I may have rotated the axel a little?

Any help is appreciated.

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

DroopyPawn · Post by **DroopyPawn** » 19 Apr 2003 2:20 pm

I think you have to close one eye and hold your mouth just right on that particular note.
gs

------------------

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 20 Apr 2003 12:12 pm

You mean like this?:

I tried that, but it did not work.

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 23 Apr 2003 2:05 am

your south of the equator...try the other eye

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 23 Apr 2003 2:42 am

It appears that -- if it is not a bad string -- something is resonating at the frequency of the note you describe, therefore absorbing energy from the string. It is something to do with the changer, no doubt, as the same note on another string sounds normal. I have no idea what the source of the problem may be, but I am convinced that something was changed when you did the work. If it bugs you enough to justify tracking it down, I would first put another string on and, if that doesn't help, the only thing left is to redo the work you did earlier. Hope this hint helps.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 23 Apr 2003 4:51 am

Yep Roy, That is what I am going to do. Re-assemble in a different sequence to make sure there is no distortion on the changer. And I'll turn the axle 180 degrees. That is what Ricky D. suggested.

Jim, that picture is not me, it is Droopy's. I use both eyes.

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 23 Apr 2003 7:18 am

Peter:

I'll be curious to know how it turns out. Email me or post the results if you don't mind.

Roy

royayres@earthlink.net

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 23 Apr 2003 7:31 am

Lower the string (at the key) a full tone. If the fret at which the problem occurs changes, the problem is probably in the guitar. If not, the problem is probably in the string.

Any time a string is removed, it should be replaced. I have run into many problems removing (going to "zero tension") strings, and trying to reuse them. It's always best to start with a new string when diagnosing new problems.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 23 Apr 2003 1:24 pm

Peter, if the other diagnostics don't help, try removing the 2nd or 4th string and hook the 3rd string on that finger and tune it up and check the 15th fret 3rd string to see if it is still a dead spot. If it is I would think the finger is not making good contact with the axle and the axle could need rotating.
JR

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 23 Apr 2003 9:21 pm

I've only had that problem one time that I can recall! I would expect it to happen more often! Maybe I just missed it! The problem was solved by replacing the string. "Big John"

http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 24 Apr 2003 8:45 am

Very respectfully,

Could it be that it was always that way, and you are just now noticing it? NOT saying it was, but this is NOT an atypical thing in life.

I have told this before, but it bears repeating here I think. I once was talking to a fellow steel player and we were discussing "cabinet drop". He said his guitar did not have any. I asked if I could put a tuner on it and try it. When I did, there was indeed cabinet drop. In fact it was almost the same amount as what I had on my guitar.

When he noticed it on the tuner, he sat down and checked it again and then exclaimed,

"Well, it never had it before you played it!". I do NOT believe he was kidding.

carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 24 April 2003 at 09:48 AM.]

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 24 Apr 2003 9:22 pm

Carl, that's a lovely story

and I DO understand where you come from.
But in this case, it is not only real, but also new. In previous posts I read about similar things, and in fact I have been looking for dead spots before, just to check my work on this guitar. The best test is to practice in "Hughey Land".

Donny, I checked by tuning down the string as you suggested, and the problem stays on the same fret. Thank you for this tip, hopefully I don't have to take the contraption apart again. Needless to say I never use old strings and put them on the guitar again after they have been off.

Jerry and John, I will put new strings on this weekend and do some more tests.

If it is not the string, I will have to rebuild it again.

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 27 Apr 2003 10:38 pm

Thanks all for your input.
In the end it was just the string.
So no rebuilding needed

Best,
Peter den Hartogh

------------------
Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa