New Strat day, I kind of set it up my way (action was too low), I put the tremolo arm on and start playing Lenny (standard procedure when I get a new Strat), "well, it definitely plays fine", then I notice some ugly choking/buzz when I play a 12th fret harmonic on B and E strings. Also on the 11th and 13th (not as noticeable). No problem with other frets though. Can you guys help me? I promise pics.
Not yet, I was planning to do that next week with more time since I got to remove the neck in order to do it. I've always been a Gibson guy so my references regarding truss rod adjustment might not be very useful here, can you provide me with a good guide for stratocasters?
Really appreciate it. One question, is it always necessary/recommended to remove the neck for a truss rod adjustment? Is there any tool I can use to make it quicker?
If it's a heal adjust for the truss... you have no choice but to take it off... if it's a head stock adjust.. no, you keep the neck on to do the adjustment...
Use a paint can opener, then you only have to remove the pick guard. While you have the pick guard off you can always file a small, half round out of it in the area of the adjust screw then you won't have to remove it in the future to make an adjustment. Although I don't see how the neck relief would affect a harmonic, unless your action is extremely low.
Hard to say. Check to see that both screws in the saddles are pressing on the bridge plate evenly, sometimes a loose saddle can dampen thing enough to kill those harmonics. But that really doesn't explain why it's only happening where it is.
Actually I just realised this also happens in all higher frets. Nowing it’s there is really annoying.
IF you want very low action and have not had the frets leveled.. it's kinda like wanting to set the land speed record at Bonneville, with a few hundred pounds of bricks in your trunk... under inflated tires and your Granny as the driver.... towing an Airstream with water in the gas line, a slipping clutch, tires unbalanced... get muh drift there?? do this first.... give yourself a fighting chance... http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/201556-fret-leveling-yer-tele-101-a.html rk
Not entirely true. As mentioned earlier you might be able to use a paint can opener, and this Fender video talks about headstock truss adjustment, then at about 3:30 it goes into heel truss rod adjustment by loosening the neck and tilting it back. http://www2.fender.com/experience/fender-university/fender-university-truss-rod-adjustment/
