Fret Slot/Placement: Odds of fret placement being incorrect?

[aarondavis]

I have a Fender American Standard Tele. I've really started noticing bad intonation problems, no matter how well I set the intonation... Not having this problem with my others (Koll, PRS...)

What are the odds that the Fender shop got the fret placement off?

I understand that a fret dress could help, but I wanted to know the odds of this type of problem.

Thanks!

[TED STEVENSON]

It happens, I have seen it on very few guitars but before you write the guitar off you should make sure the frets aren't overly worn and that they are well crowned. Also, check that the nut isn't too high, causing notes to be sharp when you press down.

Ted

[David Collins]

It's not uncommon at all, but not seen often on Fenders. I'm currently working on a historical survey of fret spacings, and have measured and cataloged about a hundred instruments so far, but haven't put a lot of focus on Fenders because I haven't found that many interesting discrepancies with their boards.

One of the most common issues found is where the fret spacing itself is fine, but the nut placement is off, which will certainly cause intonation issues apparent throughout the board. Again though, I haven't found this to be common on Fender boards. If you can describe where and how the intonation is most notably off, it can sometimes a reasonable diagnosis can be suggested without seeing it. If you have a good tech to go to though, there's no substitute for evaluating it in person.

By far the most common issue however, is the nut being too high as Ted pointed to. Worn or flat frets are certainly another common problem.

[Bryan T]

Naive questions: Are the intonation problems for a fret on all of the strings? Are the pickups too close to the strings?

[aarondavis]

Naive questions: Are the intonation problems for a fret on all of the strings? Are the pickups too close to the strings?

I have not sat with my tuner to check the differences on particular frets. I really noticed it when I was playing a E major chord with the 3rd in the bass (G# on the A string, 11th fret). So I wondered if I had the pickups too close. But they are actually humbuckers (stacked), Dimarzio Virtual Vintage. Although I took my calipers and measured the distance, which was below Dimarzio's recommendations, I went ahead and lowered the pickups. Still intonation issues...

The nut slots are nice and low. I carefully set my intonation at the 12th Fret with my Turbo Tuner. I started this thread since I was simply playing the guitar this morning and it bugged me... so I was simply wondering *if* the fret placement issue is ever a common problem with guitars and Fenders specifically.

*That said*, I assume that my problem is that the guitar needs a fret dressing. Something I'd like to learn to do myself (it's really the only maintence I don't know how to do). But I think I'm going to have to take it in. From the git go, this guitar has had *flat* frets. In other words Fender never did a nice crown on them...

Thanks for the responses, please still keep them coming. :munch

[Rock Johnson]

I'm currently working on a historical survey of fret spacings, and have measured and cataloged about a hundred instruments so far, but haven't put a lot of focus on Fenders because I haven't found that many interesting discrepancies with their boards.


I saw your teaser about Gibson scale length formulas on another thread -- I can't wait to see it unveiled.

[Bryan T]

I really noticed it when I was playing a E major chord with the 3rd in the bass (G# on the A string, 11th fret).

Hmm . . . That could just be an equal temperament issue. Major thirds are notoriously sharp.

I'd compare the fretted note to your tuner and see if it is actually sharp.

I'd also do the same comparison, but I'd put a capo at the first fret. That would take the nut out of the equation.

Bryan

[bunny]

Overal setup should be checked first. In fact, severe fret slot displacement is almost impossible using fender slotting machinery, otherwise we should have a thousand necks with the same problem.

[aarondavis]

Well, the whole reason I started this thread is that I'm not familiar with how most companies, including Fender, cut the slots for their frets. So thanks to those that have given me more confidence in Fender's ability to cut the slots.

Therefore, this leads me to my next logical step. I'll take it to have a fret dressing. And again, this guitar has always had "flat tops" on the frets. Why would Fender sell a $1,200 guitar without properly crowning the frets? It still even has finish on the side of many of the frets... Maybe this is normal... My PRS's and even my Ibanez's had nicely crowned frets.

[Chris Scott]

Try intonating it 3rd fret - 15th fret. This works quite well for me -sometimes this will pull it in closer.

Are the strings brand new? Often I encounter guitars that need to be "played in" a bit before proper intonation can be realized.

..just a thought - best of luck!


re. quality control - you should have seen brand-new Fenders back in the seventies - run a stone over the frets, and in the box she goes.

...crown?
...polish?

NAH!



it's unlikely that worn/flat frets are causing your problem, but anything's possible.....