Volume problem on certain notes

[ogradyboy]

I found a noticeable loss of volume when fretting only the D string at the seventh fret. Further inspection found a similar volume drop on the A string at the 12th fret, B string at the 10th and 15th frets and high E in 2 places as well.

The tuning is within 1-2% on all notes through the 12th fret (didn't check higher). The strings are a few months old.

The guitar is a PRS Standard with the wraparound bridge. To my naked eye there doesn't appear to be noticeable fret wear.

To the uninitiated, what's the obvious problem?

[GeorgeSunset]

hm... sounds normal. there are wolf-notes (extra loud - love that term!) and lost-notes (dead-spots). its the nature of the beast. when you make things out of something that is suppose to vibrate, you will have some frequenzes where the system collapses and where things go haywire (like bridges…) a guitar is not different

SOME people say that PRS are known for having deadspots… BUT if that is true or not, I don’t know, never played one (they are WAY out of my wallet for a “production” guitar… for that kind of money I would rather have a special one build for me)

chancing string would help though… I chance every month…

[ogradyboy]

Problem solved...but not what I expected.

Upon further troubleshooting I found the same "dead notes" with three other guitars. As the pattern emerged, every fretted A note was dead everywhere on the neck - now with 4 different guitars.

Plug straight into the amp and all the notes came back to normal volume - with all 4 guitars.

Play through my pedalboard - still no problem.

Add in the newly reconfigured effects loop - with the Eventide TimeFactor - and, Voila! - problem comes back.

Realizing that the Timefactor's Input/Output switches were not both set to "Line In" and subsequently resolving the problem - priceless.

I have no idea why the frequency corresponding to that note would get lost, but there you have it.

[Structo]

I know you solved the problem but as I was thinking about your issue I had a similar problem on a strat.
I had a couple dead notes that just didn't ring or sustain.

I narrowed it down to a couple dead or loose frets.
I drizzled some super glue into the fret slot and it cured the problem.
Be careful if you do this and don't get the glue all over the place.

[EADGBE]

I had a problem like that with a ST-3 I have. It eventually went away. Maybe as a result of linseed oiling the neck. I'm not sure. This thread goes into it a little more: http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/94760485/m/5756044822/p/2