What causes a note to choke out?

Turdus · October 20, 2009

Let's say you play an F, first fret high E, and the note is choked. Every other note, on every string, plays fine.

Is this generally caused by the next fret up not being level?

cmatthes · October 20, 2009

How's the nut cut on the high E string? Could the slot be a bit too deep?

Turdus · October 20, 2009

Chris... looks like a replacement nut, that is cut kinda high actually.

Bjørn M · October 20, 2009

Sounds like the first fret is a wee bit low under the high-E string. Sounds like a fret dress.

gorch · October 20, 2009

Check your finger positioning. If you feel you are putting the finger at the right place you might have to adjust the string height a bit by adjusting the trussrod and the bridge.

I'd say, lower the trussrod 1/4 - 1/2 turn and wait for a day. Then check the string height from the bridge's point of view. Keep the guitar tuned at anytime.

GaryT · October 20, 2009

TR adjustments and Saddles adjustments may resolve the issue.

But you have a HIGH fret and you can find it by having your neck as straight as possible then using a straight edge on top of the frets. To find the High fret.

You could get away with just crowning the one fret.

Steve Haynie · October 20, 2009

Is there any chance that you are pulling the high E a little toward the edge of the fretboard? At the first fret that is hard to do, but it is a common for some people to pull the first string sideways a little.

Turdus · October 21, 2009

I ran a straight edge down the fret board. Amazing that even though the neck looked good to me, there was a hump in the middle, so I fixed that a bit.

Then, took it to a local repair guy, since I could not get the action where I like it. He said the neck has a slight pitch to the right. Also says the replacement nut was not properly slotted He's going to work on that. I should have it back later this week.

GaryT · October 21, 2009

I ran a straight edge down the fret board. Amazing that even though the neck looked good to me, there was a hump in the middle, so I fixed that a bit.
Then, took it to a local repair guy, since I could not get the action where I like it. He said the neck has a slight pitch to the right. Also says the replacement nut was not properly slotted He's going to work on that. I should have it back later this week.

This is what would happen if you needed a fret level. Its not uncommon to have a couple high frets.