Found a dead spot on my Studio neck

B

Brownsound

New member
I just got this guitar about a month ago. Its a Studio Custom, made in 96 bought it NOS from a local music store. Seems to have a dead spot at the 14th fret on the G string. Im totally bummed! /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif I doubt this can be fixed so Im not sure what to do.

 
try heavier gauge strings or a fat finger or change the tuner buttons on machines. all of these have been suggestions when this topic has come up Good Luck.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just sell the guitar......$350.00 and no more dead spot!....lol! /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif

 
Check the same note on the B and D strings. You'll probably find them to be somewhat dead also. Don't play that note much and you'll be OK.

 
that's an A so you may need to play it /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif try plastic tuner buttons, they look cool and change the resonant frequency just enough , hopefully you can move it to a micro-tone between notes or at least up to Bb ( assuming your not a jazzer )

 
Last edited by a moderator:
So how common are these things? Is this a fatal flaw on the guit? I would hate to get rid of this guitar. Its beautiful and plays great.

 
My experience has been that MOST Hamers with the Studio/Special body shape are 'weak' around the 12th fret on the G. Some are totally dead (ping...ping....thud), but most are just 'soft'. If you tune differently, the spot will follow the note, but only on that string, the B five frets toward the neck is usually fine.

It's usually worse on the flat-top models, and I don't recall ever being offended by it on Artists.

I've never seen it on a Standard, nor on any 25.5 scale guitar.

I use plastic tuner buttons anyway, to help with neck-heaviness. This usually alleviates the problem, and/or moves it around.

 
My experience has been that MOST Hamers with the Studio/Special body shape are 'weak' around the 12th fret on the G. Some are totally dead (ping...ping....thud), but most are just 'soft'. If you tune differently, the spot will follow the note, but only on that string, the B five frets toward the neck is usually fine.It's usually worse on the flat-top models, and I don't recall ever being offended by it on Artists.

I've never seen it on a Standard, nor on any 25.5 scale guitar.

I use plastic tuner buttons anyway, to help with neck-heaviness. This usually alleviates the problem, and/or moves it around.
Click to expand...
Well thank got its not totally dead. I just hit the note and it sounds strong then "warbles" and dies. I can still vibrato the note and get smooth transition for solo. I will try the plastic buttons and hopefully move it.

I checked other notes and strings around the same area and it doesnt seem to be an issue.

 
Turn your amp up real loud so all of the notes on the neck feed back. No more problem. /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif

 
While I have heard of dead spots I have not personally run across one.

 
Turn your amp up real loud so all of the notes on the neck feed back. No more problem. /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif
Click to expand...
that dead spot is pretty common on lots of different brands of guitars with thinner necks... usually 12-14 fret on the G string is the worst. My PRS wide/thin has it on G 13th fret. As mentioned, it works pretty well when I really want something to go into feedback immediately. /emoticons/default_laugh.png

 
have the frets checked by a good fret person. sometimes a slightly out of level fret near the problem area can be causing it. a light leveling can fix it if that's the case.

 
Make sure that you bridge is not collapsed a bit. Many times I have seen tunamatics that have sagged in the middle leading to the D and G strings fretting out while the outer ones do not.

 
I just got it back from getting setup by a tech that used to work for Parker. The frets are good and when he adjusted the truss rod he said it was very loose. Tightening it gave it more snap and it seems the dead area is not totally plunk plunk dead it just has some sustain issues. My solo habits dont seem to favor sustaining that particuar note. Im usually speeding by instead of stopping to visit. /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif

Im going to put large perloid buttons on the tuners and see what that does. I do love the guit though, I alway wanted a Studio Custom. I cant see taking a bath and selling this one only to take a chance of getting another that could also have a dead spot somewhere.

In contrast I did an A/B with my new Gibson ES-137. OMG the ES just sustains for days and has no spots I can find...and it sounds huge! Of course this neck is a bat compared to the Studio and its maple so Im sure that makes a difference.

 
I found a set of the large Schaller pearloid buttons in my parts bin, if you don't already have a set. I'd let 'em go for $10 shipped (I think they're about $15 new).

 
I found a set of the large Schaller pearloid buttons in my parts bin, if you don't already have a set. I'd let 'em go for $10 shipped (I think they're about $15 new).
Click to expand...
That would be cool. Ill take em. Ill pm ya.

 
According to this link http://www.acoustics.org/press/137th/fleischer.html dead spots come with the territory, just the nature of guitars. I guess you can get them to move around the neck by adjusting the mass etc. I was just plying around on my Newport pro and was amazed at the sustain of the G string at the 12th fret (can you heaar it?). G# (13th fret) good but not the same sustain. Gb (11th fret) fades after about 2 seconds. then I check G and Gb all over the neck, sure enough, it's very noticeable G is like a sweet spot (no pun intended) where Gb fades quite rapidly.

I'm curious to see if playing the fret above the dead spot you found on your guitar behaves the same way as mine.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top