Marcel's GAS SGM-1 (PBG build #5)

[Marcel]

There isn't a lot of height. Might give it a trim and see what happens, and then change it anyway...lol

[Marcel]

Ahhrrgghh!!!

Nothing I do gets me any closer to getting this G string to play nice...

Filed the plastic nut which had nil noticeable effect.
Replaced the nut with a bone nut... a slight improvement... now the 2nd fret is only about 2 but closer to 3 cents off (high/sharp), and a Am or D or A chord still just sounds wrong, and worse if you add any gain in the amp. The open G and at the 12th fret is perfect. By the tuner all other strings/notes both open and fretted are 1 cent or better. 2nd fret bar looks, feels and measures fine. Play above the 5th fret is fine, and 3rd fret and above is often quite passable, It's just those finger chords that include any of the first 3 frets on the G string that sound off...

Hmmmm...

[Sonic Mountain]

My JMA was like that initially with the 'g' string, I've heard that lowering it at the nut will help, did you do that with the bone one as well? I redid all my compensation and its a lot better than it was, I'm waiting for it to well and truly settle down before I try any more adjustment.

[Marcel]

The bone nut I used was originally cut quite well SM. To bring it in I filed the underneath until 4 of the strings were at the right height which left only the low E and G to adjust with some light slot filing. I did both the low E and the G with my Japanese nut slot file so now all strings are at slightly above (0.010") minimum height, so there is very little room if any for improvement height wise at the nut.

I'm starting to think there may be a weird issue with the G string itself, which is odd as it was a fresh brand new set of Ernie Ball slinky 10-46's...

[Sonic Mountain]

Interesting. I guess its possible that its a dud string, at least thats an easy one to check.

I've just been doing some googling and it seems like a super common problem to have across a variety of guitars. The answer appears to lie in a combination of truss rod adjustment, nut slot depth and action adjustment. Apparently a dud string isn't than uncommon either, so maybe try that first. I'll be interested to see if you come up with a good solution.

[Simon Barden]

Yes, you do get the odd dud string where the wrap string tension had a hiccup or the core wire diameter has varied too much along its length. I'd try a new string before trying anything else. The other strings play in tune, so the frets must be OK, the nut slot is low, so ther's not a lot else it could be apart from the string (unless you've got a very localised space/time distortion in the neck).

I suppose you could try lowering the pickups in case magnetic pull is creating a kind of wolf note, but it's pretty unlikely with humbuckers and I don't think it should make a difference - but it's quick to do and then you can cross it off the list.

[Marcel]

You might be on to something there Simon.... I'll break the electron microscope out and look for tiny Black Holes under the 2nd fret bar tomorrow...

Damn those time/space continuum distortions..... so annoying !!

[wazkelly]

You might be on to something there Simon.... I'll break the electron microscope out and look for tiny Black Holes under the 2nd fret bar tomorrow...

Damn those time/space continuum distortions..... so annoying !!

Sounds a bit like Dr Who and the Daleks.......exterminate, exterminate, exterminate....

[Marcel]

What a wonderful idea... Thanks Waz.... Use the Sonic screwdriver to dislodge those space/time distortions out from under the fret bar...... Now, where did I leave that darn thing????

[Marcel]

On a SG - Poker chip or NOT?

I know it comes down to personal preference but I was wondering what do you guys think...