String Pitch flaws on a MIA Fender Jazz '94

jarrhead · #1 06-13-2009, 05:05 PM

Alright about a month or two ago I bought a MIA Fender Jazz '94 from SamAsh in Raleigh, NC.

Anyways, the 19th and 20th fret on the A string are the same note.

Same with the D string.

What might be causing this? I know with my bass I can bring it in to SamAsh 4 times a year for modification & stuff like restringing, bridge raising, etc.

Is this a problem that could be fix by tightening the screws, thus lowering my pickups, or will I have to raise my nut, bridge, strings, or possibly even redo the fingerboard/frets?

Or is this perfectly normal?

ANyways, is this normal? And if not, how can it be fixed?

()smoke() · #2 06-13-2009, 05:09 PM

they can't be the same note unless the 19th fret IS the 20th fret--can you be more specific? the 20th has to be higher pitch, is the intonation just off?

jarrhead · #3 06-13-2009, 05:14 PM

No, they are EXACTLY the same note.

possibly the 20th fret juts out more than the 19th, causing it to press on the 20th when I hit the 19th?

Im serious, they are the EXACT same note, just the 19th fret rasps a little more. I've tried it with G and E/D string and they create clearly different notes.

I also dont know if the intonation is off, That's why i'm asking. :P

()smoke() · #4 06-13-2009, 05:53 PM

from the description, it sounds like you either have a high fret at the 20th or a low fret at the 19th...can you tell if the middle portion of the 20th fret seems to be pull up from the fretboard any? or if the 19th fret seems to be worn down in the middle under the A and D strings...
either could cause the problem on your A and D strings

if it's a high 20th fret, a good tech can probably re-seat it and fix the problem...a low 19th fret could mean a fret level if it's just a bit worn, or it might need to be replaced

...but it's hard to diagnose without seeing it firsthand

edit: forgot to add, at any rate, it's not normal, but probably can be fixed--perhaps even easily if it's just a high fret

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrhead

No, they are EXACTLY the same note.

possibly the 20th fret juts out more than the 19th, causing it to press on the 20th when I hit the 19th?

Im serious, they are the EXACT same note, just the 19th fret rasps a little more. I've tried it with G and E/D string and they create clearly different notes.

I also dont know if the intonation is off, That's why i'm asking. :P

jarrhead · #5 06-13-2009, 05:54 PM

If my girlfriend hadnt taken her camera today I would put up a video but she did.

I'll see if I can get an audio recording in the next few days.

Of course you'd probably need to see it?

()smoke() · #6 06-13-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrhead

If my girlfriend hadnt taken her camera today I would put up a video but she did.

I'll see if I can get an audio recording in the next few days.

Of course you'd probably need to see it?

honestly, for me to be of real help, i'd need to see it in person to look at it--do you know any good local guitar/bass techs in your area? if not you might be able to find someone here near you that could recommend one--i'd take it to a reputable tech and he/she should be able to sort you out

sorry i can't be of more help, but the safest thing is to just have a tech take a look

jarrhead · #7 06-13-2009, 07:02 PM

Would it be trusty enough to take it to the SamAsh dealer in Raleigh?

bongomania · #8 06-13-2009, 07:06 PM

You have to take it someplace, because that is the most outlandish thing I've heard in a while.

jarrhead · #9 06-13-2009, 07:09 PM

Are MIA Fender Jazz basses handmade? If so I think I found my problem. :P

nothumb · #10 06-13-2009, 07:11 PM

take it back to sam ash and tell them to fix it.

alternate answer: it's not a ****ing guitar, you don't need to go that high anyway

jarrhead · #11 06-13-2009, 07:13 PM

Uhh I play up there when I play things in all ranges so I can use chord structures and shapes and its all within hand reach.

Like the grudge by tool, plus my own stuff.

He goes high on the G and low on the G so he just plays High on the A and D

bongomania · #12 06-13-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Are MIA Fender Jazz basses handmade? If so I think I found my problem.

Meaningless twaddle.

Pilgrim · #13 06-13-2009, 10:04 PM

Put a straight edge across ath least three frets and I'll bet you find there's a high or low one on the 19th or 20th. Otherwise it's not possible.

JLS · #14 06-13-2009, 10:38 PM

>>ANyways, is this normal? <<

No.

>>Is this a problem that could be fix by tightening the screws, thus lowering my pickups,

No.

>>or will I have to raise my nut,

No.

>> bridge,

You could, but it's not the problem.

>>strings,

You could, but it's not the problem.

>> or possibly even redo the fingerboard/frets?

Bingo! It's fret problem at the end of the fingerboard! Take it back where you got it. If they claim it's anything BUT a fret issue, smile and tell them that you want your $ back. Did you pay w/ a credit card?

On the bright side, it's not a big problem to fix, at all.

walterw · #15 06-14-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

Bingo! It's fret problem at the end of the fingerboard! Take it back where you got it. If they claim it's anything BUT a fret issue, smile and tell them that you want your $ back. Did you pay w/ a credit card?

now, don't be hasty, here. it could very easily be just a setup issue. if the neck has too much upbow and the saddles are too low, the last few frets could very easily be dead. in this case, 2 minutes with a couple allen wrenches could totally fix the problem. no need to start yelling about refunds so quickly.

jarrhead · #16 06-15-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

>>ANyways, is this normal? <<

No.

>>Is this a problem that could be fix by tightening the screws, thus lowering my pickups,

No.

>>or will I have to raise my nut,

No.

>> bridge,

You could, but it's not the problem.

>>strings,

You could, but it's not the problem.

>> or possibly even redo the fingerboard/frets?

Bingo! It's fret problem at the end of the fingerboard! Take it back where you got it. If they claim it's anything BUT a fret issue, smile and tell them that you want your $ back. Did you pay w/ a credit card?

On the bright side, it's not a big problem to fix, at all.

LOL. They dont give refunds, they buy back at half price unless you have a VERY VALID issue that they CANNOT fix. They can obviously fix this.

And yes, we paid with credit card, but doesnt really matter since i'm not getting a refund. I would love one though so I could buy a Wal MK II instead. :P

jarrhead · #17 06-15-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Put a straight edge across ath least three frets and I'll bet you find there's a high or low one on the 19th or 20th. Otherwise it's not possible.

My E/D string and G string perfectly play out the seperate notes.

It's pretty confusing for me. That's why i'm asking.

I'll ask my teacher this wednesday. And if he has no Idea I guess I'll take it to SamAsh next time I go to Raleigh for my brother to buy his drums and for myself to get some strings. They can fix it and put strings on and lower my pickups at once. :P