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Smylight
 Post subject: PRS Santana SE dead spot
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:09 pm 
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First name: Pierre
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Hello all,

A few weeks ago I changed pickups on a PRS Santana SE, as the original ones sounded lifeless and quite dull. The body itself has great sustain and punch, so we elected to install a pair of StewMac's Parsons Street to give 'em a try. Happy to say those are great sounding units. The guitar now sounds up to its potential. Will try a pair of SD 59s too.

Now, to my point . Those new pickups have revealed a rather annoying dead spot, G string 14th fret. Hard to avoid playing this very note. ;-)

I have come across dead spots on basses in the past, but never on a guitar. The neck in this guitar is rather extraordinary, V into fat 50s Gibson, so lack of wood is not an issue I believe.

Anyone has an opinion, theory or even solution for this kind of problem? As I'm writing the little voice at the back of my head has begun screaming "loose fret!!!" so I’m going to have a look in this direction, but anyhow I’m interested in your input.

Thanks a lot, have a nice day and an even nicer 2019!


Pierre
www.torvisse.com

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DavidSchwab
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 2:18 pm 
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One way to determine if it’s a fret is tune that string a step higher or lower. If it still dies on the same note it’s the fret.

It seems unlikely that it’s an actual dead spot, but clamping a small weight to the headstock often gets rid of those.

There used to be a product called a “fat head” made just for this purpose.


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Smylight
 Post subject: PRS Santana SE dead spot
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 3:13 pm 
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DavidSchwab wrote:
One way to determine if it’s a fret is tune that string a step higher or lower. If it still dies on the same note it’s the fret.


It seems unlikely that it’s an actual dead spot, but clamping a small weight to the headstock often gets rid of those.

There used to be a product called a “fat head” made just for this purpose.



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Great tips, thanks.

I believe Fender calls the gizmo the "Fat Finger". I'll get one for the shop, thanks for your input.




Pierre
http://www.torvisse.com

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Chris Pile
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:13 pm 
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Sadly, no longer made - but this is what Fatheads looked like. They made them for Teles, Strats, basses, etc. They worked great, and I sold a load of them back in the 80's.

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... o43awv.jpg

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These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: DavidSchwab (Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:03 pm)
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Jim Watts
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:02 pm 
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Do get the same response on the B string, 10th fret? It's the same note, this would help narrow down a fret problem.

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These users thanked the author Jim Watts for the post: Smylight (Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:55 pm)
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Smylight
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:54 pm 
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Chris Pile wrote:
Sadly, no longer made - but this is what Fatheads looked like. They made them for Teles, Strats, basses, etc. They worked great, and I sold a load of them back in the 80's.

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... o43awv.jpg


This! It's been a very long time since I've seen one of those. I can get one made by the machinist friend.


Pierre
www.torvisse.com

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Smylight
PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 12:00 am 
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Jim Watts wrote:
Do get the same response on the B string, 10th fret? It's the same note, this would help narrow down a fret problem.


Been working on other guitars all day, I'll try this tomorrow, thanks a lot!


Pierre
www.torvisse.com

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DavidSchwab
PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:05 pm 
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Smylight wrote:
DavidSchwab wrote:
One way to determine if it’s a fret is tune that string a step higher or lower. If it still dies on the same note it’s the fret.


It seems unlikely that it’s an actual dead spot, but clamping a small weight to the headstock often gets rid of those.

There used to be a product called a “fat head” made just for this purpose.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Great tips, thanks.

I believe Fender calls the gizmo the "Fat Finger". I'll get one for the shop, thanks for your input.




Pierre
http://www.torvisse.com


Here’s the Fat Finger

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... for-guitar


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These users thanked the author DavidSchwab for the post: Smylight (Fri Jan 11, 2019 7:21 pm)
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