Albert Lee Mystery???

[Steve 65]

I've had my Albert Lee vintage Sunburst for 3 fun filled days. I just went to play it and the high E and G strings are dead from the first to the 3rd fret! I mean if I try to play an F chord in first position then the two highest strings don't ring - then just clunk.

I'm guessing something has shifted and the action is now too low or the neck has twisted??? But It was perfect this morning and it has just been sitting quietly on its stand - no Pete Townsend windmills, no direct sunlight, it rained a lot this afternoon (but that was outside!).

I'm no guitar tech and I'm feeling extremely anxious, help me guys...

 

[jongitarz]

Sounds like a truss rod adjustment is needed. Holding the guitar as if you were playing, turn the wheel about an 8th of a turn toward you.(up) If it feels like its getting better, turn it a bit more until it feels like it did when you got it. Changes in temp, humidty etc can cause the neck to move a bit. This should take care of it.

Keep me posted,

Jon

 

[Norrin Radd]

Sounds like a truss rod adjustment is needed. Holding the guitar as if you were playing, turn the wheel about an 8th of a turn toward you.(up) If it feels like its getting better, turn it a bit more until it feels like it did when you got it. Changes in temp, humidty etc can cause the neck to move a bit. This should take care of it.

Keep me posted,

Jon

I know what you're thinking: "Can it have changed that much in that short of time?" The answer is: "Yes, it can"

Remember this always: Jon knows what he's talking about!

 

[Steve 65]

Albert Lee

Jon

how stiff should the truss rod be? I can't shift the sucker...should I try harder?

 

[jongitarz]

Yeah, try harder. You won't hurt it. Use a small screwdriver or allen wrench.

 

[Steve 65]

Thanks! I'm goin' in.....

 

[tvanveen]

Mine shifts all the time, no big deal.

 

[peterd79]

hey John...
Can I ask a tech question.... HOPE SO 'cause here it goes!

The other day i was playing my guitar just before I changed my strings and i realized that I was getting a noticible "BUZZ" on the 5-6-7th frets... so I changed my strings and the buzz was gone. Do you think it's the truss rod? Should I pay attention to that? Or just keep that in the back of my mind?

it's a maple neck with a maple fretboard....

should I be concerned I live in Northern California and it's been quite warm...

 

[jongitarz]

If you get buzzing in that area, you need a bit more relief in the neck. The weather can do this to your guitar, and is normal.

 

[Raz]

Back in my day, obtaining a BUZZ was considered a good thing

 

[peterd79]

yeah...
I hear ya! Before I became a Christain... I had a few evenings like that!

 

[tvanveen]

Someone emailed me about this...sorry, I deleted your email by accident. Try posting here, Jon should answer you anyway.

 

[ripley]

my second axis had major fret problems when it arrived. (mind you it was shipped from north carolina to japan) when I got it the tech said there was some kind of problem with the frets actually coming out of their seats caused by the wood expanding and contracting from tempriture and humidity changes. it was fine above the 5th fret, but everything below it fretted out completly and woulden't even make a note.

my friend who picked it up for me said it played fine in the shop, but 10 days later in shinjuku the frets were screwed... the EXACT same thing happened on a (ahem) peavey EVH model I have too.

 

[jongitarz]

What is this strange "Peavy" thing you speak of?

 

[ripley]

What is this strange "Peavy" thing you speak of?

an inferior instrument that looks somewhat reminescent of a real guitar made by a smaller company in california.

oh, and I forgot to put in the extra "e"

 

[Steve 65]

Bad Albert.

Thanks for the advice Jon! Albert is behaving himself a little better. I'm still getting problems bending high E at 3 and 5 (ie the string goes dead after a half note bend) but nothing like as bad as before. I'm nervous about turning the truss rod any further (I've probably turned it between 1/4 and 1/2 a turn), maybe I'll just avoid bending up there.

 

[SteveB]

Steve,

You may need to raise the saddle for that string to get it just right. Jongitarz will lead you down the path to setup nirvana.

 

[Steve 65]

My fear is that if I start changing the truss rod and the saddles I'll end up with a mess that I can't get out of...maybe I should find a tech and hand my baby over...

 

[neastguy]

fyi, I heard you should always loosen the truss 1/8 turn before you tighten.....

 

[tommyindelaware]

fyi, I heard you should always loosen the truss 1/8 turn before you tighten.....

loosey first does sometimes help get a better feel for the adjustment . i also flex the neck a fair amount first so the truss rod is totally ready to do it's thing. kinda like stretching the legs before a run . even more so w/ basses & guitars w/ lesser quality truss rods than ebmm. (which is most of the rest)