EVH String Slipping

[Richiesos]

My EVH is my favorite guitar in the world. I will be buried with it. I've been playing it since I was 15 years old (I'm 31 now.) Needless to say, I've pretty much beat the hell out of this thing. I'm on my 3rd set of frets on the guitar, and I'm starting to notice the high E string slipping off the neck. I especially notice this after playing my axis on the road. After I get used to that neck for a few days, I come home and play my EVH and that E string just flies off. I suspect that my last fret dress may have been a little too close for comfort.

Anyway, does anyone else have this issue? How do you deal with it? Is there some fix I don't know about?

Thanks,
-Richie

 

[kimonostereo]

The neck on the EVH is slightly smaller in width:
(from the FAQ: what-are-the-differences-between-the-old-edward-van-halen-signature-guitar-and-the-model-that-took-its-place-the-axis | music-man-guitars | faq)

1. The neck was widened slightly (1/32") at the body end. This was to correct problems for players who were having trouble with the high E string slipping off the neck on the 12th fret and up.

It could be just that you are used to playing the Axis or you might check if the neck has shifted either at the neck pocket or maybe the locking nut has gotten loose and needs to be pushed in a bit.

 

[Richiesos]

Thanks for the reply. I will definitely check that out.

 

[straycat113]

This was an issue for some players when the EVH's were being made, though the neck was digitally an exact replica of Eddies broken in 5150 ax, so as kimono has stated they widened it 1/32" when it became the Axis. I personally do not feel this is your problem though as you have been playing the guitar for 16 years and I doubt it decided to become an issue all of a sudden. I would guess that your third fret dressing may have brought out the issue if it was never a problem before which would only make sense, or it could be a possibility that since you have been playing your Axis that even though it is such a really slight difference of width. you may of gotten a little more heavy handed on your touch.

 

[Astrofreq]

Bend the other way.

 

[straycat113]

The issue is not bending it is when tapping.

 

[MrMusashi]

perhaps someone put a too large angle on the fret ends when they were replaced last time?
that would mean that there would be "less" fret width to stay on..

eg:
you should have had this angle:

as opposed to this angle:

aim down the thin e string from the bridge and towards the headstock and see if the string touches the fret on top of the fret, or if it hits the angled end of the fret...
if it hits the angled end something have to be done with the guitar. if it has ok clearance to the fret end you might just have to play more to get used to the narrower neck

hth

MrM

 

[Richiesos]

You hit the nail on the head Musashi. That's exactly what happened and how it happened. I'm now getting fret replacement #3 on it. That tools is the DEVIL!