Telecaster out of tune with itself, low E string at 12th fret.

July 10, 2020 7:19 PM

I have a MIM Telecaster with a modern bridge. When I play the low E string around the 12th fret I hear two tones, slightly out of tune with each other.

There's a definite 'beat' going on, like when you tune a guitar string by playing the previous string on the 5th fret. It's strongest between the 10th and 17th fret. If I bend the E string up, it kind of 'resolves'.
It sounds/feels as if something in the guitar is resonating at 1/8th of a tone above the E string note. There's also a similar but weaker effect on the A string.
I've tried muting the string with my left and right hands and even tying a bandana at the 10th fret, which completely eliminates any open sound, the 2nd tone is still there.
I fine tuned the intonation and all the strings register OK, checking open vs. 12th fret with a digital chromatic tuner.
I'm in lockdown for the foreseeable future, so not able to go to an actual guitar tech, nor am I willing to let one in my house.

posted by signal to Technology (7 answers total)

Best answer: One possibility is that your pickups are too close to the strings. The magnets can pull the strings too strongly (more pronounced on lower strings because of higher mass) and cause a strange sort of oscillating sound or tuning issues. Lower both of them and see if that helps. For a telecaster, I think the top of the pole piece should be 1/8" from the bottom of the string when you fret at the last fret on the bass side and slightly less on the treble side. That's for the bridge pickup - the neck is usually set lower. This could need to be more if you're using pickups with very strong magnets.
posted by mu at 7:49 PM on July 10, 2020 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestion. I just tried removing the cable from the guitar and playing the E string at the 12th fret with my ear against the body, and still hear the beat. I'm beginning to think it might also happen on the higher strings only it's less obvious because of the higher pitch.
posted by signal at 8:05 PM on July 10, 2020

Best answer: The magnets will pull the strings even with the guitar unplugged if the pickups are too close. They are permanent magnets.
posted by mu at 9:11 PM on July 10, 2020 [7 favorites]

You need a fret dressing, if not a truss rod adjustment, Your strings are hitting a fret somewhere along the neck between the nut and the twelfth fret while vibrating. Sight along the neck from the nut to the bridge, making the frets look like receding railroad ties. If there is a convex warp that prevents you from seeing all the frets before a complete occlusion happens at a total right angle from your eye, there is your secondary tone.
posted by Chitownfats at 12:09 AM on July 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The low E warbling from pickup height is often found on Strats, but I guess it could happen if the neck pickup on a Tele is too high. I found a demonstration, for comparison with your issue.
posted by thelonius at 3:48 AM on July 11, 2020 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: I lowered the height of the neck pickup on the bass side, and it definitely made a difference. I'm gonna check the sound now. Thanks, this has been bugging me for a while!
posted by signal at 7:14 AM on July 11, 2020 [2 favorites]

You’re hearing two tones of different pitch (hence the beat effect). My guess is that the second tone is the low E string between the nut and the 11th fret (it can ring freely if your action is set too high). Are you muting his part of the string with your left hand, or allowing it to ring?
posted by NotAlwaysSo at 12:40 PM on July 11, 2020