what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

[koshikas]

Re: what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

thanks again bro, will be doing the test sometime this weekend if I could I'll also record

Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

 

[uOpt]

Re: what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

what do you call a dead note on a guitar. I have a shred stick which I think has a dead note and also has a fret-less bass that definitely has a few.

the one in the shred stick is weird. under gain when I let the note sustain, it goes into feedback more or so instantly. then the note dies as fast as it went in to feedback. (to be exact it is the 9th on g-string) Is this a dead note?

the ones on the fret-less are more generic, they don't sustain as much as other notes do in the same vicinity.

The guitar sounds like a high (or low) fret. That is easy to test by raising the bridge as high as it gets and see whether that improves things. You need to re-tune, if it is a true (resonance based) dead spot then it needs it own frequency.

The bass obviously might have a dent in the fretboard but it sounds more like a resonance based issue. Possible solutions:
- messing with the truss rod, maybe balancing it with different tension strings
- different tension strings are a good try anyway
- that metal clip thing that is a weight you put on your headstock. Called sustainer something. I forgot the brand, will look it up later

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

Dead notes are real!!! I had a PRS CE22, They are notorious for having dead notes between the 12th and 15th fret on the G string. Mine was right at the 12th fret, same as you describe, when I would bend the 11th up a half step it would die the same way. The headstock on the wall trick confirmed it for me .

 

[greekdude]

Re: what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

12th on G is so classic, that I use this as a benchmark for sustain for every guitar. If it can hold 5+ seconds on 12th on G, its a keeper!

 

[Snoogles]

Re: what is a 'dead note' on a guitar

put some cloth to your headstock to prevent it from damage and push your neck to the wall with controlled strength. Play the same note and measure its sustain. If this increases then you have a dead note on this particular string/fret. Also you might try tuning up/down one step and see if the dead note moves frets.

^^ this


my guitar has a "dead note" at the 12th fret G string
i checked and checked again for fret level issues
then one day i just decided to tune down 1/2 step.
the dead note moved to the 13th fret
its just one of those things that happens
i haven't tried tuning down 1/4 step though. maybe that will put it inbetween frets