What's wrong with my bends?

[WolfmanWill17]

I've been playing a Fender Highway One Stratocaster HSS(the cheapest American-made Strats; I chose it for the neck) for a few years now, and, within the last couple months, I've noticed a slight problem. Above the 14th fret, whenever I bend a note on the B or high E strings, it chokes out, sounding the fretted note but nothing beyond that once I start the bend. Does anyone have any explanation for this?

To give a little more insight into the instrument, it's the black model with a rosewood fretboard. I currently have Ernie Ball Cobalt Hybrid Slinky strings on it. I don't think it's a problem with the pickups, since bends sound normal anywhere else on the fingerboard, but I could be wrong. It's worth noting that the tremelo bridge(a Fender vintage-style) has the trem arm broken off inside the block; I know I need to fix it, and I know how, but I don't have the cash at the moment.

I'm thinking this is either a fingerboard problem, an action problem, or a truss rod problem.

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

 

[Kam]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

If you've had the guitar for a few years and this issue has only started recently, then I'd put money on fret wear being the problem. Have you ever had the frets levelled? It's probably about time that you did.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

The guitar needs some simple routine maintenance. Kam has mentioned fret wear. Other possibilities include the need for adjustment of the truss rod, vibrato spring tension, bridge saddle heights and (possibly) pickup height settings.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

Before what Kam has suggested, I'd just make sure the set-up is OK. Guitars are made of natural materials that can have a life of their own - things do move over time. If you've not had it set-up in a long time, look into getting that done first.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

If the frets are in good condition, choking at and above the 14th fret might suggest that the neck has developed an S curve.

Forgot to ask earlier. What string gauges are you using?

 

[Kam]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

Yup, I was just assuming regular basic setups were happening. Apologies for the unclear previous post. You can blame my hatred for typing on smart phones.

I'm still betting on fret wear, though. Raising the string height could be a simple, though not perfect, way to alleviate the problem enough to get by.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

I'm thinking this is either a fingerboard problem, an action problem, or a truss rod problem.

Well, you are kind of right. It is a geometry problem. A professional setup solves such problems.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

It is possible that a fret has popped up a little in its slot.

 

[WolfmanWill17]

Re: What's wrong with my bends?

It's more than just one fret, so I don't think it's that the fret has popped up in the slot. I forgot to include that they're 9-46 gauges. I'll bring it to the shop on pay day and see if fret wear is the issue.