[kcirick]

Hi,

I bought a new electric guitar about a month ago (Schecter demon), and I have a problem playing notes on the first fret. It makes a ringing sound and does not actually play a note. I don't know if it is a common problem on a guitar, but it only happens on first and sometimes second fret, on all the strings... Any frets above that plays just fine.

I don't really know how to explain it. Hopefully someone knows what I'm trying to explain... If you know the solution please let me know.

Thank you

[Akirakun]

It sounds to me as though the the neck is slightly warped and/or that the nut may be set too high (it could also be that the frets are not set quite right). I would take the guitar to a luthier (does the shop where you bought it have one or can recommend one?) and with a little tweak (adjusting the truss rod that keeps the neck straight (weather/humidity will alter the position of the neck as it swells or dries out) etc... As it's new I think the shop should be only too happy to have the guitar fettled. Good luck.

[allthumbs]

Good advice above. If it is every string at the first fret, then it is probably not the nut. I suspect it just needs a truss rod adjustment to raise the action. Check the string buzz thread in the tech forum. It will guide you through a simple way of checking the string height.

[kcirick]

Thanks for the advice on looking at the string buzz thread. That's exactly what it was. I read the instruction on the forum carefully and adjusted the truss rod step by step and it plays beautifully again.

Thanks!

P.S. I would've taken it to the shop where I bought it but it's not in a very convenient part of the city.. I would've had to take a bus and transfer twice to get there, I thought I'd try myself since there is a good isntruction on how to do it, and I killed two birds with one stone: I fixed the problem and I learnt how to make truss rod adjustment

[Stratrat]

Good job - You got a "two-fer" out of the deal! It's nice to learn how to make minor adjustments like that....not only does it save money, but it also saves the time and hassle of taking your guitar somewhere to have it done.

[mattz196]

Congrats Kcirick ,good feeling when you know you can make these adjustments yourself , nice to know you make changes without running off to the local guitar store.