Thread: Unexplained tuning problem?

Hey guys, just here asking about something I noticed while playing my guitar earlier.

For some STRANGE, WTF-WORTHY reason, any note I fret after the 3rd fret will be out of tune, and they become increasingly out of tune the further up the neck I move.

For example, if i fret the 7th fret on the 3rd string, the note I should get should be a D, (assuming i'm playing in E standard, for the sake of this post) right? Well, apparantly not. It sounded off so i checked it with my tuner and it was out. I tried again, still the same. I get the same thing on every string, on every fret past the 3rd fret.

I've checked the intonation, perfect. The strings are definitely in tune before I lock the tremolo, and i check them after for good measure, still in tune. Then I play (hell, even a simple power chord) past the 3rd fret and it sounds out of tune.

The only thing I can think of is that the neck is bowed slightly. Apart from that i'm stumped.
Somebody help, please?

Thanks.

The only thing i can think of would be the neck being slightly bowed like you said. If u cant find anything else wrong with it go to a specialist and see what they say, and if it is the neck they should be able to fix that.

Ima say the same thing try straightening the neck. Should be a spot somewhere to pop in an allen wrench just make sure to watch it when u do it so u dont turn it the wrong way. Otherwise, whens the last time u changed strings? My strings have done that to me before but they were hella old lol. But otherwise i dunno, unless ur fret spacing is messed up which ud have to take it to a specialist for that.

For best assessment, what's the make/model of the guitar (type of neck/bridge)?

Put NEW strings on it (if you haven't already). Try your posted tuning example again.

Bowed neck? Adjust your truss rod according to convex/concave bowing. Google "truss rod adjustment" for many articles and vids on this.

Bridge adjustment may be off. Your intonation may be off due to the bridge saddle screws being slightly off.
How to Adjust a Guitar's Bridge and Intonation | eHow.com

Hope she gets better.

Originally Posted by SmokeScreen

Ima say the same thing try straightening the neck. Should be a spot somewhere to pop in an allen wrench just make sure to watch it when u do it so u dont turn it the wrong way. Otherwise, whens the last time u changed strings? My strings have done that to me before but they were hella old lol. But otherwise i dunno, unless ur fret spacing is messed up which ud have to take it to a specialist for that.

The strings have been put on....4 days ago.

@Plankton, its a Jackson JS30DK, with a bolt-on neck and a patented floyd rose tremolo.

I don't think it could be the fret spacing either, because for some reason I only get this problem when I play in standard E, but i don't if i play in drop C.

And i've already checked the intonation and that seems to be perfect.

Thanks for the advice so far guys!

the neck is too tight as others have said my cousin had the same problem with his guitar

It's okay guys, i've sprted it out now. It turns out, the battery in my tuner was near-dead when I was tuning it, so it wasn't picking up the sounds very well. I put a new battery in it, checked it over and it turned out to be intonated extremely badly.

So, i've sorted that now and it's all copastetic.

Cheers for all your suggestions/advice guys, it's greatly appreciated (:

Could a mod please lock this thread, as it has served its purpose?

Thanks