Sour notes on SG 61 reissue

[dittohead128]

Alright, ive posted before about this guitar. I was having tuning issues but i pretty much solved that. The problem is that there are sour notes in multiple places. i bought the guitar used and its 2 years old, it says made in 2009. The frets dont look that bad, i mean some parts are a little flat but compared to my les paul classic, which i have had for 10 years and not one fret job, the frets are good. most are still crowned nicely. Anyways, the only thing i can think of to get rid or the sour notes is to get a fret job. And yes the intonation and strings are good

 

[skydog]

Please elaborate on the "sour" notes. Flat, sharp, both, and where? One particular section of fretboard, string, .......?

 

[sc-closer]

I had a 61 reissue once around 2000. I had a problem with it going out of tune while I was playing it because the neck joint is smaller than on standards and evidently the pressure I exert on a guitar while I play it made the neck move and the notes would go flat. I would instantly hear this, and when I checked tuning it would of course be in tune. Took me a while to figure it out. I am not the only person that has noticed that about the 1961 reissues.
Some of us just have playing styles that do not work with that guitar. But I have had two SG standards with no problems whatsoever.

As far as the intonation, you can set that and it will be good, but if you have some questionable frets, it may not be in perfect intonation when you play it in those areas of the fretboard.

 

[dittohead128]

Please elaborate on the "sour" notes. Flat, sharp, both, and where? One particular section of fretboard, string, .......?

flat, i notice it more on the G B E strings. the worst is when i bar the B and high E string at the twelve fret. The E is considerably flat, you can actually tune the guitar up a little and than it will be fine there, than anywhere else sounds like shit. other than that just some places ill notice dont sound right while im playing, usually with the G B and E when im soloing, or doing just like 2 note licks, it almost sounds shaky, thats the best way i can describe it

 

[dittohead128]

I had a 61 reissue once around 2000. I had a problem with it going out of tune while I was playing it because the neck joint is smaller than on standards and evidently the pressure I exert on a guitar while I play it made the neck move and the notes would go flat. I would instantly hear this, and when I checked tuning it would of course be in tune. Took me a while to figure it out. I am not the only person that has noticed that about the 1961 reissues.
Some of us just have playing styles that do not work with that guitar. But I have had two SG standards with no problems whatsoever.

As far as the intonation, you can set that and it will be good, but if you have some questionable frets, it may not be in perfect intonation when you play it in those areas of the fretboard.

yea, i was actually starting to think that my playing style is to hard for this guitar. The notes almost sound shaky at times, idk if you know what i mean or not. my dad has a standard, you can tell the neck is more durable. I hate the fat necks on the standards though. Honestly the neck on the 61 reissue is my favorite neck on any guitar ive played, which sucks because i love the sound too but the sour notes are making me considering selling it

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

If you don't know how to intonate it yourself, take it to a tech and have it intonated, or look it up online.

 

[dittohead128]

If you don't know how to intonate it yourself, take it to a tech and have it intonated, or look it up online.

uhhh, when did i say i dont know how to intonate it, i said the intonation is good. I know how to intonate a guitar, thats not the problem. I wouldnt be asking this question if it was that simple, and i also wouldnt have stated at the end that the intonation is good and so are the strings because i knew someone would say something like this

 

[geochem1st]

uhhh, when did i say i dont know how to intonate it, i said the intonation is good. I know how to intonate a guitar, thats not the problem. I wouldnt be asking this question if it was that simple, and i also wouldnt have stated at the end that the intonation is good and so are the strings because i knew someone would say something like this

flat, i notice it more on the G B E strings. the worst is when i bar the B and high E string at the twelve fret. The E is considerably flat, you can actually tune the guitar up a little and than it will be fine there, than anywhere else sounds like shit.

Ok, being picky now, if the intonation is good, you are not going to have flat notes an octave up. You have an intonation problem.

 

[skydog]

If I understand the OP right, the guitar can be and in fact is intonated properly on open strings and one octave higher at the 12th fret but only when the guitar is in a relaxed, non-playing position. It's only when he plays it in a live situation that the intonation problems appear. If this is the case then he may very well be "playing too hard" for the slimmer heeled SG's. And he states that he doesn't really like the larger heeled ones. Is there a "best of both worlds" model that would be a compromise but a workable one?

 

[geochem1st]

If I understand the OP right, the guitar can be and in fact is intonated properly on open strings and one octave higher at the 12th fret but only when the guitar is in a relaxed, non-playing position. It's only when he plays it in a live situation that the intonation problems appear. If this is the case then he may very well be "playing too hard" for the slimmer heeled SG's. And he states that he doesn't really like the larger heeled ones. Is there a "best of both worlds" model that would be a compromise but a workable one?

ahhhhh.... I get it.

the '62 - '65 models beefed up the neck joint a bit while retaining a nice neck profile. The '61's are weaker.

 

[chriseskew24]

I was having a problem where the notes sounded flat--- a new nut fixed it for me on my LP

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

uhhh, when did i say i dont know how to intonate it, i said the intonation is good. I know how to intonate a guitar, thats not the problem. I wouldnt be asking this question if it was that simple, and i also wouldnt have stated at the end that the intonation is good and so are the strings because i knew someone would say something like this

You'll notice that I inserted the conditional "if."

Generally, that means that I don't know the truth-value of a thing but am addressing the point to cover one of them.

Also, your intonation obviously isn't good if it's in tune open and "sour" up the neck, but it's okay, you don't seem to need any help.

 

[icantbuyafender]

uhhh, when did i say i dont know how to intonate it, i said the intonation is good. I know how to intonate a guitar, thats not the problem. I wouldnt be asking this question if it was that simple, and i also wouldnt have stated at the end that the intonation is good and so are the strings because i knew someone would say something like this

touchy, touchy.

Thump and geochemist are right.

Dont shoot the messengers

 

[dittohead128]

hahaha, alright, the intonation is off. if thats what you guys wanna hear, whatever. its real hard to intonate a ****ing guitar

 

[dittohead128]

also, its not just the twelve fret, also around the 3rd through 5th, and many other frets, its just random. I can play something one time and it might not sound as bad, other times it does. its not the intonation, thats why im getting aggravated because you wont take my word for it. Oh its got to be the intonation, if thats what you guys are hellbent on believing than thanks but no thanks for the help

 

[dittohead128]

i wish it was the intonation

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I can think of several explanations for those symptoms, but you seem like you're pretty sensitive and I don't want to hurt your feelings anymore than they've already been bruised.

 

[Pinkie]

Could be the nut slots too.Too low or too high can cause this.
Check the strings at the first fret while you barr it at the third fret.There should be just a little clearance between the string and the first fret.Too much and you will pull sour notes when playing.Just trying to help don't get mad at me.
Best to set the intonation in the playing position.

 

[icantbuyafender]

hahaha, alright, the intonation is off. if thats what you guys wanna hear, whatever. its real hard to intonate a ****ing guitar

Agreed. Its hit and miss. Alot of the times, you just seem to miss.

also, its not just the twelve fret, also around the 3rd through 5th, and many other frets, its just random. I can play something one time and it might not sound as bad, other times it does. its not the intonation, thats why im getting aggravated because you wont take my word for it. Oh its got to be the intonation, if thats what you guys are hellbent on believing than thanks but no thanks for the help

... so its an intonation issue? Right?

i wish it was the intonation

Consider your wish already granted

I can think of several explanations for those symptoms, but you seem like you're pretty sensitive and I don't want to hurt your feelings anymore that they've already been bruised.

See, I use the compensated wraptail to avoid this nonsense.

 

[dittohead128]

haha