I need some quick serious guitar help...

[Sigma.Xiria]

I have an ESP Edwards Viper (Dir En Grey Kaoru model) that is fucking awesome except one thing that I cannot get around at all... when I go to bend the G string (haha) closer to the nut (haha.. better get it all out now) like at the 4th fret the D string above it gets caught under the tip of my finger causing the note to fret and sound horrible (even though I am properly muting with my left...) whereas normally the string above the bend gets cushioned by the tip of ny finger and doesn't get caught under the tip. Here is the catch, it is only when I bend the G string in that position (up to about the 6th fret) that this happens and it is only this guitar. (I have about 6 others with me and like 6 others at my parents) So, my first thought was that there is a problem with the nut and maybe the D string slot was filed down just a bit too far. I go and get it examined and guess what? The nut is completely fine... what the hell? Then, maybe I thought maybe the radius of the fret board was almost too flat for my taste and that could be an issue... well, turns out it has the exact same radius as my other Viper (should have figured that from the get go) and my Les Paul...

So WTF is going on here? Could it be that I need to adjust the truss rod? I wouldn't think so because it is set up correctly, but I guess you never know haha... any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated

A little more info: the guitar is 24 fret 25.5in scale with a Tune O Matic bridge. I am tuned down to drop D and then everything down a half step (drop C#/Db). Using the same string gauge I use on all my 25.5 scale guitars in this tunning.

If you need any further details, please ask and I shall provide

 

[IceMan]

Do you have the strings setup to follow the neck radius? Most guys setup the strings to follow the curve of the fretboard to keep the string height consistant across the board. If you take a radius gauge and lay it across the strings, you can check for any differences in string height. You may also have a low spot on the fret wire itself that is causing the string to dip lower than normal as you bend it up?

 

[Sigma.Xiria]

Do you have the strings setup to follow the neck radius? Most guys setup the strings to follow the curve of the fretboard to keep the string height consistant across the board. If you take a radius gauge and lay it across the strings, you can check for any differences in string height. You may also have a low spot on the fret wire itself that is causing the string to dip lower than normal as you bend it up?

I am sure that it probably was set up that way in the beginning, but having adjusted the bridge so many times I doubt it is anymore haha!

It is a TOM type bridge, by the way... I will add that to my main post

Hmmm. I didn't think about the fret wire being uneven... I will check that out for sure.

Thanks!

 

[Chrisbarrett27]

Edwards is supposed to be pretty good quality. I'm not sure if it would be the fret wire or not. There's always a chance though. If I were you I would loosen the truss rod a quarter of a turn, maybe even less. If that doesn't fix it, turn it back to where it was. You might just need a smidgen of relief. Good luck bro, hope it's nothing serious.

 

[Sigma.Xiria]

Edwards is supposed to be pretty good quality. I'm not sure if it would be the fret wire or not. There's always a chance though. If I were you I would loosen the truss rod a quarter of a turn, maybe even less. If that doesn't fix it, turn it back to where it was. You might just need a smidgen of relief. Good luck bro, hope it's nothing serious.

Yeah! This is an Artist model Edwards that is really cool!

I see you on the Diezel forum a lot haha. I have a VH4 and see you got a Herbert. You will love it

 

[Chrisbarrett27]

Haha. Hell yeah dude thanks. I've been addicted to this forum the past two weeks. I can't get enough of it. It's so funny. I was about to pull the trigger on a powerball 2 then I started reading a shit ton of reviews and discovered Diezel as the Engl killer, haha. Then I found myself buying a Herbert and here I am. I hope I like it. I hear a lot of good things about the VH4 too. I'd like to play one in person. I thought about buying an Edwards a few times. I wanted to get one of the explorers. They look pretty nice. Anyway man good luck with your issue, hope you get it figured out soon. Did you adjust the truss rod yet?

 

[Sigma.Xiria]

Haha. Hell yeah dude thanks. I've been addicted to this forum the past two weeks. I can't get enough of it. It's so funny. I was about to pull the trigger on a powerball 2 then I started reading a shit ton of reviews and discovered Diezel as the Engl killer, haha. Then I found myself buying a Herbert and here I am. I hope I like it. I hear a lot of good things about the VH4 too. I'd like to play one in person. I thought about buying an Edwards a few times. I wanted to get one of the explorers. They look pretty nice. Anyway man good luck with your issue, hope you get it figured out soon. Did you adjust the truss rod yet?

Oh! I promise you will love the Herbert with a fierce passion haha.

I have played both the VH4 and Herbert and I love them both. The VH4 just fit my style a bit better

I have not been able to make an adjustment quite yet. I will tonight though!

 

[Sigma.Xiria]

Edwards is supposed to be pretty good quality. I'm not sure if it would be the fret wire or not. There's always a chance though. If I were you I would loosen the truss rod a quarter of a turn, maybe even less. If that doesn't fix it, turn it back to where it was. You might just need a smidgen of relief. Good luck bro, hope it's nothing serious.

I loosened the truss rod a bit and it worked! Thank you so much!

Funny how something so small can completely fuck up your guitar... and cause you to think all sorts of weird stuff haha!

Thanks man! I can't wait to hear about your love for the Herbert over at the Diezel forum when you get back!

 

[Valtiel]

Loosening the truss rod will have the effect of raising your action a bit in terms of what you feel on the neck so it sounds like your action was simply too low, either at the nut or the bridge or maybe both. Check the nut action on both guitar by fretting the problem strings at the third fret with your left hand and tapping the string at the first fret with your right hand to see how much clearance there is between the string and the fret. Ideally you want a very small amount of visible space there, you don't want there too be too much as you can have intonation issues with first position chords and you don't want the string to be touching the fret as you can get open string buzzing and the bending issues you're describing.

 

[Chrisbarrett27]

Hey dude, I'm so glad I could help!! Wow I'm pretty proud of myself, haha. Yeah it's really crazy how sensitive the neck can be sometimes, especially with a change in weather, humidity etc. Good luck with it man and keep shredding!! I still have a little while till' I get to play my beloved Herbert, but I'll keep you posted for sure. Take care dude.

Chris

 

[amjadkhan0988]

Haha. Hell yeah dude thanks. I've been addicted to this forum the past two weeks. I can't get enough of it. It's so funny. I was about to pull the trigger on a powerball 2 then I started reading a shit ton of reviews and discovered Diezel as the Engl killer, haha. Then I found myself buying a Herbert and here I am. I hope I like it. I hear a lot of good things about the VH4 too. I'd like to play one in person. I thought about buying an Edwards a few times. I wanted to get one of the explorers. They look pretty nice. Anyway man good luck with your issue, hope you get it figured out soon. Did you adjust the truss rod yet?

Oh! I promise you will love the Herbert with a fierce passion haha.

I have played both the VH4 and Herbert and I love them both. The VH4 just fit my style a bit better

I have not been able to make an adjustment quite yet. I will tonight though!

hahahaha...its really confusing dud

 

[snowdog]

Hmm,strange problem. I would highly doubt adjusting the truss rod would fix this, if it was in need of adjustment I would say the problem would be more evident elsewhere besides the 4th-6th fret range. I would take it to tech and let them figure it out.