Fender Player Strat modded, having intonation issues

[JACOB1557]

Hey all, glad to be here. So I have a 2021 Player Strat that I've modded pretty extensively. Mods are as follows:
Wilkinson WVS502k bridge
Seymour Duncan JB bridge P/U
GFS SD Jazz copy Neck P/U
Standard US 5 way switch
GFS electronics
HH pickguard
Fender Locking tuners
YJM Brass nut
USA string tree
Recently did a fret leveling and crowning too

My issue is that I KNOW for a fact that the nut needs properly slotted. It was advertised as pre slotted to fit a 9.5 radius fretboard. I had to shave a lot of material off the bottom to make it fit in the ballpark of the nut height. But the slots need to be filed and I don't have nut files. Because of this I'm not able to get the strings properly intonated at the bridge. At least I think that's why my intonation is off. Any input is appreciated. I just need to know if there could be any more variables causing my intonation issues or if I'm completely wrong here. I will most likely take it to a luthier but I just want to be sure about the root cause so I can relay it to the luthier. I also may invest in some nut files but I may be able to get it filed professionally for the price of the files. Again, any input is appreciated. Sorry in advance if I posted this in the wrong section. I'm new here.

 

[dirocyn]

Usually a premade nut will have some sort of slots in it. If they bind on the strings, you need to adjust them; otherwise the adjustment is done by removing material from the bottom of the nut. The proper nut height is: when you fret the 3rd, there should be the smallest sliver of daylight between the 1st fret and each string. You don't want to go too far, or you'll have to start over with a new nut.

If only a little bit of material needs to be removed, sometimes a welding tip cleaner (dirt cheap) is sufficient. It's not as easy to use as a nut file, though.

Most factory-built guitars have a nut that's too tall anyway, and they can still set the intonation. Remember when you're doing a setup--get the tremolo in the right place first, then the relief, then saddle height (action) then intonation. Unless you just want to do some of these steps more than once.

 

[Ramblin'man]

Intonation is between the front edge of the nut and the take off point of the bridge saddle. If one is off it will usually be the saddle. Does the nut slot appear to be lower from front to back so that the strings are sloping down towards the tuners? Perhaps the bridge is not the right one for the Player model

You might try putting the old bridge back on and see if that still intonats properly.

 

[charlie chitlin]

Why do you think your intonation is off?
Can you not get the open string to match when fretted at the 12th fret?
Or is the guitar actually playing out of tune?

 

[JACOB1557]

Hey all. Thanks for the replies. I ended up being able to get it intonated and set up today. The issue was that the saddles were so far forward to begin with that the first hole that the string exits from under the saddle was holding the position that the saddles should've been. So I reset everything and got it properly adjusted. Basically performed a fresh setup on the whole guitar. Only issue I'm facing now is that I have a single high fret which I've verified with my fret rocker. Not sure how because I've done a leveling and crowning. But nonetheless it's one problem fret. I think it may be as simple as giving it a tap to reseat it. But if not ill simply spot level and crown it. I had several problem frets before the leveling and crown and it was a real slap in the face seeing as it's a basically brand new $900 guitar. Quality control is just a hit or miss sometimes I guess. Again thanks for all the comments.

 

[Geoff06]

Does fretting on that high fret lead to a different (weaker, thinner, quieter, more trebly...) sound than the rest? Can you push down on it and see or feel movement?

If it's not fully seated, it likely will eventually just pop back up, meaning it would need special treatment or a replacement.

 

[JACOB1557]

Does fretting on that high fret lead to a different (weaker, thinner, quieter, more trebly...) sound than the rest? Can you push down on it and see or feel movement?

If it's not fully seated, it likely will eventually just pop back up, meaning it would need special treatment or a replacement.

It doesn't deaden out when fretted. It only deadens when I bend a note. I can bend about a half step and it chokes itself silent. I can bend on every other fret and string though and it really only happens when bending the D,G,B strings around the 17th fret. When I check it with a fret rocker only the middle of the fret is slightly raised with the left and right of the fret being level with the rest.

 

[Geoff06]

I asked about the tone on that fret because that can be an indication that string energy isn't being transferred adequately to the neck - because of the fret not being seated. If you can confirm for yourself that the fret is already fully seated, spot level/crown it and play on