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Okay, I've never had this one happen before...maybe I've just been lucky...just got a new guitar strung up...strobes out fine open tuning and 12th fret natural/harmonic...BUT, the G string is sharp when fretted...capo made no difference...checked nut action...was a little high on the G...fixed that, still sharp...I suppose it could be something as simple as replacing the string, but it got me thinking about all the possibilities...what say ye? (I guess "ye" is plural, I don't know....)

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Maybe the G nut slot is cut such that the string is bearing on the back of the nut instead of the front of the nut. This would make the string tune open ok and harmonic would be ok but would sound sharp when fretted. Or it's just a bad string....
Michael

Hi Michael,

I think I'll re-check the nut and replace the string...beyond that, it's gotta be out of gas or something...

Larry

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It was the string! Thanks guys!

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What brand string was it?

D'Addario, from the last group buy...replaced it with another of theirs and it's fine...just hit the "bad string lottery"...

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the strings properties can influence the working length of the string and when this happens you can bang your head a long time till you find it. I know what I am expecting after 11 years of building and you may be surprised how often it can be a string .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Do you stretch your strings after putting them on? Before you tune up fully, get them close and give the a good stretch. I find I can get trouble if I don't stretch them out.

With the string on the guitar, close to pitch, I hold the string between my thumb and index finger and sort of give it a twist, starting near the saddle and working my way up to the nut, twisting/stretching the string as I go. Do each string.

If you do stretch and still had the issue, well dang-it, it was a bad string to begin with....

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