L.P. with a really strange problem.

[Len Biglin]

Hi all , I am looking at a Gibson Les Paul which I fret dressed about a month ago.The strings are being shaped into a kink around each fret , so if you look at the strings from the side you see a hump in line with each fret.This is only from about 3rd to 14th fret and seems to be only the plain strings.I have only seen this following a blow to the neck, but the customer says its always in the padded gibson case , and has not been bumped or dropped. Any ideas? Len

[FRANK]

do you have a macro lens to take photos with ? and if you do can you send a photo please for a better explanation of the diagnoses

[Greg Mirken]

If it was just a few frets I'd say the guy was torquing his capo down real hard right behind the fret. Maybe he plays with a death-grip left hand? Have you watched him play? Does the case have a long pad that mashes the strings against the fingerboard?

Unless you filed the frets to a sharp peak, I don't see how this has much to do with you.

[Tom Krebs]

I would change the strings and play it a while in the shop. Return it to see if he gets the same results. If he is a ham fist try heavier strings?

[Len Biglin]

Thanks for your replies gents , the frets were a normal flattened dome , and the guy is a normal player , he says he doesn't grip extra tight,.The case is standard gibson with a long padded area on the lid that is also covered in plush material ..... feels soft to touch .It's wacky I'm scratching my head over this one .Will try to get macro pics tommorrow. Len

[Ray Hughes]

I've seen this quite a few times. The case is most likely kinking the strings over the frets. I would bet if you used another case or made some sort of guard out of leather that slips in between the strings and the fretboard, the problem should go away. -Ray

[Len Biglin]

Thanks Ray, I have never seen it, you must be experienced ? and your practical solution is another of those beautifully simple ideas . As for the photos , it's hard to see with my reading glasses so it's not gonna work on camera .Thanks again guys. Len